The Dog Who Knew Too Much

by Krista Davis

  “Yes, I play Pippin’s dad.”

  “Roscoe didn’t tell me you would be here,” she gushed.

  “Roscoe?” asked Finch. “As in Roscoe Yates, the producer?”

  “Of course. I’m your chaperone.”

  Jim burst out laughing. “Is he afraid Marlee or Camille will take advantage of little Tiger?”

  Finch appeared annoyed.

  “Roscoe said he’s not having any hanky-panky. He said, and I quote, ‘Pippin’s show will be goin’ to number one, and I don’t want even a whiff of inappropriate behavior blowin’ up into a scandal and messin’ with the ratings.’ So here I am to make sure everyone behaves. You can still have a good time. Personally, I am not averse to romance. I love romance as much as I love bling and cheese.” She laughed and waved her hands. The faux-diamond bling on her dress reflected sparkles on the walls.

  “Everyone with your group is staying in the main part of the hotel. The production company specifically asked that you all stay in rooms that are close together so Pippin can share in the fun and get to know everyone,” explained Zelda.

  “Wonderful! Is there an itinerary?” asked Rae Rae.

  Finch snickered when he pointed at Jim and said, “Apparently, Jim is in charge.”

  Rae Rae smiled at him. “Terrific. What’s the plan for tonight, sweetheart?”

  Jim sighed. “Look, I’m Pippin’s assistant. My job is to watch out for him. All I know is that we’re supposed to go on a treasure hunt hike tomorrow and he’s supposed to get a massage sometime. Frankly, I think he’d enjoy a swim in the lake and some downtime away from fans.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.” Rae Rae beamed. “A treasure hunt! Won’t that be fun? We’ll talk about the details over dinner tonight. I trust Howard made arrangements for that!”

  I figured it was time for me to step in again. “I can reserve a table at Hot Hog. You all like barbecue, I presume?”

  “I adore barbecue. Doesn’t everyone?” Rae Rae raved with such excitement that I was beginning to wonder if there was anything she wasn’t enthusiastic about.

  Finch and Jim nodded as though they were just glad they didn’t have to make a decision.

  “Great. Would you like a Sugar Maple Inn collar for Pippin?” I asked. “They have GPS on them so we can help you find him if he wanders away.”

  “Pippin is extremely well trained,” Jim uttered with disdain. “That won’t be necessary.”

  Three

  Fearing I had insulted him, I smiled and said cheerfully, “Such a great dog! I hope some of his manners will rub off on my Trixie.”

  She looked up at me and waggled her hind end. I didn’t need Zelda’s mind-reading abilities to know that Trixie was laughing. She intended to continue being a rascal because it was so much fun.

  Shadow carried Rae Rae’s bags upstairs. A good thing because she had brought enough for a monthlong stay.

  I unlocked their rooms and gave each of them my little spiel about room service and our dining hours. When I was done, I hurried to call Hot Hog to reserve a table for them. That accomplished, I left it to Zelda to inform them all of the time and place for their dinner.

  I debated taking a golf cart up the back trail of the mountain but decided a hike would a nice break for me, not to mention for Trixie. I changed into comfortable walking sneakers, stashed extra treats in my pocket, and stopped by Oma’s office to ask if Gingersnap would like to join Trixie and me.

  “Yes, of course,” said Oma. “It would do her good to get out and walk on the trail.”

  Accompanied by Trixie, I strode to the main lobby of the inn and stepped outside, onto the porch that ran the length of the original building, which had been a grand home before it became an inn. Over the years, Oma had built additions, like the modern cat wing for feline guests with a screened porch on every room, but the original building was still the central hub of the inn. People wearing Pippin ears sat in rocking chairs, enjoying the beautiful early summer day. I did a double take when I saw a child licking a lollipop shaped and colored like Pippin’s face. It was a good thing they had no idea Pippin was only one floor away from them.

  Oma’s golden retriever, Gingersnap, sat in her favorite spot at the top of the porch stairs, where she could greet guests as they came and left. Her reddish coat gleamed in the sunlight. Gingersnap took her job as the canine ambassador of the inn very seriously and loved all the attention.

  “C’mon, Gingersnap. Let’s go for a walk.”

  At the word walk she jumped up, the long fur on her tail swishing as she sprang down the steps to catch up to Trixie.

  We ambled along the sidewalk and took a shortcut to the clearing at the base of the hiking trail. Tables had been set up, and a large red banner hung over them that read, Pippin’s Treasure Hunt. Pippin’s cheery, smiling face loomed larger-than-life on the right end of the banner. On the other side was a picture of pirate booty spilling over a trunk. I hoped that wouldn’t give participants the wrong idea. As far as I knew, there wasn’t any gold or valuable jewelry among the many prizes for dogs and their people to discover.

  A couple of merchants were busy setting up tents. To my surprise, tourists were already buying stuffed dogs that looked like Pippin.

  One of vendors yelled to me, “Is Pippin here yet?”

  I felt my face flush as everyone turned to look at me. I hurried over to him and hissed, “Shh. You’ll start a stampede.”

  I wasn’t exaggerating. They clustered around me. “Is it true? Is Pippin in Wagtail? Where’s he staying? Where can we see him?”

  Good grief. What could I say to calm them down? “Pippin has arrived in Wagtail, but he’s resting after his long flight.” And then I dodged past them and fled up the trail.

  In a matter of minutes, the town of Wagtail was left behind us. The voices at the bottom had faded, and all we heard were cheery birdcalls. It wasn’t until I was well into the woods that I remembered my discussion with Oma about coyotes.

  A flash of white scampered by me as Twinkletoes dashed ahead. “I didn’t know you came with us. You better stick close by,” I warned her. The thought of coyotes weighed on me. I reasoned that none had been seen. Surely, Gingersnap and Trixie would bark if any appeared.

  Happily, the woods were peaceful and tranquil. Pine needles on the broad path gave it a cushy feeling underfoot. Trixie took the lead with her nose to the ground, sniffing on and off the path. There was something special about the solitude among the trees. I caught a whiff now and then of honeysuckle perfuming the woods. And Trixie and Gingersnap discovered some of the hidden goodies meant for dogs to find during the treasure hunt the next day. I lured them away with treats.

  I knew we were approaching the clearing at the top when they raced ahead. They could probably pick up the scent of people before I could hear voices. I emerged from the trail to see tents set up with tables and a banner that read, Lunch with Pippin! Twinkletoes already sat on a table rubbing her head against Stan Hoover’s hand.

  He tickled her cheek like only a devoted cat lover could. “I believe I have a new friend,” said Stan.

  In his early twenties, Stan was tall like his father, but quite slender. The short sleeves on his T-shirt hung loosely on his thin arms. “Working for your dad this summer?” I asked.

  “Yeah. For my dad and for my mom. Kind of boring. Hey, has Holmes shown up yet?”

  Holmes Richardson, my childhood crush and the man who made my toes tingle, was moving back to Wagtail any day now. I had expected a delay before he could move home from Chicago, but it was already summer and he still wasn’t in town. “No sign of him yet.”

  “I can’t wait. Maybe things will pick up around here.”

  Stan’s dad, Augie, overheard. “I’m lookin’ forward to that, too,” he called out to us.

  Someone nabbed Stan to help set up a tent, and I wandered over to Augie. His wife
usually pitched in on occasions like this. “Where’s Glenda?”

  The contented look on his face changed to bitterness and worry. “Ever since Dolly disappeared, Glenda can’t concentrate on anything except finding her. I bought her that sweet little Yorkie for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Paid three thousand dollars for that puppy. Plus all the clothes and bows and such. Dolly was like a baby to us. Neither one of us can get any sleep. Glenda spends her days searching the Internet and calling shelters. But Dolly hasn’t turned up anywhere.”

  “I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine how difficult that must be.”

  “Keep a close eye on Twinkletoes and your dogs.”

  “Will do!” I tried to change the subject. “This looks great!”

  “Wait till tomorrow when it smells like food. We’re gonna cook bacon burgers on a grill. Everything tastes better when it’s served alfresco.” Augie licked his lips in anticipation. He gazed at Trixie and Gingersnap. “Even doggies will be eating big up here tomorrow.” Augie pulled a sheet of paper out of his breast pocket. Looking at it, he said, “My understanding is that the treasure hunt kicks off at ten in the morning. By my guess, most people will make it to the top between eleven thirty and one thirty, depending on their speed. We’ll have some drinks and snacks ready for people who come up the back way in golf carts. Some of the old-timers don’t hike anymore, but they might like to join in and enjoy the view.”

  I smiled at him for being so thoughtful. He was right about the scenery. You could see for miles. It was like being on top of the world. “Sounds about right to me. Plus, some people probably won’t be searching for treasures and will walk very fast. Others will dawdle and take a more leisurely pace.”

  Augie snorted. “That’s what I would do. I’m glad someone had the foresight to put in that back path for vehicles. It would be tough getting the food and grills up here. I’d have to hire Sherpas!”

  Augie looked around before whispering, “Sugar McLaughlin is having that thing done today where they freeze your fat. Have you seen her lately? Got hair extensions, too. Looks like a Barbie doll.”

  I groaned and wondered how to respond. I knew perfectly well what Augie was trying to tell me. I wasn’t the only one with eyes for Holmes. Sugar had made no secret of her attraction to him. I opted for the most gracious thing I could think to say. “Sugar is Stan’s age. She’s beautiful just the way she is. She doesn’t need all that stuff.”

  Still keeping his voice low, Augie fixed me with a stern look. “Now you listen here, Holly Miller. Sugar used to date Stan, so I know her pretty well. That young woman is bound and determined to get her man. I thought we were going to lose Holmes to that city slicker fiancée of his. Good thing that didn’t work out! I am not going to lose our buddy to a screwball like Sugar McLaughlin.”

  I probably should have been flattered that he thought I wasn’t a screwball, but he was clearly telling me I needed to step up my game to compete with Sugar. “This isn’t a competition, Augie. And you should have more faith in your old friend Holmes anyway.”

  Augie shook his head slowly. “Holly, darlin’, there will come a day when I’ll say I warned you. Sugar and her momma, Idella, have had their sights set on that man since last Christmas. You best think about that. Ain’t no fury like a woman scorned, you know.”

  I laughed aloud. “You make it sound like they’re out to get me.”

  Augie didn’t smile. Serious as he could be, he looked me straight in the eyes. “Don’t underestimate Sugar and Idella.”

  “Oh, Augie. Sugar and her mom are Holmes’s problem, not mine.”

  “One other thing, Holly. I need you to talk to your grandmother. Much as I hate to say it, I believe our little Yorkie, Dolly, and Clara’s dog, Tavish, were snatched by coyotes. Liesel won’t listen to me. She thinks if nobody’s seen a coyote, they’re not around here. But she’s dead wrong. Coyotes can grab a dog like that!” He snapped his fingers to demonstrate. “They don’t care if dogs are purebred or expensive. It’s all the same to them. We have to do something to keep those critters out of Wagtail.”

  “Why don’t you come by the inn and talk with Oma? I’m sure she’ll be receptive to your opinion. Maybe you can make some suggestions about how to handle them.”

  Augie, a man of some size who could probably win most amateur weight-lifting competitions, took a step back and looked at me in horror. “To tell you the truth, she scares me. I believe I’d rather look a coyote in the eyes.”

  I laughed aloud. “She’s very nice.”

  “You know, some people are frightening because they’re strong and menacing, but some people, like your Oma, are like the alpha dog in a pack. All they have to do is look at you, and you know not to disappoint them.”

  I walked away thinking that Oma had made it to alpha dog status in Wagtail. That was actually something to be proud of. I wasn’t keen on people being afraid of her, but Augie regarded her as a formidable leader, and that was probably a good thing. She had clout and respect.

  We walked back on the main trail, enjoying the mild afternoon weather. Leaves on trees were still young, but they had filled the woods, blocking a distant view. It would be easy for a coyote to lurk among the evergreens yet remain well hidden. I kept a close eye on my companions. The white fur on Twinkletoes and Trixie was easy to see in the shadows of the trees, but Gingersnap’s reddish fur melded with the colors, and I called to her more than once when I lost sight of her for a moment.

  Then Trixie stopped short. She raised her nose into the air, and I could see it quivering.

  Four

  A man stepped onto the path, his gaze fixed on Trixie.

  I didn’t like to make snap decisions about people—after all, we come in many shapes and sizes—but there was something about this man that gave me the creeps. I guessed him to be in his fifties. His mouth curved downward at the edges as was often the case on perpetually grumpy people. A pale blue golf shirt with short sleeves revealed muscular arms, as though he chopped wood or worked in construction.

  He squatted and called out, “Come here, Dummy. Don’t you remember me?”

  Thin auburn hair suited his ruddy complexion. But his eyes made me leery. They were cold as stone and the gray color of slate. I didn’t like the way he was looking at Trixie.

  Apparently, Trixie wasn’t keen on him, either. She tucked her tail between her legs and flattened herself against the ground. She pinned her ears back. I couldn’t remember her acting that way before.

  He held out his hand. “Come on. Come here, Dummy.”

  Had he really called her Dummy? Maybe I had misunderstood.

  Trixie didn’t take her eyes off him. Grudgingly, she inched toward him on her belly. The poor baby was afraid. What was going on?

  Gingersnap, who loved everyone, must have picked up on Trixie’s discomfort. She actually growled.

  That was enough for me. I whipped Trixie up in my arms and held her tight.

  The man rose to his feet and took a step toward us. “She remembers me. Barkiest dog I ever had. Had to lock her in the shed all the time to keep her from runnin’ off.”

  A tremor ran through me. “You must be mistaken. Trixie has been my dog for years.” It was a slight exaggeration, but I felt like she’d been with me forever.

  “Tricksy? That’s what you call her? She’s not smart enough to do tricks. All she knows is how to make trouble and bark her fool head off.” He held out large, rough hands. “I’ll take her now.”

  I tightened my grip and pressed her against my chest. Since his dog ran away from him, I felt pretty sure the dog was smarter than he was, but I wasn’t going to risk telling him so. “I’m sorry, sir. Maybe your dog looked like Trixie. But this is my dog, and anyone in Wagtail can confirm that.”

  The man snickered. “That there is my dog. I ought to know.”

  Could he be the man who had dumped her? Shive
rs ran through me. Could he make some legal claim that she belonged to him? Surely, he hadn’t named her Dummy? “Look, mister. I’m sorry, but you’re wrong. This is not your dog.” I spoke as bravely as I could, which was no small feat because I was scared out of my wits. The thought of setting Trixie down and yelling at her to run flashed through my mind.

  “Yeah, she is. I got Dummy as a puppy. The guy who bred her can confirm that.” In a low voice he grumbled, “She’s my dog. Hand her over.”

  I took a step backward. “You have her confused with another dog.”

  “Nope, that’s Dummy all right. Never was smart enough to come when I called her.”

  That didn’t prove anything. In fact, maybe it was shrewd not to come when he called. “I don’t think so.” I could hardly breathe. What if he wasn’t making that up? Could I be forced to give Trixie back to this ogre? I would move away and hide her before I let that happen. Taking another subtle step back, I mustered my best no-nonsense voice and wished I had some of Oma’s moxie. “Then take me to court. This is my dog.”

  “I don’t need some idiot judge to decide anything for me. I’ll take her now. Just put her down and I’ll take her.”

  My heart beat in my chest like a drum. “I understand that your Jack Russell might have looked like her, but you’re not taking Trixie anywhere.” I was afraid to turn away from him, so I slowly took step after step backward down the path away from him.

  Suddenly, his eyes grew wide. He nodded at me coolly and said, “See you around.”

  He strode away and disappeared into the woods. I watched until he was gone, immensely relieved that he had left. I set Trixie on the ground, wondering what I had said that finally convinced him. Whatever it was, I would have to keep Trixie close by until I knew that creep had left town. My hands still trembled. I took some deep breaths and swung around calling, “Come on, guys!”

  And then I let out a scream so loud I thought they might have heard it on the next mountain over.