first or shall I?”
“Better hand me my crutches before I try anything fancy,” Cody answered.
“Right.” She giggled when Sailor galloped up and slurped the back of her hand. “I guess he remembers me.”
Before Cody could answer, a yipping ball of brown-and-white fur raced around the corner. Teeth bared, it charged straight for the clueless Newfoundland.
Trudy Lynn screeched, “Widget! No!” and lunged, half on and half off the ATV, to intercept her little terrier. She’d have been successful, too, if Sailor hadn’t practically bowled her over making his lumbering getaway.
Cody was hopping on his good leg so he could extend one of his crutches as a barrier between the dogs. When he saw Trudy Lynn losing her balance he redirected his efforts. Unfortunately, he bumped her with the tip of the crutch and removed any chance she might have had of righting herself.
She twisted in midair and landed on the back pockets of her jeans with an undignified, “Oof!”
Widget leaped into her lap, barking and growling while she clasped him tightly to her chest and told him, “Hush!”
Crutches set wide like outriggers, Cody half turned to check on Sailor. “You okay, boy?”
The big dog had laid its ears back, ducked behind him and was just sitting there, head down, quivering like a bowl of Jell-O in a California earthquake and staring up at his master with soulful brown eyes.
Cody glanced back at Trudy Lynn. She looked at him and grinned. Widget kept yipping. Sailor kept trembling. In moments, both humans had recognized the humor of their situation and burst into riotous laughter.
Trudy Lynn laughed so hard tears rolled down her cheeks. She’d almost regained her composure till Cody held out his hand and asked, “Want some help?”
That set her off again. When she quieted down enough to catch her breath, she answered, “No, thanks. I can manage. The first time you helped me was plenty.”
“I didn’t mean to bump you. I was trying to keep the dogs from fighting.”
“I know. Poor Sailor. I don’t think we need to worry about him attacking Widget, do you?”
“Probably not. I hope you can keep that ankle-biter from harassing my innocent dog. I came up here so he could enjoy a little freedom, not be traumatized by a psychotic terrier.”
“Widget’s a great watchdog,” Trudy Lynn said, getting to her feet with the wiggly little dog tucked under one arm. She dusted off her jeans with her free hand. “Will told me I should tie him by the canoes at night and let him sound the alarm if we had prowlers.”
“Did you?”
“No. Widget barks at everything, even fireflies. He’d keep me up all night, investigating nothing.”
Cody followed her toward the apartment. There were already customers going in and out of the store. “Looks like business is good.”
“It’s picking up. This time of year is always kind of slow.” She ushered him inside.
The place was small but cozy, with a definitely feminine decor, including lace curtains and floral-printed chair cushions. Through an open interior doorway he could glimpse activity going on in the store, proper.
“This is my kitchen. Guess you can tell.”
“The stove and refrigerator were a dead giveaway,” Cody teased. “Something smells great.”
“Fresh biscuits. I told you I was a good cook.” She pointed to another door. “My living quarters are through there. I wanted the kitchen out here so my staff could use it as a break room, too, if they wanted.”
“You don’t have problems keeping others out?”
“Not at all. The access is behind the counter so everybody can tell it’s private space. I’ve never had campers wander in.”
“Amazing. Aren’t you worried about staying here alone at night? I mean, what kind of security does an arrangement like this give you?”
“All I’ve ever needed.”
“Till now.” Cody rounded the table and seated himself where he could keep an eye on the open door. “While we eat, I want you to tell
“Better hand me my crutches before I try anything fancy,” Cody answered.
“Right.” She giggled when Sailor galloped up and slurped the back of her hand. “I guess he remembers me.”
Before Cody could answer, a yipping ball of brown-and-white fur raced around the corner. Teeth bared, it charged straight for the clueless Newfoundland.
Trudy Lynn screeched, “Widget! No!” and lunged, half on and half off the ATV, to intercept her little terrier. She’d have been successful, too, if Sailor hadn’t practically bowled her over making his lumbering getaway.
Cody was hopping on his good leg so he could extend one of his crutches as a barrier between the dogs. When he saw Trudy Lynn losing her balance he redirected his efforts. Unfortunately, he bumped her with the tip of the crutch and removed any chance she might have had of righting herself.
She twisted in midair and landed on the back pockets of her jeans with an undignified, “Oof!”
Widget leaped into her lap, barking and growling while she clasped him tightly to her chest and told him, “Hush!”
Crutches set wide like outriggers, Cody half turned to check on Sailor. “You okay, boy?”
The big dog had laid its ears back, ducked behind him and was just sitting there, head down, quivering like a bowl of Jell-O in a California earthquake and staring up at his master with soulful brown eyes.
Cody glanced back at Trudy Lynn. She looked at him and grinned. Widget kept yipping. Sailor kept trembling. In moments, both humans had recognized the humor of their situation and burst into riotous laughter.
Trudy Lynn laughed so hard tears rolled down her cheeks. She’d almost regained her composure till Cody held out his hand and asked, “Want some help?”
That set her off again. When she quieted down enough to catch her breath, she answered, “No, thanks. I can manage. The first time you helped me was plenty.”
“I didn’t mean to bump you. I was trying to keep the dogs from fighting.”
“I know. Poor Sailor. I don’t think we need to worry about him attacking Widget, do you?”
“Probably not. I hope you can keep that ankle-biter from harassing my innocent dog. I came up here so he could enjoy a little freedom, not be traumatized by a psychotic terrier.”
“Widget’s a great watchdog,” Trudy Lynn said, getting to her feet with the wiggly little dog tucked under one arm. She dusted off her jeans with her free hand. “Will told me I should tie him by the canoes at night and let him sound the alarm if we had prowlers.”
“Did you?”
“No. Widget barks at everything, even fireflies. He’d keep me up all night, investigating nothing.”
Cody followed her toward the apartment. There were already customers going in and out of the store. “Looks like business is good.”
“It’s picking up. This time of year is always kind of slow.” She ushered him inside.
The place was small but cozy, with a definitely feminine decor, including lace curtains and floral-printed chair cushions. Through an open interior doorway he could glimpse activity going on in the store, proper.
“This is my kitchen. Guess you can tell.”
“The stove and refrigerator were a dead giveaway,” Cody teased. “Something smells great.”
“Fresh biscuits. I told you I was a good cook.” She pointed to another door. “My living quarters are through there. I wanted the kitchen out here so my staff could use it as a break room, too, if they wanted.”
“You don’t have problems keeping others out?”
“Not at all. The access is behind the counter so everybody can tell it’s private space. I’ve never had campers wander in.”
“Amazing. Aren’t you worried about staying here alone at night? I mean, what kind of security does an arrangement like this give you?”
“All I’ve ever needed.”
“Till now.” Cody rounded the table and seated himself where he could keep an eye on the open door. “While we eat, I want you to tell
Similar Books
