by Dixie Cash
Anxiety roiled Sandi’s stomach. For a few seconds, she thought she might throw up. “God, Waffle,” she stage-whispered. “You aren’t really his dog, are you?”
He looked up at her anxiously, his long tail whipping.
“Whatever. You’re happy here now. You’ve got playmates.”
...But I’ll be back. Buster is my dog and you can’t refuse to give him to me. ... Don’t worry, Buster. I’ll be back to rescue you....
Rescue? Had he said RESCUE? The bastard. No dog could have a better home than Waffle had with her.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you go and be a work dog. You deserve better. I’ll put up a fight for you. I’m tired of people walking all over me. If this guy plans to take me on, he’d better pack a lunch.”
She eased away from the door.
Suddenly a weekend at Aunt Ed’s house seemed like a great idea. She stalked to the back room and found her cell phone on the counter, pressed in the Styling Station’s number. Her aunt answered.
“Hi, Aunt Ed. Waffle and I miss Jake so much. We’d love to come and see him. You wouldn’t like a house guest for the weekend, would you?”
“Abso-fuckin’-lutely, babygirl. You haven’t spent the night at my house since you were a little girl. Bring some rubber gloves and cleaning supplies when you come. After we swamp out Jake’s room, we’ll open a bottle of wine and cook up a big steak. Just put your little butt in that SUV and come on down.
“Listen, I’m going to do that. I just have to throw some things together. Is it okay if I bring Pablo and Adolph, too?”
“Who’s that? We’ve only got two extra bedrooms now that Jake moved in.”
“They’re little dogs. At home, I keep them separated from the big dogs and Waffle sort of protects them. Without him there, I’m afraid they’ll get hurt.”
“Sure. We’ll just have an animal party. As long as they don’t beat up my cat.”
Sandi had to laugh. “Aunt Ed, Waffle loves cats. And Pablo and Adolph together don’t weigh fifteen pounds. Neither one of them could beat up a cat if he wanted to.”
Next, she called Betty Ann and arranged for her to mind the store tomorrow. As she drove home, she called Juanita, her friend at WLA and asked her to go to her house tomorrow and do the morning feeding.
At home, she threw some toiletries and a change of clothing in a duffel, grabbed a small tub of dog food and beds and loaded all of it, including cleaning supplies, into the SUV. As she worked, she couldn’t keep from thinking that though she loved all of these animals, they were certainly a lot of trouble. Finally, she loaded a snarling Pablo and a yipping Adolph into an oversize pet carrier and headed for Salt Lick.
***
Nick sat in his truck in Wendy’s parking lot finishing up a hamburger and deciding what to do next. He had planned on spending the afternoon at Sylvia’s house, but now that idea held no appeal. He called her and told her he wouldn’t be stopping by after all.
He needed a different strategy to get Buster back. He had made a mistake barreling over Sandi and insisting on taking him. Of course she was attached to the dog. He was a loveable animal and she had obviously had him a few months. Long enough to bond with him. Nick was known as a patient man and good negotiator who usually persuaded adversaries to his way of thinking. If he ever wanted his old canine pal back, that was what he had to be now.
He disposed of his trash, then started back toward LaBarkery, intending to take a different tack with the store’s owner.
Parking in front of the store, he saw a CLOSED sign hanging inside the front door. But just because she had put that sign up didn’t mean she wasn’t inside. He walked up to the door and knocked on it. When no one came, he gave the door a rattle. Peeking inside, he saw that the place was dark except for the night lights. Shit. Nobody in the retail business would close their store at three o’clock in the afternoon on a weekday.
Sooo....did Buster’s pretty and perky dognapper intend to play dirty?
Nick returned to his truck and started the drive to his place ten miles out of Midland. He glanced over at the sleeping puppy on the passenger seat. Sweet little dog, he thought with affection. He would train him to be a good dog the same way he had trained Buster. Then, when he got Buster back, he would have two good dogs.
***
On Sunday, before returning to Midland, Sandi donned heavy rubber gloves that reached her elbows and helped her aunt and Vic clean the room they had given Jake in their mobile home.
“I’m just glad we moved Mama Doll’s craft supplies out of here,” Vic said, as they washed bird poop off the walls and hard surfaces. “I’d have a helluva time getting bird shit off all of her beads.”
“I’m so sorry, y’all. I should’ve told you more about Jake. From the beginning of my association with him, I tried to figure out a way for him to wear diapers.”
“That diet he’s on,” Aunt Ed said. “Maybe you could come up with something that’s a little more binding.”
Sandi broke into laughter. “Oh, Aunt Ed, you’re so funny.
“Yeah, I’m a real card. Some of my funniest moments are when I’m up to my elbows in shit.”
Leaving Jake in Vic’s care, Sandi and her aunt moved to the beauty salon to clean Jake’s sanctuary.
After they had situated Pablo and Adolph in the storeroom, Aunt Ed grabbed Sandi’s elbow and dragged her into the salon. “Look what Vic built for Jake.”
Her aunt had told her on the phone about Jake’s digs at the beauty salon, but in her wildest imagination, Sandi never would have pictured what stood in one corner of the salon. Made of wood, extending from floor to ceiling, filled with both artificial and growing plants and even a small fountain that looked like a waterfall, it appeared to be a tiny jungle retreat. The only thing missing was Jake. “Oh, my God. Vic built that?”
“He sure did,” Debbie Sue said. “Isn’t it great? It even has climate control.”
“A lot of it’s plastic,” Aunt Ed added. “We can take it outside and hose it off.”
Sandi tried to wrap her mind around maintaining climate control in a corner of a large rock building and dismantling the cage and its contents to take it outside. “What a lot of work. Vic must like Jake then.”
“Hon, I told you he did. I’ve never seen my honey get so attached to anything so fast. Even Gus likes that silly bird. You should see them. Vic puts Jake on the floor and Gus peeks around the corner of the doorway. Jake scratches the floor at him, then Gus humps up and dances in a circle. They do that over and over and Vic laughs like a crazy man. It’s a hoot.”
Able to picture the scene, Sandi laughed. She was so glad Vic and her aunt had learned to live with Jake and love him.
All the way back to Midland from Salt Lick, she thought about her visit with her aunt and Vic Martin. She should spend more time with them. Both of them were fun, unconventional and fearless. Nothing like her parents. They paid little attention to what other people thought. They were an inspiration. Fun was in short supply in Samdi’s life and lately, she seemed to fear everything—love, marriage, life itself. The weekend at her aunt’s house had been uplifting.
Jake had indeed found a good home. The mini-jungle Vic had built him in the corner of the beauty salon was awe-inspiring. Vic had researched African Grey parrots—their native habitat, what they ate, what scientific studies had revealed about them. Aunt Ed had said he was the best gift she had ever given her husband and she thanked Sandi for bringing the parrot into their lives.
Jake apparently loved his new environment as well as his new owners. He sent Aunt Ed into giggles by wolf-whistling at her. When Vic was at home, Jake rode on his shoulder everywhere. Vic’s attempts to teach him not to say “fuck” resulted in squawking arguments and roaring laughter.
Jake even sat on Vic’s shoulder while he barbecued chicken on the grill and Vic told him those chicken parts could be him if he didn’t behave. What was hard to believe was that the parrot seemed to know Vic was kidding. Every time Vic said
that, Jake flapped his wings and squawked, “I can say fuck if I want to.”
Debbie Sue had taught him to play peek-a-boo, with him hiding out among the plants in his Styling Station aviary, Debbie Sue calling to him and Jake popping out from behind the foliage.
With the beauty shop’s customers, he had an audience, which he probably loved since he had spent his life performing for his fans in a bar. Hopefully, those women in the beauty shop would be teaching him a more socially acceptable vocabulary and would not be feeding him beer and pizza.
Sandi’s biggest challenge now was dealing with Waffle’s former owner, which presented a quandary. Her better angel told her that indeed Waffle was really Buster. Should she just give him back to Nick? She loved Waffle so much, would miss him so much. And he was so much better off with her than he would be working as a cowdog for a cowboy.
Should she discuss what had happened with Richard? He must know what was legal when it came to lost and found animals. Of course, Richard’s solution would be to just give Waffle to Nick and be done with it. One less aggravation with animals. No, she didn’t want Richard’s opinion.
Maybe she should call Juanita and question her. What to do, what to do.
Chapter 12
Monday morning, 8:00 a.m. If Nick were in Salt Lick, he would be on the job, doing the work he had been hired to do. Instead, he was still in Midland. He had made a decision. The woman holding Buster had no intention of letting him go. Getting him back required stronger measures.
He called the Flying C and told Harley he was delayed in Midland, but would be back to the ranch as soon as possible. Harley didn’t complain. The cattle sale had gone better than it had in years, thanks to Nick’s organizing skills.
Nick’s old high school friend, Jason Webster, was now a Midland County deputy sheriff. Jason and his wife and Nick and his former wife used to be social friends. Now that Nick was single, he and Jason didn’t connect socially that often, but they had continued to be buds. Nick had called him when the llamas next door had been abandoned. He called him now and explained the situation with Buster.
“You’re sure it’s your dog?” Jason asked.
“Stake my life on it.”
“You say she found him while he was lost? If she didn’t steal him, there isn’t much my office can do.”
“I understand that. I’m not calling to file a complaint. She appears to be a high-strung person. She might respond if you just show up and scare her a little.”
“I guess we could drop by and see her. Most people, even if they’re blustery at first, tend to get more cooperative when the cops come.” Jason gave a wicked chuckle. “What’s her name?”
“Sandi. I don’t know her last name. Listen, Jason, I don’t want trouble. All I want is for her to give my dog back.”
“Is she mistreating him?”
“No. He looks good, like she’s taking good care of him. She owns this store where she makes and sells health food for dogs and cats. It’s got a goofy name. La-something.”
“LaBarkery? I know that store. Either I or my wife go into it occasionally to buy a treat for our dogs. That’s a real cool store. Your dog is probably eating great.”
Suddenly, it came to Nick that though he hadn’t taken a close look at Sandi’s little operation, he admired what she was doing. With in-depth knowledge of animal nutrition himself, he could see she was conscientious and caring.
“Tell you what,” Jason said. “I’ve been here all night. I’ll be off in about half an hour. I know right where LaBarkery is. I’ll meet you in the parking lot. We’ll go talk to her. I’m a firm believer that a little conversation solves a lot of problems.”
Half an hour later, Nick drove to the parking lot and came to a stop away from the front entrance to LaBarkery. After Jason had sung the store’s praises, Nick had a dubious feeling having him be the one to talk to Sandi about Buster.
Jason soon drove up, interrupting Nick’s thoughts. Nick stepped down from his truck as Jason parked beside him and scooted out of his county car. “I looked up her business license,” he said. “Her last name is Walker. Sandi Walker. Let’s go see what she has to say. When she sees me in my uniform, she’ll probably hand your dog right over.”
As they approached the store’s front entrance, they saw Buster barking and wagging his tail on the other side of the front door. “See?” Nick said. “He knows me. He’s glad to see me. He’s my dog.”
They walked into the store and the aromas of freshly cooked meats surrounded them. Buster barked and danced and bounced. Tail whipping, he rose on his hind legs and put his paws on Nick’s chest. Nick hands reflexively went to scruff the golden head and ears. Man, he loved this dog. “Hey, boy. Howya doing today?” Nick couldn’t keep from smiling. “See how glad he is to see me?” he said to Jason.
Sandi came from the back room wearing a green butcher’s apron and wiping her hands on a towel. She stopped in her tracks, her breath catching.
Instantly, Nick saw a storm of emotions in her pretty green eyes, including fear. He felt like a chickenshit and wished he hadn’t called Jason. There was something about her that made him not want to quarrel with her.
“Waffle. Come here,” she said firmly.
The dog obeyed, but reluctantly. He looked back at Nick. She bent forward and clutched his collar. “You stay here with mama, boy. Be a good dog.”
Nick could see she wasn’t going to let Buster escape her. She looked up at him. “How can I help you?”
Jason removed his uniform cap and held it in front of his chest. Nick, too, removed his own cap.
“Miz Walker, I’m Deputy Webster. First, let me tell you this isn’t an official visit. The truth is, I’m one of your customers. I was hoping you and me and Mr. Conway here could have a conversation about his dog”—he nodded toward Buster—“that’s obviously in your possession.”
Nick winced, even more profoundly sorry for what he had set in motion.
“Sit, Waffle, sit,” Sandi told Buster. The dog parked his butt between him and Sandi, looking first at one, then the other.
Two young girls came out from the back room, their faces lined with worry. Sandi lifted her chin defiantly. “I do not have his dog.”
Again, Jason tilted his head toward Buster. “The dog seems to know him, ma’am.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. Waffle is friendly to everyone.”
Buster began to whine and strain toward Nick. “See?” Nick said. “He wants to come to me.”
“I have to agree, ma’am,” Jason said. “The dog seems to want to be with Mr. Conway.”
Sandi’s eyes glistened with tears and Nick felt worse. “That isn’t possible. I’ve had Waffle since he was a puppy.”
Jason turned to Nick, a bewildered expression on his face.
Any idea that this woman was going to easily give up Buster just because a cop was on the scene fled. Now Nick was even more uncertain that he was doing the right thing, but his ego demanded that he stand his ground. After all, she had just told Jason a bald-faced lie. “That’s not true, Jason. I got him when he was less than a week old. I saved his life.”
The two girls stood silently in the background, their faces in a scowl, their arms crossed over their chests. If looks could kill, Nick was sure he would be a dead man.
Buster pranced and whimpered and strained against Sandi’s grip on his collar, his toenails clicking on the tile floor.
“As I said, ma’am,” Jason continued. “This isn’t an official visit. I want to try to mediate something between you and Mr. Conway.”
She sniffled. “What, you just automatically believe what he says, without even considering that I just told you I’ve had Waffle since he was born?” She turned to one of the girls. “Betty Ann, please bring me Waffle’s leash.”
The petite blonde quickly left the room.
“No, ma’am. I mean, yes, ma’am,” Jason said. His jaws puffed and he blew out a breath. “Look, here’s an idea. Why don’t you and Mr. Conwa
y here share the dog and let it decide where it wants to live?”
Nick didn’t want to share Buster with Sandi Walker or anybody else. He glared at the deputy. The expression on Sandi’s face could be explained only as a look of horror. She was as stunned as he was.
The blonde returned with a dog leash and handed it to Sandi.
She snapped it onto Buster’s collar and held a solid grip on it. Though poor Buster looked up at her with pleading eyes, she said, “That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. Dogs don’t get to decide where they want to live. Only cats do that.”
Jason pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his brow. Now Nick felt guilty, not only for badgering Sandi, but for putting a friend in an awkward spot.
“I wouldn’t know, ma’am. Don’t have any experience with cats. All I’m saying is if you both like the dog and want him to be around you, I don’t see why Nick here can’t keep him a while, then bring him back to you and you keep him a while. Kind of a back and forth situation”—he made a rocking gesture with his hand— “know what I mean?”
Now Nick was as confused as Jason. His head shook involuntarily. “I’m not sure that solves the problem, Jason. Buster’s a trained working dog. I need him with me at the ranch to—”
Sandi’s mouth dropped open and she huffed. “Oh? Nick and Jason, is it?” She looked up at Jason, her eyes snapping with anger. “You two are on a first-name basis? What is this? Are you using your job as a law enforcement officer to harass me on your friend’s behalf? I guess that explains why a county cop is in my store inside the city limits throwing his weight around.”
Inside, Nick winced. He hadn’t intended for her to know he and Jason were even acquainted, much less friends. And it hadn’t occurred to him that Jason, as a county employee, might not have jurisdiction in the city or that she might know that.