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The treats she left behind after each visit had already worked wonders Now, instead of growling when she approached, they wagged their tails and jumped around with excitement

So precious And they just happened to be her favorite breed: rescue Okay, okay, they were also a e, square heads ide, muscled chests like pit bulls Except, in terrown Great Danes--roughly one hundred and twenty pounds--even though their (extra sharp) teeth told her they were both under fourmutts and I cannot lie

Biscuit had a serious underbite Gravy, as mostly white, had a line of black fur over his upper lip The ht--the canine version of does this hurt, huh, huh, does it, well, what about this?

Three times she’d fit them with collars, and three times they’d ripped the leather to shreds only a few minutes later They hated the leash and bucked like rodeo bulls every time she tried to lead them

Anytime another humanor immortalneared them, the pair stilled and quieted Not with fear--which hat she’d expected--but curiosity They observed the world around theed color with their e she’d never seen in a dog before

The dogs becaitated only when Baden approached, and she wasn’t sure why

Her o to hell

Not that Biscuit and Gravy were hers But she knew deep in her heart Baden wasn’t all bad He couldn’t be He’d taken care of her for daysweeks He’d bathed her--won’t think about that--fed her, given her shelter and a closet full of clothing More than that, he’d co the worst of her despair Actually, he still co her curled up in bed, feeling as if she were drowning, he would gather her close and pet her until she felt norain

Do I even knohat normal is anymore?

He came and henever he pleased And even when he didn’t please; he would disappear with a scowl, the bands on his arht red Sometimes he returned in the same condition he left Sometimes he returned covered in blood Every time, he appeared to her first, wherever she happened to be

The very first time, she’d offered to wash him the way he’d once washed her He’d accepted reluctantly, as if he expected her to attack while his back was turned The second ti before she could utter a single word