The Money Bird (An Animals in Focus Mystery) by Sheila Webster Boneham Page A

strange?”
    “Car?”
    “Tom! The black sedan that drove by us. That road is clearly marked ‘Dead End.’ There’s a sign right at the corner, and another right before that old barn. Other than kids looking for a lovers’ lane, or us, there’s no reason for anyone to get down that far. And that was not a kid car.”
    “Hmm. Oh, speaking of people being out there, I forgot to tell you. I saw a friend of yours out there the other day. Friday, I think. I was out there with Drake. Yeah, Friday.”
    “A friend of mine?”
    “Yeah. Said you told him to go out there to shoot birds.”
    “What?” My mind was clearly switched to mysterious events mode, because I took Tom’s words in the firearms sense.
    “Had a big lens. Said his name was Anderson. Said he was sorry you weren’t there and he’d call you soon.” He nuzzled my neck, pulled me close to him, and lowered his voice. “Didn’t catch his first name.”
    “That is his first name. Anderson Billings.” Anderson had taken several of my photography classes and I recalled telling him about Twisted Lake as a good spot for birds.
    Tom put an end to further conversation. I gave resisting a passing thought, but there’s something irresistible about a man who smells of wet dog and pizza. There’s also something disconcerting about having a pair of furry muzzles thrust into the action just as you get horizontal.
    “What say we reconvene down the hall, sans dogs?” Tom asked, pushing himself off me and standing up. “You are bad dogs!” he laughed, scratching a head with each hand. Jay and Drake wagged and panted agreeably. Then he took my hand and pulled me to my feet.
    A couple hours later I woke up and glanced at the clock on my night table. Half past nine. Leo was purring on the rocking chair in the corner, but we were alone. Then I heard the kitchen door close, and heard Tom softly telling the dogs to be quiet. A baby gate clicked into place in the kitchen doorway. And he was back, his skin cool against mine. “Oooh, you’re nice and warm,” he crooned, wrapping me up in his arms. Leo mewed a protest and curled into a ball.
    “You always go out in the backyard nekkid?”
    “Wasn’t. I had a towel. And I didn’t go out, just let the boys out and locked up.”
    I was starting to doze off again when Tom spoke. “Been thinking.”
    “Mmmm. Not unusual in a college professor.”
    He squeezed me but didn’t say anything. I got the feeling he had something important on his mind, but I was too warm and muzzy to do anything but wait. I droned, fighting off sleep, “Okay, professor, you’ve been thinking.”
    He rocked me back and forth a couple of times, and settled his cheek against my hair. “Uh huh.” He pulled me a little closer. “Been thinking Drake and I have lived alone too long. I think it’s time to expand the family.”
    I lay perfectly still, instantly awake. All I could think was no no no, don’t ruin a good thing. I didn’t have a lot of experience, but what I did have suggested that I wasn’t very good at long-term commitments. Or more to the point, I wasn’t very good at picking men who were good at long-term commitments. Besides, I’d gotten along fine without a long-term commitment ever since my marriage went belly up a quarter century ago. We lay without speaking, my thoughts bouncing around my brain like Mexican jumping beans, for what seemed like hours, although according to the clock I was staring at, not even a minute clicked by.
    “You awake?”
    I considered not answering, but instead asked, “Can we talk about this tomorrow?” Or maybe never?
    Tom didn’t say anything for a few seconds, then kissed my cheek, rolled out of bed, and began to dress.
    I rolled over and watched him in the dim glow from the lights outdoors. “Tom?” An icy wave of nausea washed over me as I though t about past failed relationships and wondered whether I was the one who always ruined everything.
    “Got to get to school early tomorrow.