Misplaced Innocence Read Online Free

do with it once she got back to the house. It was the funniest thing. Then I said it looked like a shepherd mix, and she told me she didn’t think it looked like a German Shepherd. I almost laughed.”
    Bill chuckled. “Give her a break. From the city, I think, back on the East Coast. Hasn’t been here that long. Bought that little bungalow out there. The one that used to belong to the Brinkman’s, before their breeding operation went under.”
    “Right,” Jared nodded. “That place has seen better days.”
    Bill shrugged. “I guess it don’t matter too much what a place looks like. She works from the house, so it must be good for something.”
    Jared grunted in response. Whatever that woman was doing from home probably didn’t involve much brain activity. If she’d said one more stupid thing Jared had planned on taking the dog back to his place instead. Besides, any woman that lived alone and had a room full of dead animals couldn’t possibly be that stable. He mused for a minute over the mounted animals. Maybe he should have brought the dog back home after all, so it didn’t end up stuffed like all the others. He finally pulled out a turkey sandwich, figuring he’d have better luck with that than the tuna, and headed toward the register.

    ~*~

    Charisma stretched. Her pencils and water colors were spread out over the drawing table, sheets of paper with characters in different stages of development strewn around her. The dog was occupying her usual place beneath the table, curled up on an overstuffed pillow bought specially for her and patterned with dog bones and happy looking dogs. She had never had a dog. In fact, she had never had anything more than a few hermit crabs and exotic looking fish that never seemed to last more than a few weeks. Now, she was making up for lost time. The dog had been there two and a half weeks and she had her own pillows scattered throughout the house, matching sets of ceramic bowls Charisma had painted herself, dogs parading across the rims, Scruffy written in script, leather collars, expensive dog food…she snorted at the thought. “Well,” she said aloud, “I might not have the slightest idea of what to do with you, but I certainly know how to shop for you, don’t I?” She laughed and stood up, “Come on there, Scruff, let’s go outside.” The dog followed her obediently to the front door, and bounded out into the yard.
    Charisma was about to join the dog when her phone rang. She reached over and grabbed the cordless off the wall before stepping out into the hot sun.
    “Hello?” she asked.
    “You never did call about that dog. It die on you?”
    Charisma was momentarily confused. “I’m sorry?”
    “Remember, I left you my card…?”
    “Oh, right! Of course you did.” Charisma stalled for time. She’d meant to call him, really. “It was the funniest thing. I lost the card. How did you get this number?”
    There was a long pause. “Off one of the flyers,” he said, in a tone that reeked of I-Can’t-Believe-You’re-So-Stupid.  
    Charisma had the urge to hit her forehead. “Right, of course. You’re the first to call about her. She’s doing just fine. Really a sweetheart.”
    “Good. You planning on keeping her?”
    Charisma looked at the dog romping in the yard. In the kitchen, Charisma could see the heavy duty container full of forty pounds worth of dog food and the squeaky toys   that had been abandoned in the middle of the floor. “Well, yeah, I guess I am.”
    There was a long pause. “I see. Well, if for any reason you change your mind, you let me know and I’ll find a good home for her.”
    I’m sure you will. Charisma thought, surprised at the bitterness she felt. All those women just lined up to take the ratty dog home with them. The ratty dog in question bounded up to her, dragging one dirty paw across the denim of her jeans. “Well, thank you, but I really don’t believe that will be at all necessary.” Her tone was icy. “Thank you