Mavis explained her perfect plan to Rose. They would go on back into the woods behind Amanda’s house. They’d scatter the food around to lure Henry out of hiding. Then they’d use this rope for a leash and take Henry up to the gatehouse. Mr. Duffy would be so surprised! He would fall in love with Henry in no time flat.
Rose nodded.
Mavis put one of the tiny quiches beside a pine tree.
She put a slice of roast beef on a moss-covered log.
And she put some of the liver pâté by a clump of ferns.
“We should save the rest in case we need more,” she said.
She motioned for Rose to come sit beside her in the damp leaves along the path.
Then they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Just when Mavis was going to suggest that they go to another spot, a dog’s long thin white nose appeared from behind a shrub.
The nose was sniffing.
Next, a dog’s brown and white head appeared.
Henry’s head.
He looked at Rose and Mavis.
His nose kept sniffing.
He hurried to the moss-covered log and gobbled up the roast beef.
Then the liver pâté by the ferns.
Then the quiche beside the pine tree.
Then he walked right over to Rose and Mavis and sat down.
“Hey, Henry,” Mavis said softly. She ran her hand gently over the top of his head. “Look what I have.”
She opened the plastic bag in her lap and showed Henry the food inside. Then she took out another one of those quiches and held it in the palm of her hand.
Henry snatched it off and swallowed it in one big gulp.
Then Mavis made her move. She dropped the rope with the perfect slipknot over his head.
Henry flinched and then pulled, causing the rope to tighten. At first he looked so scared that Mavis felt bad.
She quickly began to comfort him, telling him what a good boy he was and rubbing his sides. Then she gave him a piece of roast beef and was glad to see that he looked calmer. He stopped pulling on the rope and sat between Rose and Mavis and ate the rest of the roast beef and even the tomato aspic right out of the plastic bag.
After the food was gone, he lay down, put his head on his paws, and let out a doggy sigh.
“Aw, he’s so sweet,” Rose said.
“I know.” Mavis grinned at Rose. “We did it!”
Then they did their special handshake, slapping, snapping, and fist-bumping.
“Come on,” Mavis said. “Let’s take him to Mr. Duffy.”