them would be in hibernation. I just hate to see you take such a chance when the likelihood of finding a phone up here is so slim.”
“You know, you’re probably right,” she said quickly. “Those cabins look very primitive. I doubt they even have electricity, much less a telephone. No telling where we’d have to go to make a call.” She suddenly brightened. “I’ll bet you have flares in your car.”
Michael just looked at her, not knowing if it was something he should remember or not. “I’ll have to check. I wouldn’t send them up today, though, because of the thick cloud cover. Besides, rescue workers are going to be busy with emergencies.” He was trying to buy as much time as he could.
“You don’t consider your condition an emergency?”
“My memory will return soon enough,” he assured her. He went into the living room and dropped a log on the fire. Her pets jumped to their feet and started barking, but he ignored them.
Maddy shushed the dogs and watched Michael stir the fire. She couldn’t believe he could be so casual about his injury. “Danny said you were seeing a doctor for high blood pressure. That probably means you’re taking medication. Might be a good idea to look for it.” When he didn’t answer, she went on. “I’ll bet you didn’t know you had a stowaway in your car. Danny ran away from home.”
Michael was genuinely surprised. He could just imagine what his brother and sister-in-law were going through. “I’ll bet his family is having a fine Thanksgiving,” he muttered. “Probably worried out of their minds. And no way to call them.” He shook his head sadly. He was going to have to hike to a phone after all.
“Danny claims he left a note telling his parents he was going with you. They’ll probably be more angry at him than worried.” Maddy was craving a cup of coffee in the worst way. She suspected there might be enough ice cubes left to melt and boil the necessary water. She dumped the remaining two ice trays into a pot and turned the gas on low. With that done, she started down the hall, both dachshunds at her feet. She grabbed their litter box from the bedroom, where Danny was still asleep, and moved it to the utility room.
“Go potty,” she said to the dogs, who simply stared back at her as though she’d just spouted off something only kitty cats could understand. Rambo ducked his head and wagged his tail, which caused the lower half of his body to move from side to side as though he were doing the hula. Muffin sat up on her hind legs and shivered. Finally, Rambo stepped into the box, did his business, and beamed as Maddy praised him. He gave her a love bite on her chin and jumped out. Since the box wasn’t that big, she had to clean it before Muffin could go.
One thing about being alone all those months, Maddy had plenty of time to train her pets properly. When she was at work, they used their litter box, but once she returned home, she let them run about the property while she watched from her front-porch swing. It gave them a chance to exercise and her a chance to relax. She had purchased several acres so that she didn’t have to worry about them getting in the road or bothering anybody. She had several fat cats and a horse, as well, which she was paying a neighbor kid to look after.
Muffin sat in the box but refused to do anything.
“What’s going on?” Michael said, coming up behind Maddy.
“I’m waiting for her to go potty. She’s not going to get a T-R-E-A-T until she does.”
“Why are you spelling that word?”
“If she hears it, she’ll get excited and won’t use the litter box.” Maddy realized Rambo was jumping on her. “Would you please get him a D-O-G-G-I-E B-I-S-C-U-I-T while I wait for Muffin to go? They’re in the red G-O-O-D-Y B-A-G on the counter. Watch your thumb.”
Michael nodded. “Yeah, thanks.” He found the bag and reached inside. Not only was there an assortment of treats, he found doggie bones of all
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