Read Online Imogene in New Orleans by Hunter Murphy - Free Book Online Page A

the fussy little man hoofing it to his office.
    Jackson hurried after Hill and caught up to him right as he was opening the back door to the lobby. “Mr. Hill, please, we’ve canceled our other reservations and it’s Friday night. As you can see, we’re traveling with an old woman, too. She needs her medicine. She’s tired. Her bones hurt, and she must rest.”
    Jackson was really trying to sell it, but unfortunately, Imogene was laughing at Goose as he backed his butt up to her leg to get scratched. She didn’t look nearly as pitiful as Jackson needed her to look. She stood on one leg and scratched Goose with her foot, cackling at the beast. “Gooey, looks like your end’s itchin’. Lord, you a mess and Maw-Maw loves you.” She bent down and rubbed his belly.
    Jackson frowned. “Sir, it’s getting late. My dog is completely house-trained…hotel-trained too. You won’t regret letting him stay.” Hill’s expression remained one of irritated stubbornness. “Look, we didn’t book your hotel in the first place. We planned on other accommodations. If I had known we were staying here, I would’ve called weeks ago to ask about the dog.”
    “You should have kept your other ‘accommodations,’ Mr. Miller.” Hill put his nose up in the air.
    “A friend booked your hotel for us. His name’s Neil.”
    Hill took a step back. He looked Jackson up and down, as if he were inspecting a show pony. Jackson reached into his pocket and again offered the receipt printouts to Hill, who grabbed them. He tossed on his reading glasses to peruse the documents. He had not been using his glasses on the first round, but the mention of Neil’s name appeared to have changed him. As Hill read the papers, he absently clicked his ballpoint pen on and off and on and off. The noise was irritating, but Jackson kept silent.
    Hill twisted his hips from side to side and then grumbled as he flicked the papers back at Jackson. He pursed his lips before saying, “If there is one bit of unpleasantness associated with that dog of yours, you’ll be out of my hotel immediately. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, yes, of course I do. Thank you, Mr. Hill.” Jackson neatly folded the receipt.
    Hill pointed his index finger toward the sky above the courtyard, and in a voice that was one level below a screech, he said, “No pissing, no shitting, no barking, and no eating the linens. Your room better look like the queen of England’s when you check out.” Hill said it so high-pitched that Imogene turned and looked at him and waited to see what Jackson would do.
    “Mr. Hill, I can assure you that we will leave the room as we found it.” Jackson walked over to Imogene, took the leash, and gently tried to pull Goose behind him. Goose growled. “Shhh. Come on.”
    Hill stuck his hands in the air, as if he were asking the universe how he was supposed to cope with such people. “I mean it. I don’t care if your granny here bites the dust. You take care of your room. Capiche ?” Hill snapped his fingers toward the group and then turned around in place, as if he were on a swivel seat. He mumbled as he walked away, “This place is insufferable.”
    Jackson held his breath as Hill swung the door open and stomped down the back hall, disappearing into what looked like an office.
    Imogene limped up to him. “You done good, Jack. Better than Imogene Deal McGregor could have. Shoot, I was ’bout ready to shut his lips myself, but I knowed it would only hurt us. That fellar was a donkey, wadn’t he? I reckon if we stuck a piece of coal up his tail, we’d have a diamond in ’bout three days.” She shook her head and grabbed the leash. “Well, boys, come on, ’fore that fellar comes back with a changed mind. Wait till Neil gets out of jail and hears about that fuss-butt. He won’t stand for it. He’ll straighten it out right quick.”
    Imogene hobbled over to the elevator as Jackson wheeled the luggage cart behind her. “Come on, Maw. Go on. Pick up