Summer Shadows Read Free Page B

dog.”
    Puppy was not convinced. She let out a shriek guaranteed to raise the dead. At least it roused Marsh Winslow.
    “What in the world?” He stood at the edge of his back porch and stared at her. This time he had papers in only one hand.
    “Call off your dog,” Abby ordered. “He’s scaring my cat.”
    “She doesn’t sound scared to me.”
    Abby pushed at Fargo. “And you, you monster, get away from my car. You’re drooling all over it.” She stared with disgust at the saliva sliding down the shiny paint.
    “Here, Fargo.” Marsh rattled his papers. “Here, boy. Let the poor kitty alone.”
    Abby slitted her eyes and stared at Marsh. Was that laughter she heard in his voice? Or sarcasm? His face was a bland mask, but she was sure he was enjoying her distress.
    Fargo gave one last bark, then padded to Marsh’s side where he sat, tongue lolling, the picture of innocence.
    With a snort, Abby turned to Puppy, who was muttering to herself as she turned circles in her cage. Abby opened the car door. “It’s okay, baby. The mean dog’s gone. Don’t you worry. Mommy’ll protect you.”
    Abby thought she heard a snort from Marsh—or maybe it was Fargo—but she didn’t look their way. She slid in beside Puppy and poked a finger into the cage. Immediately the cat rubbed herself against it, purring sweetly.
    “Good baby,” Abby crooned. “Sweet Puppy. Let me take you upstairs where you’ll be safe.”
    She grasped the handle on the top of the cage and, Puppy in hand, slid awkwardly out, hauling herself upright by pulling on the car door. When it started to close because of her weight, she lost her balance and fell backward. She let out a little squeak as she landed sitting on the edge of the backseat.
    Instantly Marsh was there. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine, thank you,” she said with as much dignity as she could manage. “I’m fine.” She looked into the carry cage. “So’s Puppy.”
    Marsh gave a stiff little nod and stepped back as Abby climbed successfully out of the car.
    Puppy lay in a boneless heap in the cage until she spotted Fargo standing behind Marsh. She stiffened, hissed, and spit while Fargo growled deep in his throat.
    Marsh looked at the dog. “Stop that.” Fargo glanced up, gave a final growl, and collapsed. He laid his great head on his paws and watched Abby carry the cage to the stairs.
    She grabbed the rail and began to pull herself upstairs once again. She’d reached the third step when Marsh said, “Here. Let me.”
    Something in his voice got her dander up. Maybe it was the you’re-an-idiot-I’ll-save-you condescension. Maybe it was the me-strong-male-you-weak-female attitude. Whatever it was, she looked at him as he stood beside her, hand outstretched for the cage, and said quite clearly, “No, thank you. I can manage quite well by myself.”
    He drew his hand back and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She stared back. No one was going to pity her or talk down to her just because she limped. No one. She had to put up with it from her family because there was no way to get rid of them, but by George, she didn’t have to take it from anybody else, not even a landlord.
    She turned from him and continued up the steps. Puppy and the cage thumped against her hip, getting heavier and heavier by the second, but she ignored the discomfort and kept climbing. Finally she reached the top, and it was a good thing. Her leg was trembling.
    She went to the door and let herself in, using the key the realtor had given her. The pride she felt as she walked into her own home more than compensated for the staircase. She dropped Puppy onto the sofa and unlatched the carrier door.
    Puppy was out in a flash. Then she froze as she realized she was in a new place. She hunkered down and looked around suspiciously.
    Abby sat on the sofa and, leaning over, ran her hand from Puppy’s head to tail several times. “This is your new home, sweetheart. Isn’t it beautiful?”
    Puppy slithered