Steele-Glory Hound
Chapter One
Steele woke up to find himself surrounded by people. His memory came back like a flash. The snow, the wolves, the fall down the cliff. He pushed himself into a sitting position. His ears angled to the sound of a tall man with a musher’s hat on.
“Looks like he was once well taken care of. See around his neck where the hair is shorter? He obviously wore a big collar but a while ago because the hair is starting to grow back.” Steele turned his head and looked at the back of his neck. His neck felt so bear without the golden collar he had so proudly worn. After he had run away the collar had gotten torn off in his fight with the wolves.
“The fight that I lost.” He muttered to himself. An exclamation of surprise came from one of the bystanders.
“Why that looks like Steele! You know the champion racer who abandoned his team during that storm?” he said. The tall man who had spoken earlier shrugged.
“ Well I’ll take him in. My boy could use a dog since I got his sister Lily.” He picked Steele up and began carrying him off. Steele was much to exhausted to make a fuss. The man carried him to his house , went inside and put him down on the couch. It puzzled Steele. His former master had always taken care of him and treated him well, he had never actually been kind to him. He picked his head up and looked around. The room was pretty big. The man walked in followed by a women who Steele assumed was his wife.
“Oh Lance! He’s all bloody. Please get me a bowl of hot water. The veterinarian is out of town, He had to go get more supplies , so I guess I can take care of him until he gets back.” Steele lifted his head as she washed his wounds. A movement caught his eye and a reddish husky trotted up and nosed as the women’s hand. She laughed and patted the dogs head.
“Hey there Lily this is the new dog we are taken care of…I guess his name is Steele…that’s who they think he is.” Steele tossed his head and lay back down. He had absolutely no interest in dogs who looked like the one who got him chased out of
“Jenna…” He blamed her. If she had not loved Balto , none of it would have happened. The husky held her head high and trotted out of the room. Steele grumbled and flicked his ears. The women patted his head.
“ There you go Steele. Just relax right there.” She picked up the remaining bandages and the bucket of water and walked away. The husky entered the room with a small bone in her mouth. Steele’s mouth began to water. He hadn’t had any bones in 5 months.
“Hey…dog” she stopped and looked at him with a annoyed look on her face,
“What” she said.
“Um can I have that bone?” he asked hesitantly.
“Well..Steele..if Kimberly had wanted you to have a bone I’m sure she would have given you one, but since she didn’t and I’ve develop a disliking to you , which isn’t my fault I might add, I don’t think I’m inclined to give this bone to you.” She stalked out of the room. Steele shrugged.
“I won’t be bothered by a women who looks way to much like Jenna.” He shrugged and went to sleep.
Chapter Two
Lily stalked outside with her bone in her mouth. She walked to the giant tree in the middle of the town where her friends frequently met. Three of her friends were sitting there chatting.
“Bear , Rachel , Kevin! What’s up…where is Tasha? She asked as she trotted up.
“She went to
“Oh yeah Kim said that he was out of town. That’s why she had to take care of Steele on her own.
“Hold on..did you say Steele?” asked Kevin.
“Yes. And yes it is the Steele. The one from
“Wow. Can you take me to see him? They say he’s really cute? “ Asked Rachel. Lily shook her head. 6 months ago she had always dreamed about Steele just like every dog.
“He’s nothing but a glory hound. I can tell. Even bloody and exhausted he still thinks he can have anything. He had the nerve to asked me for my bone right after he gave me that dirty look.” She shrugged. Her ears perked and the sound of her girl calling her reached her.
“I gotta go. Aprils home from school.” She waved her tail in farewell and trotted toward her house. Her girl was standing at the door and let her in. She patted her on the head and went to her room to do her homework.
Lily bounded into the living room. She forgot that Steele was in there. She practically ran into him.
“ Oh..um sorry.” She said.
“Um yeah sure..hey um Lily? I know we kind of got of on the wrong foot..but um.. do you think we could have a truce long enough for you to show me around?” he asked. Lily didn’t know what came over her but she bristled at him.
“Show yourself around Steele. I’m sure that you don’t need a dog of no importance to show you around a small town that probably doesn’t compare to your precious
“Actually I think you’re a gorgeous dog that looks like someone I used to know which Is why I hate you so much!” This time it was his turn to stalk off. Lily shook her head with anger. Whoever he used to know must have hated him.
“I think I like whoever that dog is.” she thought. April’s brother Kurt ran in.
“Lily where is my dog?” Lily led the boy to where Steele was sitting. The boy ran and flung himself at the dog. Lil saw Steele cringe in pain as the boy made him land on the wound on his shoulder. He moaned but Kurt didn’t notice. He motion to Steele.
“Steele come one let go play outside.” Steele sat down stubbornly.
“Sorry kid, but im staying put.” He growled. The boy shrugged and went outside on his own. Lily walked quietly up to him.
“Steele?”
“What?”
“Who do I remind you of?” Steele’s silence made her nervous.
“Listen I don’t want to talk about this.” He growled.
Chapter Three
Steele shook his head.
“Fine, go ahead and sit down.” He watched as Lily sat down.
“Well as I’m sure you know I was once the champion sled dog in
“Well I certainly can.” Lily retorted. Steele felt anger surg through him but he didn’t show it.
“Whatever. She like Balto instead. I was picked to pick up the medicine for the diphtheria epidemic. I got lost. Balto came to “rescue”. He didn’t care about the poor kids. All he wanted was to win Jenna’s heart..and she fell for it. I admit that I made up a few lies to make him sorry. So I get chased out of
“You hate Jenna don’t you? That’s why you hate me. Well Steele I think you’re a stuck-up glory hound. Plus I’m glad Jenna finally got someone she deserves.” She snarled. Steele stood nose to nose with her.
“Listen girl, you weren’t there you don’t know what it’s like.” He wheeled around and stalked off. He decided to go outside and have a look around. As soon as he walked out he was standing face to face with a female beagle.
“Ohh Steele is it. My name is Rachel.” She rubbed up against him. Steele shook his head.
“I’m tired of this.” He snarled. He shoved the dog aside and she stumbled to the ground. He walked off his tail waiving in the air. People all around stopped to pet him and talk to him and al the female dogs were falling over themselves trying to talk to him. He must have made an enemy in Rachel because she completely ignored him after he pushed her over. He didn’t care. He was Steele after all and he had all the girls he needed. Lily annoyed him because not only did she look like Jenna but she also acted like Jenna.
He looked at the sky as it slowly darkened. He turned around and trotted back home. He walked into the dog door and headed toward the couch. He stopped when he saw Lily lying there.
“Get off Lily. You know I sleep there.” He growled. She laughed and tossed her head.
“You wish Steele. This has been where I have slept since I was a puppy. Your bed is over there.” She said pointing to the corner with her nose. It was a pile of blankets. He grumbled loudly to him self as he laid down on the blankets. The lights in the house went out as the family went to bed. April and Kurt walked by and said goodnight to there dogs. The two dogs lay silent for about and hour. Steele heard Lily stir on the couch.
“Steele? I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about what I said..even if it was true. I think that you should stop thinking about yourself so much and more about other people… Steele?” she called. Steele acted like he was asleep and he finally heard her breathing get quiet. He stood up and walked over to her. “I wish I wanted to kill you.” He thought to himself. He felt so much anger…
Chapter Four
Lily woke up and lifted her head of the pillow.
“ Day one with Steele-success in the since that I haven’t killed him yet.”She jumped of the couch. Today was bath day. She walked over and tapped Steele on the shoulder.
“Come on we have to get our baths today.” Steele looked up at her,
“Your kidding right?” he asked
“Nope. Comeone.” She walked to Kimberly and Lance’s bedroom door. She barked once and the door opened. Kimberly already had a big bucket of water filled.
“Go on in Lily .” She jumped into the bucket and barked happily.
“Oh brother.” She heard Steele murmur. She tossed her head and enjoyed her bath.
When it was over Kim dried her off. And she tried to get Steele to jump into the water but he wouldn’t . Lily shook her head in annoyance.
“ Oh come on Steele. Stop being like that and just get in.” She tossed her head. Steele stepped into the water and Kimberly poured water on his head. He growled but didn’t move. She soaped him down, rinsed, and the dried him off . He jumped away from her as soon as he possibly could.
“Now that wasn’t so bad was it?” She asked as she walked outside with him.
“Yes it as so bad. Where I used to live my owner let the snow wash me off.”
“ Which explains why you stunk so bad when they found you. For being the mighty Steele you sure do have bad hygiene.” She retorted.
Steele snarled and walked off. Lily noticed that the flock of girls around him had gotten smaller and smaller. Lily shrugged and begin walking toward the butcher shop. He sometimes gave the town dogs some meat if he had enough on hand. She stopped whe she heard someone calling her name. She turned to see Bear bounding toward her.
“Hey Bear what’s up?” Bear stared bashfully at his paws.
“You wanna go with me to the race tomorrow. I know you usually just go with your owners but I won’t be racing this year because of my accident and I’ve never watched it before and..”
“Whoa whoa just slow down Bear , of coarse I’ll go with.”
“Oh that’s so sweet I’m gonna cry.” Said a voice. Lily didn’t have to look. Steele started laughing and Bear limped forward ready to jump at him. Steele was making a big show of rolling on the ground and laughing. Lily held Bear back and flicked her tail across his mouth to silence him. She shoved her paws deep into the snow picking up a ball of snow and dirt. She walked up to Steele.
“Very funny Steele” She shoved the ball into his mouth. His eyes bulged and he begin coughing. The snow shot out and he lunged at Lily.
“Alright you. I’ve had enough. I could kill you right now.” She snarled.
“Shut up Steele you deserved what you got.” Bear helped her up and off they walked.
Chapter 4
Steele shook his head in frustration. His life had gone from great to bad to terrible. She walked back to the house and decided to mope in a corner and fill sorry for him self. This was also the first time that he had actually cared about someone an ounce. The weird the was he hated her to. A noise got his attention and he turned around to see Lily.
“ What was that about?” she snarled. He blurted put without thinking.
“ I as gonna ask you to the race and I was mad that your going out with Bear.”
“What? Im not going out with Bear! He has been depressed since the sled fell on his hind leg and I just thought he could use some cheering up!” Steele felt himself get excited.
“So you do like me?” He asked hopefully. Lily snorted.
“Keep dreaming glory hound.” With that she waltzed out of the room.
Steele was mad at himself. He didn’t like her. No more than he like any of the other dogs he had dated. Suddenly and idea came to him.
“I’ll join the race!” He bounded out side to practice. He hadn’t run in a while because of his shoulder.
He practiced for hours that day and the next. The race was at 6 o’clock and he was determined to be there and win. He hadn’t given thought that the winner would be auctioned to any one to be put into a certain job. Like mail dog, police dog, or more humiliating, garbage dog. All he thought about was winning. By 6 he was at the starting line.
Chapter 5
Lily and Bear made there way through the crowd to the front lines. Lily heard a sigh from Bear.
“I wish I was there.” He murmured. Lily was about to answer when she caught sight of the familiar black and white pelt at the starting line.
“Bear! It’s Steele!” Bear gasped and limped toward the starting line with Lily at his heels.
“Steele are you crazy?” Steele smirked and didn’t answer. The gun barked and the dogs shot off. Steele was immediately in the lead. Actually he was trying to get past Neal, another glory hound who everyone expected to win. Neal’s owner planned to get him at the head of the police dog force. It was a lot of power for them both.
Lily heard the report of the one mile pistol. Second…third…She turned to look at the finish line and saw Steele. He was going to win.
BANG! A gunshot came out of no where and Steele fell. Neal came into view and crossed the finish line.