Belle's Challenge Read online

  Darcy had asked if we could have a bigger cage, but Bob said that it was too expensive.

  Sighing I wandered from the spot where I could smell the sage to the tree, where the aroma of ripe fruit made me drool. Picking up a fallen peach, I ambled into the shade and bumped into something soft. What was that? I jumped and dropped the peach. It landed with a splat on Buster lying in shadows as black as him.

  He half opened one eye and shook juice off his leg. “Can’t you be lazy, Belle?” he murmured.

  “There’s no such thing as a lazy herding dog,” I retorted.

  He closed his eyes.

  I picked up a ball and lobbed it down the long side of the run then rolled it around our water bucket with my nose, pretending I was running an agility course. Not much of a game, but better than none.

  The food burrow door opened and Darcy walked out, carrying our leashes.

  “Let’s go to soccer tryouts, guys.” She smelled like lightning.

  Thank you, dog heaven! I circle-danced to the enclosure’s gate.

  She patted me. “Being penned up is hard for you, isn’t it, Belle? I wish things were different.” Sadness tinged her lightning.

  I rubbed my nose against her knee, to show I could manage the cage, then called to Buster. “Come on, let’s go.”

  He opened his eyes in mid snore and jumped to his feet. “Whatever you want, Darcy,” he woofed.

  We walked for about as long as it takes to crunch a bowl of kibble and drain a water dish, to a long low den beside a field. Jazzy’s earth scent and Susan’s sage odor mixed with the scents of girls kicking balls.

  Susan jogged to us waving. “Darcy, tie the dogs under the bleachers. Then sign in.” She nodded at a table where two men filled out papers.

  One fellow stretched up like a pine trunk. Light reflected off his head. The other’s gray top knot reached the first guy’s shoulder.

  Darcy tied us next to Jazzy and hurried off, her lightning odor trailing her.

  Flopping on the grass, I followed the scent as she moved to the table, then to the field. She could play as well as anyone out there, and she knew it.

  Jazzy touched noses with me and Buster. “Welcome to Susan’s school, in case you didn’t know where you were.”

  “Darcy’s school, too,” I replied, flaring my nostrils.

  The school smelled of soap, floor wax, fresh cut grass, and friendly, flowery people. She would study in a nice place. Tail wagging, I sought out her smell again.

  But instead of happy lightning, a stench assaulted my nostrils. Snapdragons and rose perfume.

  Jumping up, I gagged, sneezed, and looked around. That rabid skunk from behind our den, Emily Robinson, was trotting toward us, filling the air with a stink as big as a garbage dump.

  I let out a louder sneeze.

  Spotting me, she paused, sizing me up with eyes so hard, they might have been green stones. A sour stomach smell mixed with her horrible flowers, and she circled away from me to reach the edge of the field.

  Buster snorted. “Like mother like daughter, concerning dogs,” he said, and slid under the bleachers.

  Emily shouted at Darcy, who was kicking a ball to Susan. “You better be good, honey, if you want to make our team.”

  Darcy laughed. “I am good, don’t worry.”

  Emily stalked away.

  Rabid skunks. Hadn’t we left all the flea brains in Illinois?

  Sneezing one more time, I wriggled my butt to a shady spot beside Buster.

  A whistle blasted, and the tall man stepped into a white circle. “Everybody over here!”

  Emily, Darcy and Susan reached him before anyone else. I realized Emily’s head reached Darcy’s shoulder. A jacket of Darcy’s would hang like an empty kibble sack on Emily.

  The coach pointed at Darcy. “You on the north side of the field. Susan, you and Emily go on the south.” He continued to call out names and point to the sides of the field.

  Everyone jogged to one side or the other as he directed. When they stood in long lines, he placed a soccer ball in the center of a white circle.

  “For those of you who are new, I’m Coach Anderson. The guy at the table is my assistant, Coach Salazar. We’re going to scrimmage, starting now.” He stepped to the sidelines, put the whistle in his mouth and blew.

  The girls ran at each other. Darcy got to the ball. Emily kicked it away from her. Darcy blocked Emily’s path and smacked the ball toward the goal net.

  Overtaking it, Emily kicked it to Susan. Susan whacked it at another girl on her team.

  I pressed my nose on Buster’s ear. “Emily’s small, but she’s tough.”

  “She’s got long legs, so she can scurry,” he replied.

  Intercepting the ball, Darcy dribbled down field.

  Emily raced a step behind her, then two, five, and ten.

  I exchanged a glance with Jazzy.

  She lifted her ears. “Holy dog biscuits, Darcy’s pretty good. Emily isn’t gonna like it.”

  With a burst of speed Emily caught up to Darcy, got her foot on the ball and spun it in the opposite direction.

  Setting her lips, Darcy stretched, retrieved the ball, and socked it back at her team.

  Emily intercepted it, kicking hard. Bouncing, it flew at Darcy’s head. Pepper and sour stomach rolled off Emily in waves.

  Darcy butted the ball toward her team.

  Emily lunged after it. Something happened. Staggering, she tumbled, rolling and bumping on the grass.

  Susan sprang over her and kicked the ball.

  Emily gripped her slim ankle and sat still. Three or four girls raced around her.

  With a whistle blast, Coach Anderson dashed up to her. Coach Salazar followed. Kneeling, Coach Anderson touched her leg.

  The other girls caught their breaths. All smelled like lightning and iron, the odor of determination.

  “Can you stand?” Coach Anderson asked Emily.

  She rolled to her knees and stumbled upright. Gulping, she stood on one foot and inched the toes of the other to the ground. But when she lowered her heel, her face twisted and she pulled up her leg.

  “No. No, I can’t walk on it.”

  The others stopped running. Silent, they clustered in groups, watching Emily.

  Sliding their arms around her, Coach Anderson and Coach Salazar led her to the bleachers and sat her down away from us. Reaching into a box Coach Anderson pulled out a black bag and put it on her ankle. Coach Salazar collected a canvas purse from a pile at the end of the bench and gave it to Emily. She pulled out a cell phone and dialed, a tear trickling down her cheek.

  No one spoke. A dried leaf odor overpowered the girls’ lightening and iron.

  “Bet a dog biscuit Emily’s hurt her ankle bad,” Jazzy said, tucking her tail between her legs.

  Coach Salazar sat down near Emily.

  Coach Anderson jogged back to the teams. “All right. Let’s continue. Things like this happen. Emily will be fine.”

  The girls scrimmaged again. Darcy tripped and sprawled on the grass. Scrambling to her feet, she tore back into the game.

  Emily glowered at her. I wondered if she had hoped for a moment that Darcy, too, would be hurt. I wouldn’t have put it past Emily.

  “Don’t be scared, Darcy,” I barked. “You can make the team.”

  The girls raced back and forth across the field. I smelled sweat on Darcy, saw her hair straggling limp down her back. Her breath rasped in her throat.

  Coach Anderson blew the whistle. “Stop. Darcy, Susan, stay here. Penny to the bleachers.” Glancing from player to player, he sent some away and kept others. “Okay, another scrimmage,” he shouted.

  Jazzy lifted her ears. “Darcy and Susan made the first cut.”

  “Told you Darcy could do it,” I tossed my head.

  Emily dialed
the phone again.

  “Bet there’s no one home at her den, and her folks’ cell phones are turned off,” Jazzy muttered. “They let the mayor’s sister look after the kids while they work or play golf.”

  The ball rolled close to the bleachers. I locked my nose on Darcy’s scent. She smelled like lightning burned out at the edges. Susan’s sage smelled wilted.

  Coach Anderson sent more people to the sidelines. Susan and Darcy remained on the field.

  Emily pressed her head into her hands. Huddled on the bench, she seemed almost fragile. I’d pity her if she didn’t smell so mean.

  Coach Anderson blasted on the whistle. “Okay. That’s enough.” He stepped into the circle and held out his hand for the ball.

  Darcy rolled it up her leg and batted it to him with her knee.

  Coach Salazar joined Coach Anderson.

  Everyone else but Emily settled in front of them.

  Coach Anderson clapped his hands. “Okay, listen up. Here’s the A team.”

  I sniffed Darcy. She smelled like lightning mixed with a touch of sour stomach.

  “I’ll take Susan Krebbs,” said Coach Anderson.

  Susan whooped. Darcy smiled. “Good job.”

  “I’ll take Jennie Jacquez, Andrea Manygoats, and Darcy Simmons. She’ll replace Emily Robinson at center position for the moment.”

  Susan flung her arms around Darcy.

  Darcy cheered, lightning exploding off her. The sour stomach odor vanished into fresh lily of the valley.

  Emily reeked of pepper. Sitting straight, she thrust out her chin.

  “Oh, dog biscuits,” muttered Buster, wriggling his nose at her. “She’ll give Darcy a garbage can’s worth of grief.”

  Coach Anderson finished the A squad list and announced his B roster. Finally, he said, “Those of you who didn’t make either team, thanks for trying out. First practice, 7:30 Monday morning.”

  The girls drifted away. Susan untied Jazzy, and Darcy unwound Buster’s and my leashes from under the bleachers.

  “You were right, Belle,” the Airedale said, a hint of cinnamon clinging to her. “Darcy knows what she’s doing with a soccer ball. I’m thrilled for her.”

  For all Jazzy’s nonsense, she was a genuine dog biscuit. I licked her face. “Thanks.”

  At least Darcy had a chance for happiness in this place. I looked at the empty field. What an agility course it could hold.

  Darcy tugged my leash, and we walked down the bleachers toward the street. As we passed Emily, a sour stomach and peppery odor saturated the air.

  Lowering my head, I retched. Fifty rabid skunks wouldn’t smell as vicious as she did.

  “Hey Darcy, you’re replacing me at center, huh?” she called. “You can’t play soccer as good as a fifth grader. How much money did your folks give Coach Anderson to put you on the team?”

  Darcy’s jaw dropped.

  Susan put an arm around her. “She got that position fair and square, Emily.”

  “Not,” Emily snapped, but sour stomach overpowered her pepper scent.

  With her good foot, she kicked at us. “Those dogs poop on the school lawn, I’m telling my dad. Remember, he’s the mayor.”

  Cowering and laying my ears back, I barked and yelped. “Don’t kick me, please.”

  Buster growled. “Leave Belle alone.”

  Jazzy clacked her teeth.

  Emily stared at us. “Those animals are vicious,” she exclaimed. “They almost bit me. I’m telling my father.”

  Susan laughed. “Come on, Emily, you kicked them first.” She looked at Darcy. “Let’s go get some ice cream.” Leaning close to Darcy’s ear, she added, “Emily’s scared to death of anybody who’s better than her at something. She’ll make up any lie she can about people she’s afraid of. You’re not her first target.”

  Coach Salazar strolled over. “Emily, I’ll take you to your Aunt Josie’s since you can’t reach your folks.”

  Emily nodded and cowered on the bench like an abandoned puppy. “Those dogs are mean. They almost bit me.”

  Coach Salazar put an arm around her. “Come on, stand up now.”

  I wished I could sink my teeth into her backside.

  Chapter 4

  A Lucky Encounter

  The sun blistered its way toward the edge of the earth when Darcy, Buster and I walked into our den after tryouts. She pulled iced tea from the cool box. Buster and I dove for our water bowls. I gulped until my nose touched the bottom of my dish, and Buster licked up the last splash from his. Then, drops trickling off our chins, we followed Darcy into the computer burrow.

  Bob sat, feet propped in a recliner, watching the news. Buster settled beside him, and Bob scratched the dog’s neck.

  Margaret tapped the keyboard and frowned.

  What was wrong? Were we in trouble? Was Darcy? I edged toward Margaret, sniffing. She smelled more sad than angry.

  Bob smiled at me and Darcy. “Well, how did it go?”

  She told him, adding, “That Emily Robinson’s a big mouth, but I hope she didn’t break her ankle.”

  He switched off the TV. “There’s some big mouths in every town, aren’t there?”

  “Yup.” She sat on a hassock and sipped her tea. “But I can ignore her.”

  I pressed my nose against Darcy’s leg. Be careful. You can’t smell Emily like I can.

  Margaret rolled her chair away from the keyboard. “Doesn’t look like there are any counseling jobs open in the school districts around here.”

  Darcy turned to her. “Then what are you going to do, Mom?”

  Margaret shrugged. “Get creative and find something else. The library has an opening for a part time aide, pending continuation of funding.”

  Bob gave her a sympathetic look. “A far cry from what you were trained to do.”

  “But it may be a chance to make contact with the schools,” Margaret said. “The pay isn’t great, but I’d be working with kids. Maybe I’ll apply.”

  Darcy laid her fingers against her lips. “If you don’t find a job, will there be enough money to feed the dogs?”

  I exchanged a glance with Buster.

  Margaret chuckled. “Of course. They’re part of the family.”

  Bob tickled my chin. “Don’t worry. I’m busy enough for two people.”

  Margaret rose. “Speaking of food, let’s grill burgers. It’s too hot to cook.”

  * * *

  We licked people food scraps off the patio flagstones as the sun dropped, and the air cooled.

  The scent of sage drifted on the breeze. Trotting to the biggest plant in the yard, I snuggled into branches still warm from the sun time, and watched pink, purple and gold streaks uncurl across the sky. They stretched, like multi-colored leashes laid on a pet shop table. Around me, the neighborhood clattered. People shut garbage cans and grill covers. A bike whizzed by. Someone clinked along the sidewalk on a scooter.

  The door to Susan Krebbs’ den banged. She came out holding Jazzy’s leash.

  “Come on, Darcy,” Susan called, nodding toward the stream gurgling through the yard. “Let’s walk along the irrigation ditch. We might see an owl. Or some ducks.”

  Licking his chops, Buster hoisted his rump and extended his forelegs. Shifting his weight, he drew up his shoulders and flexed his hips. “A walk would be fun now that the sun’s going down,” he said with an ear-flapping shake.

  Poor black-coated guy. I trotted to him and nuzzled his shoulder as Darcy got our leashes.

  We strolled along the ditch. “Hello,” Susan shouted at people lounging in lawn chairs in yards.

  “Hi,” said neighbors taking their own walks as we passed them on the path.

  I poked Jazzy’s shoulder. “This place is really nice just before dark time.”

  Jazzy cocked her head. “It’s nice all the
time, Belle. You just need to learn how to live here. This is the time to run and play, not when the sun’s high.”

  Was she right? It would suit Buster, and maybe I’d enjoy it.

  Buster stretched his neck and inched toward the water. It gurgled, nudging leaves downstream.

  “Don’t let him go in, Darcy,” Susan warned. “The current can run faster than it looks like it’s going.”

  Darcy yanked on Buster’s leash, pulling him away from the canal.

  I glanced at the canal. Buster could swim against a slow current like that one. What was Susan talking about?

  The grass rustled. Buster lifted his ears, and Jazzy cocked her head.

  “There might be a lizard in there,” Susan whispered, stopping.

  Darcy cringed. “Will it bite?”

  Susan shook her head. “Don’t be silly, Darcy. Let’s find him.” Picking up a small stick, she parted the stems.

  A lizard as bright as the sky at mid sun time froze on a rock. With a yellow ring around its neck and green streaks on its head, it resembled a flower.

  “If we scare it, it’ll run like a T-Rex,” murmured Susan and shook the branch.

  Rising on its hind legs, the lizard scuttled toward a brush pile by the water.

  “Woof!” Buster wrenched the leash from Darcy’s hand and tore after the reptile.

  It dived into a hole.

  “Buster, come back here.” Darcy reached for his leash.

  Buster glanced at her, arched his tail over his back, and sprang into the stream.

  “Oh, no,” Darcy shouted.

  He grinned, tongue lolling. “I’m going for a swim. See you all later.”

  “Come back,” Jazzy woofed. “If your leash catches on something, you could be in a pile of fleas.”

  “Call him, Darcy!” Susan exclaimed. “Try to get him to the bank.”

  Buster slid into the current.