Love Gone to the Dogs by Margaret Daley Page A

son, she realized he would soon forget his promise to her and try again. Like her, Joey didn't give up easily, especially when it was such a passion with him, a passion that went beyond reason. She looked up into Shane's eyes and knew she could trust him to keep her son safe. "Okay." She breathed the one word and prayed she had made the right decision.
    Shane leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. "I'd better get the steaks before they're charred."
    As he left the kitchen Leah gripped the countertop to steady herself. Even though the kiss was really only a peck on the mouth, she felt it to her core. Her grasp tightened to keep her legs from giving way. She was practically putty in this man's hands, and they hadn't even gotten to the "that" yet.
    By the time she had herself under control enough to push away from the counter everyone had descended on the kitchen, hungry, talking all at once. She was thankful for the family mayhem, because she was forced to shove everything into the background while she and Margaret put the meal on the dining room table.
    Seated, Leah finally relaxed as the food was passed from person to person. For the first ten minutes peace and quiet reigned while everyone satisfied his hunger.
    That all changed when her grandfather put down his fork and announced, "Girl, Margaret told me that Ned is having trouble getting the signatures he needs for his petition."
    "What petition?" Joey asked.
    "Don't you know anything? The petition to drive us from town," Sam answered.
    "No one is going to drive us from this town." Leah took a long, fortifying sip of her drink.
    Sam sent her a look that said her lie wasn't working. He wasn't reassured.
    "Of course no one is, Sam. People can live wherever they want." Shane cut a piece of his steak and ate it.
    "But, what about—"
    "Sam, would you please get the dessert? It's pecan pie, your favorite," Leah interrupted before her eldest told Margaret and Shane about the other towns they had lived in. Leah knew they could have stayed in those places if they had really wanted to, but who would want to live where they were not wanted?
    "But, girl, no one is through with their dinner yet"
    Leah knew the smile that graced her mouth was quivering from the strain of trying to maintain it No one in her family was cooperating. "I know that. I thought we could stare at it while we finish up our steaks."
    Sam shook his head. "Fine. I'll get the pie, Mom, but it won't change the fact there's a petition going around that demands we leave Shady Oaks."
    "No, but we don't have to talk about it at dinner. I won't let Ned disrupt this family anymore than he already has. Is that agreed upon?" She speared each member of her family with a look of determination.
    Joey, Gramps, and Sam nodded. Leah returned to her drink and took another sip. Her stomach constricted with the thought of the petition circulating around town. The food before her suddenly lost its appeal. She hated the idea that the Shiplocks had the power to cause trouble even when they weren't around.
    "This really is good, Leah," Margaret said as she scooped up a forkful of scalloped potatoes. "I must get this recipe."
    With that statement the conversation turned to more mundane topics, and Leah was finally able to put the petition and the Shiplocks out of her mind.
     
    * * *
     
    After the last piece of pecan pie was eaten, Gramps and Margaret volunteered to take care of the dishes with the boys' help. That left Leah standing in the middle of the dining room staring at Shane, with nothing to do. She suspected that was what Gramps had figured on when he had spoken about cleaning up. He hardly ever stepped into the kitchen except to eat something she had prepared. And she couldn't remember the last time he had cleaned up a dish. The world must be coming to an end. Leah shifted her gaze away from Shane's strong profile.
    When all the dishes were cleared from the table, everyone else cleared the room, as well. Leah was acutely aware of