Chapter 8 - The Guard Dog’s Reward
Six months later.
Autumn had arrived in Virginia, dressing the rolling hills around the new base housing community of Bayview Pines in brilliant shades of amber, gold, and crimson.
The houses here were new, built on high, clean ground overlooking the serene waters of the Elizabeth River, miles away from the old industrial yards.
Standing on the wide front porch of a beautiful two-story blue house was Ava.
She wore a soft, comfortable sweater and jeans, holding a warm mug of apple cider in her hands, looking out at the sun setting over the water.
In the front yard, Nate was tossing a bright yellow tennis ball across the lush green lawn.
Sadi was running after it, her laughter ringing out clear and bright through the crisp autumn air. And right beside her, galloping with effortless, joyful power, was Bruno.
The eight-year-old Malinois wasn't searching for poisons anymore. He wasn't alerting on vents. He wasn't sitting vigilant watch over a hospital bed in the dark.
He was just a dog, playing in the grass with the little girl he had saved.
Bruno caught the tennis ball in mid-air, turned around, and trotted back to Sadi, dropping the ball gently into her tiny hands. Sadi wrapped her arms around the dog’s thick neck, burying her face in his soft fur.
“Good boy, Bruno!” Sadi shouted, kissing his wet nose.
Nate walked up the porch steps, stepping behind Ava and wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder as they watched the children and the dog play.
“You know,” Nate whispered softly into her ear, his breath warm against her neck, “the house feels complete now that you’ve moved your stuff in.”
Ava smiled, leaning back against his chest, feeling the deep, steady beat of his heart against her back.
“It feels like home, Nate,” she whispered back, turning her head to kiss his cheek. “A real home.”
From the bottom of the porch steps, Bruno suddenly stopped playing. He turned, looking up at the two of them standing together on the porch.
The old military working dog let out a long, contented breath, walked up the steps, and lay down across the top wooden board, placing his heavy chin over his paws right between Ava and Nate’s feet.
His amber eyes closed slowly under the warm rays of the setting sun.
His mission was complete.
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His pack was safe.
And for the first time in eight years, the old guard dog went to sleep... knowing he didn't have to keep watch anymore.
