Chapter 7 — Caught Red-Pawed
Barnaby sat right there on the kitchen floor.
The golden retriever looked up with bright, innocent eyes.
His tail gave a slow, happy thump against the wooden planks.
He did not look like a criminal hiding from justice.
He looked completely pleased with his afternoon snack.
Samantha stared down at him in absolute disbelief.
Clara came to a sudden halt right behind Samantha’s shoulder.
Her breath hitched in her throat.
Barnaby lifted one front paw into the air.
He gave it a long, enthusiastic sweep with his pink tongue.
The remaining pink frosting vanished from his fur.
He licked his chops with a wet, satisfied smack.
Pink smudges stained the white fur around his muzzle.
A matching pink paw print was pressed firmly into the floorboards beneath him.
Samantha looked down at the dog.
Then she looked back up at Clara.
The silence in the kitchen stretched out heavy and thick.
Clara dropped her gaze from the dog.
She looked down at the empty cake box still resting in her own hands.