Until he headed back to the house to figure out supper, he didn’t see his guest. As he stepped up to the back porch, he saw the guy—Jase, wasn’t it?—sitting in one of the Mexican style rawhide chairs. Two of Orr’s Blue Heelers sprawled comfortably beside him, and the old Border Collie was there, too. The guy colored when he realized Orr had heard him talking to the dogs.
“I always liked animals,” he said, a shade of defensiveness in his tone. “Can’t have a dog where I live, and I kinda miss that.”
“They can be a lot of company…and out here, damned useful, too. I thought of getting some hounds until they took the bounty off cougars. I wouldn’t want them to run any of the wolves they’ve reintroduced lately, as that would be a big ticket. So I just keep my stock dogs. I help some neighbors
