The Perfect Candidate (32 page)

“We just have one more breeder to see,” Michael said, after they had stopped for a quick bit to eat at lunchtime.  He had already taken Ashley to see a litter of Red Setters, one of collies, and another of Great Danes. 
You
’
re determined to get a big dog then, aren
’
t you?
  She had asked, amused, after they had left the last place.

“What are we seeing next?” she asked, sipping the last of her diet coke, and then following Michael back outside to the car.

“Labradors,” Michael grinned, a touch sheepishly.

Ashley giggled. 
“
I
’
m not going to find my little purse dog today, am I?
”
she teased.

Michael made a face, as he held the car door open and helped Ashley climb in. 
“
Why anyone would want one of those ratty little fashion accessories is beyond me,
”
he muttered, walking around to the driver
’
s side of the vehicle.

“So, what’
s been your favorite so far?
”
Ashley asked, deciding that it was pointless to try to argue the merits of cute
little
dogs to a man who was obviously determined to buy some huge great beast.

“I think the collies,” Michael said thoughtfully, which surprised Ashley a little.  They were by far the smallest dogs they had seen.  “Buster was a collie,” he said, smiling boyishly.  The slightly uncertain grin melted Ashley’
s heart.

“Well, they were adorable!” she enthused, but then she had wanted to take home every animal that they had seen so far.  “But maybe you’
ll fall in love with one of the Labradors?
”

“I don’
t know,
”
Michael said doubtfully, starting up the engine and backing out of the parking space.  They were back on the road again in seconds. 
“
I
’
ve always considered getting a black lab, but when I spoke to the breeder she warned me that this litter was chocolate.

“Oh, but you hardly ever see chocolate Labradors, Michael!” Ashley gushed.

“And that’
s a good thing?  It
’
s probably because no one wants them!
”
Michael chuckled wryly.

Ashley pouted at him. 
“
Aww, don
’
t say that!  I have a good feeling about this one,
”
she beamed. 
“
I
’
m sure we
’
ll find your Lolly here!
”

“Remus,” Michael growled, but was ignored.

“How far away is this last place?” Ashley asked, absently peering out of her window at the passing scenery. 

Michael was still muttering under his breath about the name that
he
intended to choose for his dog, and she thought it would be better to draw him into conversation rather than let him dwell on it.  While he told her about the farm and the breeder that they were heading towards next, Ashley let her own thoughts wonder over what a very, almost surprisingly, pleasant day they had spent together.

She had rarely seen Michael so relaxed and at ease.  She knew that his job was a stressful one.  It would be
the
most stressful job in the world if he got elected, and although Michael never complained, it was obvious for anyone to see the strain of the daily pressure that he was put under.  It was different side of him again that she saw when they were in bed of course
…
but it was still, and perhaps especially, not the carefree, almost boyish side of his character that was on display in the man sat beside her at present.

“Here we are then, this is it,” Michael announced, turning off the main road onto a dirt track.  “The farmhouse is meant to be just a couple of miles up this road,” he told Ashley.

She nodded silently and kept her eyes peeled, smiling when they rounded a corner and she saw the building come into view.  There was a lady sitting on the front porch peeling potatoes.  A large chocolate brown Labrador was curled up at her feet.  He lifted his head and barked when he heard the jeep, and then his tail started to wag frantically when he saw Michael and Ashley climb out.

“Mrs. Henderson?” Michael called.  “I’
m Michael Reese.  I called about the Labrador puppies.
”

The woman got to her feet, laughing slightly to herself. 
“
Well
of course
you
’
re Michael Reese!
”
she cried, wiping her hands in her apron before shaking the hand that Michael offered her. 

Ashley tried not to look too amused by the starry-eyed glaze that had washed over Mrs. Henderson
’
s face.  She was getting used to this affect that Michael had on women
…
on her too, if she let him.  He introduced her, and then asked again about the puppies, as the full-grown lab danced excitedly around their feet.

“Oh, of course!” Mrs. Henderson said, flushing warmly, as she realized that she was staring at Michael.  “They’
re just around the back.  Down Toby!
”
she yelled, when the dog, Toby apparently, started getting a little too boisterous. 
“
Sorry, they just
love
people!
”
she apologized, tugging on his collar.

Michael laughed and scratched the dog
’
s ears. 
“
Well, I
’
d rather have a friendly dog than a vicious one,
”
he grinned.

Perhaps so
, Ashley thought to herself, but she was having a hard time picturing a dog of this temperament living in the White House, of all places!  She held in a giggle, heaven knew how much damage it might do to the priceless furnishings!

“Come on, Ash,” Michael said, catching hold of her hand and tugging her along after him.

“I’
m coming!
”
she laughed, although she was struggling to keep up with his long, eager strides, as he followed the retreating figure of Mrs. Henderson around to the back of the house. 

Mrs. Henderson gave Michael an account of the full pedigree of the puppies she would be showing them today, before leading them inside a shed, where the puppies in question were being housed.

“Oh Michael!” Ashley squealed.  Five little balls of brown fluff started to yap excitedly when they saw the three humans enter the shed.  “They’
re adorable!
”
she gushed.

“You’
ve been saying that all day!
”
Michael reminded her, laughing mildly.

Ashley poked her tongue out at him, but then she turned her attention back to the puppies.  She asked Mrs. Henderson if she could go in with them, and when she was told yes she stepped inside the enclosure and crouched down to stroke one.  All five little dogs instantly started to clamber over her, chewing at her laces and licking at her fingers.

“You okay in there?” Michael chuckled, watching as the puppies besieged Ashley.

“Yes, fine!” Ashley beamed, cooing at them lovingly.  “Aren’
t you coming in?
”
she asked, tickling one little brown tummy.

“In a minute,” Michael grinned.  He was still talking to Mrs. Henderson, asking her questions about the best diet for the puppies, and size and speed with which they would grow.  He wanted to know if they were prone to any particular types of disease, and then asked to see the bitch and dog that they had been bred from.

“That all sounded like you were taking things very seriously?” Ashley said to Michael.  Mrs. Henderson had left them alone for a few minutes.  She had gone to see if she could find the vet’
s history for the puppies
’
mother. 
“
I don
’
t think you
’
ve been quite so thorough anywhere else,
”
she said slowly.

“No?” Michael smiled.  He stepped into the pen too, and the puppies were beside themselves with excitement- not knowing which person they wanted to love more!  “These are the puppies that you like best though?” he asked, although it was really more of a statement.

“Oh, but- it’
s going to be
your
dog, Michael,
”
Ashley said urgently. 
“
You really need to be the one to choose
…”

“But I trust your judgment,” he said smoothly, dazzling Ashley with one of his most charming smiles.  He turned his attention to the dogs.  “Which one do you think looks most like a Remus?” he asked thoughtfully.

“I think this one is a perfect Lolly,” Ashley said sweetly, nodding to the puppy that had climbed onto her lap, and was sitting there contentedly, happily wagging its tail, as its brothers and sisters tried to knock it down from its exulted position.

“Ashley,” Michael growled.  “We are not calling our- the dog, Lolly,” he sighed, picking up the puppy that had been sitting on her lap.  He looked it over, while the wriggling bundle of fur tried desperately to lick his nose.  “Well, it’
s certainly a happy little-
”
he checked
“
-boy.

“Do you think he’
s a little bit smaller than the others?
”
Ashley frowned.  Truthfully, that was part of what had drawn her to him, but she was worried that Michael wouldn
’
t want a dog that was anything short of perfect.

Michael shrugged. 
“
I
’
m sure he
’
ll grow.  What do you say then, Remus?
”
he said, addressing the dog now. 
“
How do you fancy being the next President
’
s dog?
”
he grinned.