Patch left and returned a few minutes later, carrying a tray of hot dogs and hamburgers. Cole came around the corner, telling Archer about a new dog he wanted to train.
“Oh, careful,” Hannah told Patch as he set the tray on the edge of the counter. “Brody has a thing for hamburgers.”
Patch moved the platter forward and then paused and turned toward Cole. His eyebrow attempted to arch, but Patch winced instead. “What did you say?”
“Brody developed a taste for hamburger, so don’t leave them close to the edge of the counter,” Hannah repeated innocently.
“You knew,” Patch exclaimed as Cole’s eyes grew big. “I’ve gotten stuck on latrine duty for weeks because of your poorly trained mutt?”
Cole held out his hand. “Let me explain. It happened on my first day here and I didn’t know he did it until afterward,” he blurted out as Patch stalked him.
“I have one thing to tell you,” Patch snarled. “Run.”
Cole took off like a flash as Patch made his way around everyone to go after him. He still tried to explain his predicament, but Patch was in no mood to hear it. The group gathered and watched as he finally caught up to Cole in the pool room. Patch lunged, and Cole grabbed hold of his shirt, sending both men into the water. Everyone laughed as the two men climbed out of the pool.
“Don’t let Melody or Kit Kat hear me say this, but sometimes, there’s a need for violence.” Leo opened the pool room door. “Cole, you have latrine duty until you spin up.”
Everyone turned when Kassie, Catherine, and Claire entered the building.
“Hi, Kit Kat,” Leo said, glancing behind her. “Did you forget the kids?”
“My mother will bring them in a few minutes,” she said stiffly. “May I see you in your office?”
Everyone quieted as they watched the two go down the hall and Leo’s office door slammed shut.
“What did he do this time?” Shadow asked Kassie.
“You’ll know soon enough,” she said, worriedly. “Patch, you might want to get the first aid kit out.”
“Surely Leo won’t hurt his wife,” Conrad stated in shock.
“It’s not her we’re worried about,” Taco answered. “Leo gets into scrapes all the time. This one must be a doozy.”
“Ten bucks, he taught Grace a new swear word,” Whiskey guessed.
“Make it twenty,” Saint chimed in.
Kassie bit her nails as they all waited to see what their fearless leader did this time.
Leo led Catherine down the hall and into his office. She slammed the door and he turned around, taken off guard by her venom. When he left this morning, he made sure he put the toilet seat down, and she seemed in a good mood. “What’s wrong Kit Kat?” he asked gently.
“Don’t Kit Kat, me,” she seethed. “Leo, did you go back to the doctor for your confirmation the vasectomy took?”
“No, not yet. I cancelled it when we rushed to help Matthew in Texas. I’ll make an appointment after Christmas,” he said, approaching her. Catherine reared back and punched him in his good eye.
Leo stomped his foot and held his face. “Why the hell did you hit me?” he exclaimed. “I promise, I’ll make the appointment.”
“It’s a little too late now,” Catherine snarled while holding her knuckles. “I’m pregnant.”
Leo’s mouth nearly dropped to the floor and his tongue went dry as he tried to come up with a way to soothe his savage wife. “How did it happen?”
Apparently, his choice of words came out wrong as her eyes shot fire at him. “How do you think it happened?”
“Didn’t you stay on the pill?” As soon as the words left his mouth, Leo knew he managed to put himself in the doghouse.
“Why on earth would I take the pill if my husband got neutered?”
“You know,” he said, putting the desk between them. “For your hormones.”
