Whisker of Evil Read Online Free PDF Page A

better sense of danger.
    â€œYou know, I didn’t feel so bad at the time, but I feel bad now,” Harry said to Mrs. Murphy. “What could have killed Barry? The only thing I can think of would be an eagle. There’d be no ground tracks, no fur, and one slash with those talons could open up any one of us, although it would have to hit him just right to slice the jugular. People don’t realize how strong or how fast birds are. A bluejay going at top speed can hurt you. Of course, the question is, why would an eagle want to kill a human?”
    â€œ
I will kill that bluejay in the lilac bushes. I hate him,”
Pewter snarled, the vision of her nemesis arousing her ire.
    â€œ
He
is
pretty awful
,” Mrs. Murphy agreed as Pewter joined them.
    â€œMom, there are eagles around now. Most of them are down along the James River, but bald eagles are making a comeback and they are scary.”
Tucker respected large raptors, and if she saw a shadow on the ground she looked up, prepared to fight.
    â€œI don’t even know what I’m looking for.” Harry shook her head. “I’m wasting my time and yours.”
    â€œI could be sleeping.”
Pewter agreed with her.
    A snort through nostrils behind them, downwind, caused all four to wheel around.
    â€œYou’re on my turf,”
an old buck challenged them.
    Mrs. Murphy and Pewter immediately huffed up, standing sideways. The tiger cat let out a ferocious growl.
    â€œPipsqueak.”
He lowered his head.
    â€œBig enough to scratch your eyes out.”
Mrs. Murphy stood her ground.
    â€œDamn.” Harry simply exhaled.
    Usually deer will flee from a human, but occasionally a buck or a doe with a fawn will become aggressive. They could do damage.
    Tucker, flat on the ground, hind end bunched up ready to spring, bared her fangs.

    The buck charged toward the cats, who spat and scratched. He was so nimble he soared clean over them as Tucker sprang toward him. The path was narrow; mountain laurel rolled down almost to the creek at this point. Harry leapt sideways into the creek, her shoes hitting the stones, rolling a large one. She lost her footing, falling into the water.
    Tucker, furious, ran at the stag, leaping up at him. The large animal swung his head low at the dog, but the corgi had been bred to herd large animals. She dodged, then nipped the shiny cloven hooves. This upset the stag. He kicked out, but the beautiful and brave little canine easily avoided the blow. She circled the stag, confusing him, then she nipped again and again. She was relentless and much faster than the stag anticipated.
    â€œYou leave us alone!”
Tucker barked.
    Mrs. Murphy stalked the stag, although Tucker had the situation under control.
    â€œClimb a tree, Mom!”
Pewter advised, taking her own advice.
    Harry, wet, picked up a rock and aimed it at the enraged animal. She hit him hard on the side just as Tucker landed another painful nip. The stag leapt gracefully over the mountain laurel, flying away from Tucker, who chased the stag all the way to a meadow filled with buttercups.
    She returned to cheers.
    Harry, still standing in the creek, praised her. “You are the best dog in the world.”
    â€œWho does he think he is?”
Tucker, adrenaline still pumping, puffed out her snowy chest.
    â€œI’m glad you’re my friend.”
Mrs. Murphy rushed up to the corgi and rubbed across her chest.
    Pewter remained in the tree. A prudent sort, she thought it best to wait for a few minutes just in case the stag decided to return.
    Harry bent over to wash her hands, since the rock she’d plucked out had a muddy clump on the bottom. A shiny flash caught her eye. She reached down, but the water distorted her depth perception and she missed. She slowly reached again and grabbed it.
    Pewter backed down the tree as Harry put a small gold school ring in her palm. A shield with a cross, an inscription in Latin underneath, the ring was