A Shepherd's Calling (What Comes After Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

yips, each growing more distant. Of the larger beast, there was no sign. The only indicator it had ever been there was a momentary waving of shrubs and leaves where it had watched the attack.
    Just the two, then, the Hunter thought, saddened.
    Looking down, he saw the dogs still at the base of the tree. The spaniel-mix was scrabbling at the trunk, trying to find purchase enough to climb off the ground. While it had eyes only for the man above, its larger companion had turned away. With ears raised, the lab listened to the sounds of the pack as it retreated. A moment later it bolted, no doubt meaning to rejoin the group.
    Chris couldn't take the chance that the dog might change its course at the last minute and turn toward the boy. Again raising the .30-06 to his shoulder, the Hunter sighted along the side of the barrel to draw his bead. When the child was no longer in his sight picture, Chris touched off the shot. Even after all these years, it was still hard for him to watch. Graceful, loping strides became a clumsy trip and haphazard splay of limbs. At least he couldn't hear it whine.
    When Chris turned back to the spaniel, it was looking from him to where the larger dog had gone. It stopped barking and dropped onto all fours. It watched him, head cocked to the side and ears perked up, as he worked the bolt. The animal seemed distracted by the shining flash of brass when the spent cartridge was cleared from the chamber. Chris thought it looked hopeful when its eyes met his again, their respective gazes connected by the black barrel of the rifle.
    “ Not today, little one,” the man said quietly. He exhaled thunder and the small creature was no more.

4.3

    “ Hold up.” Toby had regained consciousness during Chris' retelling and was waving his hands, looking at the outdoors-man “You mean to tell me a dog ran you up a tree? Man, you real bad-ass. ”
    The older man smiled and shook his head. “Not one dog: a pack. After you've been out in the world a while, you'll understand. They hardly ever move around on their own. They're just not solitary animals.”
    Toby looked at Ben, gestured at Chris. “What he look like up in that tree, little man? Musta been pretty goofy, right? Watchin' a grown man climb like a monkey or somethin'.”
    It was Ben's turn to shake his head. “I didn't see him get up the tree. He was already in it when I saw him. I didn't see him get down, either.” A smile crept onto the child's face. “But yeah, I think he woulda looked pretty funny.”
    Chris tousled the boy's hair. The older man's smile deepened as he continued. “Angie had reached him by that point, pulled him down and covered him with her own body. Neither of them saw that I was pretty spry for an old guy. That let me retain my dignity for a few more minutes, anyway.”
    Ben made a sour face. “Are you talking about when Mom kicked you in the balls?”
    The Hunter's expression lost some of its humor. “Indeed. I could have done without remembering that part, thank you very much.” Janessa and Toby snickered at the exchange, and that caused the boy to grin even more sheepishly.
    “ Why did she do that?” Janessa looked from Chris to Ben and back again.
    The boy shrugged and looked up to the older man, as well. For his part, Chris shook his head and cleared his throat. “Couldn't rightly say. Mother's instinct, perhaps? Her child had been in danger and still might be, as far as she could tell.” He paused and offered another theory. “Maybe she felt threatened? I did appear suddenly and carried a rifle. I was also rather... insistent that I be permitted into the building.”
    “ What do you mean?” This time, Janessa's question came more slowly.
    Chris's smile was fully gone, replaced by a frown. He cleared his throat again before speaking. “I've been an avid outdoors-man all my life. Growing up, I spent more time outdoors than in. I was almost always out hunting, fishing, camping, or hiking. When I got into the service,