“Well, whatI doknow is that we like seeing you around here, brother. Stop bein’ a stranger.” The General clapped a friendly hand on Rhett’s shoulder. “Why I bet you’ve the makings of a champion Scrabble player, a regular chip off the ol’ block.”
“Scrabble?”
“We play here daily.” He pointed at a picnic table where a well-dressed older woman was unpacking a board. Her blue rinse was vaguely familiar. It took a minute for recognition to hit. She was the frowning lurker from the big house along Hopes and Dreams Way, the one who behaved as if her sheer curtains were camouflage yesterday morning when Pepper got lost on the first—only—morning of her clerkship.
“And there he is,” the General continued. “Ladies and gents, the current reigning word champion.”
The wrought iron gate creaked and in strolled an older man in a suit. At first glance he appeared harmless enough, in his early seventies with a vigorous step. His nose hooked, and his close-set gaze was bright with a fierce intelligence. Not even the fact he matched his bowties to his lapdog’s hair ribbons dimmed his dignity.
The fuzz ball glanced in her direction and emitted a low growl in the back of her throat.
Ah, Fluffy. We meet again.Pepper leaned in to Rhett. “If Dude ever did acquire a taste for dog, I know who I’d put on the menu.”
Rhett didn’t respond. In fact, the blood had drained from his face.
“Hey. You okay?” she murmured. “You don’t look good.”
“I’m late for my next appointment.” He squinted, gaze hard, like they’d been on her front porch the night Miss Ida May had spoken to him.
Pepper quickly put two and two together. That older man was the same guy she’d seen Rhett arguing with near the courthouse. “Fluffy’s owner is your dad?”
“Her name is Marie Claire,” he snapped. “Now try not to lose any more clients. I stuck my neck out getting you this job.”
Ouch.She bristled, taken aback at the tone. “Don’t worry, I won’t forget…”
But he’d already stalked off without waiting for her response, giving the old man a wide berth.
“Doctor, might I have the pleasure of introducing the Everland dog park’s newest member?” The General gallantly signaled toward Pepper.
“Miss Knight, I presume.” The old man clicked his heels and executed a stiff bow.
“This is Doc Valentine,” the General said. “A living local legend. Delivered half the town. And he’s Rhett’s father,” he added out of the side of his mouth. “They don’t get along.”
Doc glowered. Ah, there was the family resemblance. That and the way he held himself. No fidgeting.
“Nice to meet you and um, you?” Addressing a dog felt silly but this one seemed to be following the conversation. Wolfgang hurled himself forward, whining, thin tail wagging.
Fluffy growled low in her throat.
“Marie Claire has rarified tastes,” Doc said. “She’s discriminating in whom she associates with.”
Was Doc projecting himself on his pet? Forget pirate history. Someone needed to conduct a dog park psychological study. In the meantime, how was she going to survive this job without losing her damn mind?
