“Oh yes I can Nick.” Ed replied a broad smile on his face, as he gazed with pride at the source of his friends complaint. “They’re the best working dogs I’ve ever seen.”

“They’re so little.” Nick continued as he stared at the dogs before him. “The cattle will stomp them. Ed my friend you’ve been had.”

“Nick I saw these dogs in action. It’s their size that keeps them alive, that and their speed.”

Al Nick could do was stare in disbelief.

He still couldn’t see it.

Sitting on the ground before him, their eyes firmly on Ed Coverington were three dogs that if they were lucky stood no higher then his knee. They had short little legs a longish body and a head that looked more foxish then doggish.

When, after being overseas for three months, Ed had ridden up to the Barkley ranch and announced he had brought something back with him that would be invaluable to his cattle business Nick and Heath had expected him to bring over news of some new cattle breed or the designs for some new holding pen. Not arrive with these three little dogs in the back of his wagon.

“When they grow a little more maybe.”

“Nick my friend they are fully grown. Benny there.” Ed pointed to the reddest of the group. “Is eighteen months old. Telly.” He pointed to the middle dog, the lighter of the two fully reddish dogs. “He’s fourteen months old and Little Mac.” This time he indicated to the tri-coloured dog. “He’s a year old.”

“Benny? Telly? Little Mac?” Heath choked with laughter as he heard the names. “What kinda names are those for working dogs?”

“I think they’re all charming names.” The voice of Victoria Barkley broke in as she and Audra joined the group. “Welcome home Ed.” She kissed her old friend.

“Victoria, Audra.” Ed gave both the Barkley women a quick kiss.

“Oh how cute.” Audra cooed as she spotted the little dogs “I’ve never seen any like them before. They’re so soft.” She patted each dog on its head. “What are they?”

“They’re Welsh Corgis. “Ed informed them. “Believe it or not they’re cattle dogs.”

“And I still don’t .” Nick put in “Believe it I mean. I said it before and I’ll say it again they’re just too small.” He glared at the trio.

To his surprise and amazement the third of the trio, the one Ed called Little Mac poked his tongue out at him, almost in defiance.

“Did you see that.”

The others all looked at the canine trio.

“He poked his tongue out at me.” Nick pointed to the tri- coloured one. “I swear he deliberately poked his tongue at me.”

“Well Nick you must be seeing things.” Heath commented . The three dogs were still looking at Ed waiting, innocent expressions on their faces.

“Dammit Heath I know what I saw , and what I saw was that mutt poke it’s tongue out at me.”

“Ed about those names.” Heath returned to the original topic of conversation.

“That’s just their house names. Variations on their kennel names.” Ed replied and was caught by the look of surprise on Nick’s face. “Yes they’re all registered with the British Kennel Club Benny there is known as Benjamin Brittan, Telly is really Naraween Telstar and Little Mac there is Riverview Mac Duff.”

“Such long names for such small dogs.” Victoria murmured as Benny sat down beside her and looked up at her. “But they really are adorable.”

“Hey!” Heath exclaimed as he got a paw on the foot and found Telly laying in front of him, his belly exposed, waiting for a scratch . Heath obliged and soon the little dog was enjoying the attention . “So you like that huh?”

“They’ll take all you can give and come back for more.” Ed smiled. “But mind you when it comes to possessiveness these guys are first class. You put a finger where it isn’t supposed to be and they’ll have it.”

“You still can’t convince me that those dogs can round up cattle three times bigger then them and not get trampled.” Nick started the debate again

“You want proof?”

“Only if you want squashed dog.”

“Let five or six cows loose in the there and I’ll guarantee you those dogs will have them cornered without one drop of split blood.”

“Fine.” Nick indicated to some the hands, who allowed five head of cattle to roam loose in the house corall. “Go ahead.”

In amazement the Barkley family watched as through a set of yelled commands, whistles and hand signals the three little dogs raced, maneuvered and generally harassed the loose cattle into one corner of the fenced off area. They gently nipped at the cattle’s heels and then ducked as the cows lashed out with their back hooves, until they had the cattle where they wanted them and Ed gave them the command to drop and stop. Even then the little dogs never once broke eye contact with the cattle.

“Amazing.” Nick sounded impressed and he was. He had just witnessed something incrediable.

“Aren’t they?” Ed smiled with pride and gave each of the trio a reward pat. “Interested?”

“You bet!” Nick was never one to pass up an opportunity.

“Got three females arriving within two months, hoping to start up a breeding program. I’ll let you have one of the first litter you if like. Pick one any one of them and you’ll get a pup from the first litter he sires.”

Nick had no hesitiation in deciding which he wanted and told Ed.

“Fine.”

“Can I have one too?” Audra asked.

“Sure.”

“Not too bad hey?” Ed looked up from where he was still surrounded by dogs. “When you consider that two of these guys were runts of their respective litters and nobody wanted the third.”

“What?” Victoria asked. “They were runts?”

“Yep Telly and Mac were both runts of their litters, and for some reason nobody can figure, Benny here was the last of his litter to go. He wasn’t a runt, he’s got the sweetness nature I’ve ever seen in a dog and yet nobody wanted him.” He gave the dogs a final pat and opened the tailgate of his wagon. “Let’s go boys.”

Each dog then jumped into the wagon.

“One last thing they’re good jumpers too.”

“So which one did you pick?” Heath asked he and Nick watched Ed and his trio drive out of the yard.

“Guess.” Was his response.

From the body of the wagon one doggy head turned and poked his tongue out.