Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks Page A

probably come inside. She noted a few huge washtubs leaning against the wall. The room may have been used as a primitive laundry room or bathroom, so there could be a history of spilled water. She exited and stuck a Post-it note on the door. Danger. Floor about to collapse.
    She headed back toward the foyer and gasped. There was a little boy standing just inside the front door, gazing up at the cupola.
    He spotted her and waved. “Hi!”
    “Hello.” She strode toward him. “You shouldn’t come in any further. It’s not entirely safe.”
    “Okay.” He smiled. “I’m Tino.”
    “Pleased to meet you.” He was an angelic-looking little boy with blond curls and big blue eyes. “I’m Elsa.”
    “I know. I came to see you.”
    That’s odd . “That’s nice.” She peered out the front door but didn’t see a car or anyone else. “Do you live close by?” When he nodded, she asked, “And you came here all alone?”
    He lifted his chin. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m five years old.”
    She winced inwardly. That was much too young to be wandering about the countryside. “Where are your parents?”
    “They’re asleep.”
    She swallowed down a gulp of indignation that parents could leave such an innocent child on his own. Twinges of her own abandonment at the age of three needled her. She would take this boy home and have a few words in private with his parents. “Do you mind if I walk you home?”
    Tino grinned. “That would be great.”
    “Just a sec.” She wrote a quick note to Alastair on her notepad and left it by the front door where he would see it. Then she grabbed her handbag and ushered the boy outside.
    She closed the door. “Do you know the way home?”
    “That way.” Tino pointed at the woods.
    She winced. “You live in the forest?” The dark, creepy forest?
    “That’s just a shortcut. Come on.” Tino took her hand and led her down the steps and across the driveway.
    Sure enough, there was a path through the woods. She held onto the little boy’s hand and gazed around. It was a bit darker, but not all that creepy. Very pretty, actually. The dimmer light seemed to make the colors brighter, not so washed out by the sun. It was cooler here, and quite pleasant to be surrounded by her favorite color, green. She took a deep breath. It even smelled good.
    A noise behind her made her jump.
    Tino giggled. “It’s just a squirrel.”
    “Right.” She smiled at him. There was nothing to be afraid of. She’d seen plenty of squirrels around their house in the suburbs of Minneapolis.
    She glanced back. There were three squirrels now. Were they following them?
    She exhaled in relief when they stepped out onto the main road. “Okay, which way?”
    “Down there.” Tino let go of her hand to point.
    She started walking beside him. Wasn’t the school Shanna had warned them about down this road? And she’d promised to never go near it. Maybe the little boy lived somewhere on the way. “How far do we go?”
    Tino shrugged. “A few miles, I think.”
    She halted. “You walked miles ?”
    “No.”
    “Then how did you get here?”
    He wrinkled his nose as if searching for an answer. “I’m special.”
    She smiled. “I’m sure you are, but that doesn’t really explain how you got here.”
    “I’m not supposed to talk about it.”
    Huh? Maybe she should wait till Alastair returned with the car. She glanced back and gasped.
    A small herd of deer was on the road, along with half a dozen squirrels and rabbits. They were all looking at her.
    Tino laughed. “I think they like you.”
    Her skin prickled with gooseflesh. “I wouldn’t know why.”
    “Maybe they want you to sing to them,” he suggested. “Like Sleeping Beauty.”
    She snorted. “I’m more like Fiona, I’m afraid.”
    “But you have blond hair like Sleeping Beauty. And you’re not green.”
    She smiled. No one had ever compared her to a willowy princess before. “I’m a bit on the large size.”
    “You’re smaller