The four-mile drive seemed as if it took forever. Obviously, I was just exhausted. I pulled into the driveway, stopping just before hitting the fence on either side, envisioning where I’d put the sign. It was the perfect size, exactly the warm colors I’d wanted to use and truly was the start of continuing my father’s dream.
“What do you think, Daddy? Can I do this?” Leaning over the steering wheel, I stared up at the bright stars before closing my eyes. “I wish I may, I wish I might, wish upon a star tonight.”
How many times had my mother dragged me outside, forcing me to look at the sky? Then she’d remind me how important it was to keep wishing for anything I wanted. She’d been a firm believer in karma and a dash of magic.
What the hell. I added a wish to the long list of them that was likely floating around in the sky.
I should have wished for even one grant to come through.
Not this girl.
But I dared not admit to anyone what I’d wished for.
My mother must be smiling down at me and I did feel better. As I headed for the house, I started making yet another mental list of things that needed to get done starting bright and early.
As usual, my sweet Ellie May was barking like crazy even before I jumped from the truck. However, she was even more agitated than normal, which probably meant she’d heard the fireworks. Great. I jumped onto the porch, freezing almost instantly.
I did not just put my foot through a decking board. There was no way.
With the light next to the door working for a change, when I slowly dropped my head, I was able to see the full condition of what I was dealing with.
No, my foot hadn’t gone all the way through.
But it might as well have done so.
There went my list of priorities.
With a heavy groan, I carefully pulled my foot free, breathing a sigh of relief that there were no bones protruding or blood spewing.
Ellie May was going nuts, scratching at the door, which was something she never did.
“Whoa. Mommy is trying.” I hadn’t been gone that long, had I? I struggled with getting the key into the lock and as soon as I cracked the door open by a few inches, my giant, muscular girl came bounding from the house, running smack into me.
She recovered quickly and without a whine, leaped off the porch and raced into the darkness. Jesus. I guess she had to go pee.
I was pitched backward, my butt hitting the exact same spot where my foot had gone partially through. I heard a single crack and I dropped by another two inches. I guess I didn’t need to worry about whether my foot had gone all the way through.
My butt had instead.
Just freaking perfect.
Maybe whichever goddess or mistress of the stars had been listening hadn’t liked my wish.
Ellie May’s barking continued, more incessant than before. The deep growl she emitted had nothing to do with needing to go tinkle.
Someone or some beast was on the property, quite possibly the same bear that had been seen in the area. Oh, hell, no. Ellie May thought she was a pit bull, not a lab, and would do her best to take the bear on.
I’d need something to shoo the animal away. After a few seconds of fighting with getting myself from the hole, I finally tossed my purse and rushed around to the side of the house where I’d left the shovel. I’d tried to do a little planting. That had failed miserably like almost every other outside project I’d started.
At least it was a perfect weapon to use.
I took off running, following the sound of her barking, slowing only when I drew near.
“Ellie May. Come here.” I don’t know why I was whispering. There was no chance she could hear me over her own barks.
Wait a minute. Why did it sound as if there were two dogs barking? A little flutter ravaged my stomach. Was it possible Viper had returned?
If so, where was his truck? And why was Ellie May’s barking more like someone was invading her space?
