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Chapter 12

"Picture albums, picture albums...where are the picture albums?" Abby poked at the different boxes in the storage room, a pen and the list in her right hand. She had gathered a few family photos and found a diary that was practically empty. She pulled at a box on the top shelf causing it to fall forward.

"Crap! Crap! Crap!" she shrieked as the contents fell on her. "Well, at least I found the photo albums." Abby groaned as she gathered the photos that had fallen. She stood up, her hands full, when she heard a low growl.

Abby froze. She hated dogs. Bryce had once told her that dogs could sense her fear which was enough to make them attack.

The growl became louder. More fierce.

"Puppy?" Abby called out softly thinking it might calm down if it heard a cajoling voice. "Here, puppy...puppy." She gulped down a knot of fear. Who am I kidding? That thing doesn't sound anything like a puppy.

She thought about running but knew she couldn't outrun a dog. She took a small step forward.

One growling dog now sounded like two. Abby heard a whimpering sound and pinched herself when she realized it was coming from her. She touched her beaded bracelet, forcing herself to think of something positive.

I am brave. I am not afraid.

She remembered Bryce mocking her when it came to animals.

"Abby, why are you so afraid of dogs? Do you think they're all going to bite you? Don't be stupid. They only bite if you provoke them."

A bitter feeling crawled its way into her heart as she remembered his scornful words. If she had been smarter, she would've recognized that Bryce was more dangerous than any wild dog she'd been afraid of. He never needed a provocation to strike.

"Doggie?" Abby called out. "Doggie, where are you?" Abby took another tentative step forward, clicking her pen into action just in case she needed to use it as a weapon.

Something strong suddenly knocked her to the ground. Abby screamed as she tried to fend off the two large dogs that were growling and nipping at her legs.

"She's here!" she heard a female voice cry out before a flash of light blinded her.

"Stop!" a male voice Abby recognized, cut through the air. "I'll call the police if you hurt Abby!"

"Wally?" Abby groaned. She opened her eyes to see the dogs were gone and three people were standing above her.

"Are you alright, Abby?" Wally asked, extending a hand to help her up.

"I-I'm fine." Abby looked around warily, looking for the vicious dogs. "Did they leave?'

"Did who leave?" Wally asked as another flash of light popped in front of her. The two strangers were standing in front of her, trying to take pictures with an old-looking camera.

"What are you doing?" Abby asked, her brows rose in anger, as she held a hand out to cover her face.

"I'm Jenny Blake and this is my partner, Cletus Jones. We're reporters for StarSight. You've probably heard of us," the woman said, smiling.

Abby shook her head. "No, I'm sorry." She looked down at her torn jeans. "I think we need to call animal control or something. I-I just got attacked by some wild dogs."

Will I need a Rabies shot?

Abby wiped the tears from her eyes when the camera flashed again. She gave an annoyed look before saying, "Hey! Cut it out! I don't care what sleazy online rag you work for, this is private property. You can't just come here and take pictures!"

"Online rag?" Jenny repeated, clearly affronted. She took a step back.

"Abby, I didn't see any wild dogs here," Wally whispered to her. "Did you see what kind they were?"

"Then what else tore up my pants, Wally? My imagination?" Abby groaned as she stretched her legs since they still felt a bit shaky.

"I'm sorry to upset you, Abby." Wally looked away, his cheeks slightly pink.

"No...I'm sorry. I shouldn't take out my anger on you. I'm sorry. Truly, Wally. But there were two wild dogs. I heard them. I felt them. There's no way I imagined this."

"There were no dogs," Cletus said.

"Online rag?" Jenny repeated, still in shock by the insult. "Cletus, did you hear her call us an online rag?"

"See?" Cletus showed Abby the photo of her on the ground. Her arms were covering her face and her legs were slightly bent but there were no dogs. "I thought it was strange but I figured maybe you were on drugs or something." He shrugged, still looking at his photos. He glanced up at her. "Are you on drugs?"

"No, of course, I'm not on drugs," Abby gasped. "There were...I could have sworn there were two dogs. I felt them. I even have marks on my legs. I don't understand."

"Neither do I but pictures don't lie."

"No, but they don't show the whole truth either," Abby protested.

Cletus gave an uncomfortable smile. Clearly, he thought she had a screw loose somewhere.

"What are you three doing here anyway?" Abby asked, rubbing her temples.

"Online rag?" Jenny repeated for the third time. She turned a pair of stormy blue eyes on Abby, "I'll have you know that StarSight is not some 'online rag' as you so rudely put it. We report the truth!"

"Right," Cletus felt compelled to add.

"So what are you doing here?" Abby asked, still not understanding their presence.

"We have it on good authority that Alex Carter is staying in this cabin with a woman." Jenny sneered.

"Of course he is," Wally said crossing his arms. "But what does that have to do with you two?"

"Alex Carter has never been linked to any one particular woman. People want to know if one of America's top bachelors is going to be off the market." Jenny looked at Abby and shook her head in disapproval. "I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised by his taste."

"I'm calling the cops," Abby said as she stomped away from both reporters. Wally followed her.

"Fine, we'll leave but we have your picture!" Jenny reminded her. "The story runs!"

"I'm his assistant not his girlfriend. The women of the world have nothing to fear when it comes to me and Alex Carter," Abby spat, still reeling from the dogs she swore she had felt and seen. She was close to shattering into a million pieces at any moment.

I don't believe you," Jenny replied.

"Then run the story. I don't care. I bet Mr. Carter will though and I pity the people who upset him. You've heard the rumors, right? That he's merciless? "

She saw Jenny wavering a bit before Cletus nudged her and she answered, "Fine. I'll wait until I've checked my facts. Understand this...I will have an eye on you two."

Jenny shoved at Cletus and the two walked away.

"Abby, are you okay?" Wally asked.

"I don't know. What are you doing here? I mean...those two reporters kind of explained themselves...but you didn't." Abby nodded toward Jenny and Cletus who were both heading towards their car.

"I heard them at the grocery store. They were talking to Yvonne and Joanie."

"Those women are such big gossips," Abby said, sighing.

"Well, they were asking for directions and wanted to know what your relationship to Mr. Carter was. They looked like trouble so I followed them out here."

Abby nodded, "Thanks, Wally. I was trying to get some stuff from storage for Mr. Carter when I heard two dogs growling. I was so scared I could barely move. Then they came out of nowhere and started barking and biting."

Wally looked at her torn pants. "I see your pants look pretty bad but I don't see any cuts or bite marks."

"What? That's impossible. I felt them--" Abby saw what Wally described and paled.

Did I imagine those dogs?

The thought caused her heart to beat faster and she took an unsteady breath before leaning against the cabin.

"What is going on out here?" Alex Carter took in Abby's shaken appearance and Wally's worried look before crossing his arms against his chest. "Do you two have something to tell me?"

Wally glanced at Abby who lowered her head.

"There were two reporters here. I followed them but they scared Abby," Wally explained.

"Reporters?"

"Yes, sir. They said they wanted to write a story about you living with a woman up here," Wally said.

"They were from StarSight," Abby said.

Alex's eyes widened. "A woman? Her? She's just an employee."

"Yes, sir. We explained that to them but I don't think they'll be giving up anytime soon."

Alex groaned in frustration. "Why is everything so difficult here?" He then tapped his chin and set his eyes on Wally. "I suppose it can't be helped. Wally, you'll have to move in with us."


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