Read Online You Can't Scare Me! by R. L. Stine - Free Book Online Page A

with fury, leaped at my throat.

18
    â€œHey!” An alarmed voice called out from somewhere behind me.
    The snarling dog appeared to stop in midair.
    Its eyes still glowing like hot coals, it landed hard on all four legs.
    â€œHey — go away!” the voice cried.
    I turned to see Hat running toward me, swinging a long stick in one hand. “Go away, dog!” Hat shouted.
    The dog lowered its head and let out a growl, its eyes still on me. It took a reluctant step back, its smooth black tail tucked between its heavy legs. It took another step back. Then another.
    â€œGo away!” I took up the cry. “Go away!”
    I don’t know if it was because there were now two of us, or whether it was the stick Hat was swinging in front of him — but the enormous creature suddenly turned and loped off into the trees.
    â€œOh, wow,” I moaned. “Wow. Wow. That was close.” I suddenly realized I’d been holding my breath for so long, my chest hurt. I let it out in a loud
whoosh.
    â€œAre you okay?” Hat asked.
    â€œYeah, I guess,” I replied shakily. “Thanks for saving my life.”
    He stared into the trees where the dog had disappeared. “Was that a dog or a horse?” Hat cried. “He looked mean enough, didn’t he?”
    I nodded. My throat suddenly felt very dry. It was hard to talk. I knew I’d be seeing that growling beast again, in nightmares.
    â€œDid you find Buttercup?” I managed to ask.
    Hat kicked at a fallen tree trunk. He shook his head. “No. Not yet. Charlene’s getting a little ballistic.”
    â€œI — I know how she feels,” I stammered. I glanced to the trees. For some reason, I thought I saw the big black dog coming back for me.
    But it was just a gust of wind, shaking the leaves.
    â€œWe’d better get back,” Hat said, giving the tree trunk a final kick.
    I followed him along the path. It curved and then sloped downhill. Little creatures rustled the dry leaves at our feet.
Chipmunks,
I thought.
    I didn’t pay any attention to them. I was still picturing the enormous growling monster, still thinking about my close call.
    We caught up to Molly and Charlene a short while later. They both looked really miserable.
    â€œWhat are we going to
do?”
Charlene whined. She had her hands jammed tightly into the pockets of her jeans. She looked about to cry. “I can’t go home without Buttercup!” she wailed. “I can’t!”
    â€œI’ll bet your dog went home,” Molly said. “I’ll bet that stupid dog is home already.”
    Charlene’s face brightened a little. “Do you think so? You don’t think he’s lost in the woods?”
    â€œDogs don’t get lost,” I offered. “Only people get lost.”
    â€œHe’s right,” Hat agreed. “Dogs have a great sense of direction. Buttercup is probably at home.”
    â€œLet’s go check it out,” Molly urged, putting a comforting hand on Charlene’s shoulder.
    â€œAnd what if he isn’t there?” Charlene demanded miserably. “Then what?”
    â€œThen we’ll call the police and ask them to help us find him,” Molly told her.
    That answer seemed to satisfy Charlene. The four of us unhappily began trudging out of the woods.
    We had just stepped out from the trees and were heading toward the street when Courtney and Denise came into view.
    They were standing at the curb. There were two dogs standing with them.
    Buttercup stood on one side of Courtney. The huge black dog-monster sat on its haunches on Courtney’s other side.
    â€œHi!” Courtney called as we went running up to them. “Do these dogs belong to any of you?”
    I just stopped and stared in disbelief.
    Buttercup was affectionately licking Courtney’s hand. The big black dog was tenderly licking her other hand.
    â€œThe Saint Bernard is mine!” Charlene cried