Whirlwind Read Free Page A

you’re holding?”
    “A dog I found tied in the garage.” Jas wrinkled her nose. “It’s filthy, skinny, and scared.”
    “Officer Lacey,” Miss Hahn said. “Do we need the bank’s permission to take an abandoned dog to Second Chance Farm?”
    “What dog?” the officer asked, winking at Jas.
    Miss Hahn smiled. “You’ve fifteen minutes to lockdown, Jas. Perhaps Officer Lacey can drop you back at the farm. Chase can help with the dog. He’ll know what to do.”
    Jas rolled her eyes.
Of course Chase will
. “What about loading the horse in the trailer?”
    “I called Rand. He’s coming over. I called Dr. Danvers as well. He’s coming to the farm this evening to check the colt.”
    “Good, he can take a look at this stinky critter, too. And before you leave, will you make sure there’s not another dog?” Jas asked. “This one had a chain around its neck. There’s a second chain but no animal.”
    “I will. Now scoot before your lockdown time runs out.”
    Jas shifted the pile of bones and fur in her arms. The dog was about the size of a small beagle but weighed practically nothing. She followed Officer Lacey to his van. ANIMAL CONTROL was written on its side.
    He opened the door and she slid in, holdingthe dog carefully. A Plexiglas partition separated the front from the back of the vehicle, which was sectioned into two cages. One side contained a box of dog treats, towels, leather gloves, a cat carrier, a Havahart trap, and a control pole with a noose at the end. Balding and pudgy, Officer Lacey was a genius at coaxing animals, not chasing them.
    When they started up the drive, Jas heaved a sigh, glad to leave the creepy place behind. “Any suggestions on how to care for the dog?” Jas asked Officer Lacey. She didn’t want Chase to be the only know-it-all.
    “Small amounts of dry food, small sips of water. A flea bath. Later it will have to be wormed and vaccinated. For now, keep it separate from the other dogs until Dr. Danvers has checked it out.”
    “Thanks.” When they reached the farm, she gathered the dog in one arm and opened the door.
    “May I name it?” Officer Lacey asked before she got out. “I never get to name the rescues and strays. I can’t get attached.”
    “Sure. Then we can quit calling it ‘the dog.’” Jas tipped it sideways so she could see under its belly. “Looks like it’s a girl.”
    “I’d like to name it Hope, then,” he said. “In hope that she’ll have a good life from now on.”
    Jas smiled. “I like that name. Thanks again.”
    As Jas climbed from the van, Chase came striding toward her, five dogs on his heels. He wore cutoffs, a T-shirt, an Orioles baseball cap, and an adorable grin. Jas tried to ignore the adorable grin.
    Ever since Jas had arrived at the farm, she’d been attracted to Chase. She’d never had a boyfriend before. Horses were her sole focus. She and Chase were just good friends.
And nothing more
. That was the way she wanted to keep it.
    Because if she was going to find Whirlwind and defeat Hugh, she couldn’t get distracted.
    At least that’s what she told herself.

Three

    “ MISS HAHN JUST CALLED. YOU FOUND A DOG ?” Chase asked. He was a year older than Jas, but he already knew that he wanted to be a veterinarian and loved the challenge of a new rescue.
    “Her name’s Hope. Officer Lacey named her.”
    Chase tipped back his cap and inspected the ball of fur in her arms. The dogs crowded around, sniffing and wagging their tails. “Does she have a head?”
    Jas laughed. “It’s tucked underneath. The poor thing’s scared to death. Probably thinks she’ll be mauled by these five slobbering mutts.”
    “We need to feed her a little dry food and water, then give her a flea bath,” Chase instructed as they walked side by side toward the house. “We can’t afford a flea infestation.”
    “I know, Chase,” she said. “I’m not
stupid.”
    “Really?”
He feigned shock.
    Jas would have socked him, but she didn’t