The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart Read Online Free

of fur or strange footprints. But he was now very sure that she had left the house on her own, and that no one had been with her.
    In the distance, he saw the bloodhounds investigating the water’s edge. The bloodhounds were as perplexed as Lionel. They paced the river and pawed at the dirt.
    When the police returned to the house, Lionel climbed from the bed and pressed his ear to the vent in the floor. He heard Mrs. Mannerd saying, “Not like her, not at all.”
    â€œThese types of children run away sometimes, ma’am. They always turn up.” The policeman’s voice was like a growling dog. Lionel could imagine his yellowed teeth, could smell his hot breath.
    â€œI know my children,” Mrs. Mannerd said, still squawking like a frightened bird. “Marybeth wouldn’t run away. Not her.”
    â€œDoes she have any family? Any relations she may have been in contact with?”
    â€œThe girl lost her mother when she was born, and herfather died of tuberculosis in a sanatorium four—n-no—five, it was five years ago now. She’s been with us since then.”
    It was the first time Lionel had ever heard Marybeth’s story. She had arrived at the little red house one soft, snowy afternoon without explanation, as if she had fallen from the sky.
    More muffled words were spoken downstairs, and then the police had gone.
    Mrs. Mannerd came upstairs with a bowl of potato stew and a slice of bread, which she set on the floor before Lionel. She sat on the floor across from him, groaning as she eased herself onto the boards.
    Lionel hugged his knees and watched her. She still looked worried, which perplexed him. Since Mr. Mannerd’s passing, Mrs. Mannerd spent a great deal of time griping about all the mouths she was left to feed alone, all the footprints she had to wipe, the banging on the bathroom door when the bathwater had been running for too long. Lionel did not expect that she would care especially that one of her charges was missing.
    â€œListen to me,” she said. “I didn’t want to lock you in this room, but I can’t have you out there looking for her. The police will look for her instead. You understand that, don’t you? If there’s something dangerous out there, I want you in here so you don’t get hurt.”
    â€œThe animals won’t hurt me,” Lionel said. They never had. He had even begun to earn the trust of the coyotes. They didn’t come out for him yet, but he could feel them watching him when he crept out on the nights he was able to steal some meat from the refrigerator.
    â€œI’m not talking about the animals,” Mrs. Mannerd said, and her eyes turned watery and she clasped her hand over her mouth, as if she could stuff the words back onto her tongue and swallow them down.
    But it was too late for that. Lionel already understood. He could make the chickens lay eggs and he could reason with the most stubborn of foxes. But he had learned years ago that humans were more dangerous than the things that stalked about in the wilderness.

CHAPTER
    4
    The sun had begun to set when the policeman knocked on the door. Mrs. Mannerd was scolding the older ones about their squabbling as she made her way to the door. When she opened it, the smell of baked beans and boiled potatoes wafted out into the chilly air.
    Marybeth stood at the policeman’s side, lilting sleepily and wearing a wool blanket over her slicker. Her hair was tangled and full of bits of leaves.
    Mrs. Mannerd let out a cry.
    â€œA woman up the road found her sleeping in their barn this afternoon. Would have returned her sooner, but she wouldn’t tell us where she lived.”
    â€œMarybeth!” Mrs. Mannerd said, and knelt before her. “Why on earth not?”
    â€œI couldn’t remember,” Marybeth said.
    â€œCome in, come in, before you freeze. I can’t thank you enough, Officer, really.”
    Mrs. Mannerd and the policeman were