Free In the Line of Duty by Ami Weaver Page A

snow this time, but wind and rain. Very likely severe in nature.
    Callie sighed as she dropped clean undies in Eli’s bag. Of course they would be. She hated storms, and knew how bad they could be here in the spring, but tried very hard to hide it from her kids.
    The day had been unseasonably warm—hence the coming storms—and Callie had left the front door open. She heard a scratching and a whine and realized her earlier thoughts about Aldo had been too soon. Hoping the kids wouldn’t notice him, she hurried to the door, but then the dog started barking, bringing out the boys.
    “Doggie,” Liam cried, and Callie bit back a sigh.
    “Yep. There he is.” She put her hands on her hips and stared down into Aldo’s upturned face. He was watching her intently. She rubbed his head and he gave another bark, a sharp one, his eyes not leaving her. She snatched her hand back, but his tail was wagging.
    “We take him home, Mama?” Eli asked, and Callie nodded. There was something off with the dog today. Maybe he didn’t like the coming weather, either. She looked across the street. The truck was in the driveway.
    “Yep, we need to get him home. Let’s go before it rains.” The kids shoved their feet into their boots and they all trekked across the street, only to meet Matt coming out.
    “Sorry, Callie. Darn it, I thought I’d gotten the problem fixed.” He reached for Aldo’s collar and his fingers brushed hers. She couldn’t let go of the collar, as she felt the dog quivering under her hand, but more than that felt the heat from Matt’s touch—and it wasn’t even intentional.
    Thunder rumbled in the distance and Aldo hit the ground on his belly, whining. Callie let go, startled. Eli and Liam looked at Matt with huge eyes. “Doggie scared,” said Liam, and Matt nodded.
    “He is. Loud noises scare him. It’s left over from where he lived before. I’m going to get him inside, where he feels safer.”
    “I don’t like thunder, either,” said Eli solemnly, and Callie caught Matt’s gaze.
    “Lots of people don’t like thunder,” he said calmly, and smiled at the boy. “You aren’t the only one.”
    Callie glanced at the sky, which was the purple of a particularly violent bruise. She understood what Aldo was feeling. Her own anxiety was rising. But she forced her voice to be calm. “Well, we’ll head back in. Maybe put on a movie.” She started to turn the boys in that direction, and Aldo barked again.
    “Why not come to my place?” The words were out before Matt could stop them. It was actually supposed to be a severe storm, so having them in his house meant he wouldn’t worry about them. He wasn’t responsible for them, he knew that. But they were beginning to be important to him.
    “Can we, Mom? Can we?” Both boys turned their considerable charm on their mother, who gave Matt an exasperated look. He should have asked her first, out of their earshot.
    Thunder rumbled again and Aldo whimpered harder. Callie looked up again as the wind gusted harder. “Okay,” she said, though reluctance was clear in her voice. “I’m going to grab a couple things. We’ll be over in five.”
    He glanced at the sky. They wouldn’t have much longer than that. Aldo’s reaction told him this wasn’t going to be a run-of-the-mill storm. “Leave them with me. But Callie? Hurry.”
    “Boys, go with Matt.” She met his gaze and he knew how hard it was for her to let them go. “I’ll be right back.”
    He turned the boys and the dog toward his house, and she dashed off toward her own home. Aldo let out a howl that made him shiver.
    The boys’ eyes were still huge. Matt smiled at them, hoping to reassure them. “He’s okay, guys. Just doesn’t like storms. He’ll be okay. How about a snack?”
    “Okay,” Eli said, looking a little more heartened, and Liam nodded, too.
    Aldo took off for Matt’s room, where Matt knew he’d settle in under the bed.
    He’d left the TV on and the weather guy was talking.