Read Online Summer Rose by Elizabeth Sinclair - Free Book Online

more interested in mice and lizards. My guess is she chased a rodent in here and came face to face with Sadie.”
    Still maintaining a safe distance, Rose inspected the snake. Its coppery-orange coloring and the hourglass-shaped markings on its back made it almost attractive. If any snake could be thought of in those terms.
    The sheriff, who had been stunned into openmouthed awe at the sight of a huge timber wolf acting like a pet dog with Davy, shook himself free of the fear that had immobilized him. “The boy said the wolf protected him.”
    “She did.” Davy exited Sadie’s cage. Sadie followed like a faithful puppy. Rose and the sheriff took a couple of steps back. “She won’t hurt you.” Davy turned to the wolf and hugged her enormous neck. “Will ya, girl?” The wolf licked his face.
    Sheriff Ainsley removed his hat and scratched his head. “Well, if that don’t beat all.”
    Rose finally relaxed enough to speak. “What happened, Davy?”
    He grinned at Rose like a proud parent. “I was sitting there petting Sadie, when all of a sudden she jumped up and started growling at the corner of the cage. Then I saw that snake sliding across the floor. It came straight for me, and the next thing I knew, Sadie had it in her mouth.”
    Hunter laughed. “Well, Sheriff, you still want to haul Davy out of here?”
    Rose again held her breath. If the sheriff took Davy away, what would Sadie’s reaction be to being separated from the boy?
    Davy looked from one to the other. “Haul me off where?”
    “Never mind, Davy. I don’t think you could be anywhere safer than right here.” The sheriff tipped his hat. “I’ll be seeing you folks.”
    “But what about—” Rose started.
    “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. I’ll tell him I couldn’t find the boy.” The sheriff winked at Davy and then left.
    Rose leaned against the wall, too drained emotionally by the events of the past half hour to stand on her own. “Well, I don’t know about you two, but I’ve had enough excitement for today.”
    Davy and Hunter laughed.
    Hunter put his arm around the boy. “I think you need to put Sadie back in her cage and then get on home.”
    Reluctantly, Davy led Sadie back to her cage, hugged her neck and then shooed her inside and latched the door. The wolf obeyed the boy as if she were a big old dog. “Night, Sadie. See ya tomorrow.” The wolf threw back her head and howled plaintively. Davy looked imploringly at Hunter. “I can’t go yet. I didn’t finish feeding the other animals.”
    “Rose and I will make sure they get fed. It’s late, and we don’t want to worry your mom.” Hunter steered the boy toward the door. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Davy threw one last glance at Sadie, said goodnight and left.
    “That’s some relationship he’s got going with that wolf.” Rose had regained her footing and managed to move away from the support of the wall.
    “Yes, it is.” Hunter stared at the wolf. “I’ve heard of wolves befriending humans, but I don’t recall one quite as unique as this one before.” Then he laughed. “Maybe his mother is right. Maybe he is a Dr. Littledo in more ways than just not cleaning his room. He certainly is something else with animals, that’s for sure.”
    Silence fell between them. Without a word, they went about feeding the animals. Not until they were finished did Rose suddenly become acutely aware of being alone with the man who seemed to have a strange pull on her emotions.
    She put away the feed bags, washed her hands and wiped them on a towel, then turned to Hunter. “Well, I better get home.” As though home were miles away and not just across the courtyard.
    “I’ll walk with you.” Hunter placed a hand in the middle of her back and guided her to the door.
    The spot where his hand rested felt like someone had applied a heating pad turned on high to her skin. She walked faster to sever the contact. “Thanks, but I can find my way on my own,” she said