“Aren’t the woods pretty today?” she asked Zoe.
“Like a fairyland,” agreed Zoe.
“Fairyland,” repeated Lucy. “But only for a little while. It’s already starting to melt.”
Suddenly spotting a fast-approaching dirt bike that was apparently headed straight for her car, Lucy slammed on the brakes. Zoe lurched forward, but was restrained by her seat belt, and Kudo slammed into the seat back.
“Are you all right?” Lucy’s arm had instinctively shot out across Zoe’s chest.
“I’m fine, Mom.”
Looking over her shoulder, Lucy saw that Kudo had recovered without any damage. He was standing with his chin resting on the top of the seat back, staring at her reproachfully.
“It wasn’t my fault,” she told him before proceeding down the road.
She had no sooner got started again, however, than the dirt bike reappeared in her rearview mirror. This time Lucy continued driving slowly, trying to get a good look at the biker. Although she could see he was dressed in black motocross leathers, she couldn’t make out his face. It was hidden behind a black visor.
Once again, she heard the motorcycle engine roar and once again he zoomed past her with an ear-deafening vroom. She tensed, ready to brake if he stopped again, but this time he continued on his way, disappearing down a side trail.
When Lucy finally reached Red Top Road, coming out just a few hundred feet from her driveway, she was much relieved. She hadn’t thought the dirt biker intended her any harm, but his antics had been dangerous. What if she had hit him? He seemed to be playing a very dangerous game. If he was going to seek thrills, she wished he wouldn’t do it at her expense.
She flipped the lever, signaling the turn into her driveway and tapped her brakes. When she checked the mirror, she flinched at the unexpected reappearance of the dirt biker. He had pulled up on the side of the road, opposite the driveway, and he remained there, watching, as she hurried Zoe and Kudo out of the car and into the house. Once they were safely inside, she looked to see if he was still there, but he was gone. Standing on the porch, Lucy could only hear the faint sound of the motorcycle engine as it grew more and more distant and finally ceased altogether.
Satisfied that he was gone, she went into the house herself. She wondered if she should call the police and report the incident. Looking at the phone, trying to decide, she rememberd Bear Sykes and his cell phone. Had he called the biker? she wondered briefly before dismissing the thought.
She was reminded of more pressing duties by Kudo, who was rubbing his wet nose against her hand.
“Come on and meet the family,” she said, pushing open the door to the family room.
CHAPTER 16
That evening, having reclaimed the family room, Bill switched off the TV at ten and he and Lucy headed for bed. Kudo had been sleeping at Lucy’s feet, but as soon as she stood up, he also got up and stretched. Then he looked at her expectantly. She went through the kitchen and he followed, nails clicking on the bare floor. She opened the back door for him and he trotted out, obviously with a mission in mind.
Lucy decided she might as well use the bathroom herself; then she opened the door and called the dog. He appeared out of the darkness almost immediately and she let him in, pointing to the bed she had put down for him in a comer of the kitchen. Kudo approached it cautiously, suspiciously sniffing the expensive, flea-repellent bedding.
“Go on,” said Lucy in a reassuring voice. “It won’t bite.”
Then she turned out the light and opened the door to the back stairs. As she started up, Kudo was right at her heels.
“Oh, no,” she said, turning around and pointing him to the dog bed. “You sleep in the kitchen.”
Kudo dropped his head and made a little whining sound.
“That’s enough,” said Lucy sternly. “Down you go.”
The dog turned and went down a few steps, then paused, shivering pathetically.
“It’s not cold in the kitchen. It’s a lot warmer than my room—that’s for sure,” she told him.
He raised his head and looked at her, somehow turning his yellow dog eyes into pools of melting chocolate.
“Okay. You win,” said Lucy, resuming her climb up the stairs. “Just for tonight. I know it’s hard getting used to a new home.”
“What’s he doing up here?” asked Bill, who was in bed reading a homebuilder’s magazine.
“He followed me up the stairs.”
“You know, Lucy, I’m not at all sure why we have this dog, but he’s sure as hell not sleeping with us.”
Lucy looked wounded. “You said it would be okay.”
“I don’t remember that,” said Bill. He got out of bed and snapped his fingers. “C’mon, boy.”
Kudo stepped closer to Lucy and made a noise that began as a whine but ended with a throaty rumble.
Bill looked at the dog, narrowing his eyes.
“I think he wants to stay with me,” said Lucy.
“That’s obvious,” said Bill as he climbed back in bed. “But do we want him to stay with us?”
“I don’t mind,” said Lucy. “Do you?”
Bill sighed. He’d lost this battle before, when the kids were little and wanted to sleep in their parents’ bed. He’d believed the books that said children must learn to sleep by themselves, but Lucy could never stand to send them back to their cold, solitary beds, where frightening monsters lurked in the dark.
“I guess not,” he finally said. “But not on the bed.”
Lucy settled herself on the pillows, propping a book on her chest. Kudo stood beside the bed, resting his chin on the mattress.
Lucy gave her head a little shake and the dog expelled a huge breath and curled up on the carpet next
