Guess what!  I moved!  I am now the proud renter of a beautiful four bedroom, two-story house.  You should come out and see it.  There is a barn, pasture, garage, trees, garden space, and even a doghouse.  Want to know how I'm going to afford it?  I take care of the horses for the owner!  I would have to pay three times as much normally.
   I never dreamed growing up around horses would pay off like this.  I just feed them twice a day, put them in the barn for bad weather, and call the vet and the farrier as needed.  I can even ride anytime I want to.
   I still don't have a regular man in my life, but a friend of Mr. Stevens is always trying to get me to go out with him.  Of course that wouldn't be very good for my career.  If Mr. White was to decide I wasn't worth the trouble, Mr. Stevens might be influenced in the status of my employment.
   I'm thinking about getting rid of The Tank and getting a smaller car.  I'm thirty minutes from work now, and that gas guzzler is eating me out of my dinner.  I saw a nice little foreign model at a car lot downtown and I'm going to check on it at lunch tomorrow.
   Oh, I almost forgot!  I got a raise!  Can you believe that tightwad raised me $50 a week?  That's why I'm considering a new used car.  The Tank would probably take care of the down payment and then I'd just have to make the notes.
   Well, time to feed my charges.  I love you and hope to see you soon.

XXXX
Bobbi
 

Sunday, May 15

   I've been so busy, I haven't had time to write.  As you'll notice, I've moved.  No more match box apartment for me!  Five acres, horses, four bedrooms, and a garden.  Great, huh?  When the semester is over, you need to come see me.  I promise you won't have to sleep on the couch.
   I got a raise and a new car, too.  A new used car, anyway.  We'll be able to see some sights while you're here.
   Remember Mr. Harris in tenth grade math?  We were both so nuts about him.  Well, my boss has a friend who looks and acts just like him.  He's asked me out three times now, and I'm running out of excuses.  I don't dare go out with him because he's such a good friend of Mr. Stevens.
   Mother says for me to say ‘Hi!’ and she hasn't moved and wishes you would write.  The hobby shop turned out to be a good investment and she's getting ready to take cruise.  I can't imagine Mother on a single's cruise in the Caribbean.
   I may be able to get you a temporary position this summer when the company does its inventory.  If you're interested, let me know right away.  If not, be my guest for a couple of weeks anyway.
   Signing off now,

Love
Bobbi
 

Wednesday, May 18

   I had a talk with Mr. Stevens today about Mr. White. He said that if I wanted to date him, it would be okay.  He wouldn't let that influence my position.  I can't believe it.  Jim White is absolutely gorgeous!  I don't know what he could possibly see in me, but I hope I don't disappoint him.  The man must be loaded.
   The horses were acting up again tonight.  They were all crowded against the gate wanting in the barn, so I put them up.   I missed the weather last night, so I thought they might have smelled a storm coming.  It didn't rain though, and it isn't supposed to rain tonight.  I never saw horses act that way before.
   I hope Janet will spend the summer with me, I miss her as much as I miss Mother.
   I hadn't noticed before how spooky this house can get.  Last night I got the jitters for the first time in seven years.  The last time was when Janet brought the Ouija Board out at that slumber party in the eighth grade.
   I finally got out of the bed and turned on the bathroom light.  It didn't completely calm me, but it drove away the spooks.  Now I'm getting skittish again, I guess I’ll sleep with a light in my eyes.
 

Monday, May 23

   Good news!  Jim asked me out Friday night!  I finally got to say yes.  I was wondering if maybe he had given up.  I went shopping today and bought a beautiful red silk dress.  Of course I had to get shoes and a purse to go with it.  It cost a small fortune, but I've saving up for dress clothes anyway.
   The horses haven't been mobbing the barn any more and my jitters went away, too.  I guess their nerves were in sync with mine.
   Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth are coming up this weekend to ride.  I hope that they don't mind that I've moved things around.  They're going to stay in town at the hotel.  I was going to go to the dog pound and pick out a friend Saturday, but I think I’ll wait until the Wentworths go home.  Rich people make me nervous.  I wish they had called before tonight, I could have put Jim off until next week.
 

Thursday, May 26

   I have been a nervous wreck all week!  Jim asking me out for tomorrow and the Wentworths coming up Saturday are too much.
   I had my hair done today, it's a little short and curly all over.  I also had it tinted a little.  I don't think it's that noticeable.  I hope not, anyway.
   The horses acted up again last night.  I heard dogs howling and growling, so I locked them up and called the pound today to complain.  They told me that all the people in this area have been having trouble lately.  One lady lost over thirty chickens Sunday night.  She lives about ten miles from here.
   Janet says she'd love to spend the summer and Mr. Stevens is going to hire her!  I won't see much of her at work, but we'll be able to eat lunch together and she said she'd go halves on the bills.  She's supposed to be at the bus station on the ninth.
 

Saturday, May 28

   You won't believe this one.  I went out with the mr. White I mentioned in my last letter.  It was fantastic!  We went to a nice supper club in Westchester and danced ‘'til two.  Great!  He's thirty-four, a head taller than me, dark headed, big sad brown eyes and good looking.  Mr. Stevens said if it didn't work out, he wouldn't let it interfere with the best assistant he ever had.  Jim )Mr. white) said he would call me tomorrow to set up a horseback riding date next weekend.
   My landlords came in this weekend.  They were out riding all day.  Mrs. Wentworth said she loved all the changes I've made in the house.  I told her about my flower garden and she said it sounded beautiful.
   Remember when you called the other day, and I said I wanted to get a puppy?  Well, I got two.  Gruff is a baby Collie.  He's so pretty.  His mother was a purebred and his daddy was mostly fence jumper.  Sir Barksalot is a great big short haired mutt.  His owners had to get rid of him because he barks at everything and his neighbors complained.  He's got big sad brown eyes, too.
   Janet is going to spend the summer with me.  I'm so excited, I'm counting the days.  I've really missed her.  I got her letter right after I talked to you.  She'll be here the ninth.  Do you think you could come down here that weekend?  We could have a great picnic-horseback ride.  It would be like old times.
   I've been decorating the bedrooms.  Janet's is all pink with burgundy accents - she'll love it.  I'm saving yours for a surprise.
   I have vacation time in September, so if your vacation works out, I'm going to copy it.  I'd love to sail the Caribbean.
   Call let me know about the weekend, I'd really love it.

XXXX
Bobbi
 

Sunday, May 29

   You got the job and I can't wait.  I wrote Mother and invited her to spend that weekend with us.
   I got the courage to talk to Mr. Stevens about Jim White, he gave the go-ahead and I went with Jim Friday night.  He's fabulous!  We’re going riding this Sunday.  I invited him Friday, and he just called and confirmed it.  You’ve got to meet him.
   I went and got two dogs yesterday.  I was going to wait until next Saturday, but the people who own the place came up for a ride yesterday and Mr. Wentworth suggested I go get a dog because something has been scaring the horses.  I got mixed collie pup named Gruff and Sir Barksalot.  He's a big liver colored dog.  He's been trained in obedience school and he's really nice.  He gets to stay in the bedroom with me, but Gruff is confined to the kitchen until he learns how to ask to go outside.
   Call me collect when you leave so I’ll be ready to come get you.  I've fixed your room up and I hope you like it.  Mother’s is done in royal blue.  It has a huge covered bed - not a canopy, but like curtains hung from the ceiling.  I remember she always wanted a bed a like that.  Now she can sleep in her ‘dream bed’.
   Well, enough is enough.  Have a safe trip.

Bobbi
 
 

Wednesday, June 1

   I called the dog pound again.  I don't know what’s going on, but this morning there were dog tracks all over my flower bed.  All my baby flowers are trampled.  Barky woke me up, but I didn't let him out, he wouldn't go downstairs.  Gruff was crying pitifully, so I went and got him and let him sleep with Barky.
   Jim came by the office today and said he's going to bring the picnic basket Sunday.  I was still on my lunch break, so we talked a few minutes and I told him about Mom and Janet.  He said he’d like to join us on our picnic the next Saturday.
   Mr. Wentworth called me at the office today and asked about the horses.  I told him what’s been happening.  He offered to hire a man to stay in the barn, but I told him so far they haven't been hurt, just scared.
   I am so excited about Janet being here next week.  I just hope we figure out what’s going on.  Big dogs scare her bad enough without prowling around the house.
 

Friday, June 3

   I splurged again today and bought some new jeans and a pretty red shirt. I also got a bandanna and some boots.  Trying to not feel guilty about buying clothes is almost impossible.  I want to look good Sunday, though, so - what the heck.
   Gruff is getting the idea about going outside, but he won't go out after dark.  He still cries some nights and I have to go get him.  Barky is a gentleman.  He has finally accepted me and watches out for me.  This evening, he even helped me with the horses by rounding them up and herding them into the barn, although they would have gone in there faster without him.
   There was an article in the paper this morning about a guy just four miles from here that found four of his sheep dead and ‘half eaten’ yesterday.  The sheriff’s department and the health department are supposed to keep watch for the next few nights and see if they can catch the dog that is doing it.

Sunday, June 6

   There were more prints around the house this morning and Barky kept me up most of the night barking.  I didn't hear any dogs outside, but there must have been at least three.  There was a large set of prints, a smaller set, and set with a toe missing.
   My ride this afternoon was wonderful.  Jim is very entertaining.  When we got to our picnic spot, he pulled out the ever faithful romantic fare; wine, bread, and cheese - even some cherry pie.  We talked for a long time and I found out that his parents live in Minnesota where he was raised.
   He comes from a large, competitive family which he says is responsible for him being successful so soon in life.
   He owns an up and coming publishing company, a house in town, and is looking for a place to buy up on the lake.
   I got out in the car yesterday and measured the miles up to the lake.  I wanted to ride up there, but it's seven miles and I'm afraid Janet and Mother would be sore Sunday if we rode that far.
   Janet will be here Thursday and I can't wait.  I got both bedrooms finished this afternoon.  Mother will be in late Friday night.
 

Wednesday, June 8

   I pick up Janet at the bus stop at 8:30 in the morning.  Mr. Stevens said I could go get her and take her to the house, but I think I'm just going to let her take my car.  She starts work Monday.
   Look at this mess, Diary, I'm so excited my thoughts aren’t even clear.
   No dogs last night and I haven't seen anything in the paper except that the officials called off their watch.  I hope the darned things stay away, it's getting very nerve wracking.

Friday, June 10

   I was so excited, I forgot to write yesterday.  I picked up Janet and she spent the day in town.  When we got home, I introduced her to Barky and I think she'll get used to him soon.  That dog scare we had ten years ago still has her afraid of them, and I'm the one that got bit.  She loves Gruff.
   Mother made it down, but of all things - she ran over a dog out on the highway.  She went back, but the dog was dead so she just pulled it off the road.  She was very upset about the whole thing.
   We decided to go ahead and take picnic lunch to the lake tomorrow.  There’s a really nice park up there that allows horses and we can go swimming.  Jim called and said he’ll be here at 9:00, he's bringing gifts for Janet and Mother.
   Billy called a few minutes ago to make sure that Mother made it safely.  I wish we could keep in touch more, but he always seems so different.  Mother said he and Linda are expecting a baby in march.  I’ll be an aunt!
 

June 11, 19XX
Edgetown Police Department
Edgetown, Vermont

   Witness was questioned.  I hereby swear that this is a true and accurate transcription of her recorded statement.

Philip Montrose
Police Chief
Edgetown Police Department
 

   “We all decided to ride up to the lake for a picnic and swim.  Janet had come to spend her summer break from college.  I even got her a job where I work.
 Mother came up to spend the weekend because it had been so long since we were all together.  Janet and I were best friends all our lives.
   Jim White and I had been dating and he wanted to meet mother, so I invited him along too.
   We rode up to the lake and swan for a while then ate lunch.  Jim had some presents for Mother and Janet, so we gave those to them.  We sat around and talked too long and it was already getting dark when we started back.  Maybe if we had left sooner... (Miss Williams cried at this point. P.M.)
   I'm sorry.  I don't know if I can go on.  Could I have some more water?  Thank you.
 We didn't see anything at all.  The horses started spooking, especially Janet's, so I told her to trade with me, but she wouldn't.  Jim said maybe we should cut across that big field up there between the lake and the highway.  That would cut out a couple of miles, so we tried it.
   We got about halfway across and the horses really started acting up.  We came to that stand of trees that sits in the middle of the field and Janet's horse pitched her off and ran.  I got Janet up behind me and Jim took off for the other horse.  We rode a little way and that’s when we heard all the commotion.
   The horses were screaming and neighing and I thought I heard Jim cry for help.  We kicked the horses and ran on.  the mare was down and her throat....  We didn't see Jim.  Mother called for him, and Janet started crying - she had been riding the mare.  I got her on Jim’s gelding and told her and Mother to stay put.  I started riding circles to find Jim.  I called and called, but got no answer.  I didn't want to leave him, so I told Mother to take Janet back to the house and call the sheriff.
   I kept riding and calling for about thirty minutes, then my horse started dancing and snorting.  I made about half a circle back to the mare and the horse stumbled over something.  (At this point Miss Williams became hysterical and was unable to talk for about twenty minutes.  P.M.)
   Where was I?....  Yes., I got off the horse.  It was really dark by then and I didn't realize it was Jim until I touched him.  He was so bloody.  I couldn’t....  I had to go....  I got sick and got back on the horse and galloped all the way home.  I know that’s foolish - to gallop in the dark, but I was so scared.
   I'm sorry?  Yes.  Oh, yes, I saw the wounds.  His throat... it was gone.  His stomach was torn open, too.
   When I got to the house, the horses were in the barn, but they were still saddled.  I left my horse and was wondering why the police were taking so long.  I hadn't heard them either.  (Miss Williams cried again.  P.M.)
   The only lights on were the porch and the living room.  My big dog was on the porch.  There wasn’t much left of him, there were two other dogs there, too.  They were both dead.
   Mother...was in the hallway, I can't....  She looked so small.  I just asked her for the weekend.  She was hurt so badly.  I screamed then and tried to pick her up.  I got her onto the couch.  She was...dead.
   I called you then.  I found Janet in Mother’s bed.  She wasn’t hurt so bad, but I couldn’t get her to wake up.  I pulled the curtains around her and shut the door to the room.  When I turned, there was a big German Shepherd standing at the top of the stairs.  I froze for a minute and then tried to open the door again, but it was locked.
   I ran to my room with that beast right on my heels.  Within seconds, it sounded like ten or twelve dogs scratching and banging on the door.  I don't know why I didn't stay there, all I could think of was to get back to Mother.  I didn't want them to hurt her anymore.
   I crawled out my window onto the roof of the porch and climbed down the tree.  I could still hear the dogs upstairs.  I tried to get Mother off the couch, but they heard me.  I ran out to my car and got in.  The dogs kept trying to get at me, then I saw Gruff back out onto the porch.  The puppy.
   I couldn’t believe it.  He's only three months old.  I just couldn’t let him get hurt.  I started honking the horn and flashing the lights.  The dogs ran away for a few seconds and I jumped out and grabbed Gruff.  That's when that big shepherd bit my leg.
   He wouldn't let go.  He just kept biting and shaking.  I had the door shut against my leg so the other dogs couldn’t get in, but I could feel that dog ripping my leg up.
   That's when all of you showed up.  Could I go see Janet now?  If only I had told them about the dogs.  Did you find out why they did it?”
 

Thursday, July 12

   It’s been a month.  I tried to write, but couldn’t.
   Janet got out of the hospital yesterday.  The doctors said she'll need intense therapy for a while, but she is functioning again.  I'm going to see her tomorrow.  She didn't want to stay here.  She's at home with her father,.
   My leg is getting better, I'm hoping the limp will go away.  It’s hard to keep up with Gruff when he wants to run.  That little rascal has forgotten all about it.
   Jim’s parents came to see me in the hospital.  Mrs. White told me that Jim had been wanting to bring me up to meet them.  She tried to cheer me up.  Said I couldn’t have known.  I wonder if maybe I just didn't want my weekend to be spoiled.  Maybe I was being selfish.
   The sheriff told me that sometimes dogs will pack up like that.  Some farm dogs get bored and start packing to chase deer and things.  Occasionally they get out of hand and attack livestock.  There have only been two other cases of packing dogs attacking people.  Most of these dogs had rabies tags on.  They were all pets.  The owners were notified and ticketed.
   The sheriff also said that all the owners denied that their dogs would do something like this.
   I can't say anything about Mother yet.  I miss her.