A Kitten

 Hello, Favorite Friday Fiction Fans,

Today is rainy and cold and windy. We've had rain Wednesday, Thursday, and during the nights. I'm ready for some sunshine but it sounds like it's supposed to be cloudy today even if it doesn't rain much. 

It's been a bit of a tough week. The guys who came to do the finishing of the Sheetrock on Saturday told us they'd come back on Wednesday to do the next coat. Then they said they'd try to come back sooner. Nope. We had to wait until Wednesday. I spent the day painting trim. Then they guys told us they'd come back Friday (today) to do the next coat. It is so hard not to get frustrated at them for not doing things the next day and getting this done sooner. We were hoping to start moving back in the beginning of November. That ain't happening. The guys still have to come today, and then come back another time (don't know when) to do the texturing. Then I have to paint primer on all the walls and ceilings. Then the regular paint. Next we have to lay the floor, then we have to put up trim. And a friend of ours is supposed to come help us get the trim up, but I don't know if we'll have to wait for his schedule or if he'll be able to just come when we're ready. Oh, and I'm working as an election judge on Tuesday, so even if the house was ready to paint then I couldn't do it. And the Sheetrock dust and the smell of the mud has been giving us headaches. I am overly ready for the house to be done! 🙂

But it hasn't all been hard. Writing camp has started and it's been fun to chat with girls there. I'm not sure if I'll get much writing done this camp since I can't seem to get the words to come out with all the mess of the house. But hopefully I can get something written.

Oh, guess what else happened? A new collection of stories including an abridged version of one of mine just got published. You can read about it HERE. And today's story has the same characters as are in my story.

Yes, I know it's short, but I have other things I need to do. Besides, my creativity seems to be stuck behind unfinished walls, painting, flooring, trim and doors. 😜

 

A Kitten

    “Is he a boy or a girl?” asked the little girl, crouching down to look at the little kitten.
    It was a sunny summer morning and Jolie and Elliana had followed their big brother Stephen to the barn where he had found a kitten.
    “I don’t know,” Stephen replied, leaning against the side of the barn with an amused expression on his face.
    “Well,” Elliana said, “we’ll just have to think of a name that could be for a boy or a girl.” She tugged on her light brown braid.
    Jolie, still crouched down in the grass, tipped her head to one side. “She’s kind of white, but not like snow because she had gray ears.” She giggled. “Look, he had gray around his mouth like he got into mischief! And his paws are even sort of gray.”
    “We could call her mischief,” Elliana suggested. “But she except for her dirty face and paws she doesn’t look like she would get into mischief, does she, Stephen?”
    At that precise moment, the kitchen sat up and its ears twitched. Then lifted a paw and batted at a grasshopper.
    Jolie burst into giggles again. “Oh, Ellie, I think he will get into mischief if he’s chasing grasshoppers. Let’s call him Mischief.” She looked up at her big brother. “Don’t you think that is a good name, Stephen?”
    With a grin, Stephen nodded as the kitten trying to catch a butterfly, fell into a shallow mud puddle. “Indubitably the perfect name.”
    As the kitten, looking much astonished at where it had landed, the two girls burst into laughter.
    “Mischief,” Elliana called, “don’t you know you aren’t a fish?”
    Sitting in the grass, Jolie and Elliana coaxed the kitten to them and with the help of Stephen’s handkerchief, helped the sunshine dry the little kitten off.
    “Do you think Mama will let us keep him, Stephen?” Jolie asked anxiously.
    “We promise not to bring her inside,” Elliana said.
    Before he answered, Stephen looked toward the house. “You can ask her yourself, for here she comes.”

How was your week?

Do you think you'll read the new collection?

Do you like kittens?

Through an Author's Eyes - Part 9

 Good morning readers,

It's chilly this morning. in the low 40s and I have a cozy shirt on. I'm always ready to get out my warm, cozy clothes when fall comes, but by the time spring arrives I'm ready for short sleeves. We haven't had any frosts yet and nothing 40º or colder to kill the chiggers.

Guess what? The Sheetrock has been hung! Two guys came Tuesday around 3 and got almost all of it done in 3 1/2 hours. Then one guy came back Wednesday afternoon and finished it up in about an hour and a half. It's so different having the Sheetrock up. We have Sheetrock where we've never had it before. And boy do those rooms echo! The finishers are coming tomorrow at 8 AM to start the taping and mudding. Then it will have to dry, then they'll have to come back and sand it. Then they'll have to texture it, let it dry and come back and sand again. After that I get to paint! Then it's floor, trim, and moving back in! Of course I have no idea how long all of this will take. Praying not too long. I'm ready for a normal house again. :)

No writing this week and only some reading. I've been working on Camp stuff. Registration is open in case you hadn't heard. It's going to be a full month of camp this time, and I'm really hoping I can get some good writing in.

I didn't think about looking to see what other stories I could share, so you'll have to have the next part of this one.

 

 Through an Author's Eyes

Part 9

    “Suites me,” Annette laughed. “I could use another cousin or two. Dad only has one married sibling and he only has two kids, so I’m kind of short in the cousin department.”
    Talking and laughing, the three girls saddled their horses and mounted up. Annette for the first time since arriving, was wearing her aunt’s cowboy hat instead of a helmet. “Levi must think I know enough not to fall off now,” she had laughed to Savanna when Levi had told her to wear his mom’s hat.
    “More like he doesn’t want you to get too much sun. It can get really sunny out on the ranch and a helmet doesn’t offer much shade.”

    The ride was long and pleasant. Annette enjoyed every minute of it. Lunch was eaten in the shade of several large trees near an ice cold stream. “This is what I’ve always dreamed of doing,” she sighed, leaning back on her elbows and gazing up into the shading branches of the trees.
    “You’re probably going to be stiff and sore tomorrow,” Savanna warned. “You haven’t ridden this much before.”
    “I don’t care,” Annette sighed. “I’m just going to enjoy every single minute of this experience. Including that snake over there.” And she pointed to a sunny rock near the water’s edge.
    After a quick look, Bethany relaxed. “It’s not poisonous, so we don’t have to worry about it.”

    It was late afternoon when they returned to the barn. The boys had already returned from wherever they had gone and offered to help unsaddle and brush the horses down. As Annette swung down from the saddle, she felt her muscles protest. “Savanna’s right,” she thought, trying to ignore the stiffness in her legs. “I’m going to find walking normal almost impossible tomorrow. And it’s Sunday too. Oh, well.” She gave a sigh.
    “Something wrong?” Vic asked, lifting her saddle off Mouse and pausing to look at her.
    “Nope. I was just thinking of what to add to my story later.”
    “About being stiff and sore from a long ride when you aren’t used to it yet?” Annette was always astonished at Victor’s insight. He didn’t speak much but he saw and noticed all sorts of things.
    “Yeah,” she admitted. “I have a feeling I’m not going to be moving too well tomorrow.” She shrugged. “Oh, well. It’s the price I pay for riding a horse. Thanks for helping me, Vic. I’m still rather green about taking care of a horse.”
    “You’ll get the hang of it.” He picked up a brush and handed it to her. “Start brushing her and I’ll finish untacking her.”

    Bethany stayed for supper and then drove home in her car. After helping with the dishes, Annette said good night and headed up to her room. She had a story to write. Besides, she hoped to catch her parents on line and chat for a few minutes with them.

    When she climbed out of bed in the morning every muscle in her body seemed to scream at her. Limping her way to the bathroom with a moan at each step, she wondered if a hot shower would help or only make her more stiff later. A look at the clock decided the matter for her. She had time for a quick shower.
    An hour later she silently groaned her way down to the kitchen and eased herself into a chair at the table.
    “Feeling the affects of the ride yesterday?” Aunt Yvonne asked.
    “Uh huh.”
    “You’ll have to take a walk later to help loosen things up. And I imagine Levi will tell you get on a horse again tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow?” Annette groaned, this time aloud. “I don’t know if I’ll even be able to move tomorrow let alone get on a horse.”
    Savanna turned from the stove where she had been flipping pancakes and, carrying a large plate of them to the table said, “If you don’t get on a horse tomorrow you won’t get used to riding.”
    The back door opened and Levi, Vic, Devon and Uncle Cleveland came in.
    “What’s this about not getting used to riding?” Uncle Cleveland asked, hanging up his hat.
    “Annette said she doesn't think she’ll be able to get on a horse tomorrow. The ride we took yesterday left her really sore.”
    “She’ll ride tomorrow.” Levi, having hung up his hat, turned from washing his hands. “I can’t make her into a cowgirl unless she does.”
    Annette glared at him. “I’ll bet none of you remember what it feels like to be as sore and stiff as I am! Why I can hardly move!”
    Going to the doorway, Aunt Yvonne called, “Ava! Breakfast!”
    No one replied to Annette and after everyone had gathered and seated themselves at the table, Uncle Cleveland gave thanks.
    If Annette couldn’t move very well, there was nothing wrong with her appetite. If anything she was hungrier than she had ever remembered being, and ate four pancakes, a pile of scrambled eggs and several pieces of bacon.
    “All right guys,” Uncle Cleveland said, glancing up at the clock. “We leave for church in twenty minutes. Anyone out the door after that has to take the truck.”
    There was a scramble of legs, the scraping of chairs and the clatter of dishes. Before Annette could carry her dirty dishes to the sink, the were snatched from her hands and Savanna said, “Go get ready. It’ll take you longer.”
    “But what about the dishes?”
    “We rinse them off and stick them in the dish washer. When we get home we add the lunch dishes and turn it on. It’s about the only time we use the dishwasher. Now go get ready!”
    Staggering from the kitchen, Annette cringed at the thought of climbing the stairs to brush her teeth and get her Bible and purse, but holding back her moans and groans, she gripped the railing and hauled herself up the stairs. “Why did I ever want to go on a trail ride yesterday?” she muttered as she squeezed toothpaste onto her tooth brush. “It was a crazy idea. I thought I was sore before when I had only ridden a little bit–” A glance at the red lights of her alarm clock made her hurry.

Have you ever ridden a horse before?

Do you like to paint?

What do you usually eat for breakfast on Sunday?

Camping - Part 2

 Good morning, readers,

It's dark outside right now. It's cloudy so it looks like it's much earlier than it really is. How are the days going by so quickly? It's already the middle of October! Registration for KDWC starts on Monday. There are only two more full weeks left in this month! How is that even possible?

I had hoped that the Sheetrock would all be hung by now, but it's not. It is sitting in one of the rooms waiting. And we're waiting. Waiting for the man and his crew who said they would do it. First we were told they'd get it the end of last week. Nope. Then we were told it would be the end of this week. The last time my Dad talked to him, he said the end of this week or next week. For a new construction project, that might not be bad, but when it's a house where people are living, putting it off again and again is frustrating, stressful, and means that everything else has to be put off. I'm trying to trust that God knows and is working, but sometimes it is hard to see when you can't DO anything and just have to wait. And wait.

I had time to write yesterday, and I wanted to, but it felt like every drop of creativity was gone, shut up in my brain and wouldn't come out. I had no motivation, no excitement over getting something done. I didn't even feel like reading. Not a very fun feeling, let me tell you. 

Today I don't know what is happening. We might be babysitting my nieces and nephews and if so, they'll be spending the night. (They have been wanting to spend the night in all the mess and crowdedness of the house for some strange reason.) Don't know if the guys doing the Sheetrock will come today or not. I just don't know. So I guess I'll do what I can do and leave the rest up to God.

 I hope you enjoy the second half of this camping story.

Camping

Part 2

    The next morning Bethany rose first and after stirring up the fire and heating some water, she poured it into a thermos and mixed in the hot chocolate packs. The morning air was a bit chilly and she wondered if their idea of eating cold coffee cake was going to be as pleasant as it was the day before.
    “Well, we didn’t bring any bacon and eggs except for tomorrow,” she mused. “It was rather silly of us, I suppose.” She shrugged. After getting the container of coffee cake out and setting it on their small portable table, she returned to the tent to wake Sherrice.
    “Sherrice, it’s breakfast time,” Bethany said softly, nudging her friend.
    There was no response.
    Bethany gave her a little shake. “Come on. Wake up. You said you didn’t want to sleep late.”
    A mumbled, “Go ‘way,” was all the answer Bethany got.
    “Fine. Sleep.” Bethany tied back the tent door hoping the fresh air would rouse her friend, and after pouring herself a cut of hot chocolate, she settled down in her chair to read her Bible and eat her breakfast.
    Suddenly, she looked up. She had heard something. Her eyes darted around the campsite hoping to catch a glimpse of her brother or one of her young nephews. But no one was there. The noise came again from the nearby woods only closer.
    Rising quickly, Bethany retreated to the tent where Sherrice was beginning to awaken. Quietly, Bethany zipped the screen door of their tent.
    “What is it?” Sherrice whispered.
    “I don’t know. It might be a wild animal.”
    Both girls listened and watched until out from the woods tumbled two bear cubs. Bethany, her eyes wide and her heart pounding in her chest, glanced at Sherrice. Were they really seeing what she thought they were seeing? One look at her friend’s wide eyes told her they were.
    The cubs came closer and then a mama bear lumbered into sight after them.
    Unsure if she should be terrified or thrilled by their morning visitors, Bethany gripped Sherrice’s hand. Elijah. Maybe she should call him on the walkie-talkie. But no, they were in no danger. At least she hoped not. Besides, he was probably sleeping or out fishing, and she doubted it was even on. The cubs, evidently quite curious, tried to climb into Sherrice’s chair and squealed with fright when it fell over.
    Mama bear was more interested in the food Bethany had left on the table. Her large paws soon opened the container and in moments not a crumb was left. After eating the coffee cake, Mrs. Bear sniffed around a few minutes and then lumbered off toward the far side of the campsite. One of the cubs ran after her, but the other, who was attempting to climb into the other more sturdy chair, stayed where he was.
    Bethany had to put her hand over her mouth as the small furry animal tumbled yet again from her chair.
    Then Mama showed up and nudged him away, but the little fellow was incorrigible and returned to the chair. Mama Bear came back and pushed him toward the trees with her nose, and when he tried to turn back, she swatted him. This sent the little guy in the right direction for a minute, but before the girls could breath a sigh if relief, he cam running back, determined to climb into the chair and get the thermos off the table.
    But Mama was tired of his naughtiness and when she returned for him, she picked him up by the scruff of the neck. Oh, how he squealed and kicked, trying to get down, but Mama carried him to the woods where she put him down with another swat. Apparently this was enough, for the family of bears disappeared.
    “Did we really just see that?” Sherrice whispered.
    “I think so,” Bethany said. “But wasn’t that little guy determined!”
    “He was naughty,” Sherrice laughed. “I’m glad his mama didn’t let him get away with doing whatever he wanted.”
    Bethany chuckled. “Yes. But she did eat your breakfast. What are you going to do now?”
    Sherrice made a face. “I guess I’ll just eat a granola bar. That should teach me not to sleep in.”
    “Or we could just cook up the bacon and eggs were were saving for tomorrow and just eat whatever we can find tomorrow.”
    Before Sherrice could reply, the motor of a vehicle startled them both.
    “You go out,” Sherrice whispered. “You’re at least dressed.”
    After making sure the bears were really gone, Bethany slipped from the tent and found Elijah climbing from his truck. “Good morning,” she greeted him. “You missed Mrs. Bear, Obedience and Incorrigible.”
    Elijah stared at her blankly. “Huh?”
    “A mama bear and her two cubs paid us a visit this morning. But you didn’t come to hear about that. What’s up?”
    “I just talked to a park ranger. There’s a big storm heading our way. We need to pack up the tents.”
    Bethany looked out toward the lake. There were dark clouds on the horizon. She shivered. Perhaps the storm was why it was so chilly. “All right. We’ll pack up. Maybe we can get some breakfast for Sherrice on the way home since Mrs. Bear ate hers.”
    “Sounds good.” Elijah strode toward his truck, stopped and turned around. “Did you just say a bear ate her breakfast?” 

Have you ever seen any bears on your vacations?

How was your week?

Are you excited for KDWC?

Camping - Part 1

 Good morning!

Today is the last day to enter the Five Fall Favorites giveaway! If you haven't entered, go do it now! Just go HERE to be whisked away to the Literary Lodge.

So, how has my week been? Different. I worked on the house on Saturday and Monday, and then I really didn't have anything else I could do, so I worked on other things like blog posts. (I really needed to work on those!) And the Five Fall Favorites has been taking some of my time. ;) I managed to get a little bit written and finish a short Christmas story, but otherwise I haven't written at all.

Today my grandpa is coming down to see the progress on the house and then to go visit my brother and see the progress on the addition they are doing. And this evening my sister and I are helping with the rehearsal dinner for some people from church. And tomorrow we are helping with the food for the wedding reception.

Today's story is another one I wrote in July, but I thought it was time for a break from the other story. So enjoy this one.

 Camping

Part 1

 

    “This is going to be the best camping trip ever!” Bethany grinned at her friend as Sherrice slid into the car and shut the door.
    “I know. I can’t believe we’re actually going camping. Just the two of us!”
    Bethany started the car and pulled away from Sherrice’s house “Well, you know our parents wouldn’t have approved it if my brother and his family weren’t also camping in the same campground at the same time.”
    “Oh, I know that,” Sherrice laughed shaking her dark braid off her shoulder. “I’m not sure I would have wanted to go if someone else wasn’t going to be around. Just in case.”
    The drive to the State Park was filled with talking and laughing as the friends planned what they wanted to do during their three day camping trip.
    The sun still hadn’t reached mid-day when they arrived and found their campsite.
    “This is going to be perfect, Bethany,” Sherrice sighed. “Just look at the lake! Let’s have the door of our tent face the lake.”
    “Good idea. Then we can get a nice breeze.”
    Unpacking the car wasn’t hard, but setting up their tent for the first time proved more of a challenge.
    “I can’t get these stakes in,” Sherrice groaned. “This hammer isn’t working. Do we have another one?”
    Bethany raised her eyebrows. “No. That’s the only one I brought. What do you mean it’s not working?”
    “I mean it won’t push the stakes into the ground. Want to try?”
    “I can’t hit a thing with a hammer,” Bethany admitted. “Where is Elijah when I need him?”
    “Right behind you.” The masculine voice startled both girls and they jumped. “Sorry.” Elijah said, though his grin told the girls he wasn’t as sorry as he might want them to think. “Need a hand?”
    “Yes,” Bethany said. “We can’t get the stakes into the ground.”
    “I thought you might be a bit inept when it came to setting up your tent.” Elijah took the hammer and soon had the tent properly staked. “Can you handle everything else?”
    Bethany exchanged glances with Sherrice. “I think so.”
    “Well,” Elijah said, pulling something from his pocket and handing it to his sister, “if you should need us, use this but keep it on channel 4. The park rangers said that channel was open.”
    Bethany took the walkie-talkie. “Thanks. I don’t think we’ll need you though. You can take your boys and go fish or whatever you are going to do.” She waved him away with one hand.
    After Elijah had disappeared, the friends burst into laughter.
    “He said we were inept,” Sherrice giggled. “Who uses that word anymore?”
    Pushing back her brown hair, Bethany carried her sleeping bag to the tent. “Only Elijah would used that sort of word in every day speech. Come on, let’s get set up.”
    Shortly after noon, the girls sat down at their little folding table to enjoy their lunch and rest after the work of setting up their campsite to their liking.
    “I do hope we get to see some wildlife while we are here,” Sherrice said, twisting her braid around her finger.
    “Me too.”

*

    The next morning when Bethany woke up, she saw that Sherrice was already up and the smell of coffee drifted in through the windows of the tent. With a puzzled frown, Bethany slipped into some clothes and unzipped the tent.
    “Sherrice, why did you make coffee? Neither one of us likes it.”
    “It’s mostly hot chocolate,” Sherrice said. “I only added a tablespoon of coffee because it just seems like you are supposed to drink coffee when you go camping.”
    Settling down in her chair by the fire, Bethany raised her eyebrows. “Do you even know how to make coffee?”
    “Well, no, not exactly.” Sherrice admitted. “Don’t you just add some of those coffee grounds to the pot and let it steep like tea?” When Bethany didn’t reply, Sherrice looked at the pot which sat on the grate over the fire. “Maybe I should just dump it out and heat up water for hot chocolate.”
    “I would.”
    There was a strong coffee flavor in their hot chocolate, but the girls ignored it for it was all part of their camping experience.
    They spent the day hiking trails and splashing in the shallow part of the lake as they laughed and chatted, enjoyed the beauties of nature, and breathed the fresh air around them.
    When night came, they once again stored their food in their car, made a trip to the camp bathrooms and then settled into their tent where they read their Bibles and prayed together. After climbing into their sleeping bags, they soon fell into slumber satisfied that they were not as inept at camping as Elijah had thought they were.

Have you ever been camping?

Did you enter the FFF giveaway?

Have you done anything different this wee?

Through an Author's Eyes - Part 8

 Good morning!

It's overcast this morning. We got a little bit of rain yesterday, but not much. There's a chance of rain today, but we'll see if it actually happens.

This week I've been back to working on the house almost every day. We installed 3 new windows, which meant I had to take siding off some of the house. I put in the boxes for most of the new electrical outlets. We have insulation ready to be put up, and have talked to someone about hanging the Sheetrock for us. Hopefully that will happen the end of next week.

I haven't gotten much writing done this week. But I have some ideas. If only I'd have time to write again. :) Someday. Yesterday I worked on formatting some of my upcoming pocket books. That was fun.

Oh, and be sure you come to my Read Another Page blog on Monday for the Five Fall Favorites!

I hope you are planning on coming! It's going to be a lot of fun. And there are going to be so many books shared.

 Here's the next part of this story. I had been planning on doing a different story, but since I left you hanging on the last one, I thought I'd be nice and let you find out what was going on.

 

Part 8

    Arriving at the small pasture, Annette noticed the horses who had been left out for the night, pressing close toward her and moving restlessly. She couldn’t see any sign of John Wayne, but from the sound of his barking, he was on the far side of the pasture, probably in a little hollow that was there. For a moment she hesitated. Should she try to find out why the dog was so excited or should she remain where she was? Maybe she should run back to the house and get Levi. “He’ll be out in a few minutes, I’m sure,” she decided, carefully climbing into the pasture.
    Finding a few good sized rocks, she picked them up and started picking her way through the grass toward the sound. As she drew closer, she heard another sound. It wasn’t just John Wayne barking, there were other barks.
    “Annette! Stay where you are!” The low shout from behind, froze her in her tracks and she looked quickly over her shoulder to find Levi, gun in hand, loping toward her while Vic followed only steps behind.
    As they came even with her, she asked, “What is it?”
    “Could be almost anything. Want to come find out?”
    “You mean you’d let me?”
    Levi shrugged. “As long as you stay behind me and my gun. If Savanna was up she’d be here with us, but you can tell her about it later. Now let’s go.”
    Still holding her rocks, Annette followed with Vic trying to watch where she stepped and wishing she had on Savanna’s boots so it wouldn’t matter.
    When they reached the top of the rise, they saw John Wayne standing before three other dogs. All seemed to be arguing over something. One of the three newcomers would venture a short run at John Wayne but at his snarling lunge, it would retreat to his companions barking loudly.
    “Are you a good aim?” Levi turned to his cousin and asked in a low voice. None of the dogs had noticed their presence yet.
    She shrugged. “I used to pitch for Dad.”
    “Then try to drop a rock before that pack.”
    Drawing back her arm, Annette let fly one of her rocks, It landed with crash just before the leader of the pack and brought a yelp from him. When Levi nodded again, she threw the other one, this time brushing the tail of another dog.
    “Get out of here,” Levi hollered, waving his hand. “Go on. Get!”
    Encouraged in his stand against the intruders, John Wayne started forward, but a quick command from Vic made him halt. The other dogs, startled by the sudden appearance of humans and the rocks Annette had thrown, had turned tail and were trotting away, stopping now and then to issue a challenging bark.
    When he was sure they would actually leave, Levi whistled for John Wayne and ruffed up his ears. “Good dog,” he praised. “Those others shouldn’t be here and they know it.”
    “Do they live near by?” questioned Annette.
    “At a run down plot of land just on the other side and around that bend in the road,” replied Levi, pointing to a distant–something. “An sour man lives there. Won’t let anyone give him any help, won’t keep his place up, and lets his dogs roam where they will.”
    “Would you have really have shot them?”
    Vic grunted as Levi shook his head with a smile. “No. Not with this.” He patted the barrel of his gun which he now carried cradled in his arm. “I would have shot the ground in front of them to frighten them off, but I wouldn’t have shot them. Now, if Vic or Devon had the BB gun, we would have shot them. But that would have only stung them, not wounded them.”
    “Oh. Will they come back?”
    “Probably. But let’s get back. We’ve got chores to do.”
    Turning around, Annette retraced her careful steps through the pasture thinking about the dogs and her story.
    Once back to the house, she took her Bible and hurried to her room. Kicking off her shoes she curled up in the chair beside the window and turned on NEO.

*

    Hurling her first rock, Kate watched it strike a large, half burried rock and jump hitting the side of the snarling yellow dog. With a yelp, he tucked his tail between his legs and ran off. The other dogs, however, refused to give ground but came closer to the tiny, injured puppy, cringing and crying in front of Kate. “Go on!” Kate shouted, hurling her second rock, this time hitting the dirt and sending dust up into the faces of the animals.
    The pounding of hooves behind her, made Kate glance over her shoulder. Help had arrived.

*

    “Annette!”
    Starting, Annette looked up quickly. Savanna stood before her. “What?”
    “If you’re going to go on a trail ride with Bethany and me, you have to eat breakfast.”
    “Oh, I forgot about breakfast. Sorry. I was rather lost in my story.” Turning off NEO, she stretched her legs out and then stood. “Did you hear about the dogs?”
    “Mr. Texas’s dogs?”
    “I don’t know the man’s name, but there were three of them. Levi said they lived with a grumpy man.”
    “Yep, that’s Mr. Texas. No, that’s not his real name. We don’t know what his real name is, but he has a sticker of the Texas flag on his truck and more on the windows of his trailer. And, if you should meet up with him, all he does is compare things to Texas with Texas always coming out ahead. But what about his dogs. Were they on our land again?”
    “Uh huh.” And Annette proceeded to tell the story as the two girls walked down to the kitchen.

    “Bethany, this is my cousin, Annette. Annette, this is my cousin Bethany.” Savanna grinned over the introductions.
    “Hi,” Bethany said. “You know, if Savanna is my cousin and your cousin, I feel like we should be cousins too.” 

 

What have you been doing this week?

Are you planning on coming to the FFF?

Have you ever had to chase away dogs?