Read Amy Phipps - Amanda Blakemore 01 - A Bazaar Murder for Free Online Page B

sighed.
     
    After breakfast Amanda made her way out the front door with Twinkle right behind her. She secured the leash on her wrist and breathed in the cold morning air. There was still some patches of snow and ice left on the ground. It won't last long she thought, the days are getting warmer and spring is right around the corner. 
    Reaching down at Twinkle's drooling face she rubbed him on top of the head. At that moment Ghost meowed from the bottom step, where he had been sitting licking his paw. Twinkie's ears perked up and turned his full attention on the cat. He let out a low growl and jumped at Ghost. “Don't you dare!” Amanda yelled just as Twinkie took off running, practically pulling her arm out of socket. Throwing her off balance, she stumbled down the stairs behind the massive creature. Missing the bottom step she fell. Twinkie didn't seem to notice or slow down dragging Amanda through the grass and shrubbery.  After dragging her a good thirty feet the loop on the leash broke and Amanda stopped face first down in the slushy ice with mud and what was left of the snow mixed together. All she could see was Twinkie running down the side walk as fast as his feet could carry him. Catching her breath and rolling onto her back she yelled. “You stupid dog!”
    Hearing a male voice chuckling. “You alright, Freckles?”
    Slowly turning her head she could see the man who kept staring out the window at her. He stretched out his hand to help her up. “I think so.” She answered climbing to her feet and dusting her clothing as best she could. Rubbing her shoulder she said. “I better go, he's getting away.”
    Henry watched as she took off running as fast as her legs would carry her. “Good Luck!” He called after her.
    Funny she thought, that was the first time he had actually talked to her since she had been back in town. Then again who could blame him every time he saw her she was either crying or doing something completely crazy. In Amanda's experience, men never approached a crying female. She laughed and shook her head. She felt bad about what Nana said, that he had never gotten over his wife's death. She decided that she was going to make a point of behaving a little more sane around him. Maybe they could be friends.
    It seemed that Twinkie was hitting his stride. Stopping to sniff a tree or fence post but for the most part he seemed to be enjoying the neighborhoods hustle and bustle. Running from one side of the street to the other. Every now and then he would slow down and wait on Amanda to catch up to him. He was also enjoying making Amanda chase him. Every time she would get almost close enough to get hold of the leash he was take off again. Now and then she would try to tackle him with little success considering it was like taking down a small bear with her bare hands.
    She was exhausted, they had run around the same block at least four times. Great, just great, she thought the first day on the job and I lose the dog. Tossing her hands into the air in exasperation, she was ready to give up, then she spotted him. He was standing right next to a large oak tree digging at something on the ground. Thank goodness she thought, maybe he was distracted enough for her to move quietly and slowly enough to finally get hold of that leash. Moving with pure determination she crept up behind the massive dog and stepped on the leash with her right foot hoping to immobilize him. But before she could put all her weight on it he jerked his head up and took off running in the other direction. Pulling her leg out from under her, down she went on the hard ground with a loud thud. “I give up!” She shouted and tossed her arm over her face and she started to cry.
    How did her life end up like this she thought. Here I am laying on the cold wet ground covered with mud and crying. “Stupid dog!” She sniffed. She could hear a rumbling coming from a large truck making it's way down the street. It slowed down to a stop and a