“We’ll block off the four intersection and create a square roadway around the entire block. I’ll string fence across each street, from lamp post to lamp post and rig up some kind of gates. I’ve already confirmed that all of the outside buildings are secure with exception of some broken window that I’ll board up. Ellen will be able to ride around the entire city block, as safe as can be,” I said with calm confidence. I’d already decided to build the cathedral intersection back a few yards to give me easy access to the building and its bell tower. I didn’t want them to know about my secret spot up amongst the gargoyles, not yet. A man had to have some place to be alone.
We sat on the stone steps and ate the lunch Claire had prepared. The silence of the group started to grow awkward with Claire and me stealing glances at each other, trying to figure out what the other was thinking about and Ellen sitting between us openly looking back and forth. She couldn’t seem to keep from smiling but kept her thoughts to herself.
Remembering my manners, I thanked Claire for the sandwiches and stood up. “Come on squirt,” I said, cupping the back of Ellen’s head, “Back to work.”
Running and getting my bow and arrows where she’d carefully put them, Ellen gave Claire the biggest smile, as if she was going to burst out of her skin and light the world with her happiness.
.o0o.
It’d taken three days of hard work to get to this point; I beckoned Ellen inside the fence line so she could twist the last tie wraps connecting the fence and lamp post. “Here, use both hands and twist this wire, and then we’re done,” I said.
“Really, Me?”
“Yeah, use two hands….” A scream down the street interrupted us. A boy was running down the middle of the street his feet barely touching the asphalt. A pack of dogs rounded the corner, giving chase. The boy’s pumping arms moved like pistons as he ran flat out, his big saucer eyes grew bigger when he saw the fence.
“Quick, open the gate,” I yelled to Ellen and grabbed my bow and pulled an arrow from the quiver. “This way, over here,” I yelled.
“It’s Hector,” Ellen whispered. Her eyes glued to the scene as her white knuckled hand griping the gate.
The boy changed direction without breaking stride and turned towards the only escape option. I recognized the red Irish setter from the deer hunt in the park, followed closely by the German shepherd and the rest of their pack. A vision of the dogs tearing into that doe flashed through my mind as I smoothly pulled the bow string back to my ear and took aim through the chain link fence. I tried to breathe normally, knowing I’d only get one chance. As I prepared to let fly, the lead dog shifted course and the shot was blocked.
Cursing under my breath, I adjusted my aim, waiting for an opening. He’s not going to make it, I thought. “Come on. Faster,” I yelled, encouraging him the last thirty yards.
With twenty yards to go, the setter shifted again, trying to hamstring Hector. Her white canine teeth inches from the boy’s heels. The dog lunged and brought her muzzle in for the tripping bite when she was knocked sideways, a silver arrow piercing her side.
My hands shook as I tried to grasp another arrow from the quiver. Before I could complete the rearm, the boy was through the gate and Ellen had slammed it closed and thrown the locking latch.
Hector had come to a halt, gasping a huge lungful of air, looking around to see if he was safe, obviously surprised to be alive.
The dogs had stopped and gathered around the red setter, nosing her, trying to get her up. As I watched the dog tried to raise her head, looked at her mate the German shepherd before collapsing for the last time.
The shepherd sniffed her, repeatedly going over her entire body as if trying to find some sign of life. Sitting next to her he lifted his head and let loose a mournful cry of pure anguish that tore off a little bit of my
We sat on the stone steps and ate the lunch Claire had prepared. The silence of the group started to grow awkward with Claire and me stealing glances at each other, trying to figure out what the other was thinking about and Ellen sitting between us openly looking back and forth. She couldn’t seem to keep from smiling but kept her thoughts to herself.
Remembering my manners, I thanked Claire for the sandwiches and stood up. “Come on squirt,” I said, cupping the back of Ellen’s head, “Back to work.”
Running and getting my bow and arrows where she’d carefully put them, Ellen gave Claire the biggest smile, as if she was going to burst out of her skin and light the world with her happiness.
.o0o.
It’d taken three days of hard work to get to this point; I beckoned Ellen inside the fence line so she could twist the last tie wraps connecting the fence and lamp post. “Here, use both hands and twist this wire, and then we’re done,” I said.
“Really, Me?”
“Yeah, use two hands….” A scream down the street interrupted us. A boy was running down the middle of the street his feet barely touching the asphalt. A pack of dogs rounded the corner, giving chase. The boy’s pumping arms moved like pistons as he ran flat out, his big saucer eyes grew bigger when he saw the fence.
“Quick, open the gate,” I yelled to Ellen and grabbed my bow and pulled an arrow from the quiver. “This way, over here,” I yelled.
“It’s Hector,” Ellen whispered. Her eyes glued to the scene as her white knuckled hand griping the gate.
The boy changed direction without breaking stride and turned towards the only escape option. I recognized the red Irish setter from the deer hunt in the park, followed closely by the German shepherd and the rest of their pack. A vision of the dogs tearing into that doe flashed through my mind as I smoothly pulled the bow string back to my ear and took aim through the chain link fence. I tried to breathe normally, knowing I’d only get one chance. As I prepared to let fly, the lead dog shifted course and the shot was blocked.
Cursing under my breath, I adjusted my aim, waiting for an opening. He’s not going to make it, I thought. “Come on. Faster,” I yelled, encouraging him the last thirty yards.
With twenty yards to go, the setter shifted again, trying to hamstring Hector. Her white canine teeth inches from the boy’s heels. The dog lunged and brought her muzzle in for the tripping bite when she was knocked sideways, a silver arrow piercing her side.
My hands shook as I tried to grasp another arrow from the quiver. Before I could complete the rearm, the boy was through the gate and Ellen had slammed it closed and thrown the locking latch.
Hector had come to a halt, gasping a huge lungful of air, looking around to see if he was safe, obviously surprised to be alive.
The dogs had stopped and gathered around the red setter, nosing her, trying to get her up. As I watched the dog tried to raise her head, looked at her mate the German shepherd before collapsing for the last time.
The shepherd sniffed her, repeatedly going over her entire body as if trying to find some sign of life. Sitting next to her he lifted his head and let loose a mournful cry of pure anguish that tore off a little bit of my
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