Free A Shore Thing by Julie Carobini

a way of knocking me off my game. He wanted to keep me from messing with his plans. Of course it was all an act. Right?
    Ruth waited for my response. I had spent most of my life fighting for causes I believed in, but always as second fiddle. I’ve always been the worker bee, the volunteer justice-seeker, never the leader.
    I looked from person to person, knowing this little group would need an infusion of passion if we were going to prevail.If this fight truly existed, I would not want the Kitteridges to be harmed in any way. I began formulating a new plan. I wondered if I possessed what it would take to see such a plan through.
    I glanced across the diner to Gage’s booth only to see him watching me. He had the audacity to send a wink my way. While I’ve never been at the helm of any of my causes, Gage Mitchell and his devastating idea—the paving over of the community’s sanctuary—gave me all the courage I needed.
    A smile came over me. “I accept the position. Thank you for the vote of confidence.”
    Ruth’s half-closed eye widened until it matched the size of the other one. “Excellent. I hope you will not sleep until you’ve put Mr. Gage Mitchell out of business.”
    I glanced over her shoulder to see Gage and an adorable towheaded boy leaving the diner. It occurred to me then that this fight might have further reaching consequences than I had originally imagined.

Chapter Eight

    “One scoop in the morning, and another in the evening. He’ll beg you for more, so you must stay strong, my friend.” I handed the scooper to J.D. Moondoggy had chosen the boy as his favorite neighbor, so I offered him the job of taking care of my pup during the weekends while I was working at camp. Thankfully my cottage had a doggy door already installed when I bought it. “I’ll be back on Sunday. Can you handle it?”
    “Yup!” J.D. fetched Moondoggy’s leash from the hook on my wall. “C’mon, boy.”
    Moondoggy pranced over, then shied away. He came forward again, slapped his two front paws on the floor, then skittered backward. It had become a regular game.
    I leaned against the wall. “I was going to tell you that you didn’t need to take him out yet, but I don’t think he’d let you out of it now.”
    Like a pro, J.D. dropped to his knees and grabbed Moondoggy by the collar. With a quick twist of his wrist, he hooked up the leash and stood. “That’s okay. I want to walk him before I go to school. And I’ll make sure to walk him plenty all weekend too.” J.D. gave me a grin that told me he would have taken this job for a penny.
    I called out to him. “I have to run to camp now. Lock up for me too, okay?”
    He nodded that he would, and I watched through my screen door as Moondoggy dragged the poor kid due west. I grinned, then began my weekly checklist, making sure I had everything necessary on hand for three days at camp: hiking boots, check; toiletries, check; Bible . . . rarely get the chance to use it, but check anyway; and overnight bag with all kinds of spares, check.
    Oh, wait. My phone. Always seem to be forgetting that cellular wonder. I grabbed it making sure to unplug the charger, switched it on, and tossed it in my bag. Not more than a minute later, as I was about to pull from the driveway, a bell dinged. I had voice mail.
    I cut the car engine and retrieved the messages.
    “Callie! You coming soon? We’ve got a big mess here, and I need you. We’re overbooked. Help!”
    Luz, from camp, sounded frantic. But didn’t I already lay out everything for her in my e-mail? Next message:
    “Hello?” Pause. “Hello? This is June Kitteridge. Callie? Is that you?” A shrill alarm pierced the earpiece. “Oh, for goodness sake. That’s my hearing aid again. Wait a moment will you?” Long, long pause. “Hello? This is June again. I’m back. Callie, I’d like to talk to you about something if you wouldn’t mind, dear. Would you call me, please?”
    I stared into the morning fog. Did this have