Dog Days

by Carol Cox

  “That ought to set a nice tone when people arrive,” Livvy said.

  “Nothin’ says welcome like something from the kitchen,” LuAnne agreed.

  Kate peeked in the oven to check the progress of her latest batch, then she closed the door to give it a few more minutes.

  LuAnne wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe you’re making cookies for the dogs too.”

  Kate felt her face flame and hoped her friends would attribute her pink cheeks to the heat from the oven. Even she wondered if she might be going a little over the top with that idea. Maybe Renee was rubbing off on her.

  “I came across the recipe in that dog magazine, and I figured this would be the perfect time to give it a try.” She set bone-shaped pieces of dough onto a cookie sheet, ready to pop into the oven when the first batch of doggie treats was finished.

  “I know it seems crazy to heat up the house like this when the weather is so miserable, but this baking frenzy has been therapeutic for me. I’ve been so concerned the past few weeks about Kisses and Renee. Now that Kisses is home again, I needed to do something to use up my excess energy.”

  LuAnne surveyed the profusion of baked goodies. “From the looks of things, you’ve burned up plenty of energy today. You’d better conserve a little bit for Saturday.”

  “Have you heard any more about the guy who took Kisses?” Livvy asked.

  “Not yet. Daniel is really a nice young man, in spite of what he did. I hope he doesn’t get in too much trouble over it.”

  LuAnne snorted. “After all the heartache he caused Renee?”

  “I know. I felt that way too, at first.” Kate pushed damp strands of hair off her forehead with the back of her hand. “After I overheard what he said in Paul’s office and had a pretty good idea he was the dognapper, and after dealing with the Murphys, I assumed his wife might be in on it too. I started out to their house loaded for bear. But once I met his family and found out why he took the tote, I saw things a little differently. In a way, what he did was rather sweet. Inexcusable, but sweet.”

  She opened the oven door again to check on the doggie treats.

  LuAnne sniffed and gave Kate a suspicious glance. “What did you put in those things?”

  “Wheat germ, powdered milk, brewer’s yeast, and pureed liver. It sounded very healthy.”

  LuAnne exchanged a long look with Livvy. “Remind me not to try any of those by mistake.”

  “No problem,” Livvy deadpanned. “Just make sure you don’t reach for anything that’s shaped like a bone.”

  The doorbell sounded.

  “Would one of you mind getting that?” Kate asked as she donned her oven mitt.

  While Livvy went off to answer the door, Kate pulled the doggie treats out of the oven.

  Livvy returned with Renee and Kisses in tow.

  Kate slid the bone-shaped morsels onto a cooling rack and walked over to rub her finger behind Kisses’ ears.

  He looked up and gave her a doggie grin.

  “How’s the prodigal pooch?” LuAnne asked.

  Renee drew herself up. “I would remind you that the prodigal son left home of his own accord. In Kisses’ case, it was hardly by choice.”

  Then she dropped her show of pique and looked down at Kisses as if she still couldn’t believe he was back with her again.

  “He’s doing fine. I had Dr. Milt give Kisses a thorough examination on Tuesday just to make sure he hadn’t suffered any ill effects from being abducted.”

  “He must be quite a resilient little guy,” Livvy said.

  Renee nodded happily. “In fact, Dr. Milt told me on Tuesday that Kisses is in even better condition than at his last checkup. He said the same thing when we saw him again this afternoon.”

  Renee narrowed her eyes down to slits, then she waved her hand. “Surely he was exaggerating.”

  “So why did you go back today, if everything was fine?” LuAnne asked.

  “I’m worried about him.” Renee lifted Kisses and rubbed her cheek against the top of his head. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel that something is wrong.”

  Kate studied the little dog. “Like what?”

  “He just isn’t acting like himself. His appetite seems to have changed, for one thing. I fixed him his usual ground meat, garlic, and onions, and he hardly touched it. He took a few bites, then he backed away and turned up his nose at the rest.”

  “Let’s see what he thinks about these.” LuAnne reached over and snagged one of the bone-shaped doggie treats. Breaking off a corner, she held it on her palm and offered it to Kisses.

  He sniffed at it tentatively, then reached out and gobbled it up. He smacked his tongue and sniffed LuAnne’s hand as if looking for more.

  “See there?” Renee’s voice wobbled. “That isn’t anything like his usual fare at all. And yesterday, I found him digging into a bag of trash I had sitting out ready to take to the curb for collection.”

  Worry lines creased her forehead. “He’d torn a hole in the side of the bag and had his head wedged inside the hole. He was...rooting around in the trash like a common mongrel.”

  Her voice caught. “I’m wondering if he’s had some sort of psychological trauma.”

  Kate bit her lip and turned as if to put the oven mitt away so the others wouldn’t see the merriment on her face. Maybe she should suggest Renee go buy a bag of the cheapest dog food SuperMart had to offer.

  Then again, maybe not.

  She smoothed her face into a compassionate expression. “Give him a few days. I’m sure he’ll return to his normal, happy self in no time.

  “Are you still planning for him to compete in the show?” Kate asked.

  The older woman beamed. “I am indeed. Physically, he’s fine, and he looks absolutely beautiful. I’m sure he’ll do very well.”

  Kate couldn’t help but notice that Renee had toned down her earlier predictions of victory.

  Kate handed Kisses another treat. “I’m sure he’ll have a fine time,” she told Renee. “It should be a lovely day.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Where’s that pin brush?” “I’ll be with you in a minute.” Kate pulled a coiled extension cord from under the hospitality table.

  “I need the brush now.” A stocky, red-faced woman planted her hands on the table and leaned across it toward Kate. “My shih tzu’s class will be coming up soon.”

  Kate pushed the extension cord toward the woman and pulled the lid off the plastic crate at her feet.

  Velma Hopkins had brought the crate by while Kate was arranging refreshments on the hospitality table early that morning. “This is our just-in-case box,” Velma had informed Kate. “Brushes, combs, palm pads, lint rollers, that sort of thing. There’s always someone who arrives at the show without some bit of equipment they need, and then it becomes an emergency.”

  The woman standing in front of Kate let out an impatient huff.

  Kate lowered herself gingerly on her arthritic knee and scrabbled through the jumble in the crate, realizing that over the course of the day, it had been nearly emptied of its supplies.

  “We need more bottled water for the judges,” an official near the ring shouted.

  Kate pulled out a wooden-handled brush that reminded her of a pin cushion and held it up. “Is this what you’re looking for?”

  The woman grabbed it and took off without a word of thanks.

  Kate grimaced as she pushed herself upright and opened a nearby ice chest, also delivered by Velma at the beginning of the day.

  Livvy bustled up to the table. “I took the forced-air dryer to the man with the Newfoundland. What’s next?”

  Kate pulled four ice-cold bottles of spring water from the chest and thrust them into Livvy’s hands. “Take these over to the ring, please. And Livvy?”

  Her friend paused, and Kate reached out to give her a quick hug. “Thanks for volunteering to help. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  Livvy gave her a wink. “Glad to help. Wha
t’s Sherlock without her Watson?”

  “Mrs. Hanlon?”

  Livvy smiled, then trotted off, and Kate turned to see Wilbur Dodson standing before her.

  “Hello, there. What can I do for you?” She had to fight the urge to reach out to tweak his ever-present bow tie back into its usual precise alignment. How anyone could stand to wear a buttoned-up collar in this sweltering heat was beyond her.

  Wilbur stood erect with both hands behind his back. “I’d like to congratulate you. Things seem to be running along quite smoothly, due in large part to your efforts. Thank you...uh...for throwing yourself into the spirit of things in such a...wholehearted way.”

  Kate leaned against the hospitality table, partly from exhaustion and partly to keep from falling over from the shock of his unsolicited compliment. “Thank you. I’m glad my friend and I have been of help.”

  “The refreshments were a very nice touch as well.” Wilbur nodded at the table.

  Kate looked down at the remains of the cookies she had labored over. Over the course of the morning and early afternoon, the plates had been picked as clean as if a horde of locusts had come through. Only crumbs remained.

  Wilbur cleared his throat in the dry, raspy way he used to preface some unpleasant news. “There is one other thing.”

  Kate braced herself. What had she done wrong?

  “The club officers were pleasantly surprised at the turnout we’ve had from pet owners in the area. It has brought fresh interest in the dog show, and we’ve seen a record number of spectators today. We’re very grateful for your urging us to take this course of action.”

  Kate smiled and let herself relax.

  “However...”

  Kate’s tension returned.

  “While the experienced exhibitors are used to cleaning up after their animals, it appears that the same cannot be said of those who aren’t familiar with dog-show etiquette.”

  He nodded toward the show area that had been set up for the unpedigreed animals. “We’ve had several complaints already.

  “We don’t want to create an unpleasant experience for the spectators. Besides, our agreement with the town of Copper Mill stipulates that we’re responsible for leaving the park in the pristine condition in which we found it. If we don’t, we’ll be assessed a substantial cleanup fee.”

  Kate’s shoulders sagged. “Oh dear. I had no idea. Is there anything I can do?”

  “There is indeed.” Wilbur brought his arms out in front of him. Kate looked down, halfway expecting to see Wilbur swing his gavel into action. Instead, she saw a roll of plastic bags in one hand and a pooper-scooper in the other.

  “Here you are, Mrs. Hanlon. Happy scooping.”

  KATE WALKED TOWARD the show area, her cleaning equipment weighing heavy in her hands.

  I don’t know, Lord. Washing feet would be easy compared to this.

  It was one thing to pick up after tiny Kisses when he came to visit “Grandma.” But this was going to be cleanup duty on a larger scale.

  Kate looked around the grassy expanse and could see Wilbur’s point. Okay, a much larger scale.

  She stepped toward the ring to watch the preparations for the costume contest while she geared up mentally for the unpleasant task ahead.

  The show announcer called the names of the first pair of contenders: “Ambrose Lee and his dog, General.”

  Kate joined the crowd in chuckling when a stout man dressed as a Confederate soldier strode into the ring accompanied by a Great Dane in full officer’s regalia, complete with plumed hat.

  The laughter increased as the dogs and their owners continued to parade in, showing a wide range of creativity and humor.

  Among the others, Kate noted a Jack Russell terrier dressed as a pirate, and a little girl decked out as Little Bo Peep with her white poodle portraying a woolly lamb. She smiled when the last entrant came into the ring—a bloodhound dressed as Sherlock Holmes, resplendent in deerstalker hat and flowing cape.

  Kate grinned. She knew which entry she’d be rooting for.

  “A penny for your thoughts,” said a voice behind her.

  Kate turned and gave Paul a weary smile. “I’m not sure you want to know what I’m thinking right now.” She held up both hands.

  Paul noted the scooper and the plastic bags. “How did you wind up with those?”

  Kate made a wry face. “All part of being the hospitality chairman, apparently.”

  “Ouch. I guess with some jobs, the surprises never end. Are you—” Paul broke off, and a pleased smile spread across his face.

  Kate looked over her shoulder and saw Daniel and Crystal Newcomb a few yards away. Crystal was carrying Hannah on one hip and held Grady by the hand. All four of them wore smiles.

  When the group reached the Hanlons, Paul reached out to shake Daniel’s hand. “I didn’t expect to see you here today. What brings you to the dog show?”

  “Shoppin’.” Daniel chuckled at Paul’s startled expression and slipped his arm around Crystal’s shoulder. “That’s part of the reason, anyway. We figured havin’ all these dogs together in one place would give us a good chance to look around and settle on the kind we really want...When we can afford it, of course.”

  Crystal poked her husband in the ribs. “And that doesn’t necessarily mean a coonhound.”

  They all laughed. Paul looked around to make sure no one was standing nearby and lowered his voice. “How did things go with the justice of the peace?”

  “Thirty hours of community service; no jail time.” Daniel’s face looked far more relaxed than the last time Kate had seen him. “I don’t mind puttin’ in the time that way, I’m just glad I didn’t have to leave Crystal and the kids on their own.”

  Kate perked up. “Did you say community service?”

  “Yeah, that’s the other reason I’m here today. I’m supposed to help clean up the grounds after the show.”

  “In that case,” Kate sighed happily and held out both hands. “I hereby bequeath these to you. And if you don’t mind, you can start on this before the end of the show.” She indicated the area with a sweep of her arm. “Believe me, you’ll be doing a service.”

  Paul grinned and shook his head. “Before you get started, I just heard about a job you might want to check out. There’s a campground here in Harrington County that needs a caretaker. Lots of time spent outdoors, a lot of handyman work.

  “There’s a small house on the grounds for the caretaker to live in, so they have someone there to keep an eye on the place even when it isn’t in use. Your family could move into the place, and you’d be working on your own a lot, nobody looking over your shoulder. Are you interested?”

  Daniel looked like he was ready to burst at the seams. “I’ll say. That sounds like it fits me to a T.”

  Crystal’s eyes shone. “And if we lived right where you worked, that would free up the Blazer so I can use it sometimes.”

  “Who do I need to talk to?” Daniel asked.

  “Stop by my office on Monday morning, and I’ll give you the details.”

  “We might just come to church tomorrow. How about if I get it from you then?”

  Paul smiled. “That would be even better.”

  The loudspeaker crackled, and a voice invited spectators and exhibitors to gather at the main show ring for the presentation of a special award.

  “Excuse me,” Kate said. “I need to go see this.”

  Paul and Kate said their good-byes to the Newcombs and walked hand in hand across the grass to the main show area.

  Kate spotted Brenna Phillips’ dark hair through the crowd and waved. Brenna waved back and made her way to where they stood. When she got nearer, Kate could see the small bundle she held in her arms.

  Paul grinned at the dog with the round head and floppy ears. “Hey, I remember this little guy. He looks a lot happier today than the last time I saw him.”

  Brenna held up the tan Chihuahua and beamed like a proud mother.

  “How’s he adjusting to b
eing a part of your family?” Kate asked.

  “Great. Thanks so much for talking my mom into letting me keep him! He’s so small, it hardly costs anything to feed him, so if I work one day a week for Mrs. Blount during the school year, I’ll be able to afford to keep him.”

  “That’s wonderful.” The joy on Brenna’s face sent a warm glow through Kate. “I know how badly you’ve wanted a dog, and I’m so happy he’s found a good home. What’s his name, by the way? Have you picked one yet?”

  “Yeah, his name’s Ringer.” The Chihuahua’s tail wagged furiously, and Brenna laughed. “See? He likes it.”

  “Ringer,” Paul repeated. “That’s an interesting name.”

  The girl giggled. “Everybody kept saying he was a dead ringer for Mrs. Lambert’s dog, so it seemed to fit.”

  “Is everyone having a good time?” Lawton Briddle, flanked by Lucy Mae and Micah, joined the group.

  “It’s been a lovely day,” Kate said. “They’ve had a wonderful turnout, and for the most part, things have run quite smoothly.” It was true, she realized with a sense of accomplishment. Despite all the hectic activity, the event had proven to be a rousing success for Copper Mill. And she had been part of it.

  Lawton looked around, nodding as though he’d been personally responsible for the day’s success. “This will go down as a shining moment in my tenure as mayor. I’m proud to have given it my full support.”

  Behind him, Lucy Mae rolled her eyes.

  Kate caught the shy smile Micah gave Brenna and looked over in time to see a pink flush creep up Brenna’s face.

  She smothered a grin and turned to Lucy Mae. “How did Sir Percival do?”

  “He won Best of Breed.” Lucy Mae’s voice vibrated with pride.

  “That’s wonderful,” Kate replied. “You must be thrilled.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Micah step over next to Brenna. He kept his voice low, but she could make out the words over Paul and Lawton’s conversation about the amount of revenue the show had brought into the community.

  “My mom and stepdad just bought a new house,” Micah was saying. “I’m going back to live with them next week.”