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truck.
Joanna had hoped the process of opening the car door would force Hannah to
remove her right hand from her jacket pocket, revealing once and for all
whether or not she was armed. Instead, she once again let go of Jenny long
enough to reach across her own body to manipulate the door. Then, after
shoving it open, Hannah once again locked her puffy fingers around Jenny s
arm, dragging the unprotesting child with her across the seat. As the two of
them exited through the right-hand side of the Blazer, Joanna was grateful
that Jenny had sense enough not to struggle.
Knowing she had to keep herself focused and absolutely clearheaded, Joanna
let her breath out slowly. She stepped down onto the ground only to be
subjected to Tigger s and Sadie s ecstatic greetings. Wildly wagging and
whining in welcome, neither of the dogs seemed to pay any attention to the
stranger in their midst. Joanna could see the dogs prim-itive logic. Joanna
and Jenny had brought the stranger home. Therefore, she must not pose any
danger.
Thanks, guys,Joanna thought.Some watchdogs you turned out to be.
Joanna moved toward the tailgate.  We have groceries in the back, she
announced.  I have to get them out.
 You go right ahead and do that, Hannah Green said.  I come this far. I m
not in no hurry.
With Jenny walking between them, the two women made their way from the Blazer
to the fenced yard and up the walk-way. It was cold enough for Joanna to see
her breath. Both she and Jenny had been wearing warm clothing, even in the
heated vehicle. Hannah Green had been outside in the terrible chill with bare
legs and only that thin jacket.
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She must be frozen,Joanna thought.How long had she been waiting there, I
wonder?
Once on the back porch, Joanna had to put down the two bags of groceries.
Mustering every bit of courage she pos-sessed, she stepped forward, keys in
hand, to unlock the door. That process meant turning her back on Hannah Green,
and Joanna did it with an almost sickening sense of dread. It took three tries
below she finally managed to fit the key in the lock. At last the door swung
open. Joanna breathed a sigh of relief.
 Come in, she said, picking up the groceries and stepping over the
threshold. Hannah and Jenny followed her in-side, bringing the cavorting dogs
with them.
 You must be freezing, Joanna said as she switched on the overhead light.
 I am just a little cold, Hannah Green replied.  Not too bad, though. She
stopped in the middle of the floor and stared down at the dogs, who were still
milling around the room. Jenny dropped to the floor with them, threw both arms
around Tigger, and buried her face in the flowing golden fur on the back of
his neck.
 Daddy wouldn t never let me have a dog, Hannah was saying, as Joanna placed
the bags of groceries on the counter.  He hated having animals inside the
house. Said they was filthy. For a space she stood there watching Jenny and
the dogs.  What do you call  em? she asked at last.
When Jenny didn t answer, Joanna did.  The bluetick hound is called Sadie.
The funny looking one with the white patch around his eye is Tigger.
 And they won t hurt me? Hannah asked.
 No, Joanna said reassuringly.  They re fine.
The two women stood facing each other across the kitchen over the heads of
Jenny and the dogs. Hannah s hair hadn t been washed in a very long time.
Neither had the rest of her.
 You sure them dogs won t bite? Hannah asked.
 I m sure, Joanna said.
Tentatively, Hannah reached out her hand.  Come here, doggy, she said.  Nice
doggy.
Sadie was the first to notice Hannah s outstretched hand. With her head
cocked Io one side and with her nose quivering an inspection, she stood up and
came over to where Hannah was standing. As Hannah ran her hand flown the dog s
smooth, blue-black coal, a strange look passed over her bedraggled,
wrinkle-scored face. It was a look of almost child-like wonder.
 I never knew a dog would be this soft! she exclaimed.
Jenny pulled away from Tigger s neck and looked over at Hannah with a
disbelieving blue-eyed stare.  You mean you ve never even touched a dog
before? Joanna cringed at the arch skepticism in Jenny s voice. Joanna was
afraid the very tone of it would upset the woman.
 Jenny, Joanna hissed.  Mind your manners.
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Hannah, however, was so preoccupied with petting the dog that she didn t seem
to notice. Tigger, always eager to receive his share of attention, stood up
and came to collect some petting for himself. While Joanna watched
breathlessly, Hannah Green s other hand emerged from the concealing pocket and
came to rest on the second dog s raised forehead. Only then did Joanna realize
that Hannah Green wasn t armed.
Her right hand didn t hold a weapon could not have held a weapon. The whole
hand was horribly maimed. Useless, mangled fingers bent crookedly across a
partially miss-ing thumb.
 What kind of a dog is this? Hannah Green asked distractedly as her crippled
hand ran back and forth across Tig-ger s silky blond head.
 Half golden retriever, half pitbull, Jenny answered.  His owner died, and
we adopted him. He s real smart, ex-cept for porcupines. He keeps coming home
with his face covered with porcupine quills. When that happens, we have to
take him to the vet.
Jenny faltered then. In talking about her dog it seemed as though she had
forgotten the strained circumstances that sur-rounded the question.
Remembering, she fell silent.
For Joanna, the realization that Hannah Green s right hand didn t contain a
gun completely changed the dynamics of the situation. At first she wasn t sure [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]