“Fig, go lay down,” Salem commanded.
Fig removed her face from Lenni’s lap and then dutifully curled up on the mat by the sliding glass door.Tempest followed and nuzzled down next to her.
“This is like a youth hostel for farm animals,” Hadley remarked.
“Lenni needs an animal,” Jane said.“Don’t you?”
“She has Mildred,” I said.“That dog switched allegiances in an instant.”
“She even sleeps with me,” Lenni pointed out.“I didn’t even have to bribe her with treats.”
“Not forever though,” Mr.Powell said.“When Wyn leaves, Mildred will go with her.”
Jane glared at him.“Connor, really?”
“Ignore him,” Muddy said to Lenni, shooting her son a look.“He had a head injury a few months ago.Now he can’t always control what he says.”
Lenni shoved back from the table.She almost tripped over Fig in an attempt to flee.She got the back door open and ran outside, the animals trailing after her.
A gush of cold air drifted inside.
“Damn it,” Mr.Powell said, looking at Archer.“I’m really sorry about that.”
“She didn’t even take a coat,” I remarked, moving to rise.
“Eat,” Archer said.“I’ll grab her coat and meet her outside.”
He rose from his chair.After closing the back door, he stalked to the front room.A moment later, the door opened and shut.
No one said anything, but my friends kept shooting me glances.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Mr.Powell muttered.“I really wasn’t thinking.”
“We know,” Salem said.“Where do you think I get it from?”
The teasing didn’t lighten the mood.The anger that had been simmering since my phone call came roaring back into an inferno.
I lost my appetite.
Muddy glanced at me.“Go on after them.”
“It’s not my place,” I stated.
“Like hell it’s not,” Muddy remarked.
For some reason, I looked at Brooks for direction.
He nodded.
With a sigh, I stood up and went to get my coat.And then I headed outside in search of them.
They were in the barn and Archer was saddling a mare.
“Going somewhere?”I asked.
“Trail ride,” he explained.
“Ah,” I said, reaching out and stroking the mare’s sleek nose.
