The Girl in the River by Billy Beasley

Author:Billy Beasley [Beasley, Billy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Moonshine Cove Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-07-19T22:00:00+00:00

Nine

Clint

I spent the remainder of the day attempting to formulate a strategy. Each time, I heard a noise, my heart leapt with trepidation that we were about to be surrounded by law enforcement.”

I worked some of my stress off by splitting wood, but I couldn’t resist glancing at the road to see if unwelcome guests were approaching.

At one point, Jasmin joined me and began to stack the wood as I split it. I thought to tell her to remain inside but to what end? If they came for me, they would take her with them.

It’s not as if I didn’t know from the beginning that she couldn’t hide here indefinitely. At some point, I had to take her to the authorities. I had to hope they might believe us and not return her to the Rind family. If I did that, I could at least afford to hire an attorney to go with me. If I waited until they arrested me, I might be forced to rely on a court appointed attorney.

Josie lay on the front porch with keen observation. Typically, she would at least sniff around before coming back to me but it was as if she were fearful to allow me out of her sight.

First things first. I had to make sure she would be cared for. “Jasmin, will you do something for me?”

“Sure.”

“There is a container with Josie’s name on it in the pantry. It contains her medicines. Take it to the kitchen table and get a large Ziploc bag and put an assortment of her favorite treats in the container.”

Her expression was grim. I shook my head tightly. “Please don’t ask me any questions right now. Just do as I ask.”

She walked by Josie and went inside. I sat on the porch next to Josie. She laid her head on my leg. As I was rubbing her head gently, I was reminded of how Allie always said to her, “I love your pie shaped head.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, rolled down my cheek, and landed on her nose as I realized I had to find her a home, at least temporally. I remembered Allie always said, Josie would never do well being boarded. She went with us on trips to the mountains when Allie was still well. Josie looked up at me as if she knew, and I tell you at that moment, knowing what I had to do, I thought my heart would rupture.

By eight o’clock that evening no one had come for us. I lifted the box containing Josie’s items and walked them to the truck. I returned to the cabin and retrieved a bag of dog food that had not yet been opened. “Time to go, Jasmin.”

“Where are we going?”

“To see a friend.”

“She’s not coming back with us, is she?”

I shook my head.

“You can’t do that.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. Please, just get in the truck,” I replied wearingly.

Those haunting dark eyes lingered on me for several moments, before she abided with my request.

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