Read Online Windward Secrets by K. A. Davis - Free Book Online Page B

timing stinks,” she moaned, glancing out the window.
    Ike followed Claire to the kitchen where she opened the door and let him out. “Am I supposed to go with you or what?” she asked Ike as he brushed passed her. “Oh darn, what if he runs away. Ike, come.” Ike immediately returned to her. Taking the belt off her robe she slipped it through his collar and walked onto the porch and down to the beach holding onto the belt tightly.
    “I can’t believe I’m walking a stranger’s dog in the middle of the night. This is insane.” She proceeded to lecture Ike on having more consideration and timing his needs better. When she was sure he had taken care of business she turned him back toward the house. The sky was turning the color of a ripe eggplant, with a faint gold arc at the horizon, fading upward in a halo promising daylight. Claire could see the glint of the white caps. Taking a deep breath she smelled the salt air and listened to the sound of the waves hitting the beach. Ike moved closer and rubbed against her leg as they walked. Involuntarily, Claire reached down and scratched his head. The calm of her first day sitting on the porch returned and she soon reveled in the solitude.
    Watching the stars disappear into the morning sky Claire glanced toward the house. Someone was on the roof. “Look at that Ike. I think Caroline is painting the sunrise.”
    Claire fed Ike, started the coffee then went up the stairs. Ike followed closely behind. When they passed the locked room Ike stopped and sniffed around the door. Lifting his right front foot he pawed at the door.
    “No, Ike. We can’t go in there.”
    Claire could hear Jill still snoring and quietly worked her way to her bed. Sitting down on the side of the bed to remove her flip-flops she sat on something hard. Reaching back she felt her book. Hmmm, where did that come from? It wasn’t there when I left she thought.
    Ike nuzzled her hand and she laid the book on the bedside table.
    “Lay down and be quiet,” she whispered, patting Ike’s head.
     
     

Chapter Five
    Tuesday
     
    Claire came out of the bathroom to find Ike sitting at the door. “Are you my shadow or what?”
    Ike moved to the locked room and whined softly.
    “What is it you like about that room,” Claire said, trying the door handle. “See. Locked. Now come.”
    Claire entered the empty kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She was bothered by the dream and couldn’t help wondering if her daughters were okay. They were certainly older than the child in her dream, but the little girl reminded her of them when they were small. Going to the parlor she retrieved her cell phone from her handbag and hit the speed dial number for Spence.
    “Hi hun,” Spence answered, recognizing Claire’s number on the caller ID.
    “Good morning. You at work?”
    “Yup, been here an hour already.” There was a pause and then Spence asked, “Everything okay?”
    “I had a strange dream last night and just wanted to make sure you and the girls were okay.”
    “We’re good, but what about you? You don’t usually call when you go away.”
    “I’m fine, Spence, really. The dream just bothered me.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yes. Yes. I’m sure. Give the girls my love and I’ll see you Saturday.”
    “Bye, love.
    As Claire returned to the kitchen, voices drifted in from the back porch through the open windows and screen door.
    “Good morning all,” Claire said, holding the door open for Ike.
    “Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day,” Diane said.
    “How was the sunrise Caroline?” Claire asked.
    Caroline looked up from her coffee in surprise. “I don’t know. Why would you ask that?”
    “I saw you on at the widow’s walk when I took Ike out before dawn.”
    “Not me,” Caroline said. “Claire, are you okay?”
    Jill and Diane turned toward Claire and waited.
    “Yes, I feel fine. Ike had to go out. I went with him because I was afraid he’d run off. I saw you up on the roof and