Read A Time for Home: A Snowberry Creek Novel for Free Online

was going to get all technical about it. “I thought it would help if she met him first. What if she and Mooch didn’t hit it off? Or if she lived in an apartment that didn’t take pets?”
    All logical reasons for him to deliver Mooch in person; none of them were the real reason he’d driven more than two thousand miles to show up on Callie’s doorstep.
    Leif wasn’t buying it, either. “And so did she agree to adopt the mutt?”
    Damn, his friend had him cornered. “I haven’t asked her yet, but we only got in town a few hours ago. After traveling for almost a week, neither of us are at our best. I thought it was better to wait until Mooch had a day or two to recover from the trip before bringing up the subject.”
    Leif knew him too well. “That’s bullshit, Sarge, and you know it. We both know why you’re there.”
    Nick’s temper, always close to the surface these days, exploded. “I’m here because I got the man she loved killed. Is that what you want to hear, Leif? That it’s my fucking fault Spence died?”
    He didn’t wait for a response. After disconnecting the call, he threw the phone down on the couch. It started to ring within seconds, but he ignored it.
    “Mooch, come. We’re out of here.”
    Then he charged out into the night, knowing full well that no matter how fast or far a man walked, he couldn’t outdistance his conscience.

Chapter 4

    N ick rolled over and buried his face in the pillow, hoping to fend off another fur-ball attack. Mooch whined louder this time and poked his cold, wet nose in Nick’s ear in the process. At least the idiot was smart enough to dive back off the bed when Nick came up swinging. Deprived of a target for his temper, he sat up on the edge of the bed and glared at his tormentor.
    “Damn it, dog. Pull that trick again, and I’ll ship your ass right back to where it came from.”
    Mooch knew an empty threat when he heard one. Satisfied his human was now awake, he wagged his tail and trotted right back over to lay his head in Nick’s lap. He stroked the dog’s head and tried to find the energy to stand up.
    Morning had come brutally early, especially considering Nick hadn’t staggered upstairs to fall into bed until well after midnight. He’d give anything for a few more hours of sleep, but that wasn’t going to happen until after he let Mooch out. He pulled on a T-shirt and headed downstairs in his flannel pajama bottoms to open the front door.
    By the time the dog had made a quick circuit of the perimeter and reported back that all was well, Nick was too wide-awake to go back to bed. Still grumbling, he put on a pot of coffee, fed the dog, and parked himself on the steps out front with a bowl of cereal.
    Mooch gulped down his own breakfast and went back to exploring the wilds of Spence’s front yard. The grass was so high in spots that all Nick could see of the dog was the tip of his tail.
    “Careful, dog. I hear they have bears in this part of the country. I bet they’d love a Moochburger for breakfast.”
    Mooch poked his head up for a brief look in Nick’s direction. He yipped his acknowledgment of the warning and went back to sniffing out the local wildlife. A few seconds later, he barked and went bounding across the yard to chase a pair of squirrels up a tree. Looking damn proud of himself for having vanquished the enemy forces, he came trotting back to Nick.
    “Yeah, be glad those varmints went up the tree, Mooch. You think you’re tough, but I’m betting even money they could take you in a fair fight.”
    The dog recognized an insult when he heard one and went into immediate play stance, daring Nick to bring it on. It was a game they both enjoyed. They rolled across the porch with first Nick and then Mooch coming out on top. At least Nick managed to fend off his friend’s determined efforts to give him a victory face licking.
    “Dog, if you behave long enough for me to finish my coffee, we’ll go for a run.”
    Mooch didn’t have a huge