Page 65 of Stripping Bare
Tessa:What will Iowe?
Brynne:You have to come see the sweater I think is perfect foryou.
The breath Tessa had been holding released. That she coulddo.
Tessa:Deal.
Brynne:Be prepared.Night. :-)
With a flick of her thumb, Tessa dismissed the Facebook app. Well, that certainly hadn’t gone even close to the way she’d expected. And it was still just Badger and her alone in this hugehouse.
Tessa changed into a pair of jersey pajamas before pausing the security system and taking Badger outside. While he did an exploration of Jonah’s front yard, she stood on the porch with her arms wrapped around herself. Full dark had fallen and it seemed to press in on her as if it werealive.
You are safe. You are strong. You can take care ofyourself.
She squinted, trying to spot Badger among the rhododendron and mountain laurel. Patting her thigh, she called, “C’mon, King B. Let’s go inside and get yourdinner.”
Normally the worddinnerwas enough to bring him racing back to her, but not tonight. A big clump of bushy ferns moved off to Tessa’s right.Gotcha.
“Out of there,Badger.”
A series of sharp high barks came from the edge of the yard. That was Badger’s I-will-mess-you-up bark, and the sounds of it made Tessa’s stomachcontract.
Probably just arabbit.
Still, she picked up a landscaping rock and tiptoed toward where Badger’s barks were coming from. When she found her pup, he was standing at attention—tail rigid and the fur on his back in a mohawk of alarm—staring into the wooded area leading away from thehouse.
She grabbed him under the belly, settled him against her shoulder, and bolted for the front door. Badger’s growl vibrated against her chest until they got inside and she locked the door and reset the securitysystem.
Her heart was thumping in an uneven rhythm as she poured Badger’s food in his bowl. He didn’t give it a second glance, which never happened. Instead of going nose-deep into his kibble, he trotted back and forth in front of the great roomwindows.
This was western North Carolina, critter wonderland. Besides, Badger had scared off whatever had been outthere.
Nothing to worryabout.
