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into bite-size pieces. She’d tempt Muffy with her favorite treat. Muffy loved roast beef.
    “Muffy? Come here, Muffy!”
    There was no sound of running feet. Marian put the beef in the bowl and carried it to the living room, looking for Laura’s pet.
    “I haven’t seen her all morning, honey,” Dan called out. “Maybe she’s upstairs.”
    She found Muffy lying by Laura’s door, head down, eyes closed. The little cocker spaniel looked up as Marian placed the bowl of food next to her. Her tail thumped against the floor once, and then she whimpered.
    “What’s the matter, Muffy? Aren’t you hungry?” Marian reached down to pat her silky head. “It’s roast beef, Muffy . . . your favorite.”
    Muffy sniffed once at the bowl, and then her head lowered again. It was clear the little dog wasn’t going to eat.
    “I’ll leave it right here for you,” Marian promised. “Now be a good girl and eat something. We can’t have you getting sick on us.”
    Marian turned to go back downstairs, and then she stopped by the phone in the upstairs hallway. Muffy was losing weight. Her coat had lost its shine, and her eyes were dull and listless. It might be a good idea to call Roy McHenry, the local vet.
    It was late afternoon before Roy got back to them. Marian was right. Muffy was definitely ill. The little puppy had lost too much weight, and she was suffering from dehydration. But Roy couldn’t find the cause of Muffy’s malaise. He suggested a change of scene, perhaps a visit to a family with a child. Marian knew he was trying to tell her that Muffy was grieving for Laura.
    Dan had come up with the solution. They would take Muffy to the Powells’. It was practically her second home anyway. And Muffy loved Jenny.
    “Time to go see Jenny!” Marian called the puppy to her and snapped on Muffy’s leash. “Jenny’s waiting for you. You’re going out to the country for a nice little visit.”
    Muffy looked up at her with large, brown eyes. Marian thought she could see a glimmer of excitement in their liquid depths. Perhaps this was best for Muffy. If she adjusted well at the Powells’, she could stay with them. Sally had promised.
    Marian picked up Muffy and hurried to the garage. Sally would have a cup of coffee waiting. Dan would have a good time talking with Ronnie, and in the Powells’ huge, cheerful farmhouse, she might be able to forget her cares for a while.
    Muffy whimpered as Marian put her in the passenger seat and started the cold van. The small puppy was shivering, and Marian draped a blanket around her. As soon as Laura’s pet had settled in a bit, she backed the van out of the garage and went back after Dan. He was waiting for her just inside the front door.
    “Ready for your first outing, Mr. Larsen?” She smiled as she wheeled his chair out the front door and around to the back of the van. The hydraulic lift Jim Sorensen had installed worked perfectly, and in a matter of seconds Dan’s chair was clamped into place.
    “I could have stayed home in comfort,” Dan grumbled. “It’s thirteen below, Marian. Of course, that’s not bad for December. The weatherman said it’s going to be a mild winter.”
    Marian could see his smile in the rearview mirror. Dr. Hinkley was right. Both of them needed to get out of the house more often.
    Marian shivered a little as she backed out onto the street. She had never liked driving at night, and winter driving terrified her. She was glad Dan was with her. Of course, he couldn’t help with the driving, but it gave her comfort just knowing he was there.
    The roads were slippery tonight. Marian could see the buildup of ice in the glare of her headlights as she made the turn onto the highway. She had to concentrate on her driving now.
    Muffy whimpered piteously and pressed her nose to the cold window. Marian gritted her teeth and swerved just a bit as she turned to look at the cocker spaniel. If Muffy whimpered all the way, she’d be a nervous wreck.
    “Drive out