Chapter Fifteen
“Miss Linx, Miss Linx!”a small voice shouted at Linx as she wheeled her grocery cart out of the generalstore.
Jessie ran up to her with her mother, Jean Patterson, in tow. “I told Mama you have superpowers, but she says we have to pray to God. God has bigger powers thanyou.”
Linx knelt down to Jessie’s level and hugged her. “Your mother’s right. God hassuperpowers.”
“But I did pray to God, and Betsy’s still lost.” Jessie’s eyes brimmed withtears.
“We’re trying our best to find her.” Linx stroked the little girl’s silky hair. “I put up a reward, and Betsy’s on ourwebsite.”
“Right next to the puppy!” Jessie’s eyes brightened. “Mama says we can get apuppy.”
“Only if we don’t find Betsy,” Mrs. Patterson cut in, giving Jessie an indulgentlook.
“We’ll find Betsy,” Linx reassured. “We have posters everywhere. I’m sure some nice person will find her and bring herback.”
The odds were against Betsy ever being found, but Linx had to keep the child hoping. There was nothing worse than the “not knowing.” At least no one had reported a dog hit by a car who looked likeBetsy.
“If I get the puppy, then will Betsy be lost forever?” Jessie’s eyebrows twisted and she looked like she was trying to solve a difficultpuzzle.
Linx glanced at the girl’s mother for guidance. She didn’t want to set any expectations, and besides, she didn’t think getting a puppy should be tied to whether Betsy was lost orfound.
“Let’s not bother Miss Linx,” Mrs. Patterson said to her daughter. “She has to go home and feed her dogs. See that big bag of dog food shehas?”
“Okay, bye, Miss Linx.” Jessie dutifully waved her hand the way small children did by wiggling herfingers.
“Bye, Jessie,” Linx said. “I’ll send out another search party for Betsy today—ask around the campsite. Maybe someone sawher.”
After Jessie turned toward the store, Mrs. Patterson whispered to Linx. “Don’t get her hopes up. Betsy’s been missing over a week. I’m trying to get her to accept anotherpuppy.”
“It’s too soon,” Linx said. “She needs closure forBetsy.”
“I understand, but I’m wondering if Jessie can come by the rescue center and get acquainted with the other dogs. I heard your brother found a basset hound withpuppies.”
“Sure, I’d love to have her volunteer.” Linx’s heart leaped and a smile broke on her face. “I can teach her how to take care of adog.”
“Great. I have to prepare for Vacation Bible School, and you know how it is at her age. Jessie’s always asking me questions, and I can’t get my work done. How about twice a week to startwith?”
“Bring her by anytime.”
Linx drove back to the center in high spirits, but when she opened the door, the uneasiness she’d woken up withreturned.
“Cedar, Ginger,” she called. “I’mhome.”
Instead of coming to the door and greeting her, Cedar lay on the sofa and looked out the window. Her nose parted the curtain as if she were a woman pacing on a widow’s walk watching and waiting for her seafaring husband toreturn.
She wagged her tail weakly as Ginger made small noises from a playpen Linx got from the thriftshop.
“You miss him, don’t you?” Linx rubbed her dog’s back. “So do I, but at least he loves you—if he remembersyou.”
Cedar had been moping around the cabin ever since the morning Grady had shown up and teased her, tapping on thedoor.
What kind of unfeeling monster would take a beloved pet away from itsowner?
Someone like her,obviously.
Keeping a lost dog was all kinds of wrong when the owner still held out hope for it. It was only a step away fromkidnapping.
