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Authors: Laurinda Wallace
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necessary, but Midge’s sweet rolls are always welcome. I’ve got coffee ready, if you want some.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’d better get Joe started on feeding the dogs and cleaning runs.”
“OK. We can plan out the day when you get back.”
Jim slammed the door with his usual enthusiasm and half-jogged out to the kennels. Joe was standing at the door with hands shoved in his pockets. Gracie looked at the English muffin and the white container. It was no contest. She tossed the muffin into Haley’s dish, opened the container, and pulled out a warm, gooey roll. It was dripping with pecans and brown sugar syrup. Haley eagerly gulped down the muffin, and Gracie sat down at the kitchen bar to go over the appointment book and enjoy her breakfast. There seemed to be a break in the action by the looks of the schedule. There were four grooming appointments and only two pickups and two arrivals. It wasn’t great for business, but all of that could change quickly. Marian would be in at 9:00 along with Beth. If it wasn’t too hectic, she should be able to do some grocery shopping, banking, and talk with Deputy Stevens. She might even be able to see Uncle Stan today. Haley woofed as Jim came through the kitchen door.
“Hey, Haley.” Haley greeted Jim with a wagging tail and paws on his chest.
“Get off, Haley. Jim, I swear you’re the worst influence on her. Just when I think she’s over jumping on people, you encourage her.”
Jim pushed Haley down and rubbed her backside. “We’d better behave, girl, or we’ll be in the doghouse together.” He grabbed a mug off the hook under the row of oak cupboards and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“I’ve got him going on the runs. We’ll see how quick he picks up the routine.”
“It’s not rocket science, but does have to be done right. We’re building a pretty good reputation, and I don’t want any problems. We’ve had enough of them for this week.”
“I know, Gracie. I don’t want that either. Like I said, we’ll give him a week. What’s the schedule look like for today?” Jim sat down next to her and pulled the appointment book over. It was a black three-ring binder with the daily appointments printed out.
“It’s really pretty light, so far. As long as it’s still calm by nine o’clock, I’ll do my errands this morning. I think Marian and Beth can handle the phones and the grooming. They seem to have hit it off.”
“Marian can get along with anybody, and she’s a great teacher. She’ll have Beth trained in no time. If it’s going to be quiet, it’ll give me a chance to really go over things with Joe. I want him trained ASAP. I’m still planning on that St. Lawrence fishing trip in August.”
“I know. I just hope Joe works out. I don’t want to be looking for somebody or training another newbie while you’re on vacation.”
“Not my first choice either. We’ll hope for the best.” He finished the coffee and tore off a piece of roll, dripping syrup on the granite counter. “These are always so messy,” he complained, grabbing a paper towel and wiping up the sticky puddle.
“Yeah, but they’re so good.” Gracie licked her fingers and poured another cup of coffee.
“You were going to tell me about your dark family secret that Isabelle was all up in her nightshirt about yesterday.”
“Oh, right. In fact, she stopped by again last night to try and get the books back that Uncle Stan gave me.”
“What books? Are they valuable?” Jim wiped his mouth and helped himself to more coffee and another roll.
“Well, it’s kinda strange actually. He gave me some books, but they were stuffed with a bunch of clippings and reports about Charlotte’s death. He also stuck Charlotte’s diary in with everything else.”
“You’re kidding. What’s going on with that?” Jim’s face and voice turned serious.
“I’m not sure. That’s one thing I want to see him about today. I don’t know why he gave all this
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’d better get Joe started on feeding the dogs and cleaning runs.”
“OK. We can plan out the day when you get back.”
Jim slammed the door with his usual enthusiasm and half-jogged out to the kennels. Joe was standing at the door with hands shoved in his pockets. Gracie looked at the English muffin and the white container. It was no contest. She tossed the muffin into Haley’s dish, opened the container, and pulled out a warm, gooey roll. It was dripping with pecans and brown sugar syrup. Haley eagerly gulped down the muffin, and Gracie sat down at the kitchen bar to go over the appointment book and enjoy her breakfast. There seemed to be a break in the action by the looks of the schedule. There were four grooming appointments and only two pickups and two arrivals. It wasn’t great for business, but all of that could change quickly. Marian would be in at 9:00 along with Beth. If it wasn’t too hectic, she should be able to do some grocery shopping, banking, and talk with Deputy Stevens. She might even be able to see Uncle Stan today. Haley woofed as Jim came through the kitchen door.
“Hey, Haley.” Haley greeted Jim with a wagging tail and paws on his chest.
“Get off, Haley. Jim, I swear you’re the worst influence on her. Just when I think she’s over jumping on people, you encourage her.”
Jim pushed Haley down and rubbed her backside. “We’d better behave, girl, or we’ll be in the doghouse together.” He grabbed a mug off the hook under the row of oak cupboards and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“I’ve got him going on the runs. We’ll see how quick he picks up the routine.”
“It’s not rocket science, but does have to be done right. We’re building a pretty good reputation, and I don’t want any problems. We’ve had enough of them for this week.”
“I know, Gracie. I don’t want that either. Like I said, we’ll give him a week. What’s the schedule look like for today?” Jim sat down next to her and pulled the appointment book over. It was a black three-ring binder with the daily appointments printed out.
“It’s really pretty light, so far. As long as it’s still calm by nine o’clock, I’ll do my errands this morning. I think Marian and Beth can handle the phones and the grooming. They seem to have hit it off.”
“Marian can get along with anybody, and she’s a great teacher. She’ll have Beth trained in no time. If it’s going to be quiet, it’ll give me a chance to really go over things with Joe. I want him trained ASAP. I’m still planning on that St. Lawrence fishing trip in August.”
“I know. I just hope Joe works out. I don’t want to be looking for somebody or training another newbie while you’re on vacation.”
“Not my first choice either. We’ll hope for the best.” He finished the coffee and tore off a piece of roll, dripping syrup on the granite counter. “These are always so messy,” he complained, grabbing a paper towel and wiping up the sticky puddle.
“Yeah, but they’re so good.” Gracie licked her fingers and poured another cup of coffee.
“You were going to tell me about your dark family secret that Isabelle was all up in her nightshirt about yesterday.”
“Oh, right. In fact, she stopped by again last night to try and get the books back that Uncle Stan gave me.”
“What books? Are they valuable?” Jim wiped his mouth and helped himself to more coffee and another roll.
“Well, it’s kinda strange actually. He gave me some books, but they were stuffed with a bunch of clippings and reports about Charlotte’s death. He also stuck Charlotte’s diary in with everything else.”
“You’re kidding. What’s going on with that?” Jim’s face and voice turned serious.
“I’m not sure. That’s one thing I want to see him about today. I don’t know why he gave all this
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