"Oh, I'm so sorry," Jeremiah apologized, although on second glance it didn't really seem as if the boy, for he hardly looked old enough to b e considered a man, was overly bothered by it. And on a third glance, Jeremiah wondered at his dog offering his paw to the boy so easily. He was a stranger, and beyond that, he was rather dirty - a fact that probably bothered him more than it bothered the dog if he were being honest. But that thought led to the question of what the boy was doing out here digging in the dirt in the first place. A question punctuated by the notion that it seemed the boy was seeing Jeremiah's suggestion of the leash as meant for him and not for the dog.
Concern crossed Jeremiah's face, and he snapped his fingers at Heart. The dog looked up, reluctantly pulled her paw from the boy's and circled back to Jeremiah's side, but the looked up at him.
"I hope she didn't bother you," Jeremiah offered with a shrug. "She's not used to being around people too much yet." There'd been only one in the house, and then himself.
His gaze took in the boy in front of him, and then he glanced around. "Are you looking for something?"