drew something out of her pocket. She unwrapped it and the mint scent drifted to Arabella. Arabella licked her chops. Ah sweet! A peppermint just for me! Pearl held it up. Arabella still sitting, sat up, curled her paws in to make the pose sitting pretty. Pearl smiled and gave the treat to her dog. Arabella munched on it while Pearl disappeared into the barn to tack up her bay light draft horse. The horse was a gift from her father. The gelding whinnied hello before Pearl stroked his forehead. Pearl brushed him down before tacking him up. Arabella waited next to the entrance as Pearl came out and mounted up. She started the horse into a walk and Arabella followed along as the three retreated to what Pearl had written in her diary, "Safe Haven".

The gelding grazed from the fresh, young grass and Arabella rested near by the stream. Pearl was picking the young wildflowers for her mother. Arabella sighed as her eyes gathered in the beauty of Safe Haven. She promised herself if she had pups she would bring them to enjoy the simple beauty of Safe Haven. Pearl had gathered enough flowers to make a small bundle. She withdrew sky blue ribbon from her pocket and tied it around the bundle to keep it together. Holding the flowers close to her, Pearl mounted back up. She gave a short then long whistle. The call to go home. Arabella got to her feet and again followed alongside Pearl's steed.

***

"Oh Pearl these flowers are beautiful!" Carol spoke before hugging her daughter. Pearl smiled. Arabella was resting in front of the fireplace while Pearl was out taking care of her horse. Carol was in the kitchen finishing up on making supper. Suddenly, a sound awoke her. Arabella got to her feet and walked to the kitchen door then nudged it open. Carol was hunched over the counter having a coughing fit. Arabella whimpered before coming closer. Carol was silent as she was regaining her breath. She turned her head to face the loyal dog. "Come here girl." Arabella came closer for Carol to stroke her. "I'm going to be fine girl." Arabella sniffed the napkin in Carol's hand. It was bitter smelling. It was blood. Arabella whimpered.

"You're not going to be fine." Arabella thought.

Later in the night, Arabella was sleeping downstairs by the fireplace. The coals still warm providing her heat. She heard the coughing again from Carol. How could Pearl not hear her mother coughing? Arabella got to her feet and headed upstairs, creeping quietly. Once to Pearl's door, she nudged it open and at once leaped onto Pearl's bed. Her landing startled Pearl and the human quickly turned the lamp on by her bedside. Pearl looked at Arabella, glaring at her about waking her up. Then she heard the coughing. Pearl threw back the covers, scattering Arabella from the bed and went into the hall following Arabella. At Carol's door, Pearl opened the door slowly to find her mother hunched over, her back rattling from her coughing. Pearl sat beside her mother. "I just need a glass of water." Carol voice was weak. Pearl nodded and quick brought a glass up to her mother. Arabella sat by the door, ears to the side and tears at the brim.

The next morning, Pearl headed off to school and Arabella left home with Carol. Arabella sighed as Carol had another coughing fit. She would have been in the mother's room but Carol did not allow the dog in her room. "Not on my watch Carol." Arabella headed out through the screen door and under the fence into the alley. Hopefully, Carol's brother would be home.

"I'm coming! Keep your reins tight." The brother opened the door to see Arabella sitting on the porch. He smiled. "Well hello Arabella." He went to pet her but Arabella whimpered, lied on her stomach then moaned. He looked concerned. Arabella went to her feet, hopped off the porch and walked a ways a way. Once in a spot, she walked in place. The uncle thought about it for a while before Arabella came closer to him and tugged his coat sleeve. "Alright.... I'll follow." He closed the door behind him and followed Arabella back to her home.

Once inside, Carol's brother heard Carol having another coughing fit. "Stay here girl." The brother headed upstairs while Arabella waited patiently. A few minutes later, he came back downstairs and walked into the kitchen with a brisk step. Arabella heard the phone being dialed. "Hello. May I speak with Dr. Jenkins?" Arabella whimpered as she lowered her head. He came back out of the kitchen and stood for a while looking out into space. She walked closer to him and nuzzled his large hand. He stroked the top of her head. "Good girl Arabella. Why don't you go out and play?" He spoke without looking at her. Arabella slowly nudged the back screen door open when the uncle went back upstairs. As she was outside, wondering what was to happen next, a bird's cry alerted her. She looked to the sky to see a lone magpie. Arabella gasped before growling. "Not a lone magpie!" She knew a lone magpie was bad luck.

***

Arabella had been out sunning herself and had fallen asleep. Wailing slashed the air startling her awake. Arabella shook herself awake before bolting to the house. She had to find out what had caused the dreadful wailing. Arabella whined as she nudged the screen open. Arabella trotted briskly through the kitchen and into the living room where on the floor, curled up crying was Pearl. Dr. Jenkins and Pearl's  uncle tried to comfort her but she pushed them away. The sense of confusion, pain, and grief were strong. Arabella whimpered. Pearl's teary eyes looked up at her dog. Arabella came closer to her master. She started to lick the girl's cheek. Pearl choked back her sob but was unsuccessful. Her arms wrapped around her loyal dog and cried into her neck. Arabella laid her head on Pearl's shaking shoulder, sorrow sweeping through her whole body.

   ***

Late into the night, Arabella could not sleep. She thought of the troubles and was unsure how to deal with it. Arabella raised her head as she heard music come from Pearl's room. The crossbreed stood and crept quietly closer to the stairs then stood there waiting. The strange hum was heard again. She then remembered that Pearl when sad was often found, playing her uncle's harmonica. Music gave the girl much comfort. Arabella sighed before returning to her spot by the fireplace. But Arabella didn't want to hear the tune of it tonight, she wanted to hear comforting words. She stood and trotted to the screen door slowly. Once outside, Arabella realized that at midnight who would be awake to give her comfort. What fool would be walking around at night when they could be fast asleep? She would be that fool. She sighed and without another thought, started for the boiler room to be left alone with her thoughts.

Arabella laid, soaking in the warmth but feeling cold and numb. She tried to rid her sorrow but those thoughts kept returning. A tear rolled down her cheek from her dark blue eye. Her light blue eye soon shed a tear to follow. "I need to find a way to get Carol's fight back. To make her well again. I need to bring Pearl out of her deep realm. But how?" Arabella sat up and threw her head back to let a sad song flow from her throat. "But how!" She screamed before collapsing to the floor, crying for her human family.

"Arabella? Are you alright?"

To be continued...

Arabella- Mine

Saimar- Iditarod