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Chapter One

Jack

If you had told Jack Matheson when he woke up thisthat he’d end the day at the bottom of a ditch, he wouldn’t have been terribly surprised After all, his whole life felt like it was spent at the bottoms of ditches these days—as one more literal one?

The nightly walk had begun as they usually did As soon as he finished dinner and placed his plate and fork in the sink, the dogs had clustered around hiues out, ready to prowl Bernard butted his huge head against Jack’s thighs in encourageroup out Dandelion pawed at the ground excitedly, and Rat vibrated in place, tiny body taut with anticipation

The cats cleaned the with disinterest, except for Pirate Pirate twined her way through the forest of legs and paws and tails, back arched, sleek and ready

“Let’s head out,” Jack said, clipping on leashes and straightening harnesses as he shoved his feet into worn boots and plastic bags in his back pocket

Pirate led the way, trotting light-footed ahead of thely Bernard—a St Bernard who’d been with hi next to each of the others, nipping and licking at his friends enthusiastically, and drawing back when he accidentally shoved theth

Dandelion pranced along, happy as always to snap at the breeze or a puff of dust, or simply to be outside

Puddles walked carefully, his soft golden face swinging back and forth, alert for danger, and he jumped at every sound Twice, Jack had to scoop him up and carry him over the puddles he refused to step in or walk around

Rat took the lead, just behind Pirate, her tiny legs going hubird fast to keep ahead of the others She kept her nose to the ground, and if she scented a threat, she’d be the first to take it on

Their leashes crisscrossed throughout the walk, and Jack untangled them absently as he kept one eye on the animals and the other on the sky

Summer had settled into autu, were tipped with red and gold The air held the first pro deeply Winter was beautiful here His little cottage was cozy, his fireplace warm, and the woods peaceful

But this year, for the first time in nearly a decade, he wouldn’t have work to occupy him as the snow fell outside

Jack growled and clenched his fists against the fury that roared in his ears as he anticipated yet another night without a notebook in his hand