Later that night, I sat alone in front of the TV without watching. I was still mad about this afternoon. Prater and his stupid wristband. I should never have given it back to him after what he did. The phone rang in the other room, and I heard Dad pick it up. After a few seconds, he raised his voice and sounded angry. I wished people would leave him alone about the air force. My thoughts drifted back to Prater and his guns. He probably pictured himself as a gunslinger—or a cowboy with his horses.
I heard Dad put the phone down hard. He came into the living room and he didn’t look happy.
“Joshua.” He snapped off the television and sat on the chair next to the couch. Leaning forward, he pressed his right fist into his other hand. “I just got off the phone with Bruce Prater.”
My back shot up ramrod straight.
“He says you threatened his son—”
“What?”
“You sicced the dog on Alan.”
“No way! He’s lying! He pulled a gun on me!” My whole body tightened. I rushed into the story about the fort and finding the wristband and going over there to confront Prater. “He pushed me, so Jack growled at him, that’s what happened.”
Dad stared at me. “And then he pointed the BB gun at Jack.”
My mouth half-open, I nodded quickly.
Lines appeared on Dad’s forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”
I blinked rapidly. I couldn’t believe Prater told his dad. I hadn’t told my dad because I didn’t want more trouble with Prater. “Well, it wasn’t loaded or anything.”
“For all you knew, it was loaded. That kid has no right threatening you like that.” He rose from the chair.
“What are you going to do?” My voice pitched higher than normal.
“I’m going to call his father and let him know what really happened.”
“No!” When he looked at me, I said, “Don’t—it’ll just make things worse between Prater and me.” I stared at him until his posture relaxed and I knew he’d changed his mind.
“I don’t like letting this go,” he said. “Even a BB gun can hurt someone. Is there anything else I should know? Is that all that happened?”
“Yes, sir.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Did you know Alan was mauled by a dog when he was little?”
I nodded.
“That dog almost killed him. Bruce said Alan was in bad shape for a while.” He shook his head. “He also said he might file a report, but I think I talked him out of it.”
My eyes bulged in their sockets. “Jack didn’t do anything! Prater was the one. He pushed me. He’s had it in for us ever since we moved here. Jack was protecting me.”
“Yes, but—”
“Isn’t that why we got him? To protect me?” I shouted.
Dad’s jaw tensed. He shifted in the chair. “It’s not really working out the way I thought it would.” Before I could protest, Dad held up a hand to stop me. “Look, we’ve had a lot of trouble with Jack. If anything else happens …” He shook his head.
“What?” I said, fear flowing in my blood. “If anything else happens, what?”
Dad looked at me with a sad expression.
“No!” I roared. “We’re not giving Jack away.”
“Joshua—”
“No!” I yelled as I bounded up the stairs. Jack galloped behind me.
I slammed the door and fell onto the bed. Jack hopped up and licked my cheek. Everything was closing in on me. The only safe place was with Jack. I lay there, my thoughts racing, until I heard a car roll up our driveway. My heart struck a hard beat. Prater’s dad couldn’t have called someone already.
I jumped to the window and saw a guy getting out of his car. The tightness in my chest eased up. It was just Mark.
“Don’t worry, boy,” I said as I turned from the window to Jack. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”