Fully dressed again, Sam slid open the back door and called for Barkley. A pang of guilt stabbed through his gut. He’d completely forgotten about the pup when he went over to clean the pool. Luckily, the furball had a lot of pent-up energy after being cooped up all day, and he was used to being left outside for long stretches of time.

He called again, but there was no corresponding bark or yip, not even the rustling of grass. The Williams’ property stretched far beyond the established, well-maintained backyard. Beyond the pool and short-cut grass, the property faded into untamed wilderness. Young Ash and Sam spent many hours exploring it. Sam didn’t know how far exactly, but it stretched back far enough for a couple young kids to consider it uncharted territory.

With a furtive glance toward the neighbor’s—the Williams’ backyard was in clear view of Mr. and Mrs. Murrays’ bedroom windows—Sam stepped into the backyard and walked to the edge of where it turned from yard to overgrown wilderness.

“Barkley! Here, boy!” Still nothing. Sam grimaced, stepping into the tall grass. I better not get a tick on me.

Picking a path that he hadn’t trodden in years, Sam wound his way through the tall grass and sparse trees until he came to a clearing.

“Barkley!”

Still no barking, but a rustling came from a small copse of oaks. The trees were clumped together, stymieing each other’s growth. The breeze played tricks on Sam’s eyes and made it look like the low grass around the trunks were squiggling.

Grass, twigs, dead leaves, and pine needles crunched underfoot. It was spring, but the aroma of dead things was still prevalent in the air. The pungent, earthy scene of decomposing leaves, mostly.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Barkley?” More rustling, and now that he was closer, Sam was certain it wasn’t just the wind blowing through the brush. The bark was rough, and it bit into his palms as he leaned between two trees to peer to the other side.

The rustling sound grew louder, and Sam turned his head toward it. The steady breeze cut off suddenly, and the sound died with it. Before Sam could call for the dog again, he heard a steady thump-thump-thump. Whatever it was, it was getting closer.

Suddenly, a brown ball of fur and slobber leapt through the underbrush, his overlarge paws beating a basso beat against the thick duff on the ground.

Barkley jumped into Sam’s chest and proceeded to share his slobber.

“Hey, Bark—yech! Ew, no kisses, Barkley!” It took a few minutes to calm the dog down, but soon they headed back to the house. “C’mon, boy. You’re going to stay with me for a while.”

Barkley may have been a young dog, but he knew a car ride when he saw one, and his tail wagged like he was a helicopter readying for liftoff. Sam practically ran out of the house and to his car, praying to whatever gods or deities were watching that there wouldn’t be an angry mob or husband waiting for him.

The drive to Sam’s house was too short for Barkley’s liking. He whined as Sam slowed to a stop, but if the layers of slobber dripping down the passenger side door were any indication, he still enjoyed it, no matter how brief.

His mom’s car was in the driveway. He half expected her to be down at the hospital visiting Mr. Williams, but she was probably giving Ash space and time to be with her father alone.

“Hey, Mom,” he called when he and Barkley entered. “Barkley is gonna stay with us until they figure out what’s going on with Mr. Williams.” He unhooked the leash, and Barkley was off like a cannonball, barking and sniffing the ground like he was tracking something. Sam deposited his keys and wallet on the shelf by the door and followed the eager pup. No doubt he’d want to head into the backyard and start exploring.

“Did you already have dinner? I’m starv—”

His voice cut off when he saw his mom lying on the floor. Rushing to her side, he dropped to his knees.

“Mom!”

Her checkbook and pen lay beside her like she was balancing her account when she fell. He put his fingers to her throat, but he was too shaken up to feel the pulse.

“Mom!”