Free The King's Highway (Days of Dread Trilogy Book 1) by Caryl Mcadoo

situation, dying. He rescued him and taught him how to be a good dog, that he could trust some. Not all were as abusive as the family he’d grown up with.
    The chunk tasted great. He chewed it as long as he could, then wolfed it down.
    He kept an eye on his man, hoping he might offer more, but a warmth spread through his belly, and his hunger pains vanished. He laid his head on his paws and snuggled in next to his master’s leg.
    The man patted his shoulder. “You’re a good dog, Boggs. You’ve served the children well.”
    For the longest, he rested then finally dozed off. Wild canine spore pulled him awake. A thousand stars still shone in the night sky. His master’s place was empty and where the fire had been, green grass grew as though a fire never burned there at all.
    He jumped to his feet and tasted the breeze. Coyote! The varmint traveled down by the river. Boggs ran that direction just in time to see him wade in, wetting his mangy hide. He loosed a low rumble. The varmint turned, met his eye, then swam away from him toward the opposite bank. Probably for the best; his master didn’t like him chasing the wild ones anyway.
    He turned toward where his kids camped. After only a few strides, a new spore hit his nostrils. At first, it didn’t much bother him, just a feral feline, but then he got a stronger whiff. He leapt forward and broke into a sprint, racing toward the camp.
    A really big cat stalked his children. 
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Jackson’s eyes popped open. The hairs on his neck bristled. A sensation he’d never experienced before washed over him. He eased the blanket off then scooted away from McKenzie. Finding his backpack, he pulled out the revolver.
    She sat up. “What are you doing?”
    He searched the grey hues of false dawn, holding the pistol’s barrel straight down beside his far leg. “Hush. There’s something out there.”
    “It’s just the dog. Lay back down, you’re making me cold.”
    “No. It isn’t Boggs. Now hush, so I can listen.”
    A deep growling grumble followed by a roar sent chills through his soul. A lion? Couldn’t be. What would a lion be doing in the Trinity River bottoms? More likely a cougar, but that’d be just as bad. 
    “Oh no. I heard that.” McKenzie jumped up and got behind him. “What was it?”
    “A big cat of some kind. Wake the others and get everything together. Quick!” Jackson’s chest pounded. He wanted to run, but knew that would be dumb. If it was a lion, he couldn’t outrun it with all his charges. He had to do everything in his power to stop it there. He wished he had more bullets in the gun.
    Only one chance for a kill shot.
    From his left, a blur of white streaked toward him. Boggs reached him then turned and faced toward where Jackson figured the beast lurked.
    Another roar pierced the still, cool air.
    “Oh, God help us. Help us, Jesus.” McKenzie stuffed her pack full. 
    Boggs bellowed back a deep threatening bark.
    “We need to get in the water.” Al helped Cooper put his stuff into his backpack.
    Jackson glanced back. “Why?”
    “Lions don’t like water.”
    A closer roar sounded, followed by another challenge from Boggs.
    Jackson held the pistol out, cocked and ready to shoot. “You sure?”
    “Yes, they don’t like the crocodiles.”
    McKenzie squealed, but softly. “Me either!”
    A ray of hope danced through his heart. He glanced at his sister. “There are no crocs in Texas.”
    “Precisely.” Al spoke with a cool calmness, not a hint of fear tainted his voice. “But the cat doesn’t know that. Most likely, it’s a male. Their roars can be heard by the human ear from as far as five miles away. He probably isn’t as close as he sounds.”
    “Hope you’re right about that.” Jackson scooped up his pack and glanced around. The others had gathered everything. “Where’s the blanket?”
    “I’ve got it.” McKenzie, on the other hand, sounded more scared than he’d ever heard her. She stepped out