Ethel takes a few deep breaths.

"I... I don't think I'll be able to take care of this dog for you, young lady. He's a little too much for me, as you said. So sorry for troubling you. Guess I'm not as young as I used to be."

Thanking Ethel for her time and insisting on covering her bus fare, they part ways. Fate looks down at Shepherd as they return to the apartment. 

"Mean. But hilarious," she said to the dog. He snorted back, and Fate could swear she saw a little doggie smile.

Fate managed to shower and make herself presentable before her final applicant arrived. Two brisk knocks on the door announced his arrived. Fate found herself looking up into the clear blue eyes of a well built young man. He was wearing the attire of a man recently arrived in the city: denim, flannel, work boots. His appearance, as well, seemed to possess an aura of the country about him. He was tall, broad shoulder, and muscular, but he seemed unassuming as he removed his cap and ran a hand through his light brown hair. A genuine smile lit up his face as he extended a large hand toward Fate, who accepted the handshake.

"Good morning, Miss. Name's Jack Carter. I'm here about the- hey there, pal!"

Grinning, he lithely dropped down to Shepherd's level, where the dog approached him and sniffed his hand before letting his tongue relaxedly roll out of his mouth and extending a paw, which Jack shook, chuckling.

Fate looked on as Shepherd showed off some of his skills. 

"Nice to meet you, Jack. Please come in. Can I offer you anything?" She asks, having a seat herself and paying particular attention to Shepherd's reaction. Half a dozen applicants now, with 3 or 4 showing potential. Hopefully a decision would be made soon.
"Oh, my name's Fate, by the way."

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Fate. If you've got coffee brewing already I'll have some of that; if not, water's just fine."

Lowering his large form onto the couch, Fate noticed Shepherd mirroring the movements as he sat as well. Jack looked down at the dog and Fate realized, seeing Shepherd looking back, that Jack and Shepherd had quite a bit in common, at least physically. They were both powerful, but graceful and unassuming.

"And what's this boy's name here?"

"Shepherd," she calls out as she fetches two coffees from the kitchen. "Cream and sugar?" 

Jack laced his fingers together as he glances toward the kitchen. Under his breath, he talks to Shepherd.

"Ad didn't say she was so pretty. You lucky dog. Literally."

Shepherd made a sound that sounded like a cough and Jack smiled to himself.

"Just a little cream, Ma'a-Miss. Sorry. Force of habit."

Returning from the kitchen, Fate places two coffees down and takes a seat. 

"So what made you answer the ad, Jack? Have you handled dogs previously?" She couldn't help but think 'cattle farmer'. He certainly looked the part. All that was missing was the horse and spurs.

"Well first off, thank you for the coffee."

He takes a sip before settling it back on the table.

"Well, I grew up on a farm so I've had plenty of experience with animals, including dogs. I moved to the city a couple weeks back and I've been trying to find work. I can always find something to do lugging stuff around a warehouse, but it doesn't really pay so great. And I've missed being around animals, to be honest. Well, when I saw your ad it just seemed like a perfect fit. Spend some time with a dog and get paid a real good amount of money."

Fate nods as she listens. "I see. Well, Shepherd actually works. He has jobs that he performs. What we're looking for is a human counterpart for him when I'm not here, someone that can assist him in his duties. It's quite a step beyond feeding and walking, hence the considerable pay. And some of the things he would be doing, well...it would be a 'don't ask, don't tell' situation, if I'm to be perfectly candid," she says, watching the young man's face for any reactions to her words.

He raises a surprised eyebrow and the corner of his mouth twitches.

"Well, I started figurin' there had to be a catch somewhere, watching a nice dog for a beautiful woman. Is he security? Are you a...?"

The young man's face turns red.

Fate laughs. "No, and no. But the work I do, WE do, is...frowned upon by certain...agencies. I'm not hiring someone with the intent of asking them to partake in any wrongdoing, but discretion is mandatory." She says, a bit amazed that a country boy wouldn't run screaming back to Mama on the farm. Or worse, the cops.

Jack audibly exhales.

"Miss Presor, I don't have a problem keeping my mouth shut. I've got a couple uncles who do some brewing in their bathtub, if you get my drift. Don't really see that as wrong. I just wouldn't want to be in a situation where I'd have to hurt someone unless I was trying to help somebody else or I was defending myself. Do you think that'd happen?"

"I would never expect the man or woman I hire to do anything they wouldn't do naturally. I can't tell you this will be the safest job out there, again, that's what the good pay is for, but what you choose to do above and beyond assisting Shepherd, or even myself, with small jobs around town is entirely up to you. And would be paid accordingly," she adds. 

Jack grinned.

"I wouldn't mind walking into harm's way with you, Fate. Everything you're saying sounds good to me. Any other questions? Tests?"

She pauses for a moment in thought, looking at Shepherd. Thinks he scares easy?

"Maybe you'd like to ask Shepherd?"

Jack just laughed, but Shepherd cocked his head to the side as if something hadn't occurred to him before. Stretching, he walked over to Jack and barked excitedly. After a few moments of trying to pet him, Jack stood up- and found himself at the center of a whirlwind of fur.
Shepherd would bound around the man, eventually leaping at him and planting his two front paws before popping back for another round.

"Oh, you want a workout boy?"

The two males sparred for a few minutes- Shepherd never growled or bared his teeth and Jack seemed to be enjoying himself as he'd reach out and push the dog's chest back in mid-air. They both had excellent reflexes- although Fate could tell that Shepherd was holding something back. That was clear when the session came to an end, as Shepherd launched himself faster than he had before and knocked the broad shoulder man back on the couch. His head fell back and landed in Fate's lap for just a moment before he curled up and veritably popped off the couch.

"Sorry about that."

He looked down at the dog; they were both breathing heavily.

"So, I do okay?"

Shepherd barked once and went to sit next to Fate.

Laughing, Fate replied. "You did very well, Jack. I need to make a decision, possibly today. May I get your number? And how soon could you start?"

Jack picks up the pen on the table and writes his name and number on the piece of paper. Smiling, he hands the paper to Fate.

"This number is a boarding house I'm renting- feel free to leave a message for me there. I could start immediately, if you'd like. And whatever happens, I'd love to get a call from you, even if you decide to pick someone else."

He grins.

"You know, now that I've admitted that I don't have any money. Still be happy to take you to dinner."

With a strange mix of reticence and quiet confidence, Jack shrugs on his jacket- Fate notices the muscles of his shoulders and upper back, while Shepherd seems preoccupied with a bird that has landed outside the window.

"Nice meeting you, Fate."

Closing the door behind him, Fate looks at Shepherd.

"Well, what do you think? The elderly are out. And I didn't much care for the first, smarmy one. So that leaves...the girl?"

Shepherd whines.

"The young man?"

Whine, paw tap.

"Or the silver fox."

Shepherd starts barking rambunctiously, spinning around several times as he does so. Smiling, Fate walks to the telephone, finds the correct piece of paper, and dials the number.

"Mr. Roberts, we've made a decision. Can you start tomorrow?"