Wyatt stepped forward in his CCD uniform, looking as uncomfortable as his plastic Ken doll face allowed. Whatever he’d been ordered to say to Kinney didn’t sit easily.
Before he got a chance to say it, a sensible shoe came out of the crowd and kicked Wyatt hard enough to send him reeling backwards.
The foot was attached to Myrtle McCabe, who shoved past Wyatt and then wrestled the mic from the MC. “I will not stand by in silence while the City makes another stupid decision,” she said, aiming another sharp kick at a security guard. “Kinney Butterfield saved my dog the other night. She’s saved two others that I know about and likely far more.” She shook her fist at the mayor’s box. “What are you thinking, Bill? And what has this stupid town become if you fail someone like Kinney Butterfield at anything at all? She should be celebrated, not sanctioned.” Raising her arm, she shouted, “Boo, Billy Bradshaw. Boo!”
As the crowd picked up the “Boo, Billy” and ran with it, Mayor Bradshaw rose, swept out of the booth and hustled into City Hall with his followers. The MC managed to seize the mic and quickly backtracked, declaring all dogs winners, including Whiskey. Security guards began dispersing the crowd to enjoy the various activities throughout the town’s center.
Jacinda slipped under the velvet rope and came toward Kinney. It was the moment of truth.
“I’m so sorry for creating such a distraction,” she said, kneeling to embrace Whiskey again. “And after you were so good to us last winter. The City offered to fly me home for the event and insisted I stand where I did.” Her eyes filled as she looked up. “I wasn’t sure Whiskey would even remember me. My sister told me you’d adopted him and were taking such good care of him. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough. He’s an amazing dog.”
“That he is,” Kinney said. “I love this dog. But if you’re here to take him back, I understand. You made him what he is.”
She shook her head. “I made him a good dog. You made him a great dog.”
“Excuse me,” Cori said, joining them. “Most of the credit goes to me for the greatness. I’ve got this failproof Miracle Makeover Program, you see.”
Everyone laughed and it lightened the mood. “Anyway,” Jacinda continued, “I wouldn’t think of breaking you up. But even if I’d wanted to, Whiskey’s made his own decision.”
While Kinney was distracted, the dog had wedged himself firmly between Kinney’s feet and was trying to worm his big body backwards. Her legs had bowed into a most unflattering pose. She looked at James, and he turned away, snickering.
Moving aside, Kinney hugged Jacinda in a formal handoff and invited her and her husband to attend the after-party at Runaway Farm. Once they’d disappeared into the crowd, Kinney dropped to her knees and hugged Whiskey, burying her face in his fur and murmuring, “All mine.”
James offered his hand and when she stood, he leaned in and whispered, “See? He chose you after all. Who wouldn’t?”
Kinney looked up at him and drew a deep breath. Just months ago, her heart had felt like a hard, cold fist that would never unclench. Now, it turned out that there was room in it for two new loves.
Cori rolled her eyes in disgust. “Would you two just go to the farm and get a stall?”
Chapter 23
Hannah Pemberton knew how to throw a party. Since the dramatic raid and rescue the night before, Runaway Farm had been completely made over in Fourth of July mode. There were red, white and blue streamers everywhere, cute little fast food booths, and games of chance to rival the midway at a county fair. People had gravitated there long before the City’s formal celebrations ended, just because it was becoming a destination of choice.
“I take full credit for the crowd,” Evie said, panning around with her video camera. “The Princess and the Pig continues to pull them in.”
“How come you get the credit and I get the embarrassment and the bills?” Hannah asked, smiling.
“It’s tough to be a star, isn’t it?” Evie asked. “Mayor Bradshaw is going to be even more annoyed that people are spurning his party for yours.”
“Well, I do have a secret weapon,” Hannah said.
That weapon was Alvina, possibly the most popular alpaca on the planet. Someone had brought out a boombox and people were lining up to dance with her. Remi had set out a collection jar for charity, but reminded everyone that you can’t force an alpaca to dance when the mood’s passed. Somehow, the mood didn’t pass. She kept on going until Charlie came to put her in the barn for a rest. She thanked him by spitting in his face, and Evie was there to catch it all for posterity.
Kinney and James walked hand in hand through the crowd with the dogs, feeling almost like celebrities themselves. Every time someone mentioned the big moment where Whiskey made his choice, however, Kinney would cry. She gave up trying to salvage her mascara.
“I’m not that big on makeup anyway,” James said, as she dabbed her eyes. “It doesn’t quite jive with a thrill seeker like you.”
The waterworks started all over when she saw the Barber family. Even Dan had come out, and his harsh edges seemed to have softened a little. As Evie had predicted, exposure to goats brought smiles even to those with troubled hearts. Ginny and Liam hugged Kinney, and Dan shook her hand. “I’m sorry,” he said. “If Old Lady McCabe can turn things around like that, I can do better, too.”
Kinney laughed through her tears. “Then do me a favor and let Liam visit Whiskey now and then. I could use a walking buddy sometimes.”
After nodding agreement, Dan followed Liam as he ran gleefully to see Alvina.
Wiping the dark circles under her eyes, Kinney took James’ hand. “I want to look more polished for my new consulting business. I’ve decided to start mediating for pet owners in conflict throughout the greater Dog Town area.”
“Fantastic,” he said. “Do you need to find a storefront? I can help with start-up.”
She shook her head. “It’s sweet of you to offer, James, but I’m not comfortable taking your money unless it’s for rescue work. Then you’re welcome to be as generous as you please.”
“Money can’t buy our way out of everything,” Cori said, coming up behind them. “It’s going to take good, old-fashioned surveillance work to stay ahead of this mayor.”
“She’s right about that,” Evie said. “James’ ploy worked once and it will set the mayor back in whatever he’s planning. But he’ll rebound. He always does. He still has the properties and there’s a plan we don’t know about.”
“The war begins again tomorrow,” Cori said, as all the rest of the Mafia—and their partners—joined them. An event like this brought all the men out, too.
“At least we freed all the puppies,” Kinney said. “That’s something.”
Arianna Torrance pushed through the crowd like she meant business. “I’ve just had a terrible shock,” she said. “After delivering those two rescue pups to Brenton last night, I stayed over with my parents. When I was driving back today, I stopped to visit a client. Imagine my shock to find their gorgeous 10-month-old doodle—one of my finest—is gone.”
“Gone where?” Kinney asked.
Ari’s already flushed face turned scarlet. “They sold her a month ago. To someone who offered three times what they paid for her.”
“Why are you just hearing about it? Isn’t that sort of thing in your contract?”
“You bet it is. They thought they could get away with it. That I’d never find out. Now they’re on a list with another breeder to replace her on the cheap.”
“That’s terrible,” Kinney said. “It sounds like what happened with the couple I mentioned.” She pointed to Trina and Joey, who were managing to keep their Rhodesian ridgeback more or less under control, after some private sessions with Cori.
Ari looked around and lowered her voice. “I think I’m being targeted. When I started randomly calling clients, two others admitted they’d recently sold their dogs. No one has much information on the buyer. It was a cash transfer and a dead drop.”
Her blue eyes filled. “I can’t believe people would just sell my babies, especially after waiting so long for them. Who knows where they are?”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” Bridget said, patting her shoulder. “I’m starting to agree with Evie that we need to get this mayor ousted. And I think I know how to get the ball rolling.”
“How?” a dozen voices chimed at once.
Bridget signaled them to huddle. “If Dorset Hills is going this far off the rails, it’s time we called on the person who basically created this mess to come back and fix it.”
“Isla McInnis?” Cori said, frowning. “She’ll never come. She’s some sort of corporate bigwig now and wants nothing to do with us.”
“We can get her back,” Bridget said. “I’m sure of it.”
Flynn Strathmore had been leaning against the fence of Alvina’s pen, quietly sketching through the entire conversation. She passed the sketchbook to Bridget. The illustration featured a beautiful dark-haired woman with a fierce dog standing in Bellington Square. The dog looked like a boxer, and wore a tag that read “Hera.” In her other hand, the woman held a bridal bouquet.
“That’s her! Isla McInnis,” Bridget said. “Only she owns a terrier mix.”
Flynn shrugged. “That’s what I see. Send it to her and see what happens.”
Bridget nodded. “What do we have to lose?”
“We have everything to lose,” Kinney said. “But we’re certainly going to fight this mayor to the bitter end.”
The entire group gave a cheer.
“That’s a plan for tomorrow,” Hannah said. “Today we celebrate smaller victories. I believe Alvina’s had enough rest. Who’s up next?”
James offered his hand to Kinney. “May Alvina and I have the honor?”
Kinney gave Whiskey’s leash to Cori and practically skipped over to the gate. “Dorset Hills may be going insane,” she said, “but at least we have things like this to keep us grounded.”
“You call dancing with an alpaca sane?” James said, grinning as Alvina gave him a deep bow.
“It’s about as sane as I want to be,” Kinney said, as they both returned her bow.
“Enough talk,” James said, hopping on the spot and pumping his arms. “Show us you’ve got moves.”
She did a quick pirouette, struck a pose and then took off with James and the alpaca in pursuit. The sound of the crowd faded quickly, even the barking. In that moment, there was just love, laughter and thundering hooves.
Are you ready for the thrilling conclusion to this year-in-the-life of Dog Town? If so, get your paws on Better or Worse in Dog Town. I promise it will not disappoint!
Don’t forget to grab the prequel, Ready or Not in Dog Town. This little story introduces Isla McInnis on her very first visit to Dorset Hills, 10 years before it turns into “Dog Town.” Isla’s article praising Dorset Hills as the best place for dog lovers in the world creates a bit of a monster. A decade later, she’s on the hook to fix what she started in Better or Worse in Dog Town!
Please take a moment to review this book and the rest of the Dog Town series. Reviews mean so much to this hardworking author.
Last, you’ll want to join my mailing list to hear the latest news about Dog Town and beyond. You’ll get bonus content and see my dog photos!
Read for free.
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Get it here
Read for free.
Bold and Blue in Dog Town: (Dog Town 9) Page 20