There was a sudden loud crashing and bounding through the shrubs and Eddie turned hot with fright. He knew at once what it must be and that Karen hadn’t said a word about a dog. Skip was cursing, and then the dog jumped on him out of the dark and Skip thrashed to the ground. There was a lot of racket and Eddie stood frozen, expecting someone to follow, a light to shine on them, a gun pointed, anything. Instead the dog leaped off Skip and bounded around playfully, letting out little yelps. He wanted Skip to chase him.

Skip got up, still cursing, and brushed at his clothes. There was enough light for him and Eddie to see the dog, still leaping around and wagging his tail. “Hell,” Skip said, “the damn dog didn’t even bark.”

“Let’s go back,” Eddie said suddenly.

“No, look, this is important. Karen never said a word about a dog, and I kind of hinted, too. She’s holding out on me. Who does she think she is?” Under his breath he cursed the girl fiercely. “The thing is, the important thing, he’s no good for a watchdog.” Skip squatted and whistled softly, and the big collie came over and tried to lick his face. The dog made whining sounds and Skip patted his head.

“You don’t know what he’ll do next,” Eddie argued. “I’ll bet he’s used to people hiking along up here, kids playing hooky or hunting jackrabbits. If we try to go near the house, he’ll raise hell.”

“Well, let’s test him.” Skip jumped to his feet and strode off downhill through the trees toward the lights of the house. Eddie stood rooted in the dark. The dog whined a couple of times, circling Eddie as if asking a question about what to do next, then suddenly sat down on his haunches. Eddie moved into a still darker spot, then clucked to the dog; and the collie ran to him, frisking.

“Hey, boy. Nice boy.” Eddie rubbed the dog’s warm silky head, feeling the hard bones of the collie’s skull under the fine fur. He liked dogs generally, most especially big golden dogs with a friendly way.

Skip whistled a summons, an eerie killdeer kind of noise, but Eddie hung back, telling himself he and Skip would be better off if he stayed to keep the dog from the house. He didn’t move until Skip returned, which must have been more than ten minutes later. Skip was walking lightly, confidently, hissing the killdeer cry between his teeth. He came up to Eddie, and Eddie sensed the grin.

Skip patted the dog. “The mutt likes us.”

“He’s a good dog.”