The Good Dog by Avi Read Free Book Online

“Don’t.”
    â€œWhy not?
    â€œDuchess has every right to run away. She was being mistreated.”
    â€œNothing to do with me.”
    McKinley issued a soft, low-pitched growl. “Of course it does. Would you want to be leashed all the time? Locked up in a yard? Kept in a doghouse hardly big enough for a rabbit?”
    â€œMcKinley, when are you going to understand? The power in Steamboat Springs is with humans, not dogs. It’s smarter to do what humans want you to do. Makes life easier.”
    â€œLeash-licker!” McKinley snapped—Lupin’s insult, he realized.
    Head high, Redburn glared at him. Then he turned and began to trot away.
    McKinley barked. “Do you have to do everything your master tells you to do?”
    Redburn stopped and looked back. “At least I don’t have a pup giving me orders. McKinley, if anyone should be head dog around here, it’s me.”
    McKinley growled. “I’m going to stop you tomorrow.”
    When Redburn reached the door of his house, he scratched to be let in. As the door opened, heglanced back at McKinley. “Don’t try it,” he snapped. “You’ll only regret it.”
    McKinley watched the setter disappear into the house. That dumb dog, he thought, is going to lead his human to Duchess. But what they’ll find is Lupin.

10
    N ext morning McKinley was awake the minute the bell box in Jack’s room began to ring. He jumped off the soft sleeping place—where he, too, had slept—and gazed at the still-sleeping pup.
    â€œHow am I going to keep him from going off with Lupin?” McKinley asked himself again. Having no answer, and knowing this was a gathering day with other pups, he thrust his wet nose into Jack’s face and began to lick.
    The boy responded by turning over, hitting the bell box, then drawing his coverings over his head.“Go away, you dumb dog,” he murmured. “I want to sleep.”
    McKinley barked. The barking drew the female to the room.
    â€œHey, Jack,” she called in her big voice. “Let’s go, guy. McKinley is right. Check your clock. Time for school.”
    McKinley joined in with more loud barking.
    â€œI’m tired,” the boy groaned, burrowing deeper under his coverings. “Do I have to go to school?”
    McKinley took hold of the boy’s coverings with his teeth and pulled.
    â€œMcKinley,” the boy screamed. “Stop!” He sat up and worked the sleep out of his eyes.
    â€œThataway,” Sarah said. “Now take your shower and get dressed.” She left the room.
    A grumpy Jack remained sitting on the edge of his sleeping place.
    McKinley wagged his tail, lifted himself up with his front paws, and barked into the boy’s face.
    â€œWhy’d you have to call her?” Jack said, using two hands to shove him down. “I could have slept five more minutes. Go away!”
    McKinley, tail drooping, went to the kitchen. The female was working on the boy’s food. The male sat at the sitting board looking over a pile of staring papers while drinking something steamy.
    â€œMorning, McKinley,” he mumbled.
    McKinley checked his food bowl, only to find it empty. Annoyed, he put his paw into it and flipped it over, making a clatter. When that had no effect, he did the same with his empty water bowl.
    The man put aside his staring papers and stood up. “Okay, McKinley, I get the message. I’m coming.”
    McKinley wagged his tail and barked his appreciation.
    â€œThis is supposed to be Jack’s job,” the man grumbled good-naturedly.
    As soon as the bowls were filled, McKinley swallowed his food, lapped up some water, then hurried to the door.
    Gripping the doorknob in his mouth, he twisted and pulled the door open a bit, then used his nose to open it wider. He was just about to head out when the boy ran up. “Hey, McKinley,” he called.
    McKinley looked around.
    Jack