there I set down my money and barked at him.

Matt laughed and patted my head, "Oh so who's the lucky lady getting some flowers?"

"I don't have time for this!" I barked at him.

Matt just laughed and said, "So, which ones do you want?"

I walked over to the roses and poked one with my nose.

Matt let out a hardy laugh, "A good choice." he said picking them up. "Here you are now," he said handing them to me. I took them in my jaws and bounded off towards Dusty's house.

I had it all planned out now. I would tell her how pretty she looked, then I would give her the flowers and we would live happily ever after, right?

WRONG!

I was just about to pad into her yard when I heard Ralph. I hid behind a tree and peered out.

"Where you been girl?" He asked her irritatedly, "I've been lookin' all over for you!"

"I uh-" Dusty began. Then Ralph's nose twitched.

"What is that?" He sniffed again. Ralph leaned forward to sniff Dusty. Dusty leaned away.

"What, what are you talking about? I- I don't smell anything!" She said quickly.

Ralph sniffed Dusty again. "Kodi!" He spat out my name like it was bad tasting medicine on his tounge. "You've been with Kodi?"

"I- uh- I can explain," Dusty said quickly.

Ralphs fur rose on the back of his neck. "You been cheatin' on me girl?" He yelled.

"No! Ralph it's not like that!" Dusty said.

Ralph raised a paw, everything seemed like slow motion as I dropped the roses, ran and jumped. I landed squarley on Ralphs shoulder's, and I certainly had the element of surprise on my side. Ralph crashed to the ground, he reathed and kicked, it was hard to stay on top of him. I layed a paw on his throat and pushed down a little.

"Don't you ever lay a paw on Dusty, is that clear?" I asked.

"Crystal," he coughed out.

I got off of him and he got up, slowly, with his tail between his legs. Then he crawled off somewhere, probably to his own house. I shook out my fur and looked at Dusty.

"Thank you Kodi," She said, "I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there to save me. Why were you here anyway?" She said cocking her head to the side. I ran back to the tree and grabbed the roses.

"I came to give you these," I said setting them down at her paws.

"Oh Kodi!" she said giving them a sniff, "They're beautiful!"

I looked off to my right, where the shorline was, the sun was setting. Dusty licked my cheek and I looked back at her and smiled. Dusty giggled and bounded of towards the ocean. I bounded off after her, into the beautiful Nome, Alaska sunset.