Page 196 of The Woman Left Behind

We didn’t agree on everything (case in point, the leaves—I had time, a looser schedule and partially worked from home, his job was crazy, and he needed to relax when he wasn’t doing it—pointing out the obvious, I lost that discussion).

It was just…he and I had learned life could bring you to your knees, so you didn’t sweat the small stuff. You talked it out and got on with it.

Though, I’d add that Harry was kind of stubborn.

But honestly, if he wanted to rake leaves, if that meant something to him, who was I to argue?

It was on this thought that Smokey shot to his feet on a ferocious bark.

And then he took off like a shot toward the back gate.

Linus was running back to me.

Lucy was grabbing a ball I’d thrown.

At Smokey’s actions, they both stopped and watched him.

And then Karl Abernathy burst through the gate after putting his shoulder to it.

He was carrying a gun.

Smokey went right at him, and Linus and Lucy raced that way, barking up a storm.

Abernathy raised the gun toward Smokey, my heart squeezed so hard, I felt the pain, and every ounce of it was in the word I screeched.

“No!”

A shot rang out.

“No!” I shrieked again just as Smokey leapt and hit Abernathy right in the chest.

He staggered back.

Lucy leaped and chomped on his gun arm.

Linus attacked a leg.

“Smokey! Lucy! Linus! Come here!” I screamed, racing to the side door. “Come! Now! Come now!”

I got to the door, and to my shock, all three dogs were zipping toward me.

Abernathy seemed to be looking for his gun in the leaves.

Thank God, we had a reprieve.

And thank fuck I didn’t rake those damned leaves.

“Come! Come on now! Come!” I encouraged, frantically slapping my leg.

Smokey dashed in first, then Linus, then Lucy.

I slammed the door and locked it, right before I heard the shots and the terrifying thumps hit the door.

I flattened myself against the side wall, staring in shock at the door.

More strikes I knew were bullets, but they didn’t go through the door.

Dad had installed that door. I knew why now, since Harry had told me about the break-in I’d never known about in LA.

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