around to see what's open or wait until tomorrow to eat. I'm sure you'll survive a day or two without eating without a problem.” Her eyes skimmed my body. I'd like to think that she was admiring my curves, but I got the feeling that she was gearing up to insult me again. Sick or not, I was ready for her.
Bring it on, skin and bones. Bring it on.
“I wouldn't, if I were you.”
I turned around to find Bob standing behind me, laughing at the two of us.
“Oh, hi! I didn't see you there.” I apologized to him.
“I must have lost some weight since yesterday morning because last I checked, I was a good two-fifty on a good day.” He laughed.
Sissy took the opportunity to move out of my sight. I had to give her credit. I was planning to do the same thing when the opportunity presented itself.
“You get two points for saving the day.” I said.
“Are you here for the search party?” Bob asked.
I thought about it for a second. I hadn't planned on being part of a formal search party, but I had to admit, it was a good idea to have company.
“I was actually just about to stop by the nursing home to see if I could find anything out, but then I saw all the commotion and thought I'd stop to see what is was all about.” I explained.
“Well, you're here now, so are you going to stay?” Bob asked, bending down to pet Barney, who was trying to find a spot to get comfortable. He was already exhausted from his early morning nap and his routine car nap, so naturally after walking a block, he was ready for another nap. Who could blame him?
I took a look around. Most of the volunteers were either about Nubbin's age or just shy of their eightieth birthdays.
“Good. We could use someone like you with us. Do you know how to get there?” Bob asked, assessing my parka, jeans, and tennis shoes.
“Where are we going?” I asked, wondering what was wrong with my clothing. It was all I had. It wasn't like I had plenty of time to shop for winter gear while I was trying to keep the car on the road and not drown in about a foot of water on the interstate.
“The Schmeckpepper farm. Haven't you been there before?” He asked.
I shook my head, surprised that going to Nubbin's farm required a search party. Hadn't someone already checked to see if Nubbin had gone home. I mean, that made sense, didn't it?
“No, I've never been to his farm. When I met him, he was living in the nursing home already. I'd never met him prior to last Christmas.” I explained.
Bob shook his head in amusement. “You drove all the way out here from California to find him and you only know him from the nursing home? You are something special, aren't you?”
“Who said I was special?” I asked as I looked around at the crowd full of strangers.
“Sheriff Wagner did. He's pretty fond of you.” Bob explained, glancing behind him through the crowd.
Just when I thought I'd be able to go a day without having to hear Charlie's name, someone had to bring him up again. I didn't have the energy to smile or pretend to be pleased to hear that he'd said anything nice about me.
“If I wasn't such a gentleman, I'd give you a ribbing about how many times I've seen your car parked outside Sheriff Wagner's house lately.” Bob winked at me, eyeing me with a knowing look, but I had absolutely no idea what he was insinuating.
“Well, since you don't know your way out there, you can hitch a ride with us.” Bob offered.
I hadn't noticed anyone with him, so I asked. “Us?”
“Of course, me and the fellas are going out there together to bring that hard-headed good for nothing back to town before he gets himself in any more trouble.” Bob explained, taking my arm to lead the way.
I gently tugged Barney's leash to wake him. “Let's go find Nubbin.” I said. “And ring his neck.” I added under my breath.
*
“What are you doing here? Haven't
Bring it on, skin and bones. Bring it on.
“I wouldn't, if I were you.”
I turned around to find Bob standing behind me, laughing at the two of us.
“Oh, hi! I didn't see you there.” I apologized to him.
“I must have lost some weight since yesterday morning because last I checked, I was a good two-fifty on a good day.” He laughed.
Sissy took the opportunity to move out of my sight. I had to give her credit. I was planning to do the same thing when the opportunity presented itself.
“You get two points for saving the day.” I said.
“Are you here for the search party?” Bob asked.
I thought about it for a second. I hadn't planned on being part of a formal search party, but I had to admit, it was a good idea to have company.
“I was actually just about to stop by the nursing home to see if I could find anything out, but then I saw all the commotion and thought I'd stop to see what is was all about.” I explained.
“Well, you're here now, so are you going to stay?” Bob asked, bending down to pet Barney, who was trying to find a spot to get comfortable. He was already exhausted from his early morning nap and his routine car nap, so naturally after walking a block, he was ready for another nap. Who could blame him?
I took a look around. Most of the volunteers were either about Nubbin's age or just shy of their eightieth birthdays.
“Good. We could use someone like you with us. Do you know how to get there?” Bob asked, assessing my parka, jeans, and tennis shoes.
“Where are we going?” I asked, wondering what was wrong with my clothing. It was all I had. It wasn't like I had plenty of time to shop for winter gear while I was trying to keep the car on the road and not drown in about a foot of water on the interstate.
“The Schmeckpepper farm. Haven't you been there before?” He asked.
I shook my head, surprised that going to Nubbin's farm required a search party. Hadn't someone already checked to see if Nubbin had gone home. I mean, that made sense, didn't it?
“No, I've never been to his farm. When I met him, he was living in the nursing home already. I'd never met him prior to last Christmas.” I explained.
Bob shook his head in amusement. “You drove all the way out here from California to find him and you only know him from the nursing home? You are something special, aren't you?”
“Who said I was special?” I asked as I looked around at the crowd full of strangers.
“Sheriff Wagner did. He's pretty fond of you.” Bob explained, glancing behind him through the crowd.
Just when I thought I'd be able to go a day without having to hear Charlie's name, someone had to bring him up again. I didn't have the energy to smile or pretend to be pleased to hear that he'd said anything nice about me.
“If I wasn't such a gentleman, I'd give you a ribbing about how many times I've seen your car parked outside Sheriff Wagner's house lately.” Bob winked at me, eyeing me with a knowing look, but I had absolutely no idea what he was insinuating.
“Well, since you don't know your way out there, you can hitch a ride with us.” Bob offered.
I hadn't noticed anyone with him, so I asked. “Us?”
“Of course, me and the fellas are going out there together to bring that hard-headed good for nothing back to town before he gets himself in any more trouble.” Bob explained, taking my arm to lead the way.
I gently tugged Barney's leash to wake him. “Let's go find Nubbin.” I said. “And ring his neck.” I added under my breath.
*
“What are you doing here? Haven't
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