Chapter 7 — Barnaby blinks innocently from the hallway rug — Then the muddy paws are fully exposed to the light
Barnaby sat upright on the hallway rug.
His golden tail gave a single, slow thump against the carpet fibers.
Brenda stopped walking abruptly.
Elena rose from her kneeling position beside the floorboards.
Both of the dog’s front paws were caked in thick, dark garden soil.
The mud on Barnaby’s paws matched the exact texture and dampness of the floor trail.
Bits of damp grass clippings clung to his fluffy fur.
Brenda stared down at the golden retriever in absolute silence.
Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Barnaby let out a soft, remorseful whine.
He tilted his head to the side, looking directly up at Brenda with wide, sorrowful eyes.
Elena pointed silently toward the muddy paw pads.
“Does that look like a cat-print shirt to you, Brenda?” Elena asked.
Brenda swallowed hard.
She shifted her gaze from the dog’s dirty feet back to Chloe, who was still standing by the hallway table.
Barnaby lifted his right paw tentatively as if offering an apology.
A small clump of wet dirt detached from his toes and dropped softly onto the clean rug.
Brenda looked down at the fresh clump, then back at the extensive trail leading all the way from the back door.
She reached out a hesitant hand toward the dog’s collar.
Before her fingers could touch the leather strap, Barnaby twitched his nose and sneezed loudly.