by Carol Cox
“A new house? That’s cool.”
“Yeah.” Micah looked at the ground and scuffed his foot. “Would it be okay if I write to you once I get home?”
“Sure.” Brenna shrugged. “That’d be okay.” She gave Micah a mischievous grin. “And I’ll write you back, as long as you stay out of trouble.”
Lawton’s booming voice increased in volume. “The only downside to this whole day is the humidity.” He took out his handkerchief and used it to mop his brow. “I’ve gotten several complaints about it. I kept tellin’ people I’m not the one in charge of the weather.”
“It’s sticky, all right,” Paul agreed. “It seems like it gets muggier every day.”
“That’s why they call these the dog days of summer,” Lawton said. “It’s so hot, even dogs don’t want to get up and move around.”
“Actually,” Micah said, “the ancient Romans came up with that one. The hottest weather comes when Sirius—the Dog Star—rises and sets at the same time as the sun. They figured that was why it got so hot, so they called them the dog days.”
The whole group stared at Micah in stunned silence.
Brenna smiled proudly. “He knows random things like that.”
When the group shifted their gazes to her, a deep blush rose up her neck and colored her cheeks.
“There you are.” Lisa walked up behind Brenna with Jeff Turner at her side.
“Hi, Lisa! How nice to see you,” Kate said. “Brenna was just telling us how well Ringer is fitting into your family.”
Lisa reached out to scratch the little dog behind his ears. “I have to admit he’s been a lot of fun. Thanks for thinking of Brenna.”
“I was happy to help,” Kate said. “I’m glad it’s working out for all of you.”
Lisa looked at her daughter. “Better wrap things up. It’s time we were going.”
“Oh, right.” Brenna looked at Kate. “By the way, I wanted to let you and Pastor Paul know I won’t be at church tomorrow.”
“Oh?”
Lisa turned to them with a light in her eyes that Kate hadn’t seen before. “Jeff convinced me I need to reconcile with my parents. I called them last night.”
“And?” Kate held her breath.
“The three of us are driving to Charlotte, North Carolina, to see them. We’re leaving this afternoon. It’ll put us there late tonight.”
Kate chuckled. “You and Brenna and Ringer, eh?”
Lisa’s eyes sparkled. “I guess I should have said the four of us: Brenna, Ringer, me...and Jeff.” She looked up at the man standing beside her, and a dimple formed in her cheek.
Paul stared at Jeff, and his eyebrows soared to his hairline. “You’re going too?”
Jeff shrugged and grinned. “We’re taking my truck. I knew that car of hers would never make the trip.”
Paul merely nodded, but Kate saw the corners of his mouth twitch.
“We’ll see you when you get back,” he said. “Have a safe trip.”
Kate and Paul watched the three of them—four, counting Ringer—walk across the grass toward Jeff’s truck.
No, make that five, she thought. Kate’s lips curved upward when she saw Micah hurrying to catch up to say good-bye to Brenna.
The loudspeaker crackled again. One of the judges adjusted the microphone and smiled at the spectators. “We have a new award this year. It’s one I’ve never heard of before but am pleased to present. Let me tell you a little bit about it.
“This is the Exhibitors’ Choice Award. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the Miss Congeniality Award given at some beauty pageants, where a contestant is given the honor by her peers. At a dog show, of course, the contestants themselves cannot make the nominations and do the voting.”
She waited for the laughter to die down before she went on. “But we did ask their owners to nominate one animal who embodies the attributes that make our dogs such special creatures: courage, loyalty, and of course, friendliness to others. There’s a reason dogs are known as man’s best friend.”
The judge smiled. “I am proud to present the first annual Exhibitors’ Choice Award for the Harrington County Dog Show to...Kisses, owned by Renee Lambert.”
Kate let out a whoop and clapped wildly, pleased that the rest of the crowd was doing the same.
Renee stepped forward with Kisses in her arms. She accepted the trophy and held it up for the crowd to see, then departed to more applause.
“Exhibitors’ Choice,” Paul said. “Isn’t that one of the ideas you came up with?”
Kate smoothed a tear from her cheek and nodded happily. “I had no idea who was going to receive it. That was wonderful, especially after everything Renee has been through. Look, here she comes!”
“Excuse us! Winners coming through!” Renee stopped beside Kate, her arms full with Kisses and the trophy.
She looked and sounded like the old Renee, Kate noted with a vast sense of relief. That afternoon her hair was perfectly groomed, her makeup flawlessly applied, and the polish on her freshly manicured nails matched her cheery pink outfit. Kate even detected the unmistakable scent of Estée Lauder’s Youth-Dew.
Kate reached out to give a hug that would encompass Renee, Kisses, and the trophy but settled for a quick one-armed squeeze around Renee’s shoulders instead. “What an exciting day!”
“Congratulations!” Lucy Mae walked over and admired the trophy. “That’s quite an honor for Kisses. And for you, of course.”
“I’ll admit I was taken aback,” Renee told her. “I’ve always known he was the sweetest little dog, but it’s nice to know that others recognize his finer qualities too. And knowing that the nomination came from other competitors...” Her voice caught, and she paused a moment to compose herself. “I can’t tell you how much that touched me.”
Renee bent to nuzzle her cheek against Kisses. Lucy Mae smiled at Kate over the top of Renee’s head and gave her a broad wink.
Kate smiled back, warmed by the knowledge that Lucy Mae had found more than one way of healing the wounds she had caused with her careless comments.
Another voice came over the loudspeaker, announcing that the Best in Show judging was about to commence.
Kate squeezed Renee’s arm. “You’d better hurry. There may be another trophy coming your way.”
Renee shook her head. “The first place in Kisses’ class went to a Chihuahua from Hopewell. But I don’t mind.” Her eyes misted over, and she held up the trophy. “Having my Little Umpkins win this award means more to me than even a Best in Show could.”
“I have to go make sure everything’s in place,” Lucy Mae said. “Why don’t you come along and give me a hand, Renee?”
Renee nodded, and the two of them walked off together like the best of friends.
Lawton nodded to Kate and Paul. “Been nice talking to you. I guess I’d better go make the rounds and touch base with a few more of my constituents.” He headed off to mingle with the crowd.
Paul slid his arm around Kate’s waist. “Well, Katie girl, it’s been quite a day.”
“It has indeed.” Kate started walking back toward the hospitality table, with Paul matching her steps. “I need to pack my things and put them away, then I think I’ll be ready to go home and put my feet up for a while.”
She took a long look around the park, from the bustle of activity at the show ring to the happy foursome climbing into Jeff Turner’s truck.
“You know,” she said, “I do believe the Hanlons can add another pastime to their résumés.”
“In addition to your sleuthing skills?” Paul gave her one of his lopsided grins. “What’s that?”
Kate looked up at him and laughed. “Isn’t it obvious? Mysteries and matchmaking.”
“True enough.” Paul chuckled. “Since we’re already a match made in heaven, how about solving a mystery for me?”
Kate tilted her head and gave him a puzzled look. “And what might that be?”
He leaned toward her and whispered in a dramatic
tone, “The mystery of who gets the first taste of that ice-cream pie you’ve been hiding in the freezer...”
Kate bubbled with laughter. “That I can do, Pastor Paul. Mystery solved!”
About the Author
CAROL COX is the author of more than twenty novels and novellas. Her nonwriting time is devoted to being a pastor’s wife, a homeschool mom and, recently, a grandmother. Carol makes her home with her husband and young daughter in northern Arizona, where the deer and the antelope really do play—often within view of the family’s front porch. To learn more about Carol and her books, visit www.CarolCoxBooks.com.
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