The Red Dirt Road (A Woodlea Novel, #3) by Alissa Callen

Author:Alissa Callen
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Mira

Hewitt was already through the back garden gate and following Molly when his phone chimed. There was only one explanation for the border collie’s deep growl and dash across the lawn. He didn’t bother to check his phone. The relief in Fliss’s strained face when she saw him confirmed what had been in the message.

He quickly assessed the yard. Fliss had already taken the puppies that were near the house inside. With her babies no longer under threat, he could only hope Molly would maintain the distance between herself and the snake. He glanced at Fliss, hoping she wouldn’t call the border collie away. Any sound could distract her. But Fliss stood on the veranda edge, her hands around the white post and her lips pressed together. A plastic box sat near her feet.

The snake faced Molly, its upper body lifting off the ground in an S-shaped coil. Small and flattened, its head was poised to strike. Molly growled but didn’t move closer. After what seemed like a lifetime, the snake’s head lowered. Sunlight glanced off glossy, scaled skin as it turned and slid away in burnished ripples across the yard. The tension aching in Hewitt’s shoulders eased. The reptile would soon reach the undergrowth on the other side of the wooden fence.

A flash of black-and-white kickstarted his adrenaline. Poppy ambled along the fence line, cutting off the snake’s escape route. The snake slowed, assessing the new risk. Molly lowered herself to the ground and slunk forwards, readying herself to protect her baby.

Poppy needed to be distracted long enough to allow the snake to pass. He whistled softly.

The sound was enough. Poppy stopped to look at him. The snake took advantage of the gap that opened up between them and slithered beneath the fence and towards the creek.

Molly raced over to Poppy and after sniffing her to check she was okay, led her over to Hewitt.

He ruffled the top of Molly’s head. ‘Everyone’s okay.’

Fliss opened the screen door and puppies spilled down the veranda steps. Molly went to assess each one before lying on the lawn, her attention fixed on where the snake had disappeared.

The sight of the puppies climbing all over their mother didn’t bring the usual smile to Fliss’s face. Instead she glanced at him, face pale. ‘I think I need to sit.’

She sank onto the top veranda step.

He collected two camp chairs from near the fire pit and set them up in the veranda shade not far from Molly and the puppies. ‘You’ll be more comfortable here.’

‘Thanks.’

After Fliss slid into the closest chair he scooped up two puppies and settled them into her lap. As if sensing her tension the puppies snuggled into her arms instead of making it their mission to chew her fingers. The strain in her eyes faded as she ran her hand over their soft coats.

‘Box ticked,’ she said, words tighter than usual. ‘The first snake of the season.’

‘Believe it or not, they want to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them.

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