Page 21 of Taken Away

Moose’s ears twitched at Bennett’s voice, his gaze flicking briefly toward the doorway before sliding back to the bed.

“He sleeps in here,” Bennett added, glancing toward Mabel’s pillow and the dog bed. “Or right there beside her side of the bed. Been doing it ever since.”

Aubrey looked down at the huge white dog.

He looked utterly broken. Something painful tightened unexpectedly in her chest.

“His food’s downstairs,” Bennett said. “Laundry room off the kitchen. Big silver bin with his name on it. Leash is hanging by the mudroom door if you ever need it.”

She opened her mouth. “I don’t know anything about⁠—“

“Yeah,” Bennett cut in, not unkindly but with zero patience. “Moose doesn’t care what you know. He cares that Mabel’s gone and you’re what’s left.”

Aubrey looked down at Moose, and for once, no argument came.

Bennett gave a short huff that might have been the ghost of a smile.

“Doubtful you’ll need the leash much. He’s a good boy. Did everything Mabel ever told him to.”

Moose thumped his tail once, a half-hearted echo of agreement.

Aubrey glanced toward the dresser and picked up the thick manila envelope she’d dropped there earlier.

“Eleanor asked me to give you this,” she said. “Your copy of the land documents. And a letter Mabel left you. Eleanor thought you’d want the paper copy.”

Bennett’s brow creased.

“For me?”

“Apparently.”

He took the envelope from her hand, his fingers brushing hers for the briefest second.

Something shuttered in his face.

“I told you,” he said quietly. “I don’t want it.”

Aubrey folded her arms.

“Then don’t take it.”

The muscle at the corner of his mouth ticked.

For a second, she thought he might say something sharp.

Instead, he looked down at the envelope like it weighed a hundred pounds. Then he shoved it under his arm.

“Anyway,” he said abruptly, stepping back toward the hall, “you should lock the doors at night. One of the side porch latches sticks.”

At the word latch, Moose lifted his head.

A low sound moved through his chest.

Aubrey frowned. “Why would I need to⁠—“

“Because you don’t know this house yet.” His voice came out flint-hard.

Then something shifted in his expression.