The Appothecary's Daughter

As she knelt to her task, she heard a dog barking outside.  she thought little of it at first, but then the barking grew louder and more fevered. 
"Down, I say!" She heard a man holler in false bravado. "Down!"
She hurried across the shop and unlatched the door, just as a man pushed it open, causing him to nearly topple into the shop, his hat dropping to the floor.  She put out her hand to stop his fall--and to keep the man from falling  into her.


Pg 219  The Apothecary's Daughter  by Julie Klassen