Free Elizabeth's San Antonio Sleuthing by Renae Brumbaugh

hungry?”
    The girls nodded. Biscuit jumped out of Kate’s arms and began playing with James.
    â€œWhy don’t you all go ahead and reserve us a table at the café next door. I just need to do something to my hair, and freshen my lipstick,” Mrs. Anderson told them.
    â€œYou look beautiful, sweetheart,” Mr. Anderson told her, and the woman smiled sweetly at her husband.
    â€œThank you, darling,” she said, “but I don’t
feel
beautiful. I’ll be right behind you.” The woman headed for the elevators, and Mr. Anderson shook his head. “Women. I’ll never understand them.”
    The group headed out the lobby doors and found a table at the nearby café. The waitress smiled at Biscuit as she placed their chips and salsa on the table. Suddenly, the little dog barked and leaped from Kate’s lap.
    â€œBiscuit!” the girls called out, but it was too late. Biscuit was in hot pursuit of…someone.
    The girls and James chased the little dog through the outdoor restaurant, dodging tables and customers, working hard to keep the little dog in sight. Finally, they spotted Biscuit ahead, sitting sweetly and licking a little girl’s hand.
    Elizabeth gasped when she saw who it was. The little girl from Bible Camp this morning!
    â€œHi!” Elizabeth said, kneeling next to the girl. “Do you remember me? We met this morning.”
    The girl buried her face in her mother’s skirt.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Elizabeth said to the woman. “I didn’t mean to frighten her.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” the woman told her. “Annie is very shy. She loves animals, but people make her nervous. You must be from the Bible camp she attended this morning.”
    â€œYes, ma’am. I’m Elizabeth, and this is Kate and James. And this”—she gestured to the dog still looking up at Annie and wagging his tail—”is Biscuit.”
    â€œWe hope she’ll come back tomorrow,” said Kate with a smile. “Same time, same place.”
    The woman looked sadly at her daughter. “I don’t know,” she said. “Some children can be so cruel.”
    Elizabeth and Kate looked at each other, confused. Why would anyone be cruel to such a sweet little girl?

The Bible Camp Band
    Mr. Anderson approached the group. “Everything okay, Elizabeth?” he asked.
    â€œOh. Hi, Dad. Yes. This little girl was in our Bible camp this morning, and I guess Biscuit recognized her. He seems to like her!” Elizabeth smiled at the little girl, who was peering through her curls.
    â€œDan Anderson.” Elizabeth’s dad held his hand out to the woman.
    â€œTeresa Lopez,” the woman replied, returning his handshake. “And this is Annie.” She gestured to her daughter, who was now squatting, rubbing Biscuit behind the ears. James knelt, too, and spoke softly to the dog and the girl.
    Annie turned her head to the side, and for just a moment, her thick curls fell away from her face to reveal a large red birthmark. It covered the entire left side of her face. James didn’t seem to notice, but smiled and looked directly into the girl’s eyes. “Biscuit really likes you. He likes me, too. He’ll be at Bible Camp tomorrow. Are you coming?”
    In that moment, Elizabeth wanted to pick her little brother up and hug him.
    He is such a great kid! she thought. Lord, I take back every bad thought I’ve ever had about my little brother. He is the best little guy in the world!
    Annie’s mother noticed, too, and looked at Mr. Anderson. “What a nice boy you have,” she whispered. “Annie’s birthmark is called a strawberry hemangioma, and many of the children make fun of her. At home, she’s outgoing and playful. Unfortunately, she has learned to be afraid of people she doesn’t know.”
    Mr. Anderson nodded. “She’s a beautiful little girl, even with the birthmark.