“Well, I suppose we should get to work,” Josie said. “I’ll make some tea first.”
“Oh, dear,” Margaret blurted. “We’re out of sugar. I forgot to get some yesterday when I was at the general store.”
Josie and Augusta gasped together. “No sugar?” Augusta cried. “Margaret!”
“I’m sorry.” Margaret waved her hands, already hurrying to the coat rack. She grabbed the nearest coat, Augusta’s, and slipped it on. Then she seized the nearest hat, Josie’s, and pinned it at an odd angel on her head. “I’ll be right back!” With that, she dashed out the door, leaving Augusta and Josie staring after her.
A loud wail sounded behind them. Cleopatra, their Siamese cat, padded toward them with the entitled air of royalty.
“Fine, I’ll feed you.” Josie scooped her up. “You grouchy thing. You’d better hope Val isn’t right and we forget to feed you.”
“Come now, sister,” Augusta said. “We’re not that bad.”
Josie arched an eyebrow at her. “I don’t know, it took a Val to get this place in shape. Obviously we couldn’t do it on our own. You know how much business she’s brought in.”
Augusta looked around the cheerful space. “Yes, you’re right. But surely, we can last a month or so without her?”
“Let us hope.” Josie set the cat down and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll feed Cleopatra as soon as Margaret gets back. Then I’ll make tea, and we can look over the list of tasks Val left us.”
“Indeed, we will,” Augusta agreed.
As soon as Margaret returned, Josie and Augusta stepped out of the kitchen… and stopped short. Margaret wasn’t alone.
“Isn’t he wonderful?” Margaret gushed, beaming.
Augusta and Josie stared wide-eyed at the biggest sheepdog they’d ever seen.
Josie pointed. “What is THAT?!”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Margaret said brightly. “Augusta, Josie, may I introduce you to George?”
“George?” they echoed.
Augusta facepalmed. “Margaret, what have you done? Why have you brought that beast in here?”
“Well, if you must know,” Margaret said indignantly, “Mr. Barr at the general store said this dog has been hanging around his place for several days. He’s obviously lost. But look at that magnificent coat! Surely someone is looking for him. And Mr. Barr was getting tired of feeding him, so I volunteered to bring him home.”
She smiled at the dog. “He’s quite intelligent. Watch. George, lay down.”
The dog immediately lay down.
Margaret beamed. “George, get up.”
George got up.
“George, play dead.”
George flopped over with athud.
Josie laughed. “Oh goodness gracious!”
Margaret grinned ear to ear. “George, sit.”
George sat and panted happily.
“How on earth does he see through all that hair?” Josie asked.
A wail sounded from the kitchen. George perked up, barked once, and bolted toward the sound.
