Then Aneta saw Mom. Sprinting in her sandals, she staggered a bit in the sand, but never took her eyes off Aneta’s boat.
“I’m coming, sweetie!” she yelled. Her long blond hair fell out of the ponytail and streamed behind her. She landed on the dock first and leaped into a boat. Frank, moving faster than Aneta had ever seen him move, thudded into the boat after Mom. Nadine gestured and stayed on the dock. Before Frank sat down, Mom was rowing.
“Mom! Mom!” A quick look over her shoulder told her she was nearly to the Hound’s boat. His shouting sounded meaner and meaner. The two police officers, a man and a short, stocky woman, jumped into the next boat and rowed after Mom and Frank.
Up on the road cascaded a stream of brightly colored scooters, skidding on the gravel. The Fam. But not to the rescue. They could not help her now. It was all up to her.
Another look. The Hound had stopped rowing. Standing awkwardly in the boat, he lurched back and forth. Wink had disappeared, although she could still hear him yipping. He must have fallen back under the seat. Good. He was safer there. At least for the moment. What did the Hound have planned for her little Wink?
The Hound staggered. The boat tipped sharply. A long ear flipped up from the bottom of the boat and then disappeared. Aneta screamed, pulling harder on the oars. The Hound steadied himself, looked up at her, yelled something she couldn’t make out, and swatted the air. He slipped and crashed to his knees. More stifled sounds.
With two last mighty dip-pulls that made her shoulders scream, Aneta bumped the other boat. Grabbing its side, she yelled, “Stop!” Still on his knees, reaching under the seat, the Hound turned its furry head toward her. Where was Wink? Ignoring the arm warning her away, she peered into the boat. No sight of a long tricolored body. “Wink!” she shouted. “Here, Wink!”
“Get away!” the Hound hollered. These words she understood. “Troublemaker!” That word was clear, too. With one arm on the gunwale for balance, the Hound rose and steadied himself, towering over Aneta. Remembering what he’d done to Vee, a shiver of fear chased through her. What was he going to do to her? Stomp on her hand to make her let go? She clutched the side more tightly. A splinter poked into her thumb. Staring up at him, he was a monster clown hound a thousand feet high.
“Give me Wink!” she yelled, leaning farther out of her boat to look in the Hound’s boat. Sure enough, there was Wink, semistanding and tumbling on his side as he stumbled toward her. He tripped on one of his ears and took a nosedive. He cried. Aneta’s heart wrenched.
The Hound steadied himself and pulled an oar out of the oarlock. He raised it to shoulder height. Horror rocked Aneta. Was he going to bean her on the head?
Chapter 23
Who Is That Hound?
The Hound punched Aneta’s boat with the oar, setting off waves that bounced both boats. “Get—ah—here!” she heard. Her arms felt like they would rip from her shoulders as the boat pitched. I will not. Let. Go.
To her right, she saw the two rowboats pushing through the water. Mom was pulling hard while she looked over her shoulder at the drama behind her. “You touch my daughter, and I will make sure you never see daylight again!” Help would be there in seconds. Could she hold on? Pain streaked down her arms.
The Hound landed another mighty thud to Aneta’s boat. The oar hit the water. So did the Hound with a very human scream. The big head sank.
Aneta caught her breath, letting go of the boat. The big head resurfaced; the Hound thrashed the water, fighting to remove the cumbersome head. As the boat floated away, Aneta saw Wink hanging halfway over the side of the boat!
“No, Wink!” she shrieked, stretching out her hand. The white tippy tail swung in a happy circle. “Stay! Stay, boy!” Save the Hound? Save Wink? She threw herself between the two boats, and with fire erupting in all her muscles, clawed the Hound’s boat toward her. More splinters stung. In another moment, she had lunged forward enough to grab Wink by the scruff of his neck and pull him to safety in her boat. With him on the floor, she took the oar closest to the Hound and dipped it into the water, swinging the boat nearer to him. “Grab the oar! Hold on to it!”
The Hound swatted away the oar and sank again.
“Take it!” she screamed.
Wink howled.
“It’s okay, Aneta. Sit down; we’ve got him,” came a firm voice next to her. The female police officer maneuvered their boat next to the thrashing Hound. The two officers hauled the sodden Hound into the boat and removed the head.
Aneta sucked in a breath. Mr. Leonard?
“Troublemaker!” he yelled between coughing and choking.
After shipping the oar to the side of the boat, Aneta collapsed on the bottom next to Wink. Trembling, she pulled the puppy into her lap. She leaned over him, murmuring, “Thank You, God” over and over. Her shoulders jerked uncontrollably.
The boat rocked, and then Mom was there. “Oh, sweetie.” She gathered Aneta and Wink in her arms, holding them so tightly Wink whimpered. Aneta looked up. Pushing the words out, she said, “You’re pushing the peanut-butter jar into my rib cage, sweetie.”
Mom burst into tears. So did Aneta.
Chapter 24
Crocs Killer!
Vee and The Fam met them at the shore, pulling the boat way up. Mom helped Aneta out; she hugged Wink and clung to her mother. Her Mom. Her Fam. Her friends.
“You’re a hero, Aneta,” Vee said, her eyes round with awe. “That was amazing.” She clutched Aneta’s hand. Aneta cried out.
“Let me see your hands,” her mother demanded. She in-spected the slivers and pulled most of them out. Aneta dug out the last one.
Vee darted forward and hugged her quickly, leaving water patches on Aneta’s T-shirt and shorts.
“Is your head okay?” Aneta asked, returning the hug.
“My stepdad says it’s a good thing I have a hard head.” She smiled the biggest smile Aneta had seen her smile. Beyond her, Aneta saw all the parents talking as Mr. Leonard was led away to the police cars. Siblings stood wide-eyed and pointing at Mr. Leonard. “He’s proud of me. He said I run like an Olympian.” Vee’s wet hair clung to her glowing face.
C.P. stepped forward, a half-eaten corn dog in his hand.
Chewing, he offered the rest to Aneta. “You need food? That was a lot of work.”
“Aneeeetah!” It was Esther’s high, nasal voice.
Aneta turned to see Esther and Sunny trotting down the gravel. Esther waved her arms. “C’mon! The Waddle!”
Sunny yelled, “We can still make it! Those bassets waddle reeeeeeallllly slow!”
Esther towed the covered wagon. Sunny wore Aneta’s messenger bag slung across her chest. She patted it and said in a false whisper, “I’ve got the secret weapon!”
Turning to Mom, Aneta grinned. Mom threw up her hands. “More surprises? Well, I guess being your mom will be a life of surprises.” She ruffled her daughter’s hair. “I’m good with that.” She gave her a little push. “Go. I’ll be there, Aneta Jasper. Always.”
“The Waddle is just turning the corner to go past the community center. We can meet them there.” Esther headed up the hill with the wagon. Sunny handed the bag to Aneta while Vee’s dad handed his daughter the clipboard she’d dropped on her sprint after the Hound.
Loud voices, the two officers and an unfamiliar one, split the air as the rest of the group turned to head up the hill. A woman pushed between Sunny’s parents, planting herself in front of Aneta and Wink.
Startled, Aneta drew Wink to her chest and involuntarily stepped back. She sensed Mom behind her.
“You troublemakers!” the woman growled, stamping her foot like a two-year-old.
“What?” Aneta stammered. She tried to go around. The woman stepped in front of her, preventing her passage.
“Excuse me,” Mom said, stepping to Aneta’s side. “Who are you?”
But Aneta knew. It was her.
Taking in the angry eyes under a khaki Puppy Pellets cap, Aneta’s gaze traveled down past
dark shorts to the woman’s feet. Her eyes widened.
Beige Crocs with a high line of mud.
“The Crocs Killer!” Vee, Esther, and Sunny’s voices blended in a discordant screech from halfway up the hill.
Stepping up close—way too close—the woman’s face fur rowed in angry lines. A deep tan cracked her face into many wrinkles. Aneta was pretty sure none of them were the result of smiling. “You sicced animal control on us,” she said, leaning close to Aneta. “Nosy kids.” Then she grimaced. “And they found nothing, did they?”
Us?
Aneta looked at the Squad who had come back down the hill. Mr. Leonard had a wife!
Mom, with her arm around Aneta, moved to pass the woman. The woman, however, stepped in front of Mom so quickly that Mom bumped into her.
“Oh, so you want to get in my face?” Mrs. Leonard pushed at Mom. Aneta thought for sure Mom would move away, but she did the opposite. She took a step closer to the woman so they were nose to nose. Uh-oh. Mom was going to do a Jasper-ish thing.
Chapter 25
Who Will Win?
Leave my mother alone!” Aneta forced herself between the two women. Wink yelped. “You are a bad person, trying to kill Wink.”
Wink’s wriggling caught Mrs. Leonard’s eye. “That dog has been nothing but problems since he was born. Freak—with that bad eye. He’s no worth to anyone.”
Aneta gasped. How could she say that?
The male police officer stepped up and placed a hand on Mrs. Leonard, who continued to shout. Mom regained what Aneta called her “lawyer face,” maneuvering Aneta past the spluttering woman and up the hill toward the girls. “Thanks, ‘Neta. That woman wanted a fight, and unfortunately, I wanted to give her one. Thanks, sweetie, too, for saying ‘my mother.’ Do you know that’s the first time you’ve called me that?”
“You are such a Jasper, Mom,” Aneta said with a shaky smile.
“So are you, sweetie.”
“You got everything?” Sunny was twirling with her head tilted back. The girls were in front of the community center, waiting for the tail end of the Waddle to waddle past.
“Time for the reveal,” Esther said with a grin, whipping off the cover to the wagon.
“Wow.” Vee admired a miniature, real-looking desk. “You and your sibs did a great job. What’s it made out of?”
Esther pointed. “Cardboard, except for where Wink sits. The seat is my little brother’s square stool to reach the sink in the bathroom. He wanted Wink to sit on it.”
Sunny joined them. “Where’s the sign?”
Esther drew it out from under the desk. The girls read it in unison and broke up laughing. “Good enough?”
“More than!” Aneta said, her eyes crinkling. “Oh, Esther. This will work.”
They slid a squirmy Wink into his costume. He aroo’d a few times in protest. Aneta hung the last prop over the collar of her T-shirt for later and held him in the crook of her arm.
“Ready, action!” Sunny sang out, spinning around the group. The tail end of the parade waddled by. Esther pulled the wagon into position. Wink whined and tried to wriggle out of Aneta’s arms to join the final three bassets padding along. Two of them had white tip-top tails circling the air like Wink, while the third carried his like a question mark.
Aneta knelt and kissed Wink on the top of his velvety head, whispering, “Okay, here we go.” She wanted to ask God again for Wink, but with the help given for battling the Hound, she thought maybe she shouldn’t bug Him too much. She set Wink on his perch and nodded to Esther, who pulled on the handle of the wagon. They were off. The last hope for Wink and his for ever home as a Jasper.
“A basset is an asset! And we have a fine bunch of bassets with bassetude today for Oakton’s first Basset Waddle. Judging by the pledge sheets that have been turned in and tallied, we will definitely do this again next year!” The mayor cleared his throat then announced the top three Waddlers who’d gathered the most pledges for Paws ‘N’ Claws Animal Buddies. Each received a stuffed basset hound as a prize.
“Now,” he continued. “On to the judging for the King and Queen of the Waddle! Contestants, please slowly walk your dogs before the judges on the reviewing stand.”
While he gave instructions, Aneta stood on her tiptoes, looking over the other people holding leashes or pulling carts and wagons. Where was her mother? She smiled. Her mother. Finally, she felt like Mom was her mother. Looking back and forth at the growing crowd standing below the elevated judges’ platform, she located her mother standing with the rest of The Fam. Her mom was waving.
The head judge finished with, “When you get to the stand, turn and face your dog in the judges’ direction so we can get a really good look at your dog and the costume. Then head to The Sweet Stuff parking lot for a treat for you and your Waddler!”
Aneta placed the final piece of costume on Wink’s long nose. He shook it off.
“Just wait until we stand in front of the judges and put them on then,” Vee suggested.
A few more pulls with the wagon, and Wink was before the judges. Vee, Sunny, and Esther stood apart so the judges would get a good look at Wink in his costume.
“Last and certainly not least, we have Wink, who is available for adoption through Paws ‘N’ Claws Animal Buddies—”
Aneta’s smile froze as she slipped the dark-rimmed glasses on Wink. This time he didn’t shake them off, only tilted his long nose up at her. And winked. A sob leaped out of her throat. The judge’s voice was sprightly and cheerful. Like he was saying a good thing and not breaking Aneta’s heart. She had always known Wink was adoptable. It was just—just—
The judge continued. “The adoption booth of Paws ‘N’ Claws Animal Buddies is taking applications for adoption for Wink and many other dogs.”
Laughter swelled as the crowd noticed Wink’s little suit and tie along with the glasses, seated behind a desk that looked like a courtroom desk.
“According to the card here, it appears that Wink is dressed as Mr. B. H. Barker, Esquire, Attorney at Paw! Complete with spectacles!” Applause fluttered and grew in the midmorning air. Aneta carefully watched Mom. She was wiping her eyes. A good sign? The Fam was laughing. No surprise there. Aneta forced the smile to stay on her face. How many people would rush to adopt her Wink? Oh dear. Her legs had stopped working.
“Our turn’s over. Start walking, Aneta.” Vee’s calm voice pulled Aneta from her jumbled thoughts.
Dogs and people milled in front of the judges’ stand during the deliberations. Soon, the sound system squealed. The Squad held hands and Wink’s leash. The glasses were once again tucked over the collar of Aneta’s shirt.
“Residents of fair Oakton! We have our King and Queen of the first annual Oakton Founders’ Day Basset Waddle.” He held up a piece of paper with a flourish and read: “Queen of the Waddle is Elder Clara, the resident drooler at the Oakton Residence for Seniors. Dressed as Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother!”
Please oh please, let Wink win. She remembered the last time she’d said, “Please oh please.” She’d been dreading winning a poster contest. Dreading having to speak in front of people. Dreading working with girls she didn’t know. Look how it had all turned out! She’d spoken in front of a large group twice and hadn’t died. The girls were now her best friends. Wink, however, still did not have a forever home with Aneta.
“…For Mr. B. H. Barker, Esquire, Attorney at Paw!” She hadn’t been paying attention. Squeals erupted from the other Squadders. She was encased in a group hug, including Wink. Louder shrieks as they tipped over into a big pile on the ground. Wink, safe inside Aneta’s arms, slurped up the side of her face.
“See?” Sunny untangled herself, giggling. “He’s proud to be King!”
The Queen and King of the Waddle were placed on a mini stage. Nadine placed the crowns on their heads. Elder Clara promptly lay down and showed her belly for rubs. Wink stomped on his ears, sat back, and aroo-aroo’d. The crowd shouted with laughter. The girls
giggled. The Waddle was a success. Wink was King!
Chapter 26
Not More Trouble?
A warm breeze swept across the park, and basset noses lifted to read the air. In a flash, Wink had tumbled off the low platform onto the grass, righted himself, and hurtled across the park toward the vendor booths on the opposite side. Not once did he stumble on his ears. Sometimes it appeared that all four feet were off the ground at once!
“Where’s he going?” Sunny yelled, chasing after him and being unsuccessful.
“Could be anywhere! Too many smells!” panted Esther, pulling up the rear and puffing mightily.
“He’s stopped at that van behind the Puppy Pellets booth.” Vee stopped so abruptly, Aneta collided with her. “Ouch. Sorry. But that’s the van! My clipboard says the Leonards have the Puppy Pellets booth. That white van from the park last night was their van!”
Wink’s nose skimmed the ground. He ran up to the back door of the long, panel-work van parked at a right angle be tween the tables and began to bay, “Aroo! Aroo!”
Faint answering bays came from the inside!
“The evidence!” Esther ran to the door and pulled on it. Locked. “It must be those dogs from Mr. Leonard’s garage. How long have they been in there? We’ve got to get them out.” She looked around wildly. Aneta thought if her friend had a stick she would have smashed the window. “Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have the key! It’s too hot. They’ll die!” Esther began to cry, continuing to tug on the door.
Sunny spun around to face the girls, her face alive with determination. “I know how we save those dogs and get our evidence.” She took off back across the field, waving her arms and jumping as though it was all part of the show.
“The King and his nose!” she yelled as she approached the judges’ stand. “The King has detected a surprise with his powerful nose!”
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