“The one that can only be accessed by the built-in ladder? How the hell did she get up there?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
The sense of normalcy returns, and the tension in my shoulders uncoils the rest of the way. We live to battle another day. “Did you get any good shots of Birdie?”
“Oh, lots! She’s so photogenic. I wish I had time to print some out for Walter.” She drops the camera in her lap, her expressionshifting from bright to grim. “Do you think he’s okay? You said he had a stroke?”
“A mild stroke from what Annabelle heard. I don’t know what that means.”
“It’s too bad we couldn’t just load Birdie up on a trailer and bring her for a visit. I’m sure they’d both love that.”
Everleigh, Macy, Paps, and I debated this topic for half the morning. Paps was certain a visit from Birdie would cheer Walter up. But the risk that the man’s shitty grandson might make an appearance made it too risky to bring her along. If he spotted the alpaca he sold to another farm, I’d have no choice but to take her back.
Leaving Birdie behind at Stone Ranch buys me a little more time.
At least, I hope it does.
I follow my GPS to Shady Pines Rehabilitation Center, bracing for the worst. Folks had less than kind things to say about the facility when I asked about it atThe Rusty Nailyesterday. Though I haven’t had time to confirm any of what they told me, none of it sounded particularly comforting.
But when I turn the last corner, I’m pleasantly surprised to see a neatly maintained brick facility with a new sign, freshly repaved parking lot, and bright flowers planted along the building. Several sugar maples that are no doubt older than many of the residents inside surround the building. Even they seem well-maintained with the dead branches trimmed back.
“Thisis Shady Pines?” Everleigh says, leaning forward to peer out the windshield. “Are you sure?”
“I’m as shocked as you are.”
“Let’s hope this isn’t one of those lipstick on a pig situations,” she says as I pull into a parking spot.
Inside, the facility is bright and welcoming in a cozy sort of way rather than clinical. A woman seated behind the roundedfront desk wearing lavender scrubs looks up and offers what appears to be a genuine smile. For a moment, I’m convinced I’m in the Twilight Zone. Maybe I’m still passed the fuck out in bed, dreaming this entire morning up. That would make more sense than Everleigh crawling into my lap sans panties and kissing me like the world was ending.
“Welcome,” the woman whose name tag readsBriannagreets us. “Can I help you find someone?”
“Do we look lost?” Everleigh says, chuckling.
“A little, yes. But to be fair, a lot of people show up wearing that same expression since the renovations were finished. It looks like a whole new place, doesn’t it?”
“Renovations?” I repeat.
“Shady Pines in under new management as of the beginning of the year. The new owner was incredibly motivated to turn things around as quickly as possible. I wish I could say the old rumors were fabrications, but I don’t like to lie.”
The less than stellar reputation Shady Pines has in Emerald Creek makes more sense now.
“We’re looking for Walter Smalley. Is he here?”
“Who’s looking for me?” an older man’s voice calls from one of the sofas set off to the side in a cozy gathering area. One that looks welcoming enough for an afternoon hangout.
“Walter?”
“Sheriff?” Walter’s face brightens as he shifts in his seat and closes a book in his lap. “Am I getting arrested?”
“Do youwantme to arrest you?”
Walter pretends to think about it for a moment as Everleigh and I join him, then says, “Nah. They treat me pretty good around here. They won’t let me have my pack, but other than that, they’re alright.”
Brianna shakes her head. “We do allow furry visitors, just not ones the size of horses.”
“Birdie’s no bigger than a miniature horse. Karen and Penelope are smaller still. Surely there’s a loophole? My girls need me.”
“You know if it were up to me, we’d build them a pen in the yard today,” Brianna says, as though these two have had this conversation before. “But I don’t make the rules, Mr. Smalley.”
