Read Online Bear by Ellen Miles - Free Book Online Page B

loved to repeat what other people said.
    “Walloped.” Lizzie repeated it softly as shelooked out at all the snow. This vacation was going to be a real adventure. She could feel it in her bones.
    Soon Lizzie spotted a sign, a big yellow arrow with red letters. It stood out against the white snow, pointing the way up a long dirt driveway lined with huge old trees. “Dad, look! Harris House Bed and Breakfast!” That was where they were staying.
    Dad turned onto the road and pulled the van up to an old yellow farmhouse with a big red barn. The buildings looked cozy, with their roofs blanketed in thick snow. Someone must have seen them arrive, because a few seconds later the back door of the house flew open. “Wait! No! Bear, come!” a woman called.
    Lizzie smiled as she watched a fluffy puppy bounce down the stairs and run straight for the van. “Look!” she said. “It’s a husky!”

CHAPTER TWO
    Lizzie unbuckled her seat belt, slid the door open, and started to hop out of the van. “Careful!” Mom warned. “It might be sli —”
    Too late. Lizzie slipped and slid on the snow-and-ice-packed driveway. She lost her balance but caught herself before she fell. “Whoa!” She grabbed the door handle.
    “Watch it.” The woman had picked her way close enough to grab the puppy and scoop him up. “Are you okay?”
    Lizzie nodded, but she wasn’t looking at the woman. She gazed at the adorable puppy in the woman’s arms. He was so cute! His fur was fluffy, mostly black and gray with white markings. He had a pointy nose like the Big BadWolf’s, and triangular ears, one of which stood up while the other flopped over. His face was mostly white, with black around the eyes so that he looked as if he were wearing an old-fashioned burglar’s mask. And the most amazing thing? One eye was brown, and the other was bright blue. Lizzie could not stop staring.
    The woman laughed. “I know, isn’t he cute? This is Bear.” By then, Dad and Charles had climbed out of the van, and Mom was helping the Bean out of his car seat.
    “You must be the Petersons. I’m Cordelia Harris.” The woman smiled around at everyone. “I’m the sister who paints.”
    Lizzie remembered Mom mentioning that the bed-and-breakfast was run by two sisters, one who was a painter and one who was a musician. She liked Cordelia Harris right away. Cordelia had red cheeks and long, thick brown braids, and she wore a big, fuzzy, multicolored sweater.
    “Dorothy is inside, practicing. And she just finished baking some cookies,” Cordelia went on.
    “Cookies!” The Bean’s face lit up. “Gimme cookies!”
    “What do you say?” Mom reminded him.
    “Lots
of cookies!” yelled the Bean. Then, when Mom gave him a look, he added, “Please?” He gave Cordelia his best “aren’t-I-the-cutest?” smile.
    “You can have as many cookies as your mom and dad allow,” said Cordelia. “Now, come on in, everybody, before you all freeze!” She led the way up the snowy front walk, still carrying the puppy.
    Inside, it was deliciously warm. Lizzie stopped to pull off her jacket. She heard the sound of a tinkling piano — and then silence. In a moment, a woman appeared. She looked just like Cordelia, except that her braids were more gray than brown. “Welcome,” she said. “I’m Dorothy. Please,come on into the parlor.” She led them into a room full of overstuffed armchairs, with paintings on the walls and richly colored rugs on the floor. A big fire crackled away in a giant stone fireplace. A piano stood in one corner, and there were shelves and shelves full of books. Lizzie spotted a plate of chocolate-chip cookies on a big round wooden table, with a teapot and mugs beside it.
    “Now this looks relaxing.” Mom beamed as Cordelia waved them in and invited them to sit down.
    Just then, the little husky pup wriggled out of Cordelia’s arms, jumped down onto the floor, wandered over to the fireplace, and curled up for a nap.
    “Awww!” Lizzie could not