Free Unveiled Treasures by Kayla Janz Page B

down at Brutus who was lying on the patio enjoying the warm sunshine. “Now I can get some work done.”
    Rachel finished sanding the living room and kitchen floors. She was sweeping up her mess when she heard Brutus frantically barking outside. She opened the door to see what the commotion was all about. “Brutus, what is going on out here?” He continued to run around in circles, barking madly. She reached out to grab his collar as he dashed off down the driveway. Chasing after him, she soon discovered what he was so excited about.
    “You need to do something about your driveway if you want me to come and visit you, girl.”
    “Dad! What are you doing up here?!” She ran down the drive and jumped in his arms giving him a big hug.
    “I wouldn’t be if you hadn’t sounded so scared on the phone last night. I took the day off work to make sure you were alright,” he said, smiling down at her. Daniel Hardy was a thin, short man with silver hair and sparkling blue eyes. Years of working in the sun added wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. He liked to call them laugh lines. At sixty-two years of age, he showed no signs of slowing down.
    “Why are you walking up the drive?” she asked, hugging him again.
    “I can’t get the Mustang up here, not enough ground clearance. Not everyone drives a four wheel drive.”
    “Well they should.” She laughed. “Come inside and I’ll tell you all about my little adventure.”
    They decided the patio was more comfortable and Brutus wanted to run. She sat there watching him as he lit a cigarette. “Well, what’s this all about?” he asked.
    Rachel proceeded to tell him about the break-ins, the regionally infamous Canyon Cat Burglar, and the stolen property in the garage. “The sheriff hauled everything out of here last night. So far, it’s been quiet. I don’t think the media has heard yet,” she finished.
    “Why don’t you come home with me for a few days? Let things cool down up here. When this blows over, you can come back. Your moving van will be here tomorrow, by the way. You can get it unloaded and we’ll go.”
    “Tomorrow? The movers will be here tomorrow?” she perked up.
    “Yep. I took the call personally,” he answered.
    She began chewing on her lip. “I haven’t gone through any of the bedrooms yet. Nothing is ready. I didn’t plan this out very well, did I?”
    “You usually don’t. I don’t know how you manage it, but things seem to work out for you in the end.”
    She laughed as she pulled him to his feet. “You are so good for my ego. Come on inside, I’ll show you what I’ve been doing.”
    “Have you gone through anything in the garage yet?” he asked as they finished touring the last bedroom.
    “No, when I first got here, there was a family of raccoons living out there, then after last night…I didn’t want to go back out there yet.”
    “I just meant your mother left some things out there. I thought you might like to go through it, maybe you can find something to use in your decorating.”
    “I’ll do that, just not now. I think I would like to do that alone. That is, if you don’t mind?”
    “Do I mind not helping you dig through some dusty old boxes? Not at all, just make sure you go through everything before you start throwing stuff away. You got anything to eat in here, or do I need to go outside and forage for nuts and berries in the forest?” he asked with a mischievous gleam in his blue eyes.
    Laughing, she replied, “Give me some time to get cleaned up and we’ll go in to town for dinner, my treat.”
    “That’s my girl. I’ll install that garage door opener I brought you and then you can buy your old man a steak,” he said as lit a cigarette.
    “I’ll be right back.” She turned towards the house and called for Brutus.
    “Brutus. Here, Brutus! Come on, buddy, dinner time!” she yelled. She barely had time to open the door when he came charging out of the trees towards her. With his tail wagging happily, he