Chapter Twenty-Four
“Miss Jessie,don’t you look pretty today,” Tami exclaimed the next morning at the diner where she and Linx met up forbreakfast.
Linx looked back over her shoulder. “Wow, Miss America, here shecomes.”
Jessie wore a little girl’s version of a Wonder Woman costume: a red cape, blue skirt with white stars, a golden headband and belt, and a red top with a big ‘W’patch.
She made puny muscles and smiled at her mother, Jean. “When I grow up, I’m going to be Wonder Woman just like MissLinx.”
“Jean, please, sit with us,” Tami said, patting the bench seat of thebooth.
“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt whatever you two are discussing,” the pastor’s wife said. “Jessie is ever so grateful you found herdog.”
“Actually, I didn’t find her,” Linx clarified. “Grady Hart found Betsy. Is she doing okaynow?”
“She’s fine. Lost a bit of weight, and we had to take her to grooming to remove all the stuck-on burrs anddirt.”
“That’s good to hear.” Linx made room for them. “Please join us forbreakfast.”
“Can we? Please?” Jessie asked, bouncing up and down so that her cape fluttered. “Miss Linx said me and Betsy can march in the dogparade.”
“Is that right?” The pastor’s wife smiled and swept her flowing skirt to sit. “Will she be abother?”
“Not at all. We’d love to have her and Betsy in the parade,” Linx said. “Everyone who has a dog can march under ourbanner.”
The Annual Fourth of July celebration started with a parade around the town square, before the festivities that included the pet rescue auction and a townfair.
“Can you march with me?” Jessie slid into the booth next to Linx and tugged her sleeve. “Can you also be a WonderWoman?”
Linx hadn’t even thought that far ahead, given all the Grady craziness. “Only if it’s okay with yourparents.”
“She’s in her superhero phase,” Jean said. “But don’t you Colson girls usually show your father’shorses?”
“I’ll let Joey and Vivi do the honors,” Linx said. “We have a big push for adoptions going on at Mountain Dog. We’re pretty overcrowded right now, and we’re hoping Ginger will bring in a lot ofdonations.”
“I want Ginger,” Jessie said, tapping her mother’sarm.
“No talking out of turn.” Jean gave Jessie a stern look. “What do yousay?”
“Sorry.” Jessie clapped a hand over hermouth.
“As I was saying, you look lovely, Miss Jessie,” Tami said, easing over any awkwardness. “I’ll tell you what. If it’s okay with Linx, you can help us with the auction onstage.”
“Of course, it’ll be okay,” Linx said, peering at Mrs. Patterson. “As long as it’s okay with yourmother.”
“What exactly will she do when she shows the dogs?” Jean asked. “I want to make sure it’s safe forher.”
“We wouldn’t ask her to hold dogs or anything,” Linx said. “Dogs tend to get too excited at these auctions, so we leave them in the kennel and show pictures of them. Only prequalified people can bid and we don’t actually close any sale until they come to the center to take their doghome.”
“In that case, it sounds harmless.” Jean said, as Joey poured coffee for the grownups and placed a glass of milk in front ofJessie.
After everyone gave their usual orders, Jessie raised her hand. “Mama, remember you said I could get apuppy?”
“I did, sweetie, but only if we didn’t find Betsy,” Mrs. Pattersonreplied.
“Betsy’s lonely. I bet she’ll love to have a puppy to play with,” Jessie said with the cute earnestness only little kids couldmuster.
“Betsy has you,” Mrs. Patterson said firmly. “She’ll never belonely.”
