Read Online Dinosaur Lake 3: Infestation by Kathryn Meyer Griffith - Free Book Online

he
repeated.
    A step ahead of him, she replied, “I could be, if
you need me to. Zeke?”
    “Okay, okay. It seems I might have done something
weird to my, er…back.”
    “You hurt your back?”
    “Sort of. I mean it’s not life threatening or
anything, I wrenched it out somehow, but it’s sore and I can’t quite bring
myself to do my weekly shopping. Bags of groceries are heavy, you know. And I
really need bread, milk, and a sprinkling of other necessities. My cupboards
are bare.” An embarrassed chuckle.
    “ Ok-kay . And how long has your back been
out?”
    The old man wouldn’t answer right away, then, “Not
long. And it’s getting better every day, but I was hoping–if you were going to
be in town anyway–if you’d pick up a couple things from the market for me and
drop them off? I’d pay you for them, of course. No rush.”
    Ann didn’t let her friend hear her sigh. His back
had probably been out longer than he’d admit to, which would explain why she
hadn’t seen him at the newspaper the last week or so. And he was always there
underfoot, giving advice, helping, even though he no longer, officially anyway,
worked there.
    She did some quick thinking. Henry had asked her not
to leave the cabin unless it was a dire emergency, and positively not unarmed,
because of the dinosaurs he suspected might be in the woods. And she’d promised
not to. Except…Zeke was alone, old, and needed her. In the refrigerator there
was that container of stew she’d had in the freezer, she could take that to
Zeke. It’d make him at least three dinners, maybe more. She often took him
frozen homemade meals. His retirement check only went so far.
    Henry had left her his extra duty weapon, a .40
caliber semi-automatic SigSauer, for protection because it had the larger,
heavier bullets. She would take that. Keep her eyes sharp and her ears open for
any strange creatures lurking in the park. Wear drab colors so as not to
attract them. She’d be very, very careful. Look around before she ran from the
front door to her car, which was parked next to the house. Once in her car,
which was an olive green and merged easily into the woodsy background, she’d be
safe. She’d drive fast. Get into town, stop by the grocery store and Zeke’s
house and drive back before dark. No problem. Henry didn’t really expect her to
be a prisoner in her own house, did he? Because heaven knew how long this dinosaur crisis would last.
    “You’re in luck, old man,” she chatted in a cheery
voice. “I was planning on driving into town this morning anyway. Give me a list
and I’ll pick up those supplies you need. Got some homemade stew and biscuits for
you, too.”
    “Oh, that’d be great. I love your stew, Ann. What a
treat. Thank you.” Zeke gave her a list of things, wasn’t many, then she hung
up after telling him she’d see him soon.
    Henry was going to be angry with her, but it
couldn’t be helped. Zeke needed her. And besides, Henry had only seen that one specimen–and
he’d said it had been small –in the woods by their house. Didn’t mean
there were more. Right? Not any worse than a bear or a moose, which the park
was full of.
    She showered, dressed and bagged up a food package
for her friend, then looking around outside, being ever so careful, the
SigSauer secure in her purse and easy to get at if she’d need it, she ran out
to the car. No dinosaurs showed up or attacked her so all was well. It was so
hot. She’d worn shorts and a sleeveless top, but she was already sweating.
    Inside the car, she switched on the air
conditioning, and pulled out of the driveway. The rangers had been emptying the
park of visitors, and the campgrounds were vacant and so were the roads. She
drove through the park cautiously, her eyes on the surrounding woods, remembering
the warnings Henry had given her, but her mind wandered as the bright sun dazzled
above. It was too beautiful a day. It was easy to forget about the new dinosaur
quandary and