Death By Bourbon by Abigail Keam Page B

for a spot around the
     mastiff’s legs.
    “What is it, Baby?”
    The fawn mastiff turned his blind eye towards me and shook his head a little as if
     to say “danger.” He turned back to the glass, emitting a low threatening growl.
    The motion lights around the pool came on.
    “Jake!” I hissed. “Jake.”
    Climbing out of bed, I reached for my wolf’s head cane and stumbled to the bedroom
     door. It was locked. Jake must have locked me in and gone searching the grounds. I
     looked through a secret peephole Jake had installed for me. The hallway was dark.
    Limping into the closet, I searched through my shoeboxes until I found both my stun
     gun and handgun.
    I no longer kept them near my bed, as the animals were always scampering around looking
     for a place to nestle.
    After checking the safety, I placed the handgun on my dresser where I hunkered down
     beside it with the phone, walkie-talkie and stun gun. If someone came through either
     the patio or the steel doors, I could get off a good shot at them. If I missed, their
     shot would go over my head, as I was low, giving me another opportunity.
    I didn’t dare call Jake on the walkie-talkie as it might give away his position. He
     was outside somewhere. I strained to listen, as did the animals.
    A large shadow fell across the patio door. I gasped. Someone was outside my patio
     door. Oh Lord, where was Jake? Where was Asa?
    Baby began barking, rearing up against the glass door. Flicks of foam escaped from
     his mouth as he frantically pawed the glass. The cats scampered under the bed and
     were no more to be seen.
    BANG!!!!! A chair was thrown against the patio door, creating a huge noise against
     the house.
    I didn’t scream. My hands were shaking badly as I raised the stun gun, while the other
     reached for the handgun, placing it beside me on the floor.
    The hit against the house had set off the alarm. It wouldn’t be long before someone
     came, but a lot could still happen before the law arrived.
    Then there was a shout followed by a crashing noise. And a gunshot.
    Now silence.
    Except for Baby.
    I strained to listen. “Baby, shut up. I can’t hear.”
    Baby looked at me with disdain and kept threatening the intruder with his loud barks
     and growls.
    The silence continued. The shadow did not reappear. Baby stopped growling and then
     commenced to adjust his head so he could see better out of his one good eye. He thumped
     over, snorted snot on me and took his position back on the patio door, satisfied that
     I was safe.
    I wiped the gooey stuff on my nightgown. For some reason, Baby’s goo took my fear
     away. Should I unlock the door and look for Asa and Jake? What if they were injured?
     Was someone still out there? Had they found a way into the house?
    Suddenly the alarm went off. Someone thudded down the hallway.
    “Josiah, unlock the door. It’s Jake.”
    My heart leaped. “I can’t. Baby’s too wild. I’m afraid he might attack you.”
    “Okay. Stay in your room then. Don’t unlock the door until I come for you.”
    I made my way to the door and pressed my lips against it. “Are you alright? Asa?”
    “We’re both fine. You?”
    “Scared. What happened?”
    “Will tell you later. I’m going to check on the barns now.”
    “No, Jake. Don’t leave me. Please.”
    “You’ll be fine. Just call me on the walkie-talkie if you need me.”
    I didn’t want to be left alone. Still I said, “Okay.”
    “Remember. Stay locked in until I come for you.”
    I nodded my head.
    “Josiah?”
    “Yes. I will wait for you.” Pressing my ear against the door, I heard Jake retreat
     down the hallway.
    Much to Baby’s chagrin, I pulled the draperies closed. But I made it up to him when
     I pulled out a pint of ice cream from my little freezer and gave it to him. It was
     the least I could do for his gallant protection. I rubbed his head as he lapped up
     the ice cream.
    Sensing someone was eating something they were not, the cats stuck their