Trial by Fire by Cara Putman

Author:Cara Putman [Putman, Cara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General, Religious
ISBN: 9781426841705
Google: l-VdywIw5I4C
Amazon: 0373443595
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2009-10-01T18:17:20.941000+00:00

FOURTEEN

Saturday

Noah’s shift came to an end, and he gladly headed home. Mrs. Rivers had called his cell phone several times about a barking, moaning Jessie. His neighbor had a good heart, but she couldn’t do anything to help Jessie, an answer she didn’t like. At all. She’d used her key to try to drag Jessie out, but that had ended in disaster. He needed to get home and let Jessie out.

Jessie needed help he couldn’t give her when he was at work. And Mrs. Rivers couldn’t get her up and down the stairs the way she usually did while he was at work. Maybe he needed to kennel her until her leg healed. He hated the thought of her stuck in a place like that, but most of his friends either didn’t want a big dog visiting or lived in apartments, too.

He had to do something. Jessie needed more than the status quo.

His phone vibrated against his hip and he pulled it out of its holder. “Brust.”

“Hey, this is Caleb Jamison.”

Noah stifled a sigh. Caleb wasn’t the Jamison he’d wanted to talk to. “What’s up?”

“I’m getting ready to have a file review party. How’d you like to participate?”

The police letting a firefighter in? “Sure. What are we looking for?”

“A dead file that might lead to whoever set the fires.”

“Couldn’t you come up with something easier?”

“Any better thoughts?” Caleb’s voice held an edge to it.

“No. Why now?”

“It’s the weekend. I’d like to use the time to look at files.”

Noah nodded. Getting a step ahead was ideal. “When and where?”

“Tricia’s in half an hour.”

“I have to run home first and let my dog out.”

“Bring her with you. Tricia’s got a fenced yard.” Noah hesitated, which Caleb must have taken for uncertainty. “She won’t mind.”

“Okay.” He drew the word out and ended the conversation. Once home, he ran through the shower and changed. Jessie stayed close to him, and he tripped over her as he tried to pull on his jeans.

“Come on, girl. You need the break.” He carried Jessie down the stairs and hoped Tricia would forgive him. If she didn’t, he’d blame it on Caleb.

Twenty minutes later, Jessie hobbled around Tricia’s backyard. She turned a circle and settled underneath a half-dressed maple tree. A soft smile played on Tricia’s lips. “She’s made herself at home.”

“I hope it’s all right.” Noah crossed his arms in the chilled air. Some hardy soul had fired up a grill in the neighborhood if his nose identified the scent correctly. His stomach grumbled. He should have taken the five minutes and grabbed an energy bar at home or gone to a Runza Drive Thru.

Tricia gestured toward Jessie. “Glad you brought her. The yard needs a dog, but I haven’t done more than dog-sit Dani’s occasionally. A dog seems like…a big responsibility.” She shrugged, a droop to her shoulders. “Maybe when life feels more settled.”

Caleb walked up behind Tricia and slung an arm around her shoulders. “You’ll get there soon.”

At his words Tricia smiled. Noah was surprised to realize that he felt unsettled and envious.

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