by Joan Hess
“I’m not sure Maggody ever washes out of the bloodstream,” I sighed, “which is a depressing thought. I’ll stay for the time being.” It occurred to me that there might be a little excitement in Maggody after all. If nothing else, I could get elected mayor and give myself a raise.
I looked at the freckles dancing across his cheeks, and the flush coloring his ears. Golden brown eyes. If someone would only brush his hair and tidy him up a little bit, he wouldn’t look so unkempt. Pushing aside the rest of my pecan pie, I leaned forward to do my duty.
“Your duck’s going to turn out real fine, Arly,” he said.
“Thank you kindly, John.”
The Mephitis mephitis (Mustelidae) had had a good night, having lucked into both a nest of quail eggs and a rotten log teeming with fat, tasty grubs. It scratched a hole in the leaves contentedly curled up to sleep away the daylight hours. It was, therefore, considerably peeved when the shoe stomped down on its tail.
Without missing a beat, it scurried to its feet, swung around, and lifted its tail.
Jim Bob stumbled back, his hand raised to protect his face. But it was way too late. “Aw, shit,” he muttered.
About the Author
Joan Hess (b. 1949) is the award-winning author of several long-running mystery series. Born in Arkansas, she was teaching preschool when she began writing fiction. Known for her lighthearted, witty novels, she is the creator of the Claire Malloy Mysteries and the Arly Hanks Mysteries, both set in Arkansas.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Joan Hess
Cover design by Andy Ross
ISBN: 978-1-5040-4346-5
This 2017 edition published by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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