by Ava Mallory
The more I thought about his idiosyncrasies, the more convinced I was that in a former life – if there was such a thing – Barney had to have been a man. I made a mental note to research that at a later date. As for now, I'd practically have to beg, borrow and steal to get him out the door. That would require some time and much more effort that I was willing to utilize, but like I did when it came to any amount of physical exertion, I made a wager. If I got him out the door without becoming angry, I'd be allowed an extra five minutes of sleep later.
Sleep, like chocolate and coffee, can convince me to do just about anything. Anything but admit that I needed help finding Nubbin, that is.
*
“What's all the commotion? Was there an accident?” I asked a woman standing curbside, in between a small crowd of people.
“Are you here to volunteer? There's a sign up sheet at the diner. Just tell Sissy that you're here to help.” The woman pointed down the block to the diner.
I smiled. “Volunteer for what?” I asked.
“The search party. That's why we're all here - to help find Nubbin. Isn't that why you're here?” She pulled a snow cap over her mousy brown hair, making sure to tuck her blunt cut bangs in the front.
A search party? Wow. I guess some people did actually care about Nubbin.
“Sissy? You mean, the waitress?” I asked, surprised that blondie would want any part of this. I got the impression that she wasn't fond of Nubbin.
“Yes, Sistine from the diner. She organized this whole thing. Isn't she sweet?” The woman's eyes welled with tears.
“Her name is Sistine? Like the chapel?” I laughed at the irony. Nothing about that girl said culture or art to me. Nothing. Absolutely. Nothing.
“Sure did. Just go sign up. I'm sure she'll be happy to have you join us. Where are you from anyway? I've never seen you around here before.”
“Oh, yeah, I'm definitely not from here. I drove down from California to search for Nubbin. He and I are friends.” I explained, watching Miss Sistine behave like a friendly person with the locals.
When she caught sight of me standing there, her smile quickly turned to a scowl.
Good. I was equally as thrilled to see her face so early this morning.
To add insult to injury or perceived injury in her case, I waved like a loon at her, red, droopy eyes and all. When her face was appropriately reddened and her tolerance levels waned just enough to allow her to take a few quick, short breaths, I ran over to her and pulled her into a big, old bear hug. She loved it. I could tell by the way she stiffened at my touch.
Move over, Ruby. There's a new best friend in town. Meet your replacement.
When it felt like my arms might fall off, I released my death grip on her slender frame and backed away far enough to not breathe directly on her face, but close enough to ensure she'd never insult an ill customer again. Ever.
“You are a real peace of work. The diner's closed.” She snapped at me.
I gave her a toothy grin as I glanced over to the diner. Call me crazy, but if the lights were on and there were customers being served, did that not mean that they were in fact open? I could be wrong. I was at least once every twenty or thirty years or so. I was due.
“That's funny. It looks open to me.” I quipped.
“No, it is most definitely not open. Those people are volunteers. We're not accepting customers right now. I guess you'll have to go back to your room and call around to see what's open or wait until tomorrow to eat. I'm sure you'll survive a day or two without eating without a problem.” Her eyes skimmed my body. I'd like to think that she was admiring my curves, but I got the feeling that she was gearing up to insult me again. Sick or not, I was ready for her.
Bring it on, skin and bones. Bring it on.
“I wouldn't, if I were you.”
I turned around to find Bob standing behind me, laughing at the two of us.
“Oh, hi! I didn't see you there.” I apologized to him.
“I must have lost some weight since yesterday morning because last I checked, I was a good two-fifty on a good day.” He laughed.
Sissy took the opportunity to move out of my sight. I had to give her credit. I was planning to do the same thing when the opportunity presented itself.
“You get two points for saving the day.” I said.
“Are you here for the search party?” Bob asked.
I thought about it for a second. I hadn't planned on being part of a formal search party, but I had to admit, it was a good idea to have company.
“I was actually just about to stop by the nursing home to see if I could find anything out, but then I saw all the commotion and thought I'd stop to see what is was all about.” I explained.
“Well, you're here now, so are you going to stay?” Bob asked, bending down to pet Barney, who was trying to find a spot to get comfortable. He was already exhausted from his early morning nap and his routine car nap, so naturally after walking a block, he was ready for another nap. Who could blame him?
I took a look around. Most of the volunteers were either about Nubbin's age or just shy of their eightieth birthdays.
“Good. We could use someone like you with us. Do you know how to get there?” Bob asked, assessing my parka, jeans, and tennis shoes.
“Where are we going?” I asked, wondering what was wrong with my clothing. It was all I had. It wasn't like I had plenty of time to shop for winter gear while I was trying to keep the car on the road and not drown in about a foot of water on the interstate.
“The Schmeckpepper farm. Haven't you been there before?” He asked.
I shook my head, surprised that going to Nubbin's farm required a search party. Hadn't someone already checked to see if Nubbin had gone home. I mean, that made sense, didn't it?
“No, I've never been to his farm. When I met him, he was living in the nursing home already. I'd never met him prior to last Christmas.” I explained.
Bob shook his head in amusement. “You drove all the way out here from California to find him and you only know him from the nursing home? You are something special, aren't you?”
“Who said I was special?” I asked as I looked around at the crowd full of strangers.
“Sheriff Wagner did. He's pretty fond of you.” Bob explained, glancing behind him through the crowd.
Just when I thought I'd be able to go a day without having to hear Charlie's name, someone had to bring him up again. I didn't have the energy to smile or pretend to be pleased to hear that he'd said anything nice about me.
“If I wasn't such a gentleman, I'd give you a ribbing about how many times I've seen your car parked outside Sheriff Wagner's house lately.” Bob winked at me, eyeing me with a knowing look, but I had absolutely no idea what he was insinuating.
“Well, since you don't know your way out there, you can hitch a ride with us.” Bob offered.
I hadn't noticed anyone with him, so I asked. “Us?”
“Of course, me and the fellas are going out there together to bring that hard-headed good for nothing back to town before he gets himself in any more trouble.” Bob explained, taking my arm to lead the way.
I gently tugged Barney's leash to wake him. “Let's go find Nubbin.” I said. “And ring his neck.” I added under my breath.
*
“What are you doing here? Haven't you met your quota for trouble yet?” Karen stepped out in front of Donna Lee.
“Oh, Karen, give it a rest, will ya?” Bob groaned, moving around her to hug Donna Lee. “We brought reinforcements. Don't you worry, we'll find your dad.”
Donna Lee glared at me momentarily before acknowledging Bob and his kind words. “I swear, when I find him, I'm going to kill him. Does he realize how much trouble he's caused. I had to leave the husband at home alone and we both know he's incapable of doing anything without step-by-step directions.”
“Well, I guess they let anyone volunteer. You know none of us would have to do this, if you hadn't gotten him thinking all kinds of c
razy stuff. You put ideas in his head.” Karen puffed her chest out as she flung accusations my way.
Bob grumbled, shaking his head as he walked out through the living room into a dining room, littered with papers and magazines.
“Who lives here?” I asked no one in particular.
Donna Lee scrunched up her nose. “No one now.”
I casually looked at the stack of magazines, stacked on a chair. “Oh, is that the new issue? I still haven't read the last issue.”
Karen snorted. “We're not here to read magazines.”
I didn't need the reminder. I was just surprised that magazines were being delivered regularly to a home no one lived in anymore. That sounded like a waste of money to me.
I shrugged off Karen's remarks and asked, “If no one lives here, how come it looks so... so lived in?”
Donna Lee and Karen exchanged quick glances, neither uttering a word in response.
Bob motioned for me to follow him. “Bring the dog with you. I think I found the perfect spot for him to rest.”
I bent down to scoop Barney into my arms and carried him into the dining room to the far corner where Bob stood.
I gasped. “Look Barney, you have a twin.”
A Pug, just a tad bit smaller than Barney slept on a large doggie pillow under the leaves of a plastic tree. My normally disinterested dog perked up and nudged himself next to the dog, as if they were old pals.
“Who does this dog belong to?” I asked.
“She's mine. Don't touch her.” Donna Lee warned from the kitchen. “They may be from the same litter, but I'll guarantee you, my dog is not half as lazy as yours.”
Well, that was uncalled for.
“They're siblings?” I asked, surprised by this news.
Karen huffed. “Well, if they're from the same litter, doesn't that usually mean they're siblings?”
I had half a mind to... Oh, scratch that, but someday – I don't know when – I'm going to listen to that half of my mind and do something about it. I swear!
It took over an hour for everyone to get situated. A couple of Sheriff's deputies arrived and took charge. I was disappointed that Charlie wasn't with them. Not that I wanted to see his face or anything. I just thought that as the County Sheriff, it was sort of his duty to take charge of any and all searches.
“Mercy?” I turned to see who else in the crowd knew my name.
I almost swallowed my tongue when I turned around. “Sistine, how nice to see you again.” I dawned a perfect smile and enough mojo to keep this act up all night if I had to.
“I'm going to need you to stick with Bob and the guys. Keep your dog with you too.” She had a look of disdain on her face as if my chubby dog were some sort of foul creature.
“Sure. Whatever I could do to help.” See, I could pretend with the best of them.
Luckily, I didn't have to pretend much longer. Donna Lee let out a scream loud enough to scare every unkind thought out of my head and everyone within a three mile radius.
“That's my dad!” She howled, pointing at a small television screen sitting atop the cluttered counter top.
The crowd of volunteers moved in to see what she was pointing at. Now, being only five feet three inches tall on a good day, I couldn't very well see over the shoulders of the corn fed crowd, blocking my view.
“Excuse me. Excuse me.” I said as I squeezed my body between farmers and farm wives who huddled together, muttering about what they saw.
“What is it?” I said loud enough to capture attention. “I can't see.”
They stared at me curiously, as if I was speaking in tongues, but no one made a clear path for me to get through.
My mother had always told me that my head full of curls was a fierce weapon. Up until now, I didn't know what that meant, but with about four tons of farm raised flesh in front of me, I had to do something.
I shook my head furiously from side to side, hitting everyone of those around me with my hair. Now, I wasn't exactly injuring them. That wasn't the goal, but the tickle of my hair was enough to irritate them slightly. Before I knew it, they were brushing my long tendrils from their arms and, more importantly, moving their bodies out of my way.
Splashed on the screen was a photo of Nubbin sitting in a rocking chair. “Where is he?” I asked.
Donna Lee was too busy being fanned with paper plates as she sat slumped in a kitchen chair to answer. “I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. Oh, my heart. My poor heart.” She groaned on and on, but I couldn't blame her. If I'd just seen my father's image on a tabloid news show, I'd be bewildered too.
The story ended after his image was shown, so I had no idea if he'd been found or what had happened.
I asked again. “Where is he? Did they find him?”
Karen glared at me from across the sea of people. “No. Someone took that picture in California. And guess who else is in California?”
Everyone turned in my direction. Suddenly, I felt guilty, but I didn't know why.
“What? Why is everyone looking at me? I'm here to help.” I said defensively.
All of the attention on me was disturbed by the sound of the front door opening. It only took a second before all eyes fell on me again and, this time, an extra set of eyes was added.
“Just what do you think you're doing?” Charlie's voice shook me to my core. As much as I'd wanted to know why he wasn't here, I hadn't really prepared myself to see him again.
To keep my voice even, I grabbed the arm of the closest person to me – a large man with a long, bushy red beard, beady green eyes and a ruddy complexion.
Charlie walked through the crowd, making apologies for me as he moved toward me. “Sorry to interrupt folks. I have some news to share with you, but first let me remove this pest before she causes any more trouble.”
That was it! I wouldn't let him make a fool out of me. I did a fine job handling that all by myself.
Shocking everyone, I raised my voice and spoke my mind. “Excuse me, buddy. You have no right to speak to me in that tone and whoever decided to appoint you king of everything about me, needs a swift kick in the...”
“Mercy!” He shouted, causing the room to erupt in gasps and a rumbling of shocked voices. “Come with me right now.” Charlie ordered, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind him.
“I will do no such thing! Let go of me, you big brute. Why don't you go back to your girlfriend and leave me alone!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.
The next sound I heard was the most terrifying sound I'd ever heard. I didn't even realize it was human until Charlie turned to face me, his face burning with rage.
Clenching his teeth together, he said, “Come outside now or I swear, I'll throw you over my shoulder and haul you right out of here, kicking and screaming.” He threatened, and had his face not been the color of a tomato, I would have continued resisting. Quite frankly, I was shaking in my tennis shoes. He meant business.
“My dog?” My voice was as low as a church mouse. That's all I could muster.
Charlie shouted over his shoulder. “Someone find her dog!”
The same people who I couldn't get to move an inch for me just a few minutes earlier suddenly parted like the sea and jumped into action, practically fighting to get to Barney and rush him out the door to finish watching the show.
When we reached the front porch, Charlie released my hand and stomped down the stairs, oblivious to the fresh layer of snow that had fallen. I, on the other hand, stepped down gingerly, afraid that I'd fall and break a hip.
“Are you going to tell me what the problem is or are you going to make me chase you?” I asked when I finally reached the bottom of the stairs.
He looked over his shoulder at me. “Get in the car.”
Fine, don't tell me.
The door behind me opened and Bob stepped out, holding Barney in his arms. “Here's your dog?”
I thanked him and headed back up the stairs to get Barney. “That's very kind of you.”
“Good luck.” Bob said before turning around to head back into the house.
I held Barney in my arms, wishing I'd never made the trip out here to Nebraska. It was obvious I wasn't doing anyone any good.
Charlie honked the horn of his squad car, startling me.
Barney looked up at me curiously. I bet he was wondering what my next move would be. The funny thing was, so was I. It wasn't like I had a lot of options, but that didn't mean that I was comfortable with going with Charlie. Not that he would bring me any harm... well, no bodily harm, that is... but I had no guarantee that whatever would transpire in that car wouldn't hurt me in other ways. That's why I hesitated. Somehow I knew that I was about to have my heart broken. Not that I was admitting anything, but it sure did feel like I was setting myself up for disappointment.
