He thought he was stopping for a stray dog in the snow-until he saw what she was hiding beneath her body

lap so the dog could decide what to do with her.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Ruth said softly. “You’ve had yourself a long day.”

The mother dog lifted her head. She watched Ruth for a long moment, then lowered it again.

Ruth rose slowly and crossed to Cal. Her voice dropped. “That place where you found her. The Larson house.”

“You know who’s there?”

“Sometimes.” continue reading …