The Good Dog Read Online Free Page B

kid? I don’t have all day.”
    â€œIt’s those posters, sir. About your missing dog.”
    â€œOh, yeah, Duchess. I’ve had a few calls. Not that anyone has found her.”
    â€œI’m sure we can,” Jack went on. “McKinley’s a great tracker. Only I was wondering, do you have something that belongs to your dog so McKinley could sniff it? You know, so he could know Duchess’s scent.”
    McKinley watched Pycraft glance at the pup. “Not a bad idea, kid,” the man said. “You’re smarter than most. Bring the dog in here.” He hesitated. “But you’re going to have to leash him. I don’t think he likes me and I don’t mess with dogs.”
    â€œI don’t have a leash.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I do.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Pycraft went into the house and closed the door behind him.
    â€œMcKinley” Jack called. “Come here, boy. Come on! I’m going to put a leash on you for just a minute.”
    Leash was a word McKinley knew, and did not like. Determined to go no nearer to that man or his house, he stood his ground.
    â€œCome on, boy,” Jack pleaded. “Good boy. Do it for me.”
    McKinley lowered his head, wrinkled his nose again, and flattened his ears. A growl rumbled in his chest.
    The door opened, and Pycraft reappeared. In one hand was a heavy chain leash. In the other hand was a rifle. He set the gun against the wall.
    McKinley growled. The few times he had been near guns when they went off had been very frightening. Partly it was the noise. But he knew well the harm they caused. Moreover, he sensed that humans were nervous about them, too. “Why’d you bring the gun?” Jack asked, alarmed.
    Mr. Pycraft laughed. “Just to show that dog ofyours—if he’s got any brains—not to fool with me. Now, bring him over here,” he commanded.
    Jack hesitated. Then he called, “McKinley. “Come on! Good boy!”
    Refusing to budge, McKinley whimpered.
    Jack asked for the leash. The man handed it over. Leash in hand, Jack approached McKinley. “What’s the matter, boy?” he asked. “Come on. This is for me. No one’s going to hurt you.”
    McKinley took a step back.
    Pycraft snorted. “See,” he snapped. “Just when you think you can control a dog, it turns on you. I know dogs, kid, and that’s a nasty one you got there. Look at him, ready to attack. A dog like that, he’s a menace to the whole town. I’m telling you, he’s got a lot of wolf in him.”
    The wolf word, again. Whimpering, McKinley gazed at the pup’s puzzled eyes, trying to make him understand the danger of this man.
    â€œOkay, fella,” Jack said softly. “I won’t make you wear it.” McKinley watched the boy give the leash back to Pycraft. “He won’t do it, sir. I knowMcKinley. Once he makes up his mind, no way I can make him.”
    â€œI could teach him,” Pycraft sneered.
    Jack said, “Is there something you could bring out for him to smell, something that belonged to your dog?”
    â€œSure,” Pycraft said. “This!” He flung the leash at McKinley, who saw immediately that it would miss him. With a heavy clunk it landed at his feet.
    â€œDumb dog,” Pycraft snapped. “I could have knocked him out silly. Serve him right.”
    Jack ran to the sidewalk, picked the leash up, and passed it under McKinley’s nose. “Smell this, boy. Come on, McKinley,” he whispered. “I really need to get that camping gear.”
    McKinley took a couple of loud sniffs. Duchess’s smell was strong on the chain links.
    â€œGood boy!” Jack said, and brought the leash back to Pycraft.
    The man took it. “Okay, kid. Go look for Duchess, but if your dog hurts my dog, your folks are going to hear about it.”
    He turned and disappeared into his house, shutting the door behind him