Free 3 Can You Picture This? by Jerilyn Dufresne

though he didn’t do anything to us. I mean, you barked, and I felt my vibes. It had to be a dangerous situation. Plus, he ran away.” Clancy was looking at me with her most alert expression.
    “What a weasel.” As usual, while we walked, I kept up a running commentary with Clancy. “Should I tell George? I mean the guy did have on a blue hoodie.”
    Clancy thought I should tell him. But she was more of a worrywart than I was.
    “I don’t know, Clance. I don’t want to have to be under protective custody again. It was glorious being with George, but I hate being confined.” I thought for about a half block. “Nope. Not going to tell him. Not just yet anyway. And if you give me away, you will be in big trouble, young lady.”
    At that time, an out-of-breath cop in a blue uniform ran up to me. I recognized Jimmy Mansfield, who had been assigned to me earlier.
    “I saw what happened,” he said, in between gulping breaths. “I was sitting at the light and got out of my car and chased the guy a few blocks. He had a big head start, and I couldn’t catch him. Sorry.”
    He took another deep breath, then seemed to breathe more normally rather quickly.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, thanks,” I answered, feeling tired just looking at him.
    Clancy gave a low growl again. I couldn’t feel whether it was left over from the crisis or whether she was growling at Jimmy. Sometimes our psychic connection seems to flow only one way.
    Then it hit me.
    “Oh shit. You’re going to tell George, aren’t you?”

THIRTEEN
    “W ell, of course I am,” he answered in a Dudley Do-Right manner. “That’s the right thing to do.”
    I nodded, as if I agreed, and he didn’t ask what the “oh, shit” was about. So I played along and was pleased that at least George wouldn’t have an excuse to get mad at me.
    I thanked him again for trying to help us, and walked the short distance to my home. I knew it wouldn’t be long before George called me or came over. I expected a lecture from him, so I didn’t tell the kids because I didn’t need a lecture from them too.
    I heard them upstairs, so I slunk to my bedroom and quietly closed the door. Of course I had my cell phone with me, so I could answer George’s call and get what was coming to me. I took off my jeans and pulled the covers over my head. What had happened finally hit me, and the tears started.
    Clancy tried to wiggle under the covers to comfort me, but had to do it from on top of the bedspread. I uncovered my head, tears flowing down my face, and let her give me a kiss. She only gave me one, because I’d taught her not to lick my face—unless it was an extreme emergency. Guess she thought this qualified. And I agreed.
    We cuddled until my phone buzzed.
    “Hello,” I said, knowing who it was.
    “Sam, are you okay?” George asked.
    “Perfectly fine,” I lied.
    “I’m outside the house, and I’m coming in.”
    “No problem. It’s probably unlocked.”
    It was only a second later he came into my bedroom, yelling.
    “Unlocked? Why in the hell would you leave your door unlocked after what just happened?” He jumped on the bed, on the opposite side of Clancy, and hugged me.
    I couldn’t help it. I cried again. His yelling was because he was scared for me and he loved me. I knew he wasn’t horribly mad, just upset at how stupid I am sometimes.
    After I calmed again, I apologized.
    “Sorry about the door. You know it’s one of my many bad habits. And you don’t have to worry about what happened today. Clancy saved me, then Jimmy chased the guy. I don’t know what would have happened, but I felt safe. Clancy is amazing.” I turned to her. “Aren’t you, girl? You are freakin’ amazing.”
    She finally smiled and that relaxed me because it meant there was no danger around right now. I told George I wanted to take a nap and then I was going to play cards at Gus and Georgianne’s. He could come along and keep Gus company if he wanted.
    “Well, I’m certainly