Sarah's Legacy Read Online Free

Sarah.”
    When I could move, I walked to the side, where a driveway led to another door on the right of the house. Beyond that entrance, there was what appeared to be another small house attached to the main one. It too had its own door.
    A sudden movement in one of the windows startled me. I jumped, thinking someone was inside and that they’d wonder what we were doing, gawking at the place. A nervous giggle escaped when I saw a furry face peering out.
    â€œJust a dumb old cat,” I said aloud. Then I realized that this was
our
cat now and I felt a bit guilty for calling it dumb. Mom wandered off around the back of the place as I stood watching the cat lick its paw and rub the side of its face.
    â€œHey!” shouted a voice, tearing my attention away from the cat. “What are you doing here?”
    When I turned, I saw a boy who looked to be a few years older than me. He was staring at me in a way that suggested he thought I was some kind of criminal planning to rob the place. His tone had been so harsh that I couldn’t find my voice right away. Before I could answer, he spoke again.
    â€œYou can’t hang around here.”
    â€œSays who?”
    â€œSays me.” He took a step forward. “I’m taking care of the place.”
    â€œYeah? Well, my mother and I are the new owners,” I announced haughtily.
    â€œNo kidding? Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” He smiled then. “I guess I sort of scared you, huh?”
    â€œYou did not,” I denied, even though it was true he’d frightened me for a moment.
    â€œAnyway, I’m David Murray. We live a couple of houses down.” His head jerked to the left. I assumed that meant he lived in that direction.
    â€œI’m Sarah Gilmore.” Seeing Mom coming back, I added, “And this is my mother.”
    Mom put her hand out and he shook it awkwardly, introducing himself again.
    â€œI’ve been taking care of Sarah’s animals and checking on the place and stuff. I just came over to put out food and walk the dogs. Have you been inside yet?”
    We told him we hadn’t. He produced a key.
    â€œI guess you’d like to have a look around, then.” We followed him eagerly, totally unprepared for what we were about to see!

C HAPTER F IVE
    As soon as the door swung closed behind us and David flicked on the light, three cats and a small dog appeared at his side, jumping, rubbing against his legs, and starting up a chorus of mews and barks. David went immediately into a room off the large kitchen we’d entered and started getting out cans and boxes of food.
    â€œFour animals,” I observed, watching as he leaned down to fill bowls that were out of my view. “No, five,” I added as a larger dog hurried by.
    â€œMore,” Mom’s voice was barely a whisper. Her mouth was hanging open.
    She was right. Another cat ran past, then a pair of dogs followed by a final cat.
    â€œThere can’t be
nine
pets,” I said finally.
    â€œNine pets,” Mom echoed hollowly.
    â€œThere are eleven, actually,” David called from the next room. “There’s a parrot — an African grey that talks named Stoolie. And, uh, there’s Rosie. She’s a skunk.”
    â€œA skunk,” Mom said faintly. She looked as though she might have gone into shock.
    â€œYeah, Rosie is pretty much nocturnal so you don’t see her around much in the daytime. There are special instructions for her diet and stuff in a notebook here.” He opened a drawer near the sink and drew out a small coil book with a picture of a skunk pasted on the cover.
    â€œA skunk,” Mom said. “Eleven animals!” She repeated both things several times and then sank onto a nearby chair and stared straight ahead. I couldn’t help wondering what she thought of her great-aunt at that moment.
    â€œA few of them are pretty old,” David said helpfully.
    I walked to