Autumn Calling by T. Lynne Tolles Read Free Book Online

dead.
    But Sister Louise had always talked about
one day stealing away on a journey by herself, so when the Reverend
Mother said she had left, Summer didn’t think anything sinister had
happened, only that she had finally taken her trip and one day
she’d get a postcard telling her and Tori how much fun she was
having meeting people and seeing the world. Sadly that wasn’t the
case, and the guilt ate at her insides.
    When Summer got home after her jaunt with
Tori and talking to the police, she stopped in at Aunt Myrtle’s.
She found her still in her agitated state, so it was likely lessons
would not be conducted today. She called Autumn to check on Vixen.
Thankfully all was well and she was resting comfortably at home.
Summer did a little gardening under the watchful eye of Sully until
he decided it was time to play, and he dropped the slimy ball he
carried around when he wasn’t pestering Morti on Summer’s foot.
    “Okay, okay, I get it,” Summer said as she
clapped her hands together, releasing any loose dirt, and brushed
pebbles from her knees. She threw the ball as hard as she could.
With glee the giant puppy leaped over a cross-shaped tombstone and
nearly ran into another, before bounding back to her for another
throw. This continued for a good fifteen minutes or more until she
found the hellhound pup taking longer and longer to retrieve the
ball. This was a sure sign he’d had enough for the time being, and
he plopped down on the ground, chewing on a discarded branch from a
tree—the bigger and drier, the better. She teased the pup that he
was better than any wood chipper, and much cheaper.
    The day faded, and the darkness and shadows
invaded the landscape where it had once been bright and glorious.
Unable to continue in the garden, Summer headed back to the cozy
cottage with Sully at her heels, stopping first at the shed to put
away tools. When she came out, she saw a dark figure of a portly
man in a hat lurking about the perimeter of the property.
    Sully heard a branch crack beneath the man’s
foot and stormed off in the direction of the intruder. Summer felt
sure any man seeing a giant hellhound with glowing eyes, smoke
pouring from his nostrils, and flames spouting would be prompted to
seek safety on the outside of the property. Summer wasn’t
worried.
    With the land tucked against the woods, they
sometimes did have people mistakenly find themselves on the
property. Sully wouldn’t hurt anyone who didn’t try to hurt him
first, so she was confident he could take care of himself and
headed back to the cottage.
    She found Daniel on the porch, leaning
against the doorjamb looking incredibly handsome. He was a welcome
sight and she greeted him with a smile and hug, before they entered
the house.
    “It’s good to see you,” she said. “Can I get
you anything?”
    “No, I’m good. How are you feeling about
Sister Mary Louise?”
    “Better, though I feel maybe I should have
told the police when she first went missing.”
    “You told me you weren’t too worried about
it. That you had assumed she’d gone on a trip.”
    “That is what I thought, but maybe if I
hadn’t jumped to that conclusion, she might still be alive.”
    “You can’t second guess what Father’s path
is for his children. There are too many possibilities. You’ll make
yourself crazy or sick.”
    “Maybe, but can’t help feeling guilty about
it.”
    “Well, try harder. She would not have wanted
you to burden yourself with such ideas. You know this.”
    “I do. It’s just,” Summer said, flopping
onto the couch.
    “You must. It’s not good for you, and you
have such weight on your shoulders as it is.”
    With her eyes she agreed with him, but it
didn’t change the ache in her heart.
    She pondered that a moment and said, “Tori
and I had to talk to the police today.”
    “Really? What about?”
    “They just had questions about Sister Mary
Louise.”
    “What kind of questions?”
    “Like when was the last time we spoke