Free Tracking Bear by David Thurlo Page A

considered enemies of NEED, and she didn’tknow for sure how far these people would go when confronting those they perceived to be standing in their way.

    Ella stopped by home at around two to spend a little time with her daughter, who was just home from day school. She’d have to work late tonight, so this would potentially be the only time she got to spend with Dawn today. She’d call it a late lunch if anyone asked.
    Her mother wasn’tin sight when Ella came in the door, but Dawn looked up from where she was playing with the toy farm.
    “ Shimá! ” Dawn yelled, and ran into her arms.
    Dawn gave Ella a hug and a kiss.
    Seeing the tiny animals on the floor, Ella suddenly remembered that she hadn’t stopped by Kevin’s. She’d have to do that right after the memorial service.
    Ella set her daughter down, and Dawn resumed her play. AsElla gazed at her daughter, she heard Rose in the kitchen, cooking something. Judging by the sound of pans rattling, it wasn’t a soufflé.
    A moment later, Rose came out, looked at Dawn then at Ella. “When she plays her ‘pretendly’ games, she’s off in her own world. She never knew I left the room. To be honest, she reminds me of you at that age,” Rose said smiling. “Your father would come homeand you’d give him a kiss, then go right back to whatever you were doing.”
    Dawn picked up a toy horse and looked up at Ella. “I want a horse. Then I can ride like my friend.”
    “Her little friend’s mother puts the child on the saddle in front of her and then takes her for a short ride every afternoon,” Rose explained.
    Ella looked at Rose, alarmed. “My daughter hasn’t been out on the horse, hasshe?”
    “No, I wouldn’t allow it. She’s still too young, and horses are unpredictable animals at times, even with an experienced rider. I don’t care how safe her friend’s mother says it is.”
    “Good,” Ella said, relieved, then looked at Dawn. “When you get a little older, you can learn how to ride.”
    “You teach me?”
    Rose laughed.
    Ella glared at her mother, then looked back at Dawn. “I’m not verygood with horses, Pumpkin.” If she excelled at anything, it was at getting thrown.
    “She’s better with police cars, little one.” Laughing, Rose returned to the kitchen.
    Ella sighed. “I’ll find you a good teacher. But you’ll have to get bigger first.”
    “How big first?”
    “Tall, like Big Bird,” Ella said, and began to tickle her.
    Dawn shrieked, but pulled away. “ Shimá , read me story about the farmer.Please?”
    It was Dawn’s favorite book, and by now, they both knew the story by heart, but the request was repeated daily. “You’ll hear the story at bedtime tonight, okay?”
    “Okay.” Dawn turned her attention back to her game, taking a small wagon out of a red-and-yellow plastic barn, and “hitching” up a horse to pull it.
    Ella watched her daughter for a moment longer, then went into the kitchen.
    “Are you going to that memorial service for the officer tonight?” Rose asked quietly.
    Ella nodded. “I have to.”
    “Have you been able to find out who killed him yet? Or why he had to die?”
    “Answers rarely come that fast—at least not on my cases.”
    Rose placed a bowl of mutton stew before her. “Here. Eat now. I have a feeling you haven’t had anything since breakfast.” Rose brought over a pieceof warm fry bread she’d been keeping in a basket beneath a dish towel.
    “You’re right. I’m starving.”
    The wind had begun to build up outside, and Ella could hear it rattling a loose windowpane. The temperature had gone down by ten degrees in the last hour, but inside the kitchen it was still warm and comfortable. “Mom, I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’ve made this house a real home forall of us. It welcomes anyone who walks in, and it seems like there’s always something good cooking.”
    She smiled. “Daughter, you can stop with the compliments. I’ve known you too long. What you