It was a dark and stormy night, but we were safe inside our seaside vacation cabin, tucked in amongst the trees, balanced high on a cliff, overlooking the cove. Or so we thought!
As I drifted off to sleep, I heard a noise outside on the porch. “What was that?” I barked.
“‘Tis the wind and nothing more,” replied Asa.
As the blanket of sleep lifted from my mind, I became more focused to the sounds. “Footsteps!” I cried. “Someone is walking on the porch!”
“‘Tis the wind and nothing more,” Asa replied once again.
My mind raced with the possibilities of who it could be. It couldn’t be someone trying to break into our cabin. A burglar wouldn’t make so much noise. What if it is the moose we were warned about who lives in the woods surrounding the house? Nonsense, a moose is ginormous, and couldn’t possibly fit on our tiny porch, much less pace back and forth on it.
My panting quickened as the footsteps outside continued. I held my breath to listen. If only those wind chimes would stop their maniacal clanging. I can’t hear anything with that noise outside my door! Suddenly the footsteps rushed across the porch, and stopped with a tremendous bang, just inches away from my head on the other side of the wall! “Run!” I barked!
“‘Tis the wind and nothing more,” replied Asa with an annoyed sigh, as he rolled over on his dog bed.
I began to pace. Could it be? No, that is too scary to consider. Could it be a long departed sea captain, finally returning home from his voyage? Or worst yet, what if the storm awoke pirates from their watery graves, and they saw our light? They may think we are trying to steal their treasure hidden in the cove centuries ago. Even a brave dog, such as myself, knows not to mess with pirates. I quietly laid back down next to Asa, and pretended to sleep so as not to attract the attention of our menacing midnight visitors.
I must have fallen asleep on my watch, because I awoke the next morning to the sun shining over the calm waters in the cove, and the wind chimes were singing a happy tune once more. But just to be on the safe side, I sent Asa out to investigate.
“See, Chuck Billy,” he barked, while I waited inside the house. “‘Tis the wind and nothing more that gently moved this rocking chair on the porch last night.”
“Then who moved that chair all the way across the porch and placed it next to the railing?!” I howled.
Asa boldly walked over to inspect the chair, blaming the wind once more. That is until he saw the shadow sitting on the chair!
