Free The Shiver Stone by Sharon Tregenza Page B

to you on the steps this morning. So, thanks to you, the dog has to stay outside in the shed.’ He stroked Tia’s head and she licked his hand. ‘Until your dad gets back that is,’ he added quickly to Jago. ‘You’d better put her in the shed right now.’
    â€˜But what about tonight? She can’t stay out there all night. She’ll be cold and frightened,’ I wailed.
    â€˜Maybe you should have thought of that before you were rude to old Mrs Jenkins. Maybe you should think before you’re rude to anyone. Linette got it right this morning, Carys, you can be a spoiled brat.’ He stormed back into his bedroom slamming the door behind him.
    I wanted to cry. Dad was furious with me and Tia was banned to the shed. It was a bad day.
    It was about to get worse.
    â€˜Spose we’d better put her in the shed then,’ Jago said.
    â€˜We could take her out for another walk? We can’t just leave her in there on her own all day.’
    â€˜What about if we take her back to my dad’s place? At least she’ll be in her own home and, when he gets back, she’ll be there waiting for him.’
    â€˜But then she’ll be too far away and still all on her own.’
    I picked Tia up and rubbed my face in hers. She squeaked and wagged her tail and that made me feel even worse.
    I got two bowls and filled them with cornflakes and milk. That would do for dessert. ‘Besides, what if your dad doesn’t come back?’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    â€˜Well, if he has been kidnapped…’
    I ignored the look of horror on Jago’s face and went on.
    â€˜I mean he can’t just be hiding away from that man, can he?’
    Jago walked away from me and went out onto the balcony and I followed him, carrying the bowls of cornflakes.
    â€˜He must know your mum nearly died; that she’s in hospital.’
    â€˜How would he know?’
    â€˜If he’s hiding in the village, someone would tell him. Everyone knows everything in Carreg. And unless he’s committed a terrible crime or…’
    â€˜Shut up! Shut up!’
    Tia leapt at Jago’s leg, barking. He ignored her.
    â€˜How would you like it if someone said your dad was some murdering maniac? What your dad said was right, you are a brat.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, I…’
    Jago slammed out of the flat.
    Brilliant. Now everyone hates me, I thought. I placed both bowls of cornflakes down on the floor for Tia to lap up the milk. And then sat at the table with my chin in my hands, watching the sea mist roll in and cover the Shiver Stone.

CHAPTER
    10
    I wasn’t exactly flavour of the month: Dad was still mad, Linette hardly speaking and now even Jago was ignoring me. We were in a group outside Polly’s caravan, sitting on an odd mix of chairs and stools owned by the park. Polly wanted to thank us, so we’d come for a meal of lettuce leaves and fruit. No wonder she was so skinny.
    Don’t know why Dad was still angry. I’d apologised to Linette – sort of.
    The caravan park was crowded; small kids ran around screaming, music played from several different places at once. Everywhere, wet clothes and towels flapped like flags in the breeze. The smell of barbeques cooking made me hungry.
    Dad was deep in conversation with Polly. She was telling him about her Kirlian photography but Dad wasn’t buying it. He kept shaking his head and rolling his eyes. They were laughing though. Linette and Jago were talking about, of all things, geology. Yeah, rocks and stuff.
    â€˜You can find jellyfish fossils in Carmarthenshire,’ she told him. Jago got really excited about that. He’d plaited his hair. He was trying to copy his dad because Hug Howells said Tristan looked like an American Indian. I thought it just looked dumb.
    Tia was my only friend. She lay curled on my lap, her fur hot and prickly on my bare legs.
    So, when Linette realised she’d left the