Read Online Fancy Dancer by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online Page B

Jake. I think that will be easier.”
    “Do you know anything about animals?”
    “No, but I always wanted a dog. It never happened.”
    “Today, you are going to scrub down the dog pens and the chicken coop. You will collect the eggs, wash them off, and bring them to the kitchen. Then you will patrol the yard with a pooper-scooper and clean up after the animals. There’s a deposit can for the waste. You’ll be in charge of that, but it will come later. We have six dogs, four cats, and a dozen chickens. You will give all the dogs a bath, dry them, then wash the towels and replace them in the locker for the next time you have to do it. The animals are crucial to the children. They’re every bit as good as therapy, as animals love unconditionally.”
    In other words, the shit detail , Jake thought. “I thought the judge said I was to help with the kids. He didn’t say anything about animals.”
    Fancy nibbled on her lower lip. “Do you think for one minute I’m going to turn you loose with kids when I don’t even know how you’re going to do with the animals? If you do think that, then think again. If you want to go whining to your legal dream team, go right ahead. Lunch is at twelve thirty. Today it’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apple wedges, carrot sticks, milk, and a raisin-filled cookie.” Fancy turned to leave.
    “What if I have a problem with the animals?”
    Fancy turned, an evil smile on her face. “Then, Jake , I guess you’re just going to have to solve it.”
    What she probably really means , Jake thought, is if I’m so stupid I can’t take care of an animal, for sure I do not belong here . He supposed that was fair. And it did make sense . Legal dream team? Alex, Estes, and Elroy. He almost laughed out loud.
    Jake sprinted down to where he knew the kennel and chicken coop were. Fresh eggs. He’d do that later. First, he had to meet the dogs and the cats. And when he did, he jumped back and said, “Whoa!” as a Doberman, a black Lab, and a Saint Bernard snapped at the chain-link fence. Two mutts and a little white fur ball sat at attention. The cats hissed and snarled as they took Jake’s measure.
    A young guy who turned out to be a veterinarian assistant burst out laughing. “They’re always like this till they know you. The trick is to give them a treat; and whatever you do, don’t show fear. Here,” he said, handing over some chew treats. “Are you the new volunteer?”
    Jake reached for the treats and handed them over. Tails wagged. The hissing and snarling stopped. “Yeah, I just got my marching orders. Where’s the pooper-scooper?”
    The young man held out his hand. “Brad Loomis.”
    “Jake St. Cloud. Where do I dump the... ?”
    “Over there,” Brad said, pointing to a large barrel. “Did Fancy tell you that you have to throw a shovelful of lime in the barrel each time you make a deposit?”
    “No, she didn’t tell me that. Got it. How much territory do I cover?”
    “As far as the eye can see. The dogs like to roam during the day. They always come back when you blow the whistle; and then you have to give up another treat.”
    “Okay, see you when I see you.”
    Brad laughed. “Yeah.”

Chapter 5
    A lex Rosario stopped at Starbucks, bought a latte, and instead of carrying it three doors down to his storefront law office, decided to go outside and drink it under the shade of one of the umbrellas set up on the sidewalk.
    As he sipped the latte he didn’t really want, he tried to make sense out of what was happening to his life since Jake St. Cloud had entered it. In just twenty-four hours, it had been turned upside down. He felt as if he’d been torn inside out and things were changing at the speed of light.
    Over the years, he’d known that the day would come when he’d meet his half brother, and he had endlessly rehearsed one snide, snappy comeback after another for that inevitable meeting. He’d planned on telling him to go to hell six different ways.