Read Online The Third Key (The Alaesha Legacy Book 1) by Samantha Warren - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Samantha Warren
Ads: Link
picked up the few she deemed worthy and took them into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Edith rummaged through the discarded garments. Without much trouble, she found a pair of jeans and a soft, plain t-shirt, along with a few other necessary garments. They were all exactly her size and she sent up a silent thanks to Mags.
Edith settled on a cloth-covered bench in the bay window while she waited for Dana to finish in the shower. She rested her head against the wall and surveyed the landscape set out before her. She became so lost in its beauty that she almost missed the strange blue birds darting up from inside the wooded area. Something was moving in the forest. Something big enough to startle anything that could take flight. Edith stood up and pressed her forehead against the window, watching the movement of the birds and other animals that were darting out of the forest. Whatever it was was coming closer at a very fast pace.
Her heart began racing as the thing neared the edge of the woods. Whatever it was would be breaking through soon, and she was certain it was headed straight for her. A big black shape about the size of a horse appeared, shooting out through the trees like an arrow from a bow. It made a beeline for the house, moving quicker than she would have thought possible. As it drew near, it took on a noticeable form.
"A dog?" she whispered to herself. Its features resembled a typical canine for the most part, excluding its massive size, satellite dish ears, and spiked tail. Halfway across the lawn it slowed, tongue hanging out and club-like tail wagging furiously. Edith looked down, closer to the house. Charles trotted across the lawn, arms out. The creature barreled into him, knocking him to the ground and slobbering all over his face as he embraced the beast.
"That's Ollie, Charles's baby," Mags said.
Edith squeaked, slapping a hand to her mouth as she jumped a foot in the air. "You scared me," she chided before changing topics. "Ollie? Kind of a mild name for something so ginormous, don't you think?"
The older woman smiled. "Charles is very fond of his humans, and one of his favorite Keepers was named Oliver. When he found that little pup abandoned in an old mine shaft one day, it was no bigger than a squirrel. Tiny thing. His Keeper was here that day, a boy no more than eight at the time. Charles named the dog Ollie after him. The beast has been with us for nearly a century now, and I swear he hasn't stopped growing. Eats us out of house and home, he does. And don't get near him when he's been swimming. Smells simply horrid and soaks everything in reach when he shakes. The little rat."
The woman's tone was annoyed, but the affection she felt for the massive beast showed in the unrestrained smile as she watched her brother frolic with the creature who could easily tear him in half in one bite. It was strangely surreal and only added to the weirdness of her day.
When Dana finished with her shower, Edith stepped in, thankful for the hot water. She finished quickly, loathe to keep Mags waiting longer than necessary, and was still putting her wet hair up in a pony tail as they were escorted to the patio. Charles was sitting on the stone steps leading down to the lawn, scratching his hairy friend between the ears. As the girls approached, the dog sneezed violently, causing an ear bigger than a dinner plate to smack Charles square in the face. The man tumbled backward in an overly exaggerated fashion, playfully swatting the dog until he saw that his guests had arrived.
Clearing his throat, he stood and straightened his jacket and shoulders, trying to appear moody and aloof. "All right then?" he asked the teenagers.
Edith bit her lip, fighting back a smile. "Yeah, just fine. Mags has been more than helpful."
"Good, good."
Awkward silence ensued momentarily until Ollie had enough of the boring situation and bounded up the steps, launching himself at Edith. She pulled back, wondering how she would
Edith settled on a cloth-covered bench in the bay window while she waited for Dana to finish in the shower. She rested her head against the wall and surveyed the landscape set out before her. She became so lost in its beauty that she almost missed the strange blue birds darting up from inside the wooded area. Something was moving in the forest. Something big enough to startle anything that could take flight. Edith stood up and pressed her forehead against the window, watching the movement of the birds and other animals that were darting out of the forest. Whatever it was was coming closer at a very fast pace.
Her heart began racing as the thing neared the edge of the woods. Whatever it was would be breaking through soon, and she was certain it was headed straight for her. A big black shape about the size of a horse appeared, shooting out through the trees like an arrow from a bow. It made a beeline for the house, moving quicker than she would have thought possible. As it drew near, it took on a noticeable form.
"A dog?" she whispered to herself. Its features resembled a typical canine for the most part, excluding its massive size, satellite dish ears, and spiked tail. Halfway across the lawn it slowed, tongue hanging out and club-like tail wagging furiously. Edith looked down, closer to the house. Charles trotted across the lawn, arms out. The creature barreled into him, knocking him to the ground and slobbering all over his face as he embraced the beast.
"That's Ollie, Charles's baby," Mags said.
Edith squeaked, slapping a hand to her mouth as she jumped a foot in the air. "You scared me," she chided before changing topics. "Ollie? Kind of a mild name for something so ginormous, don't you think?"
The older woman smiled. "Charles is very fond of his humans, and one of his favorite Keepers was named Oliver. When he found that little pup abandoned in an old mine shaft one day, it was no bigger than a squirrel. Tiny thing. His Keeper was here that day, a boy no more than eight at the time. Charles named the dog Ollie after him. The beast has been with us for nearly a century now, and I swear he hasn't stopped growing. Eats us out of house and home, he does. And don't get near him when he's been swimming. Smells simply horrid and soaks everything in reach when he shakes. The little rat."
The woman's tone was annoyed, but the affection she felt for the massive beast showed in the unrestrained smile as she watched her brother frolic with the creature who could easily tear him in half in one bite. It was strangely surreal and only added to the weirdness of her day.
When Dana finished with her shower, Edith stepped in, thankful for the hot water. She finished quickly, loathe to keep Mags waiting longer than necessary, and was still putting her wet hair up in a pony tail as they were escorted to the patio. Charles was sitting on the stone steps leading down to the lawn, scratching his hairy friend between the ears. As the girls approached, the dog sneezed violently, causing an ear bigger than a dinner plate to smack Charles square in the face. The man tumbled backward in an overly exaggerated fashion, playfully swatting the dog until he saw that his guests had arrived.
Clearing his throat, he stood and straightened his jacket and shoulders, trying to appear moody and aloof. "All right then?" he asked the teenagers.
Edith bit her lip, fighting back a smile. "Yeah, just fine. Mags has been more than helpful."
"Good, good."
Awkward silence ensued momentarily until Ollie had enough of the boring situation and bounded up the steps, launching himself at Edith. She pulled back, wondering how she would
Similar Books
