Seeing Red by Susan Crandall Read Free Book Online

recognition mixed with a healthy dose of shame. Had Paco felt she’d abandoned him in the same way she had when Nate had left?
    They left the barn and emerged into the bright light. Without taking a moment to consider her words, she asked, “Do you remember Nate Vance?”
    Mr. J faltered slightly. Ellis moved to steady him by the elbow, but he looked straight ahead and kept moving. “’Course I do.” He sounded peeved.
    “I was just wondering what happened to him . . . where he ended up?”
    “How would I know? That was a long time ago—and folks ’round here didn’t seem partic’arly sad to see him leave.” He stopped and tipped the brim of his hat. “If you’ll ’scuse me, miss. I’d best get back to work.”
    With that abrupt change of disposition, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the dappled shade. For a moment, she watched his retreating back, the rigid set of his bony shoulders and the quick movement of his bandy legs.
    She finally turned and walked down the tree-lined lane that led to the road. With every step, it seemed the sand beneath her feet sighed of a bittersweet past.
    As Hollis listened to Heidi, his new boss and the owner of the kennel, he had trouble keeping his mind on what she was saying. He just kept thinking how little her name suited her. Heidies should be little blondes with mocking blue eyes and luscious bodies that they used to their advantage—women who thought they were special. But this Heidi was built like a transvestite, with short magenta-colored hair that stood up in spikes and feet that looked three sizes bigger than his.
    “That sums up the work,” she said as they returned from the back rooms to the front desk. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. You came highly recommended by the service-dog program at Ridgeland.”
    “Thank you, ma’am. I’m glad for the job. I love working with dogs.” Hollis offered the look of shy gratitude he’d practiced in the mirror.
    Heidi smiled in a way that said he’d hit his mark.
    “Like I told you on the phone,” she said, “I don’t care about your past. I got a brother who served time. Everybody deserves a chance at a clean start.”
    Just then, the front door opened and a young woman who deserved a name like Heidi—or Gretchen or Adriana—came in holding a silky white Maltese in her arms. Hollis preferred big dogs to those bred solely for ornamental purposes, but in this case he’d make an exception.
    He stepped forward with outstretched arms and a choirboy smile on his face. “What a beautiful dog,” he said. “Please tell me we’re going to get to keep her for a while.”
    He was careful to keep his attention on the dog, not the woman. But he didn’t fail to notice the way she straightened her posture, enhancing the tight fit of her low-cut shirt as she handed the pooch over.
    “
Him,
” she corrected. “Beau is here for grooming.” Her voice oozed seductive confidence.
    “This here’s Hollis,” Heidi said. “He’ll take Beau on back and get started. You want the usual?”
    Hollis didn’t hear the woman’s answer. He was humming happily as he took the dog through the swinging door. He’d not considered the prospect before, but most of the folks dropping off dogs here would be women. If even half of Heidi’s clientele were like Beau’s momma, this job was going to be a great
resource
. . . as easy as shopping from a catalog.
    It was a long, silent walk back home. Ellis’s emotional strength had been sapped by her long-avoided return to Belle Creek Stables even more than her physical strength had been from the ruthless pace of her run.
    The narrow deserted road to the plantation and stables dead-ended at the marsh. Isolation settled heavily on her shoulders. Ghosts of the past dogged each footstep, their ethereal presence circling like a taunting crowd. The tension of their attendance strung her aching muscles as tight as bowstrings. She walked slowly, jumping like a fool at every squirrel