“Oh look at how cute he is lying in the pool of water,” Jackie said to her friend as they walked toward the fountain where Jackie’s Miniature Pincher, Brutus, was wallowing in the shallow water. 

The park was a well-known recreational area that had been set aside strictly for the dogs.  It was fenced all the way around and had only one entryway .  Once inside, the dogs could be unleashed as long as the owners were comfortable with their pets behavior with the other dogs.  Brutus had no problems believing himself as mean and as big as many of the dogs with which he had become acquainted.  Tipping the scales at only eleven pounds, he had the heart of a lion, yet, he could be as gentle as a lamb when it suited his needs. 

Jackie had already taken Brutus three times to obedience training but she had never been able to pass.  She simply did not have the discipline necessary to make Brutus do what she wanted rather than what he wanted to do. 

As she and her friend neared the fountain, a large brindled pit bull raced in the same direction, heading straight toward the unaware Brutus who was lying with his head hanging over the edge with his eyes closed.  He did not see the charging dog drawing closer. 

Jackie knew that she would never be able to reach Brutus before the racing pit bull.  She drew in a deep breath and let forth an ear splitting whistle that caused her friend to clap her hands over her ears.  Brutus opened his eyes, looked in her direction and immediately closed them again.  He knew that whistle but it was not on his agenda at the moment to respond.   

Suddenly, without warning, the pit bull jumped into the fountain, swamping Brutus’s body entirely with water.  The little dog jumped up and charged the pit bull, which in turn jumped back out of the pool and ran as fast as it could.  Brutus finally managed to jump over the side of the pool and chase after the pit bull. 

Jackie began screaming.  “Brutus! Brutus!  Damn it, get back here this instant.”  She stomped her foot for emphasis. 

The dog never even looked back but raced harder to meet his intended target.  The pit bull stopped running and turned suddenly dropping into a crouch.  It looked like it was ready to attack the fast advancing Brutus.  Jackie took off running as fast as she could, hoping she could rescue Brutus before he was torn to pieces.    

She watched the dogs as she ran.  Brutus spied the pit bull in position and took one flying jump, which landed him right beside it.  The next thing Jackie knew, Brutus and the pit bull were wrestling around together like two long lost buddies. 

As she came up to them, she heard a low-pitched voice behind her. 

“Heel, Daisy.”  The voice spoke softly. 

Immediately, the pit bull jumped up and trotted docilely past Jackie to stop next to the person behind her.  Turning slowly, Jackie saw the dog heel on the right side of a stunning redhead dressed in jeans, sneakers and chambray shirt. 

“Heel, my ass.  Your Daisy nearly killed Brutus.”  Jackie said as she spun around. 

“How many times do I have to tell you Daisy will not hurt a flea?  Not unless I tell her to.”  Bridget answered as she grinned wickedly at Jackie. 

“You know damn well one swipe of her paw will decapitate poor Brutus.  If she ever lies on top of him, I might as well be looking for another dog too.”  Jackie answered angrily. 

“Oh come on you know they love one another.” Bridget stated as she watched Brutus prance over to sit down beside Daisy. 

“Here Brutus,” Jackie said as she snapped her fingers.  Brutus looked into her face, grinned and remained right where he was. 

“You little shit.”  Jackie muttered under her breath as she glared at Brutus. 

“Did you say something to me?”  Bridget asked having heard exactly what she had said. 

“NO!”  Jackie pouted.   

“You’re not still mad because you didn’t pass training again this time, are you?”  Bridget asked as she watched Jackie’s shoulders sink a little more. 

“Well, who’s this luscious fresh meat?” Jackie’s friend leaned over and whispered in her ear as she finally walked up and joined the group. 

“Casey, this is Bridget, the dog trainer.”  Jackie said as she turned back toward Bridget.  “Bridget, this is my friend, Casey.” 

“Oh she is not at all what you described,” Casey continued as Jackie began to turn a soft shade of pink.  “I expected you to be all butch and muscle, not an attractive hunk.” 

“Casey, shut up.”  Jackie hissed as she nudged Casey hard in the back. 

“OH….yeah….tell me more,” Bridget began with a saucy grin on her face. 

“Come on, Casey.  We need to go.”  Jackie said as she turned to leave. 

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”  Bridget asked in a low husky voice. 

“What?” Jackie asked as she spun around. 

Bridget simply pointed down to her feet where Brutus lay in restful splendor with Daisy at his side.   

“Damn….damn…damn….damn.”  Jackie mumbled with each step she took toward Brutus.  Finally, stopping beside him, she bent and lifted him carefully in her arms, hugging his damp body against her chest.  He never awakened as she did an about face and headed toward the park entrance. 

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Bridget.”  Casey called out as she turned to follow Jackie out of the park toward the parking lot.  “Hope we see you next week.” 

Bridget stood and watched the couple as they headed toward their car.  She speculated on the relationship between Casey and Jackie.  Shrugging her shoulders as if to say ‘Oh, well’ she turned, snapped her fingers, and continued her walk around the park with the obedient Daisy following beside her. 

* * * * * 

“You lied…you lied…you lied… She is not a dragon with two heads.  She is the most striking woman I have seen in a long time, aside from me, of course.”  Casey rambled as she set the dishes on the table. 

“You’ve not had to work with her.” Jackie followed placing the vegetables by their plates. 

It was quiet as they began eating their late lunch the following day.  Brutus heard the clicking of silver against dishes and raced into the dining room.  Twice he ran rapidly around the table before coming to a stop with his paws poised on Jackie’s thighs. 

“Down, Brutus!”   

He rolled his dark brown eyes and lolled his tongue over his lips but never moved from his prop on her leg. 

Jackie reached out and pushed him down while at the same time telling him to sit.  Finally, he backed off, narrowed his eyes and trotted out of the dining room. 

“That went well,” observed Casey as she sipped her iced tea. 

“I know…it’s hopeless.  He just doesn’t listen to me.” 

“Don’t worry, he’s still a baby.” 

“You think… at sixteen months.  I hope he grows up soon.”  Jackie said as she pushed her plate away and propped her elbow on the table. She leaned her chin into her hand as she waited for Casey to finish eating. 

After a few more minutes, Casey finished her lunch.  Pushing away from the table, she said, “Come on, I’ll help you clean up and then we can watch that movie you’ve wanted to catch.” 

“OK,” Jackie said as she stacked her dishes and carried them from the table. 

Minutes later, the kitchen was straightened up.  Both women walked into the den with Jackie ahead of Casey.  Jackie paused in the doorway and Casey rammed against her back. 

“WHAAAAAAAAT!”  Casey moaned as she rubbed her nose. 

“OH MY GOD!”  Was all the exclamation she heard.   

Peering around Jackie’s shoulder, she began laughing. 

The floor was covered from corner to corner in confetti-sized pieces of paper and feathers.  Reigning proud as a king right in the middle of the mess sat Brutus, with a part of the throw pillow still dangling from his mouth.  He tried to bark a greeting and only succeeded in sending feathers flying all around him. 

Casey burst into laugher.  Jackie sank to the floor where she was, her face smothered in her hands as she shook her head slowly back and forth.  

Brutus stood and pranced over to Jackie, strutting as if to say, “See what I did.  Isn’t it beautiful?” 

Jackie never moved.  Brutus climbed onto her lap and nudged her hands to be petted.  Jackie reached down and pushed him off her lap as she crawled over to retrieve of book cover that was left in tact.   

“Oh no,” she exclaimed as she realized Brutus had effectively turned her prized first edition copy of Gone With The Wind into a billion pieces of confetti, all done within a few minutes.   

With tears in her eyes, she continued to crawl over to the coffee table where she picked up the cell phone. 

“That’s it, I give up.  I have to have some help or nothing will be left.  Who would have thought that one little bitty dog would be so much trouble.”  She pulled out the phone book and began flipping through the pages.  Finally, she began dialing. 

Casey kicked her way gently through the mess until she was sitting at the other end of the couch.  She turned to watch Jackie. 

“Hello, may I speak to Bridget?” 

“Yes, I can hold.”  She put her hand over the receiver as she said to Casey.  “If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do with Brutus.”   

At the mention of his name, he crossed the room and jumped into Jackie’s lap, wanting nothing more than to lie down and go to sleep. 

“Hello, may I help you,” came the softly spoken voice out of the cell phone. 

“Ah…yes…. is this Bridget?”  Jackie asked. 

“Yes it is.  May I ask who’s calling?” 

“This is Jackie, Brutus’s owner.”   

“Oh yes….Jackie.  Is there something I can help you with?” 

“Well… I wanted to know if you still taught private lessons for dog training.  I remember you once mentioning that you sometimes took on individual dogs that had special problems.” 

“Yes, that’s true.  And just what is Brutus’s problem?” 

“Where do I start?  He doesn’t follow my commands, he has begun tearing up pillows and books, and he won’t stay off the furniture.” 

“Did you teach him not to do any of these things?”   

“I tried but apparently, I don’t know how.  That’s why I am calling you.”  Jackie thought about how much crow she was eating to even call The Dragon, as she continued to think of her. 

“We’ll have to train him in his own environment, if that’s alright with you?” 

“You mean you’ll be coming over here for training?”  Jackie’s voice rose a little. 

“Well, yes.  It won’t teach him not to touch or climb on your personal items if he is trained in the shop.” 

“Oh…I guess you’re right.” 

Casey watched Jackie fidgeting around and snickered as she could just image the conversation.  She hoped that Jackie would agree to Bridget coming over.  She really wanted to see her again and check out if she was as attractive as she appeared.  Casey loved redheads and found she could not get enough of them. 

“Why don’t I come by on Wednesday evening around six and I’ll observe his behavior for awhile.  That will help me to know how he reacts in his own environment.” 

“Sure, six will be fine.  We’ll be expecting you.”   

“Good.  We’ll talk about fees and estimated time after I determine what has to be done.  See you on Wednesday.”  Bridget hung up the phone wondering who the “we” would be. 

“Yes, bye.”  Jackie closed the cover of her cell phone and simply sat quietly with her hand resting on Brutus’s back.  He arched into her touch and she swore he nearly purred as she gently rubbed his fur. 

“So, the hot babe is coming over here.”  Casey finally broke the silence. 

“She said that was the only way to see what he needed.  Damn, I hope we don’t fight any more.” 

“Well, knowing you, you might.  Come on, I’ll help you clean up this mess, and then we can watch that movie.” 

* * * * * 

Three sessions had passed before Bridget was ready to give her evaluation of the process.  During that time, she had observed many of the interaction between Jackie and Brutus.  She could tell that they loved one another unconditionally but Brutus ran the house.  He followed Jackie’s commands only when it suited his mood.   He was in total control of all his own behavior in the house and out of it.  She knew the hardest part was to come.   

“Jackie, this has been an enlightening few days.  Today, I would like you to observe my interaction with Brutus and then, we’ll discuss what needs to be done.” 

“It’s hopeless, isn’t it?” 

“No, not at all but there are some changes you are going to have to make.” 

“Oh thank goddess.  I was afraid I’d have to give him up.”
 

“Don’t even think like that.  It’s going to be fine.” 

Bridget watched as Jackie turned away from her.  She could see her shoulders shaking as she reached up and wiped her eyes.  She walked over to her and touched her shoulder.   

“Jackie, it really is going to be okay.  Brutus is a good dog but just needs more discipline.  It can be done.” 

“I was so afraid you would say he was untrainable and I’d have to give him up.”  Jackie reached out and quickly hugged Bridget, catching her totally off guard. 

Bridget liked the feel of Jackie pressed against her and tentatively hugged her back. 

“We’ll take care of everything,” she said as she lightly stoked Jackie’s hair soothing her. 

Pulling back, Jackie looked into Bridget’s eyes and could see the attraction that was growing between them.  Jackie knew she may not be good with dogs but she excelled in human relationships.  She smiled softly at Bridget and started to say something when the doorbell rang. 

“Excuse me,” she said as she left the room to answer the door. 

What is coming over me? Bridget thought to herself.  It’s not as if I haven’t been dating.  Wow, she really felt good in my arms. 

“Hi, Casey. What’s up?”  Jackie said as she let her best friend through the door. 

“Thought I’d drop in and say hello on my way out, and see how training is going.  Got a “hot” date tonight.”  She rambled as she continued walking toward the den. 

“What the hell are you doing over here then?”  Jackie asked as she tried to catch up with her. 

“Oh, just wanted to know how things are going,” Casey stated as she stepped into the den where Bridget was waiting. 

“Fine.”  “Terrible.” Both women replied at the same time. 

“Well, which is it?” Casey laughingly asked.  “Nice seeing you again, Bridget.” 

“Am I holding you back from something this evening?”  Bridget looked at Jackie and asked. 

“N...no.  Not at all.  Casey stopped by for just a minute.”  Jackie answered quickly. 

“Yeah, I’ve got a date to die for tonight.” she said as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down. 

“Let’s have a seat.”  Jackie said as she walked toward a chair. 

Before she could sit down, Brutus jumped into the chair and lay down, claiming it as his territory.   

Bridget watched Jackie’s hesitation.  Seeing Jackie not moving, she walked to the chair and stopped beside it issuing a single command, “Down.”   

Brutus looked up at Bridget but never moved as if to say ‘make me’. 

Once more, Bridget issued the command but this time she reached out and gently drew Brutus from the chair by pulling him lightly by his collar.  He jumped out of the chair. 

“Good boy.”  Bridget replied.  All three women watched to see what Brutus would do.  He looked up at Bridget and immediately jumped back into the chair. 

Again, she issued the command, “Down,” and once again Brutus gave her a blank look.  She reached out a second time and removed him from the chair by first saying down and guiding him out by his collar. 

They all stood expectantly as for the third time, Brutus jumped up and laid down in the chair.  This time Bridget was a little more forceful in the tone of her command.  Brutus rose without being touched and leaped out of the chair.  He circled at the foot of it and lay down on the floor.   

Every sighed with relief as they sat down to chat until Casey was ready to leave. 

While they chatted, Casey watched Bridget.  She was as attractive as she first thought.  She was tall, well built, tanned, and had red hair.  What more could a woman ask for?  As she watched her movements, she noted that Bridget could barely take her eyes off Jackie.  Every move or word Jackie spoke, Bridget followed. 

So, that’s the way the wind blows. Casey thought to herself.  Guess I’ll leave this one alone. 

“OK, people.  I have to be moving on before my date goes without me.  Jackie, I’ll talk to you later.  Bridget, nice seeing you again.  Don’t get up, I know my way out.”   

Bridget and Jackie watched as Casey left the room. Minutes later, they heard the front door open and close. 

“I like her, she's really nice.” Bridget said breaking the silence. 

“Yeah, we’ve known each other since grade school.  She’s the best friend I’ve ever had.  We are more like sisters than friends.”  Jackie smiled as she thought of Casey. 

Bridget smiled also as she listened to what the relationship was between Jackie and Casey.  Jackie interested her and she wanted to see if perhaps they could go out on a few dates. 

“How did you get Brutus to lie so quietly?  He hasn’t made any effort to get back up.” 

“Jackie, Brutus knows all the commands and what to do.  He doesn’t think you are serious when you issue them.  Sometimes you enforce the commands and other times you let him do what he wants to do.  He is just getting mixed signals.”   

“Well, damn.  Does that mean it’s me?” 

“I am afraid so.  But the good thing is with a little practice you can get him to do exactly what you want and when.” 

“I am so glad to hear that.  Will you be able to help me understand what I need to do?” 

“Of course I will and he’ll do fine.” 

“How can I ever thank you.”   

“You’ve paid for this service and it wasn’t cheap, believe me.”   

“No, you didn’t have to come over here on my turf to see what the problems were, I’m sure.” 

“True, but I know how much you love Brutus and need help.” 

“Then what can I do for YOU?” 

“Would you go out on a date with me?”  Bridget asked shyly. 

Jackie sat back and stared at her.  That was the last thing she expected.  After having spent time with Bridget, she realized she wanted to see more of her and not just about Brutus.  This was like a dream come true. 

“I’d love to.” she finally answered as she watched Bridget begin to fidget with nervousness. 

With a deep sigh of relief, Bridget grinned and said, “Good.  In the meantime, practice giving Brutus a command and making sure he follows through on it.  I think you'll find that in a very short time, he’ll be the angel you want instead of the devil dog he was.” 

Bridget stood to leave and Jackie rose with her.  She forgot about Brutus lying under her feet.  He yelped as she stepped on his foot.  She jumped forward, losing her balance.  Bridget reached out and caught her in her arms, pulling her safely up against her before she could fall onto the corner of the coffee table. 

“Wow…that was close.” Jackie said breathlessly, still held against Bridget.  She could smell Bridget’s cologne.  It was uniquely hers and added to the appeal of the woman.   

Jackie could feel Bridget’s heart racing as she wrapped her arms around her in order to push herself back upright.  No sooner did she open up some space between them than Bridget’s leaned down and caught her mouth with her own warm lips. 

Ummmm. She tastes so good.  Jackie thought as she returned the kiss.   

Slowly Bridget pulled back and looked down into Jackie’s glazed eyes. 

“Hey, you.  Are you okay?”  She asked softly as she reached up and lightly stroked Jackie’s cheek with the back of her hand. 

“Huh…yes…gods, yes.”  Jackie said breathlessly.  “What was THAT?” 

“Just a kiss.”  Bridget said with a grin. 

“That’s what you say.  Can I have another one?”  Jackie asked cheekily. 

This time Bridget drew her tighter against her own body until she could feel Jackie’s breasts pressing against her own.  She reached out with both hands on Jackie’s face and tilted it upward as she angled her own head in order to seal their lips together. 

Jackie moaned as she felt the sweetness of Bridget’s firm lips sucking against her own mouth.  She parted her lips when she felt her probing tongue and allowed entry into her mouth.  Their tongues dueled in erotic play as the kiss deepened and their bodies trembled with ecstasy.  

Bridget could feel Jackie’s hands sliding from her back to her hips where they grasped her hips and pulled her closer until their bodies rocked together.  She could feel the heat rising as their kisses continued.  Recognizing that her passion was getting to the breaking point, she drew back until she rested only her forehead against Jackie’s.  For several minutes, they stood locked together in the intimate embrace.   

As they stood silently enfolded together, Brutus finally decided no one was paying enough attention to him.  He walked over, stood on his hind legs and pressed his front paws against each of the women’s legs.  With one sharp bark, he begged for recognition.  Jackie and Bridget drew apart and reached down to pet his head.  That was all he wanted, the love of the two women in his life.  His tongue lolled happily out of the corner of his mouth and his little nub of a tail wagged a mile a minute.

The End