The Littlest Angel by Krista Davis

On a frigid March day, when snow lay in frosty melting piles, I came upon the car of my elderly neighbors stopped in the middle of the road. The car doors on both sides were flung open. Naturally, I was worried for their welfare. I spotted the husband standing in the snow and bent over not too far from the road. Was he sick? Had his wife fallen?
          
I parked behind their car and jumped out.
          
“Puppies!” They yelled.

Huh? I ran closer. Indeed, they were herding puppies. Or trying to. The little guys seemed to be heading in every direction. Farther down the road, I saw other neighbors chasing puppies.

I volunteered the back of my Jeep, and we began to swoop them into our arms and deposit them in the rear of the car. One looked completely different from the others. Larger and mostly white, she was desperately trying to keep the puppies together and was clearly upset that we were taking them away. She stiffened and trembled when I lifted her and carried her to the car.

Three puppies had to be pulled from their hiding place in a drainage ditch pipe. At last we had nine dogs corralled and safely deposited in my car. I couldn’t bear to bring the little sweethearts to the pound, so I did the only logical thing – I put them in my laundry room.

Most of the puppies were black and tan, with white socks and white tips on their tails. The dog who had seemed different looked like a Jack Russell Terrier. Her fur was yellowish and harsh. She had black ears and a black spot on her rump. Her tail had not been docked. It seemed to me that she was an adult. She showed no signs of having been pregnant so I didn’t think the puppies belonged to her. Instead of carrying her into the laundry room, I set her on the ground and coaxed her. The poor baby was terrified. I finally picked her up and took her inside. She was horrified, and fought me, trying desperately to escape from my grip.

When all the dogs were in the laundry room, I fetched a bowl for water and a large jellyroll pan that I filled with puppy kibble. The puppies and the Jack Russell knew exactly what to do. They pounced on the food. Their tummies full, the cute little babies settled around the room.

The Jack Russell walked to each one as though she was counting them. She sniffed each puppy thoroughly like she was making sure they were all present and in good condition. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.

Satisfied that they were all fine, she sat down between two of them and watched me with worried eyes. I could imagine how scared she was. They had all been abandoned, and now they were in a strange place with people they didn’t know. She had no idea what might happen next.

They all slept in the laundry room that night. In the morning, I let the Jack Russell out to run with my golden retriever. She flew like a dog in a cartoon, as though her feet didn’t touch the ground when she ran. She played with my golden and followed her when called. I knew then and there that she had found a home with us. Back inside, she spotted my golden’s big round bed, which happened to have a gigantic dog bone on it. Honestly, I think she thought she had found dog heaven. She made herself at home on the bed and went to work on the bone – and my golden, bless her, never growled or acted peeved for one moment.

 

We named the Jack Russell Terrier Buttercup. Her awful fur became soft and snowy white long ago. She’s a constant delight and an occasional rascal. And she’s the inspiration for the character of Trixie in my new book, MURDER, SHE BARKED. She’s even on the cover! The puppies all found homes (two with me!). But all these years later, when I gaze at my sweet Buttercup, I still remember that touching moment when she felt responsible for the abandoned puppies and checked on them one by one.

 

 

To celebrate the launch of Krista’s new series, Buttercup and her siblings are looking for dogs and cats to join their street crew.

 

 

 

They're giving away Murder, She Barked bandanas to dogs and cats to promote the book. One lucky dog or cat who leaves a comment here today (it’s okay if their people leave comments for them) will win one, too! Photos of winners (hopefully wearing their new Murder, She Barked bandanas) will be posted on

http://kristadavis.com/paws-and-claws-mysteries/murder-she-barked-street-crew.html and on this Pinterest board! http://www.pinterest.com/kristadavisbook/murder-she-barked-street-crew/ board so your dogs and cats can share with their friends.

Krista Davis’s new series for animal lovers debuts on December 3rd, with MURDER, SHE BARKED. Like her characters, Krista has a soft spot for cats, dogs, and cupcakes. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with three dogs and two cats. The Diva Frosts a Cupcake is the seventh book in her Domestic Diva Mystery series. Three of those books have been nominated for Agatha awards and three have made the New York Times Bestseller list. 

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