Emma nodded slowly, but her gaze never left Rex’s tense form. Lucy was almost always right about the K9. But Rex wasn’t scanning the room for threats or unfamiliar scents like he normally did. He was listening, intently and urgently. Just then, Emma’s mother stepped into the chamber, dabbing at her teary eyes with a crumpled tissue, forcing a bright smile through her happy tears. The second she crossed the threshold, Rex moved in an instant.
He stepped firmly between Emma and her mother, his body stiff and unyielding, clearly blocking the woman from getting any closer. The entire room fell dead silent in an instant. “Emma? Why is he acting like this?” her mother whispered, her voice shaky and confused. “He’s fine,” Emma replied quickly, resting a gentle hand on Rex’s muscular back. She could feel how tight his muscles were beneath her palm, coiled like a loaded spring. “He’s trained to stay vigilant all the time. I guess the big crowd isn’t helping his nerves.”
