after she dropped the boys off at their grandparentsâ house. She and Hub could call Shasta; they could whistle. Maybe theyâd even find her alive and well, thumping her tail in someone elseâs dust.
Kathy Lou was still talking. âYou get paid by the day. For being in the movie, I mean. If they pick you, that is. Big Jessie is going to take Little Jessie for an interview so she can sing âTomorrowâ from that play. Annie. Little Jessie already got her a part in the parade twirling her baton, but Big Jessie says sheâs got more talent than that.â
âUm, yes, indeed,â Carrie murmured, though the specter of Little Jessie decked out as Little Orphan Annie and twirling her baton while singing an off-key rendition of âTomorrowâ tended to curdle the ice cream in her stomach.
âYou should aim for a speaking part, Carrie. You and Dixie. Either one of you girls is pretty enough to be a movie star. And Dixieâs already been chosen to be a beauty contestant, I hear.â
âShe can get off work at the real-estate office to be in the movie, but I have a garage to run. Jamie, hurry up and finish your cone. Your grandma is going to worry about what happened to us.â
âLike Iâm worried what happened to Shasta,â Jamie said disconsolately. He kicked his heels against the bottom of his seat.
âI wonder where that dogâs gone. Dog gone. Doggone, Jamie, get it?â Mike said.
This ended the morning on a slightly cheerful note. The boys wiped their hands obediently with the damp napkin that Carrie dipped in her water glass and uncomplainingly left their seats when she said it was time to leave.
âBye, Carrie,â Kathy Lou called after them.
âBye,â Carrie called back.
Carrie shepherded the boys out of the restaurant. She certainly didnât want a speaking part in the movie. But she sure would have liked to know where Shasta had disappeared to.
L ATER THE SAME AFTERNOON , Carrie was setting her vegetables out on the table in front of the station, when she spotted the Ferrari coming down the street, convertible top down. The car didnât really register at first. She was sick at heart because there was still no sign of Shasta. Out on the bypass, she and Hub had explored every cul-de-sac, but they had seen no sign of the pup. At least they hadnât found her dead on the side of the road.
The Ferrariâs turn signal was blinking, and the car slowed in front of the station. Carrie rushed through her task, meaning to go inside. Luke Mason could pump his own gas. She didnât want to be involved in any discussion about what had happened out behind the refreshment stand the other day, nor did she think it would be a good idea to engage in more kissing. The trouble was that she wanted to. But she wasnât going to give in to unwieldy desires. She had her principles.
She started inside, telling herself that it wasnât the man who was the big attraction, only his car. She sneaked a peek at the Ferrari out of the corners of her eyes. She couldnât believe it when there was Shasta, sitting on the front seat big as you please.
âShasta!â she cried, so glad to see the dog that she wanted to hug her. While Luke Mason gazed at her from behind his sunglasses, she hurried over. It was Shasta, all right, no mistake about that. No mistake about Luke, either. âWhat are you doing with this dog?â she demanded as he got out of his car in a leisurely manner. He wasnât smiling, so maybe heâd had the same second thoughts as she had about that kiss.
âIâm bringing the dog back. How could you leave her outside after you closed for the day? Something could have happened to her.â He sounded angry.
She glared at him. âSheâs not my dog. I feed her and give her water, and Iâm trying to find her a good home. I donât suppose youâd be interested,â she suggested
Kathy Lou was still talking. âYou get paid by the day. For being in the movie, I mean. If they pick you, that is. Big Jessie is going to take Little Jessie for an interview so she can sing âTomorrowâ from that play. Annie. Little Jessie already got her a part in the parade twirling her baton, but Big Jessie says sheâs got more talent than that.â
âUm, yes, indeed,â Carrie murmured, though the specter of Little Jessie decked out as Little Orphan Annie and twirling her baton while singing an off-key rendition of âTomorrowâ tended to curdle the ice cream in her stomach.
âYou should aim for a speaking part, Carrie. You and Dixie. Either one of you girls is pretty enough to be a movie star. And Dixieâs already been chosen to be a beauty contestant, I hear.â
âShe can get off work at the real-estate office to be in the movie, but I have a garage to run. Jamie, hurry up and finish your cone. Your grandma is going to worry about what happened to us.â
âLike Iâm worried what happened to Shasta,â Jamie said disconsolately. He kicked his heels against the bottom of his seat.
âI wonder where that dogâs gone. Dog gone. Doggone, Jamie, get it?â Mike said.
This ended the morning on a slightly cheerful note. The boys wiped their hands obediently with the damp napkin that Carrie dipped in her water glass and uncomplainingly left their seats when she said it was time to leave.
âBye, Carrie,â Kathy Lou called after them.
âBye,â Carrie called back.
Carrie shepherded the boys out of the restaurant. She certainly didnât want a speaking part in the movie. But she sure would have liked to know where Shasta had disappeared to.
L ATER THE SAME AFTERNOON , Carrie was setting her vegetables out on the table in front of the station, when she spotted the Ferrari coming down the street, convertible top down. The car didnât really register at first. She was sick at heart because there was still no sign of Shasta. Out on the bypass, she and Hub had explored every cul-de-sac, but they had seen no sign of the pup. At least they hadnât found her dead on the side of the road.
The Ferrariâs turn signal was blinking, and the car slowed in front of the station. Carrie rushed through her task, meaning to go inside. Luke Mason could pump his own gas. She didnât want to be involved in any discussion about what had happened out behind the refreshment stand the other day, nor did she think it would be a good idea to engage in more kissing. The trouble was that she wanted to. But she wasnât going to give in to unwieldy desires. She had her principles.
She started inside, telling herself that it wasnât the man who was the big attraction, only his car. She sneaked a peek at the Ferrari out of the corners of her eyes. She couldnât believe it when there was Shasta, sitting on the front seat big as you please.
âShasta!â she cried, so glad to see the dog that she wanted to hug her. While Luke Mason gazed at her from behind his sunglasses, she hurried over. It was Shasta, all right, no mistake about that. No mistake about Luke, either. âWhat are you doing with this dog?â she demanded as he got out of his car in a leisurely manner. He wasnât smiling, so maybe heâd had the same second thoughts as she had about that kiss.
âIâm bringing the dog back. How could you leave her outside after you closed for the day? Something could have happened to her.â He sounded angry.
She glared at him. âSheâs not my dog. I feed her and give her water, and Iâm trying to find her a good home. I donât suppose youâd be interested,â she suggested
Similar Books
