The Good Dog Read Online Free

decided he would go right to Redburn and make sure he left Duchess alone.
    He had just come in sight of Redburn’s house when he heard Jack calling, “Hey, McKinley! Hey, big boy. Over here!”
    McKinley stopped and looked around. The pup was on his bike at the corner.
    â€œCome on, fella,” he called again.
    Noting the boy’s backpack, McKinley guessed he was just getting home.
    â€œHey, McKinley, we’re going on an adventure!” Jack cried. He slapped his leg a few times.
    Understanding the gesture as one of impatience, McKinley whimpered. Here he was, on really important pack business, when his pup shows up. He would have to put off dealing with Redburn. Then again, maybe the boy just wanted to say hello.
    â€œCome on, McKinley. Good boy! Come here!”
    McKinley bounded forward. Reaching Jack, he jumped up, tail wagging.
    â€œWay to go, McKinley!” the boy said happily. “Guess what we’re going to do?”
    McKinley sat down and looked up, expectant. Going. He knew that word.
    â€œMr. Pycraft lost his dog again. She’s called Duchess. There are these posters up all over town. He’s offering two hundred bucks reward to anyone who finds her!”
    McKinley picked up the words lost and finds , as well as the names Duchess and Pycraft. Trying to make sense of it all, he studied the boy’s excited face closely.
    â€œMcKinley,” Jack went on, “do you know all the camping gear I could get with that kind of money? A one-person tent. A sleeping bag. If I decide to track that wolf—and had the right stuff—I’d really be able to stay with him.”
    At the words track and wolf and stay, McKinley barked. It was becoming clear to him that the boy was planning something to do with the wolf as well as with Pycraft. It was the word stay thatdidn’t make sense. Whenever the humans said that to him, he was not supposed to move.
    â€œSo, guess what?” Jack said. “You and I are going looking for Duchess. And we’re going to find her.”
    Looking. Find. Duchess. Going. This time McKinley made the connection. Jack wanted to track down Duchess. Just like the Sullivans!
    Intent on keeping the boy home, McKinley stood up on his hind legs and placed his paws on the boy’s shoulder. They were just about the same height.
    â€œI knew you’d understand!” Jack cried. He gave McKinley a hug. “Come on. Let’s find that dog!”
    Frustrated, McKinley dropped back down, and invited the boy to play by bending down over his forepaws, opening his mouth wide, putting his tail up, and barking twice.
    Jack frowned. “Come on, McKinley, I don’t want to play.” He checked his arm. “It’s getting late. We need to give you a whiff of Duchess’s scent so you can follow it.”
    He began to peddle away. “Come on, McKinley!” he yelled. “I need to leave my books home first.”
    McKinley stood his ground. Then he thought he had better go along. At least he could lead the pup away from Duchess.
    With a bark, he began to follow.
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    â€œWait here,” Jack called as he brought his bike to a skidding halt in front of the house. He rushed inside.
    As McKinley sat, waiting, mouth open, tongue lolling, his friend Aspen pushed through the bushes.
    McKinley stood up to greet her, and the two dogs sniffed each other all over, wagging tails slowly.
    Aspen detected the greyhound’s scent on McKinley’s coat. “Where’d you find Duchess?”
    â€œUp in Strawberry Park. Same place she went before.”
    Aspen whimpered. “And I suppose you’ve promised to help her.”
    â€œAspen, Duchess has been mistreated.”
    â€œI heard a rumor that Redburn will be tracking her down.”
    â€œLooks like it,” McKinley growled.
    Jack came bounding out of the house. McKinley looked around. In one hand the pup held some human biscuits,