Maria blinked. “He… never does that. Not with strangers. And definitely not with children.” Emily felt the warm tug in her chest deepen. “Maybe he just needed the right people.” But David wasn’t convinced. “Or maybe he’s unpredictable,” he murmured, voice low enough that only Emily heard. “We can’t assume this is safe.”
Maria nodded sympathetically. “We’ll walk you through everything. Slow introductions. Boundaries. Structure. He’s gentle. But trauma can make even the kindest dog unsure of itself.” She softened. “Still… look at him. He’s choosing you.” Emily turned to Ranger. His gaze met hers—steady, calm, almost pleading.