Read Online Silver Thaw by Catherine Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

looked a lot like Jeb and a dark-haired woman smiled down at her from one frame. In another, Jeb stood flanked by two younger guys who also resembled him. Jeb had his arms curled over their shoulders. All three were grinning, showing off teeth so white they could have been models in a toothpaste commercial.
    Oh, God, I hope I haven’t made a horrible mistake by coming here
. Pressing her cheek against her daughter’shair, she detected the faint smell of food. Her stomach snarled with hunger, calling to mind the frozen leftovers she’d forgotten at home. Coming here hadn’t been a mistake.
    The delicious aroma of what she guessed was braised chicken grew stronger. A man who cooks? Amanda was surprised. Mark wouldn’t even help wash dishes, and he had often slapped Amanda for putting “shit” on his plate.
    The tension slipped from her shoulders as the heat from the fire surrounded her. It felt so good that she could have gone to sleep. Just then a monstrous dog lumbered into the room. She didn’t need to look to be sure it was a male. He had the most massive head she’d ever seen on a canine. He also looked vicious and capable of devouring people before using their bones to pick his teeth.
    He let loose with a low, rumbling growl. Amanda couldn’t think what to do. If she moved, he might leap. Chloe screamed and burrowed against Amanda to hide her head under the blanket. Amanda was tempted to join her.
    *   *   *
    When Jeb heard Chloe’s scream, he had just set the digital timer on the pressure cooker, so he rushed to the living room. When Chloe peeked out at him from her mother’s arms, he couldn’t help but think she was the cutest little thing he’d ever seen.
    Resting a hand on his dog’s shoulder, Jeb said, “This is Bozo. I named him that because he’s such a clown.” Chloe peered out at him again. “I know he looks scary, but the truth is, he wouldn’t bite a flea to get it off his back.”
    “He growled at us,” Amanda said.
    “I don’t doubt it, only it wasn’t really a growl. That’s just how he talks.”
    “Are you one of those people who says his dog is smiling when it snarls?”
    Jeb chuckled. “Trust me, I don’t wear blinders when it comes to Bozo. He’s a mastiff. At his last vet check, he tipped the scales at two hundred and thirty pounds. He once ate my sheep’s shelter because I’d left him alone. But people are safe. He’s a very social animal. The only reason I didn’t have him with me today is because I didn’t have room in the truck with all the emergency supplies.”
    The beast growled again. Chloe squeaked and shrank against Amanda. Jeb walked over to crouch in front of them. The mastiff came with him. “Don’t be afraid, honey. That’s just how Bozo says hello. If you don’t say hi back, you’re going to hurt his feelings.”
    Chloe poked her head up from under the blanket to stare at the giant dog. Bozo pressed forward, whining and rumbling at once. Jeb decided he’d better take a stab at translating dog language into English. “He’s saying that he’s never been around a little girl and would really like to make friends with you. Though Bozo is very big, he has a gentle heart. He’s always careful not to knock people over, and I’m guessing that he’ll be even more cautious around you because you’re so small.”
    Chloe studied the dog. “What melted his lips?”
    Jeb saw Amanda stifle a smile, and he almost grinned himself. “Mastiffs just have droopy jowls.” He winked at the child. “When he starts to shake his head, be sure to duck. He throws drool everywhere.”
    *   *   *
    Amanda gathered the courage to stretch out her hand to pat the dog on the head. Looking beyond his sagging lids, she searched his red-rimmed brown eyes. She saw no viciousness, only an appeal to be friends. She didn’t want Chloe to be afraid of dogs. Her daughter was already fearful of far too many things.
    Upon seeing her mother touch the mastiff, Chloe dived