But she couldn’t keep him. Maybe he belonged to someone.
“Perhaps you’re lost. Are you lost? Shall we find your owners?”
Was it crazy to talk to a dog?
No crazier than picking up a stray, she guessed. Or having two men stop to tell her off for taking a selfie in front of a sign.
Sheesh.
As she drove through the main street of Haven, she saw that everything was pretty much the same as she remembered. Other than the fact that there were now fall decorations out.
“This place is so pretty,” she said. “I can’t believe we get to live here. Well, I am going to live here. I’m going to be safe here. I get to be in charge. I can do whatever I like and no one can tell me differently. Perhaps I should feel bad that my father is dead. But he was also my jailor. My abuser. Abuse isn’t always physical, you know.”
Arabella followed the directions to the house and drew up out front. It was further out of town than she’d thought. She’d been so grateful to find somewhere to stay that she hadn’t noticed bothered to research where it was located in Haven. There was only one house close by and woods on two sides of the house.
A late-model convertible sat in the driveway.
An older woman leaned up against it, glaring out at Arabella. This must be the rental agent. Ravina Parks.
She wore a short, tight black dress, high heels and her hair was sleeked back in a bun.
She climbed out with a forced smile. “Hi! I’m Arabella.”
“You’re late. I’ve been waiting for twenty minutes.”
“I’m so sorry. I had a bit of an emergency. See, there was this dog?—”
Ravina’s eyes widened and she stepped back. Turning, Arabella saw the dog standing behind her.
Wow. Somehow, she hadn’t quite taken in how big he was. Maybe because she’d been so worried about him biting her. Or that he might be hurt. But he was huge. Skinny, though.
Poor baby, she could see every one of his ribs.
“What . . . what is that?” Ravina asked.
“Um, it’s a dog.”
“It’s enormous. Is it yours?” the woman demanded.
“Well, no, not exactly.”
“You never said that you were going to bring a dog. Dogs aren’t allowed on the property. My aunt would never allow it.”
“Your aunt?” Arabella asked.
“Yes, my aunt that owns this place.”
Oh, right. Arabella had only dealt with this woman, but the owner had signed the rental agreement.
“Listen, I’ve got other places to be. That thing can’t live here with you.”
“He’s not a thing.” Arabella moved back to pat the small horse’s head.
Hmm. Horse.
Well, that would work for a name for the moment.
“Whatever he is, there’s a strict no pet policy,” Ravina told her.
