Free Hope In Every Raindrop by Wesley Banks Page A

to me now, too?”
    Katie was a little shocked at herself when she heard the words leave her mouth. But they were true.
    Kyle didn’t say a word. He just finished chewing.
    “I’m sorry,” Katie said. “It was just a long day.” She ran both of her hands through her hair, feeling all the loose strands that had come undone from her ponytail. She looked down at her food. She was so frustrated she didn’t want to eat, but she knew if she didn’t she’d end up back at the cottage starving until breakfast.
    Kyle set his fork on his plate and took a sip of his lemonade. “We haven’t had a lot of guests since Hannah passed away.”
    She looked up. Kyle rested his forearms against the edge of the table as he spoke. “Hannah?” Katie said. “Doc accidentally called me that my first day here. I thought he’d just forgotten my name. Who is she?”
    “She was Doc’s wife.”
    “That’s who Doc built the cottage for…” Katie said.
    Kyle nodded.
    Katie took a bite of her chicken. It was grilled and marinated in what tasted like Italian dressing. It was good.
    “What was she like?”
    Kyle smiled.
    So he smiles, too.
    “You would have liked her.”
    “How so?”
    “She wasn’t from around here.”
    “Where was she from?”
    “Doc really doesn’t like to talk about her all that much.”
    Of course he doesn’t. Which I’m guessing means you’re done talking about her. Figures.
    Katie moved what was left of the chicken around on her plate. She had so many questions running through her mind now. She wanted answers about Hannah, but she could see that was a dead end, at least for tonight.
    She tried another question. “What about your family? I mean, I know Doc is your uncle. But, what about your parents?”
    Kyle put his fork and knife on his plate and walked it to the kitchen. “I’ll be outside when you’re done.”
    So, we can’t talk about Hannah. You won’t talk about your parents. And you’ll talk about the dogs, but just not with me. Brilliant plan, Katie. Write a book about a bunch of dogs and the least talkative men on the planet.
    Kyle walked Katie home in silence, keeping a few paces ahead of her the entire way.
    She thought about trying to start another conversation, but she thought better of it. Her last question had hit a sore spot she could tell, and he obviously needed some space. So, when they arrived at the cottage Katie didn’t even say goodnight. She just walked right past him and into the house. The solid white door closed behind her.
    * * *
    Kyle looked down at King, who was standing next to him. He shined the flashlight out in front of them a bit.
    “That went better than last night, don’t you think?”
    King cocked his head sideways.
    He sighed. “You’re right. That didn’t go well at all.”

Chapter 12
     
    The next morning, Katie woke up without any more patience. Either Kyle would let her spend time with him while he trained the dogs and stop dodging her questions, or she would leave. 
    And maybe that’s the point of it all. Maybe he wants it that way, she thought. How had she even made it five whole days in this place?
    She didn't care. Today was Thursday, and her agent would be calling on Friday for an update. She hadn’t spent most of the week doing chores in some barn for nothing. She needed her story, and the most she had so far were a myriad of descriptions about the few times she had seen the dogs—most of those about Belle or King.
    Katie never got the chance to vent her frustration that morning, however. As soon as she reached the kitchen, it was clear that something wasn’t right. Unlike previous mornings, there was no note stuffed in the door.
    Katie looked around outside, under the mat, beneath the steps, even twenty or so feet in each direction from the house, thinking the wind may have somehow blown it away, though the trees were as calm as ever. There was no wind. In fact there was no sound at all. She didn't know what it was exactly, but