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Fraser stacked the last of the split logs onto the pile and stretched his back.  While chopping wood wasn't his favorite chore, there was something satisfying in the hard labor.  It also reminded him of his grandfather.  The ax swinging gracefully through the air and then the sharp crack of the wood had held a certain mysticism for him when he was small.  

The sound of the barn door opening brought Fraser back to himself.  Ray slowly walked out of the barn backwards.  Dief stepped out around him and made a grunt of amusement at Fraser.

"One, two, three, four... yup, that's all of them," Ray muttered to himself.

Fraser looked down at the four fuzzy puppies that tumbled after Ray.  They were still quite small.  Diefenbaker was a proud father, but felt his duty pretty much ended there.  Ray had taken it upon himself to take care of the pups since they'd gotten them from Kathy McIver.

"Come on boys.  You got to learn to follow the leader or Fraser will never let you near the sled."

Fraser sat down on the chopping block and smiled at the sight of mama dog Ray trying to keep up with his rambunctious children.  The curious puppies spread all over the yard the moment they got away from the barn door.  Ray was running rapidly from dog to dog trying to herd them back together without much success.  Fraser chuckled at the display.  His chest felt tight with love for his new family.  He'd grown up thinking family was something you couldn't depend on, but Ray was slowly changing that notion.  The object of his affections looked up and caught the expression on his face.

"What are you smiling at, Mountie?" he asked with his hands on his hips, ankle deep in fluffy puppies.

"Same thing I’m always thinking, Ray, that I love you with all my heart."



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