Strange Medicine (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #1)(16)

“Sheriff Callum. Can I help you?” She wiped her hands on her apron, her expression curious.

“That black lab in the window.” I glanced toward the front of the store. “Is it sick?”

She grimaced. “You mean the one that’s all black?” I nodded, and she laughed. “No. That’s Grumpy. Well, that’s what we call him. He doesn’t like to play very much, and he doesn’t like to be held.”

“Really? I thought all puppies liked to play and snuggle.”

She chuffed. “Not Grumpy.”

“Huh.” I rubbed my chin. “Is he available?”

She raised her blonde brows. “Do you want him?”

I bit my lip. “I think I do.”

“Seriously?” She laughed. “There are much nicer puppies.”

“He’s cute.”

She frowned. “We don’t have a return policy on the puppies.” She walked over and opened the back of the area where the puppies were. She reached in and grabbed the groggy pup. Then she came closer and handed him gently to me.

I grinned and kissed the dog’s furry face. “I won’t return him.” I smiled when the dog groaned. “I don’t give up on things easily. He probably just needs the right person for him.” For some reason my thoughts went to Maxwell. But I pushed them away and instead concentrated on the adorable little puppy in my arms.





Chapter Five


Maxwell

The next week passed swiftly. I was positive I met just about every living soul in Rainy Dale during those first seven days.

At first, I’d thought Girdy would be too young to be good at her job, but I’d been wrong. She took blood samples and booked appointments like an old pro. By the end of the first week, I wasn’t sure I’d have survived without her competent help and cheerful personality.

“That’s it.” Girdy leaned back in her chair with a smile. “Your last appointment was a no-show, so we’re done for the day.”

I frowned. “They didn’t show up?”

“Nope.” She stood and stretched. “I guess they got cold feet.”

“Who was it?”

“It was Ned Tinkerson.” She sighed. “He had a checkup for a skin rash. It’s pretty rude of him, considering when I called to confirm yesterday he said he was coming.”

“He was such a pest before,” I muttered, taking my lab coat off. “I couldn’t get him out of my office.”

She stood up. “Well, I for one won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” She headed toward the door, grabbing her purse off the coat rack. “I might have just enough time to make it to dinner with my boyfriend for once.”

I watched her leave, feeling oddly at a loose end. Ned not showing up had thrown off my routine. I’d assumed we’d work another hour, then I’d have dinner and a swim before turning in early like usual. But it was still light out, and I wasn’t hungry yet. I moved to the front door and opened it, watching Girdy disappear down the road toward town. I experienced a tiny pang of envy. She hadn’t been able to get out of here quick enough to go see her boyfriend. I’d never really dated anyone who’d been able to hold my interest more than my work.

As I watched her, she passed a man walking a small dog, and they stopped to chat. I studied the man; his shape and height seemed familiar, but it wasn’t her boyfriend. I’d met him once when he came to pick her up, and he was much more burly than this person. With a warm rush of recognition, I realized it was Royce.

My pulse spiked as he left Girdy and continued in my direction. I was tempted to shut the door and pretend I hadn’t seen him. Just because he was moving in my direction didn’t mean he was on his way to see me. He was simply walking his dog. I could close the door, and it wouldn’t be rude. He probably didn’t even know I’d seen him. And even if he did, he no doubt couldn’t care less if I shut the door and ignored him.

But for some weird reason, I didn’t shut the door. I kept it open and even stepped out onto my front porch. My heart beat quickly as he stopped in front of my home.

“Good evening,” he called out cordially.

“Hello.” I moved down the steps, holding his gaze. Just the sight of him did strange things to my gut. “I didn’t know you had a dog.”

He laughed. “I didn’t have one until a week or so ago.”

The puppy didn’t jump around like most young dogs. It sat down and stared at me. “Is he drugged?”

“What?” He glanced at his dog. “No. He’s just like that.”

As I reached them, I crouched next to the dog. “His eyes seem clear.” The puppy flicked his ears forward at the sound of my voice. “And I don’t think he’s deaf.”

“He isn’t. I had him checked over thoroughly with the vet in town.” He shrugged. “He’s just standoffish until he knows you.”

“Sounds like my kind of dog.” I patted the dog’s fuzzy head.

“Mine too.”

I straightened and brushed my hand off on my pants. “I had a cancellation, so I got to quit early today.”

“Nice.” He hesitated. “You want to help me walk Grumpy?”

I was surprised at his invitation, and I took a step back. “Uh…”