Faulkner
Member
Some old friends of ours retired last fall and they bought a big RV to travel the country in. In their travels they recently set up in an Arkansas state park that was not too far away and they invited us to stay with them a couple of days. I asked if it was okay with them if I brought Daisy along and they said "absolutely, bring her." We had a great time visiting with our old friends, and "roughing it" in their leather chair adorned land yacht at the camp site, cooking flame kissed steaks on an open pit and microwaving baked potatoes.
Daisy and I also had an interesting encounter during the trip. There are a number of hiking trails in the area including one that circled around the lake in the state park. I decided that I'd get up early and Daisy and I would hike the Huckleberry Trail around the lake, about 3 1/2 miles.
The park has a pretty strict leash policy and I kept Daisy on the leash as we walked through the park to get to the head of the Huckleberry Trail. It was early, and not seeing anyone at all so far, I decided to unfasten Daisy and let her walk with me off leash. She is very well trained and I knew if we saw someone I would immediately recall her and put her back on the leash.
It was a beautiful, clear morning as we hiked the trail and just a little nippy with the temperature in the mid-50's. I had on a pair of khaki cargo shorts and hiking boots and was glad I'd pulled on a hoodie over my T-shirt, although I'd mainly done it as concealment for my little Ruger LC9s 9mm. Daisy was generally walking about 10-15 yards ahead of me but if she ventured much past that I would give a quick whistle and she'd immediately recall to me. If we rounded a turn in the trail where she would lose sight of me she would stop and wait on me and once I caught up she would proceed. So far we'd not seen a soul on the hike.
At about the mile and a half mark we came to a turn in the trail and I saw Daisy perk up and stop. I looked ahead and it appeared through the foliage that there was someone ahead on the trail wearing a red jacket of some sort. At this point I heard a female voice say, "hello Daisy, come here girl."
Daisy sat, then turned and looked back at me. I took a few quick steps to catch up and as I approached Daisy I reached down and snapped on the leash. I stood up and saw a gray haired lady in a red jacket sitting on a resting bench that was next to the trail.
"I'm sorry ma'am, I hope we didn't startle you," I said.
She looked up at me and said, "oh no, I saw her name on her vest and thought I'd be friends with her. She is such a pretty dog. Can I pet her."
"Yes ma'am." I walked Daisy over and she sat down in front of the lady and as she extended her hand to pet Daisy, Daisy reached out her paw to "shake". They shook hands then the lady patted Daisy on the head, and then I saw tears well up in her eyes.
"Are you okay ma'am," I asked.
"Yes, yes . . . would you mind sitting with me for a moment?"
I stepped over to the other end of the bench and sat down. I tugged for Daisy to come over with me then gave her the command "up" and she jumped up on the bench and sat between the lady and I. I reached out my hand and said, "my name is Faulkner."
She took it and said "I'm Betty."
As we sat we both looked out over the lake watching the early morning fog roll across the smooth as glass water. Betty was rubbing Daisy behind her ears and Daisy was eating it up, after a few moments she laid her head in Betty's lap. We sat quietly for a minute or two then Betty asked, "do you believe in angels?"
"I sure do," I answered.
"Well," she said, "your Daisy is my angel today. I'm here this week with my daughter and her husband and my grandkids for a get away. It was one year ago this week that my husband of 51 years was killed in a car wreck."
"I'm very sorry to hear that."
"With my husband was our 4 year old German Shepherd that went just about everywhere with my him. She was killed in the wreck too."
I didn't respond. After a bit she looked over at me with the tears in her eyes and said, "our dog's name was Daisy."
"So, you can see," she continued, "I was out here by myself thinking about my husband, and Daisy, and how much I miss them when up walks this beautiful border collie wearing her "Daisy" name patch. I knew immediately she was an angel dog."
We sat for a few more minutes not saying anything as she stroked Daisy's head.
She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a Kleenex and dabbed her eyes, then looked back at me and said, "now you two go on about your hike, you don't have to sit here and listen to a crazy old woman carry on."
"Well ma'am, I don't think you're crazy."
"Thank you, that's nice of you to say."
I looked down at Daisy and said, "Daisy, the next time that you roll in one of the cow patties in our pasture I'm going to have a hard time remembering you are an angel dog."
Betty smiled at that.
I stood and Daisy jumped down off the bench, ready to head on down the trail.
I reached out to shake her hand and she took it again. "Thank you Faulkner, I appreciate you and Daisy stopping to visit with me."
"I'm glad we did."
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