Read Online LOWCOUNTRY BOOK CLUB by Susan M. Boyer - Free Book Online

almost smiled. “ It is that.”
    His study, like the rest of the house, was immaculate. “ Is someone coming to clean for you? Cook?” We moved down the hall.
    â€œ Nah. I don’t mind cleaning. Gives me something to do. The women from the church keep my freezer stocked. Two or three of them are by here every week to check on me. Tallulah too. I don’t have much of an appetite.”
    One of the guest rooms was open. I peeked in as he passed towards the closed door at the back of the house. The dogs barked louder.
    â€œ Do you want to meet the dogs?” he asked.
    â€œ Sure .”
    He tilted his head, raised an eyebrow, and opened the door. Five dogs, one small, three medium, and one very large, all of mixed breeds, rushed Clint. The small one, who likely had some Yorkshire terrier in her, ran around Clint in a circle. Two others jumped up and put their front paws on his legs. The large dog, which might have been part English Mastiff, part St. Bernard, sat with his tongue hanging out and watched the others.
    Clint ruffled heads, patted sides. “ Hey buddies. Good boy. Good girl. This is Scooter, Gertie, Gladys, Blue, and Bear.”
    The Jack Russell Terrier mix sprang from the floor straight up in the air repeatedly, like a bouncing ball.
    â€œ Scooter, you rascal. You’ll get to go outside soon.” For the first time that day, Clint smiled.
    Bear woofed once. He wanted attention too.
    They were all so happy to see Clint, they barely noticed me.
    Finally, a shepherd mix cocked his head at me as if to say, “ Who are you?” Then they all came to say hello.
    â€œ Okay now, don’t jump on her.”
    â€œThey’ re fine. ” I laughed, patted heads, and scratched them behind their ears. Bear lumbered over and pushed his way through the crowd. “ Sweet puppies.”
    After a few moments, Clint gentled them back into the bedroom and closed the door.
    â€œ Someone come to walk the dogs?” I doubted his ankle monitor allowed him to do that.
    â€œ I hired a service.”
    We went back to the second floor. I followed him into the master suite. Done in shades of white, ivory, and taupe, it was luxurious and restful. Scattered across Shelby’s skirted dressing table were things she likely held precious: framed photos, perfume bottles, a silver ring holder with a pair of diamond earrings, a pressed flower. On the tufted chair was a sleeping striped cat that might’ve been a Maine Coon.
    â€œThat’s Plato,” said Clint.
    The Gerhardts each had a walk-in closet.
    â€œ Have you gone through her things?” I asked. “ For any clue as to someone who might have meant her harm?”
    â€œ That’s all I’ve done. There’s nothing here.”
    I pondered that. If other leads didn’t materialize, I would come back and repeat the search.
    We stopped at the door to the library. “ You don’t have to come in here,” I said.
    â€œ I don’t mind. I feel close to Shelby in here. This was her space. Her books, her things.” He sat in a buttery leather chair by the fireplace and put his feet up on a matching ottoman. “ This was her reading spot.”
    Built-in bookcases lined the walls from floor to ceiling, wrapping over the doors. A large writing desk sat several feet inside the french doors, facing the room. The space had the feel of a traditional library, but with feminine touches. Fresh-cut yellow tulips in a crystal vase brightened the corner of the desk.
    â€œ Yellow tulips were her favorite,” he said. “ They’ve delivered them once a week ever since we settled here permanently after I got out of the army. I can’t bring myself to stop the delivery.”
    I swallowed hard and nodded. “ Where were the dogs?”
    â€œ With me. They like jazz. They were sprawled all over the rug.”
    â€œ Was anything in here disturbed?”
    â€œ Only one thing I could