Bloodlines

By Sallie Powell

Fourteen years ago Amanda’s daughter was kidnapped from the hospital and her fiancé ran out on her. Thank goodness her sister and mother were there to support her. She pulled her life together and joined the world of dog show enthusiasts. Having poured her heart into her animals, she thought she was doing fine until she met a police officer at one of the dog shows. Now, her world is spinning out of control. Her sister is kidnapped and her own life is in danger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sallie Powell
• Release date: Dec 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463551530

Book preview

Bloodlines

By Sallie Powell

©Sallie Powell 2018

Also available in paperback.

Gilcrease Publishing, LLC

Cover/Interior Design: Rita Durrett

https://www.ritadurrett.com

License Statement

This book or parts thereof may not be re-produced in any form, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the authors, except as provided by the United states of America copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Bloodlines is dedicated to my dear friend, Diana Purser, who was editing my book until she lost her battle with cancer. We all miss you, Diana.

Bloodlines

Prologue

Amanda sat up in her hospital bed and examined the tiny garment her sister had just handed her.

Oh, Gail, this little dress is darling, and Lauren will look precious in it! Thank you! It's what my baby girl will wear home. She stroked the hem of the pink chiffon dress.

It comes with socks to match, too, Gail said, fishing through the tissue paper. She held them up. Complete with lace on the top!

Those are sweet, Amanda said with a smile. Her feet are so tiny.

She’s tiny, Gail said. And little Lauren already looks like you, for sure.

I’m glad she doesn’t look like her father, Amanda said. He has no idea what he is missing.

Are you going to let him see her? Gail asked, settling herself on the edge of the bed.

If he wants to see her and have a relationship with his daughter, I really can’t stop him, Amanda said. Although he did desert us, so I doubt he’ll even try.

A knock came on the door. As it slowly opened, an obviously distraught woman stepped into the room, followed by a nurse and a police officer.

It was clear to Amanda and Gail that their mother had been crying. She was still blotting her face with a tissue.

Mom, what’s wrong? Is my baby all right? Amanda asked in a panicked voice. What’s going on? Where is she?

She is missing from the nursery, Amanda’s mother choked out.

What do you mean she’s missing? I just saw her there in her crib an hour ago. She can’t be missing! Oh, no! She has to be there! Amanda said, throwing off the covers and reaching for her robe. What happened? We have to find her! She has to be here! Somewhere in this hospital!

The police have already searched, sweetheart. Her mother said through her tears. She’s gone.

Amanda started sobbing and screaming uncontrollably. Her mother nodded to the nurse. Amanda felt a prick in her arm, and all went black.

14 years later:

Chapter 1

Who turned the hounds loose, who? who? Amanda asked her sister Gail with a giggle. Across from her bed in the RV, Joey and Harley, her two Basset Hounds, started whining as several dogs outside continued singing their praises to the rising sun.

I heard them twenty minutes ago, but I didn’t want to move, Gail replied, as she crawled out of her bunk over the cab. Her long brown hair fell into her eyes as she tried to focus. I got the coffee fixed last night. Just turn it on. After we walk the dogs, it should be ready.

I definitely need some caffeine in my life, said Amanda. She rolled out of bed and faced the dog crate. Hi, sweets, she said, smiling. How are my boys? Need to go out?

I hope we have a decent judge today. Have you heard of a Mr. Tyron Bennett? Amanda asked as she pulled a white ball cap over her blonde curls.

I have no idea who he is, but I hope he likes the looks of our boys, Gail said, flipping the switch on the coffee pot.

Amanda pulled on her green sweats and opened the dog crate. She slipped on Joey's pale blue collar and leash and ran her fingers through his plush black fur.

Gail followed suit, getting Harley, her red and white Basset, out of his crate.

Think we need jackets? asked Amanda.

It’s not that cold out. You’re always cold. You can just suffer till you get some coffee in you, Gail joked. "

Amanda stepped out of the RV into the chilly morning air, but it wasn’t so bad she couldn’t tolerate it. Come on, Joey, let’s go do your constitutional and get back in. She marched him out to the grass as Gail took Harley the other way.

Joey, Champion Disavows Madigan of Denmark, was a gorgeous tri-colored Basset champion competing for his Grand Champion status. He was the spitting image of his father who was a beautiful Basset with a loving and gentle—but very protective— personality. Amanda had rescued her dog from a terrible situation, a kennel that was in sad shape. He was covered in fleas, ticks, and dirt when she first saw him. She knew the breeder he came from and knew the bloodline well, and she took Joey out of that mess and showed him the love and care he deserved. They had fallen in love with one another. Joey was very protective of Amanda and would not let anyone get within fifty feet of her if he sensed a bad situation.

Gail, are you ready to head in? I’m getting cold, Amanda shivered. Then she heard a low growl coming from Joey, and she looked around. He stepped in front of her and growled even louder with the hair on his back standing up. Amanda shivered but not from the cold. In the shadows, she could see another woman walking her dog in the early light of dawn. It’s okay. It’s just another dog. We’re fine, she assured Joey and patted him under the chin, but she still wasn’t sure herself if all was well. Even the pat under the chin didn’t change the fact he sensed something threatening. Come on. Let’s go in, boy. Something has got you spooked. I need my coffee, and you need food. As they walked back to the RV, Amanda took another look back at the beautiful sunrise and shadowed clouds, but she could still sense something was not quite right.

Gail and Harley were also heading back to the RV. Gail took both leashes, All right, guys, let’s get you crated and fed, while Mandy gets her coffee.

As Gail crated the boys, Amanda headed for the coffee that had filled the small camper with a wonderfully rich Columbian fragrance.

This is what I need, she said as she sipped the hot coffee. An old friend used to call it ‘the only legal drug left’ until they legalized pot.

When’s our ring time? asked Gail coming up from behind her for a cup.

The premium list is on the table. It provided the list of judges and other pertinent information they would need to negotiate the show's rules.

Amanda started thumbing through it, but her mind was still outside. What had Joey seen or smelled that bothered him? She glanced out the window but saw nothing other than the sun cresting over the buildings.

Something wrong? asked Gail.

Well, something weird happened out there; Joey growled, and he’s usually never wrong, Amanda said as she bit her lip.

Don’t let it worry you. We’re in a new place, with new smells, and other dogs barking. He may have caught a scent he’d never smelled before, Gail said.

Gail was right, of course. They were in a new town this week, just as they had been every week or so for the past three months. Maybe I’m worn out because we’ve been on the road so much, said Amanda.

Gail sighed, Well, I know I’m tired. Think we could skip the next show?

Amanda stood up, her face suddenly flushed.

No, no way. At least not unless we do really well here. We have the four-day show in Topeka in three weeks. It’s going to be a major one if everyone shows up that said they would. Janice told me she was bringing her three males and two bitches. Joey needs that major rating. He’ll be going up against her Champion and he has to get that level to get his Grand Champion. No, I do not want to go home yet! Tears were forming in the corners of her eyes.

Are you okay? Gail looked at Amanda and bit her lip.

I’ll be okay, just memories, Amanda said as she sat back down.

Oh, Sis, I’m know, Gail said as she got a cup from the cabinet, I hadn’t forgotten the date, but I wasn’t going to mention it, she walked over to Amanda and gave her a hug.

Yesterday would have been Lauren’s birthday, Amanda said with her voice choking and a tear forming in the corner of her eye again.

Yeah, I know, Gail whispered.

Well, okay. Sun’s up. Let’s head to the building and see if the catalogs are out and see who our competition is, Amanda said, wanting to try to push thoughts of the past into the back of her mind.

I hope they have the donuts out and some flavored coffees. I forgot to pick up any creamer, Gail said as she stepped down the steps of the camper.

Sounds good. Especially blueberry donuts, my favorite, Amanda said, braving the chill in the air.

Gail stopped and locked the door while Amanda surveyed the RV campground. She shivered again, not sure if it was the frigid air or the thought of Joey’s unexplained growl from earlier. There was a sea of RVs, all shapes and sizes, with exercise pens out front filled with all breeds and sizes of dogs yapping and wanting attention or food. These wire-framed ex-pens were placed on patches of grass so the dogs could have a needed respite from all the time they had to spend in crates during the show.

Awww! Look at those Bloodhound babies. They’re so cute! cried Amanda. There were three Bloodhound pups playing. Their mother watched the girls walk by, her fixed gaze and bared teeth telling Amanda and Gail to keep their distance from her adorable long-legged wrinkled pups. Those were her pups, hers alone, and she wanted no one to approach them.

By the way, have you talked to Susan lately about our babies? Susan was a friend of theirs who took care of their kennels while they traveled. Currently they had a litter of eight new Bassets pups at home.

Yes, she said the babies were fine. Mommy has weaned them, so Susan has moved her back out to the kennel. She was saying they heard the big dogs baying in the kennel, and three of the pups threw their heads back and bayed with them. Nothing cuter, Amanda said with a chuckle.

They walked into the show venue, and saw donuts and coffee on their left Creamer! They have Vanilla Caramel creamer, Gail squealed over the barking of dozens of dogs in their crates and on grooming tables waiting to be pampered to look their best in the ring.

Mandy, Mandy, Amanda heard a squeaky voice that could be none other than Shirley Duncan. ‘Oh, joy’ thought Amanda, as she turned around.

Shirley, how are you? I haven’t seen you in what, six months? How are you doing?

Doing great. We took the Best in Breed last week in L.A. Couldn’t believe that judge took a Great Dane over us for Best in Show! replied Shirley, with a smug smile. She knew the drill. She had a beautiful standard Poodle that knew how to show in the ring. Her dog had great bloodlines from one of the top kennels in Virginia.

As they talked and walked into the huge open room with six show rings, they saw vendor booths of all kinds, the superintendent's table, and the banner for the local club that was putting on the show, Greater Tri-State Kennel Club.

Well, I’ll see you later. Got to go groom my baby, Shirley said. She hugged Amanda and took off in a flutter.

As the two sisters walked the ring area toward the catalog table, Amanda saw several other people she knew casually and some she had grown close to and were good friends with.

Loose dog! Gail and Amanda heard. As they turned to see what was going on, they saw a Golden Retriever charging at them, coming at a dead run.

Gail stepped in front of him, balancing her coffee, and Amanda stopped him by putting her arm out. She knelt down and started talking to him to calm the dog down. Are you trying to run away? Amanda asked. She felt a presence on her left towering over her.

Thank you. He thought it was playtime and took off.

Amanda looked up to see a good-looking guy she had never seen before. He had dark brown hair with a curl down over his tanned forehead. His eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.

Are you wanting to play, you gorgeous boy? she asked the dog, looking away from the handsome man standing by her. The Golden playfully pawed at her.

I’m sorry. He’s still a puppy at heart, going on two, Oh, I’m Clay, the man told her as he slipped the lead around the runaway’s neck.

I’m Amanda, she said as she stood to her feet. This is my sister Gail.

Nice to meet you, Gail. Thanks for helping me catch my little hooligan, he said, smiling at Amanda with a smile that could have melted a normal girl like butter, but not Amanda. She had had a hard relationship, and she had built walls that she wasn’t going to let anyone tear down.

She didn’t even smile back at him.

He looked confused and then embarrassed. See you around, he said as he walked away.

Sure, see you around, Amanda said, turning her back on him.

Hey, he’s a knockout, Gail commented as he walked away.

Go for it. He is nice-looking, Amanda said.

But I think he was looking at you not me. Besides you need to get on with your life, Gail said, out of the corner of her mouth.

Amanda sighed. Let’s go look at the catalog. We need to see who the competition is.

You’re changing the subject, Gail said with a disgusted look.

Yeah, Amanda replied as she walked off toward the table.

Gail followed behind at a safe distance. She could tell Amanda was not in a good mood.

Amanda checked the book and slipped a $10 out of her pocket to pay for the catalog as Gail hit the silent auction table to see if there was anything worth bidding on. She caught the reflection of someone familiar in the lid of a dog biscuit canister, but when she looked up, no one was there. I’m getting as jumpy as Amanda, she thought.

Find anything? Amanda soon rejoined Gail who was looking at some jewelry in a vendor’s booth.

I like this set of earrings with the paw prints and the rhinestones in the pads. You know me, I like glitzy things, Gail said jokingly.

Gail looked up and down the rows of booths. There’s Dana’s booth. I’m going to talk to her. Haven’t seen her in about a year. Dana and Gail had become close friends when one of Gail’s dogs was having a panic attack in a thunderstorm, and Dana had gone to her booth to help.

Amanda thumbed through the catalog to see who their competition was. ‘Oh, great. Tracey Bellows is here,’ she groaned inwardly. Tracey thought she was hot stuff. Her dogs always won, and if they didn’t, she would start rumors about the person who beat her out. Other rumors had it that she had a drinking problem.

Ring time was at 1 p.m., after the lunch break, so she and Gail had plenty of time to kill. Amanda remembered she still hadn’t checked out to see if the donuts had any blueberry ones. As she wandered back in the direction of the table, she felt eyes on her and looked around but didn’t see anything or anyone to be concerned about. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Then suddenly, the crowd parted and there he was—the reason her skin was crawling—there was her ex-fiancé, the father of her daughter! She felt nauseated and tried to hurry away.

Amanda, wait! I know you don’t want to see me, but please wait, he said, moving as if to grab her arm.

Why should I? Bradley Reinhart, you’ve done really well at staying away for fourteen years. Fourteen years of misery. Our daughter was kidnapped, and you never even called. You ignored me, you disappeared! Didn’t you even care our child was kidnapped, she yelled as she jerked away, Don’t, don’t go there! Amanda screamed.

Is everything okay here?

Amanda spun around, and there stood Clay.

"No, everything is not okay." She looked at both men with a sick feeling and walked away—then more or less ran away.

Amanda was almost to the door when Gail caught up with her. Where are you going?

Didn’t you see who was here? Bradley! I can’t believe it. It’s been fourteen years! Why couldn’t it have been fourteen more? Amanda said as she turned to her sister, who opened her arms to her for a hug.

Amanda, are you all right? Well, that was dumb. I know you’re not. Was that guy giving you problems? Clay asked, walking toward her.

No, I’m not. I need to go to the RV and check on my dogs, she said, wiping tears from her cheeks. I’ll see you after while, Amanda stated as she hurried away.

Thanks for coming to her aid, Gail sighed.

She caught my runaway dog. It’s the least I can do, he said watching Amanda walk away.

Her ex-fiancé was not a good situation back then, and now he turns up after fourteen years, Gail said. This has been a bad week with a lot of bad memories and then this. I’d better go check on her. Thanks.

Clay watched as Gail walked away, then he turned and headed back inside.

Chapter 2

Inside the RV, Gail found Amanda curled up on the bed with Joey lying next to her, consoling her as she stroked his soft velvet ears.

Why now? Amanda sobbed. Why would he show up now?

Yeah, and why here? Gail asked. Who knows? He probably finally felt remorse for leaving after the baby disappeared.

I don’t know about that. I just don’t know. But I have to get around this, Amanda sighed, giving the big floppy dog a hug, At least I know you won’t leave me, she said as Joey gave her a big sloppy