Read Online Me & Jack by Danette Haworth - Free Book Online Page B

yeah. He left that wide open. A million zingers sprang to mind, but I didn’t let any of them loose. I wanted this afternoon to work out. Whatever Prater’s problem was, I was hoping the ice cream would help solve it. So even if he didn’t know it, not saying anything was the second nice thing I did for him. Buying the ice cream was the first.
    Three double scoops sent us to the picnic table we’d parked our bikes next to. Prater sat opposite me, at another table facing us. He was as far away from Jack as he could get while still sitting by Ray. I looped Jack’s leash around my handlebars a couple of times and set down a cup of water for him.
    We didn’t talk for a few minutes, too busy eating our ice cream. Jack lapped some of the water, and then sat straight, watching and listening. Some little kids ran laughing around another table. Their mom had a baby on her lap, and ice cream smeared his face like a chocolate beard.
    â€œSo you’re going to that show, then?” Ray asked Prater. He had to turn away from me to do this, Prater had separated himself so well.
    â€œYeah, Blackbeard’s in it.”
    â€œIs Blackbeard one of your horses?” I asked.
    Prater twisted his cone for a better angle. “One of our champion horses.”
    â€œThat’s cool.” I bit into a chunk of butter pecan and my front teeth froze. “Do you ride them in the shows?”
    â€œI ride Alexander; he’s a quarter horse, but my dad rides Blackbeard, and my uncle rides The Great White North.”
    â€œWhat?” A grin crossed my face.
    â€œThat’s the horse’s show name,” Ray said. “The Great White North.”
    â€œBut we call him Pete.”
    â€œPete? The Great White North is Pete ?” It seemed funny to call a horse Pete. The show name sounded so much more powerful.
    Prater was down to his last scoop. “Guess what color he is?”
    It seemed obvious, but maybe it was a joke, like how that bald guy on The Three Stooges was named Curly. I went for it anyway. “White?”
    Prater nodded, swallowed his ice cream.
    â€œYou should see all the trophies they have,” Ray said to me.
    â€œYep,” Prater said, warming to the subject. “And Shadow is next.” I realized he was talking to me like maybe I was a friend. Yep, the ice cream was definitely a move in the right direction.
    Ray nodded. “I bet—”
    All of a sudden, Jack whined and strained against the leash. Snapping and growling, he reared up on his hind legs, then he jumped and bolted. The bikes fell like dominoes and the leash slipped out. Jack tore across the parking lot like a torpedo.
    I shot out of my seat. “Jack!”
    He ran through the grass on the other side and I saw a small dark shape scuttle through the weeds. Then, with me and everyone else watching, Jack leaped through the grass and clamped his jaws down on a rabbit. Some ladies gasped and one covered her eyes with both hands. “Look at what that dog did!” a little boy shouted. A tiny girl at the next table started crying.
    Jack trotted toward me with the body in his jaws, the rabbit’s lifeless head flopping with each step. “Oh, oh,” a woman moaned. Some of the ladies pulled their kids back in tight arms as Jack passed between the tables. Jack’s ears were erect and flushed with a deep rose color. I stood, frozen. Ray and Prater were also standing.
    Jack stopped in front of me, laid the rabbit down, and looked up expectantly.
    â€œWhoa!” Prater said. “A kill.” When he peered over to inspect, Jack lowered his head and snarled. Prater snapped upright. “Geez!”
    â€œThat dog killed a bunny rabbit!” a boy shrieked.
    â€œCome over here, Troy!” the lady with the baby shouted.
    Loud wails and sobs came from the little girl. Her mother held her tightly while staring right at me. “What’s wrong with you?” she shouted across