He thought he was stopping for a stray dog in the snow-until he saw what she was hiding beneath her body

lightly at the base of her neck.

When Finn’s turn came, Scout lingered.

Owen knelt carefully. Finn squirmed in his arms, making an indignant little sound. Scout leaned in and pressed her nose to the puppy’s head. Then she turned her face toward Owen. The boy held still.

“I’ll take care of him,” he said.

Scout looked at him for a long, quiet moment, then continue reading …