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.The dog never took his eyes off Cassie, as though looking for reassurance.Cassie patted his head.‘It’s all right, old boy.Dr Phillips is a friend.’‘He’s decided you’re a friend, that’s for sure,’ said the vet.‘He seems in pretty good condition except he’s so thin, and there’s a bit of a bump on his hip.I think he’s either taken a fall or been hit by something.It doesn’t seem too serious, so I don’t think it’s worth the expense of an X-ray.Let’s see if he’s got a microchip.No, I can’t feel one.’‘I was hoping there’d be one.I hate to think of someone pining for him.I wonder if he fell off the back of a ute or a truck and he’s trying to walk home to his family in Melbourne or somewhere,’ said Cassie.The vet chuckled.‘I don’t think so.His paws aren’t worn as though he’s spent a lot of time walking.But he’s not a dog I recognise.Young dog, about two years old, I’d say.A kelpie cross, good working dog.Not microchipped.’‘He seems to know a few things.Or he’s just smart,’ said Cassie.‘I’d look after him for a bit.But.’‘I know.You don’t want to get attached if the owner turns up,’ said the vet.‘I’d keep him here, but it wouldn’t be any fun for him.’ He rubbed the dog’s ear and the dog relaxed.‘I’m down at the cabins by the lagoon.I don’t know if they allow dogs but as I’m the only one there so I guess I could look after him.’‘Yes, Pelican Cove.How long are you staying?’Cassie paused.‘I’m not sure.I’m taking a sort of break here.’Michael Phillips stroked the dog’s back.‘You chose a good place, good time of year.The winter here is a well-kept secret.’Cassie nodded.‘It’s lovely.So he seems healthy enough?’‘I’ll give you some worm tablets.Buy him some tucker and give him a decent brush.Take him for a run on the beach, he’ll be as happy as Larry, I’d say.Perhaps you could put an ad in the local paper to try to find the owner.Call me if you have any problems.Just play it day by day.’‘Just the way I’m living my life,’ said Cassie breezily.‘Nothing wrong with that.And this is the right place to do it.’ He lifted the dog down, opened the door and walked with her to the front desk.‘You have a great view from up here,’ said Cassie.‘Yes.When I was a kid, I used to love watching the fishing fleet heading out to sea at night.Most of the boats are gone now.’‘You’re a local then?’ said Cassie.‘This was my grandfather’s home.Okay, no charge for today,’ he said to the receptionist.‘Leave your number with my receptionist and if anyone comes looking for a dog of this description, we’ll give you a call,’ he told Cassie.‘Thank you,’ said Cassie.‘I think he’d better thank you,’ said Michael Phillips as he patted the dog.Then he smiled at Cassie, nodded goodbye and picked up the file for the next client.‘Well, I guess you passed,’ said Cassie to the dog, who followed her outside with his tail arched, pointing skywards.*Cassie put an ad in the local paper, thinking that if it brought no response she’d put up some handwritten posters around town, though she figured in such a small place anyone missing a dog would look in the paper or call the vet anyway.She had no idea what she would do with a dog, so she was determined not to become attached to him.She told him firmly, ‘I’ll look after you while you’re here.But I’m not going to bond with you and have you take off one day when your owner turns up on the doorstep.Of course, they must have been pretty sloppy people to lose you in the first place.Or did you run away? Are you on the lam, kid? What mischief did you get up to, eh?’ As she spoke to the dog, she was pleased to hear her own voice in the small cabin.The dog listened attentively, head cocked to one side, giving an occasional encouraging shake of his tail.At the word ‘mischief’, he lay on the floor, looking contrite.Cassie couldn’t help laughing.‘What an actor you are!’She’d given him some food, including a bone, which he chewed on the porch.He gave it his full attention, equal to that of a school examination paper.At sunset they went to the lagoon and she threw sticks for him to retrieve.Then they went for a brisk walk along the beach before returning to the cabin as darkness fell.She put his dinner on the porch next to his water dish while she lit the fire and started cooking her meal.It felt good to have someone else to do things for and to share the evening with.‘No more lounging around and reading all day [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]