Gator Bowl Read Online Free Page B

muscular and had a rough voice. Her blond hair was cut short in a bob style that accentuated her high cheekbones and blue eyes. She also had a large gun, and a Taser, at her side.
    â€œYou know I wouldn’t take this action if I didn’t have to.”
    I could tell by the way she looked at Uncle Saul that she had a thing for him. It gave me goose pimples thinking about it. He’d been alone for as long as I could remember. I was thrilled with the idea that Bonnie liked him.
    My only question was:
Did he know?
Men could be obtuse about these things. I could tell she wasn’t someone who’d dress sexy and bat her eyelashes at him to get him to notice her. Taking Alabaster wasn’t a step in the right direction.
    â€œI understand that you’re doing your duty—as you see it, Bonnie,” Uncle Saul acknowledged. “I don’t understand what good it will do for you to take Alabaster.”
    She shrugged, obviously unhappy about performing this duty. “The gator is a wild animal. You can’t control her the way you would a dog. Or a cat.” She looked at Crème Brûlée. “If I take her into custody, maybe that will settle this dispute for now, and you’ll have time to build a pen for her so she can’t escape.”
    Norman was outraged. “I want that gator put down, Bonnie. She’s a killer. She doesn’t deserve another chance.”
    â€œNow, Norman.” She tried to pacify him. “You know how rare that gator is. I’m not even sure I could legally kill her. She’s endangered.”
    Norman looked at Officer Smith for help. Officer Smith held both hands in the air. “Don’t get me involved. This is Bonnie’s department. I don’t do anything with wild animals unless she tells me to.”
    â€œWell, that’s just fine! My chickens are dead—with my hopes for a big win at the fair this year—but you all want to protect the
gator
. Don’t that beat all!”
    â€œGive me the gator, Saul,” Bonnie said. “I’ll take good care of her. Maybe when things cool down, we can decide what to do.”
    Uncle Saul shrugged and went inside the cabin to get Alabaster. The rest of us stood around, awkwardly, with the mosquitoes and biting flies.
    â€œCute cat,” Bonnie said.
    â€œThanks. His name is Crème Brûlée.” I smiled at her, hoping I’d hear more about her from Uncle Saul as we made dinner that night.
    â€œThat’s a stupid name for a cat,” Norman snarled.
    â€œNot so much,” Officer Smith said. “Marlene has one named Lemon Chiffon.”
    I was wondering if it would be impolite to simply walk away, but then Uncle Saul came back. “She’s gone,” he told us. “I don’t know how she got out, but I can’t find Alabaster.”
    His declaration was followed by everyone rushing into the tiny cabin. There was nowhere a three-foot-long white alligator could hide.
    Norman yelled out something about his chickens and left the cabin, running through the woods.
    Officer Smith followed him, shouting for him to stop.
    Bonnie stayed where she was. “You know, if he finds Alabaster at his place, he’ll probably shoot her,” she warned Uncle Saul. “Any place she likes to hang out besides Norman’s chicken coop?”
    â€œThere’s a spot by the river, a little cave she likes to sleep in,” Uncle Saul said. “She might be there.”
    â€œYou head that way,” Bonnie said. “I’ll try to keep Norman calm.”
    â€œThank you.” Uncle Saul smiled at her in a personal way that said he might have a few feelings for her too.
    Which made me even more sure that neither of them knew how the other one felt.
    â€œI’ll see you later.” Bonnie slowly left the cabin.
    â€œI guess you folks don’t need cable TV,” Ollie said with a laugh. “You’ve got enough going on to keep