To Scotland With Love by Patience Griffin Page B

to inspect, rinse, and dry. Eventually, all the dishes were done.
    Mattie looked beat, his eyes drooping, probably from the cold meds.
    â€œI think we should lie on the couch and watch a movie.” She pressed a hand to his forehead, checking for a fever.
    They went into the parlor, and Cait put on “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Mattie fell asleep within minutes.
    She flipped off the television and went in search of other ways to help. She cleaned the bathroom, picked up the parlor, then readied Deydie’s stew by pouring it into the Crock-Pot she’d found above the stove.
    When Duncan arrived home, Mattie still slept. She put a finger to her lips. “He’s napping.”
    Duncan grinned at Cait and whispered, “Guess what’s in the box.” He flipped the lid open. Inside was a ball of black, brown, and white fur. “I got Da a puppy for Christmas, a tricolor sheltie.”
    He is off his rocker! Who in their right mind would get Graham a dog so soon?
Cait shook her head and wanted to ask Duncan what he’d been smoking. Did he think Graham would thank him for it? She tried to give Duncan a reassuring smile but wasn’t sure she pulled it off. “Is it a boy or a girl?”
    â€œA boy. We’re a family of boys. This little guy will fit right in.” Duncan’s face shadowed. “I don’t know what I’ll do with him until Christmas, though. I want it to be a surprise, but I’ve trouble enough arranging sitters for Mattie while I’m out fishing.”
    Crap. Between another rock and a hard place.
Cait had no choice but to offer. It would only be for a few days. “Do you want me to keep the dog until Christmas?”
    â€œOver the pub? Going up and down those stairs to take him out?”
    â€œI’m sure Deydie won’t mind if the puppy and I crash at her place.” Cait would have to get her gran drunk again before asking permission.
    Duncan beamed at her. “Okay. But let me know if it doesn’t work out.”
    â€œWe’ll be fine,” she said, not sure whether she was trying to convince him or herself.
    * * *
    Deydie could very well turn both me and the pup out in the cold.
To counteract that thought, Cait stopped at the store. She’d bet good money chocolate would be just the thing to win over the Grand Pooh-Bah of Crankiness. She nestled the dog in the blanket and made sure the lid was on tight before entering the mercantile.
    Amy was just putting the phone down. “I’m glad you’re here. We’re having an emergency quilt session at Deydie’s right now. That was Ailsa—Rhona’s had a shocker. Her daughter isn’t having just a baby—it’s twins. She only made the one quilt, and now she needs another before Christmas. Bethia is on her way, and I’ll be closing up in a minute. I’m sure Ailsa has already called Moira, but I don’t know if she’ll be able to leave her da or not. You’ll come and help, won’t you?”
    Cait looked down at the box. “Of course.” Then at the row of chocolate. “Do you know which is Deydie’s favorite?”
    Amy smiled. “That’s easy. Chocolate-covered cherries.”
    â€œGreat. I’ll take two boxes.” Cait laid the money on the counter.
    Amy rang it up, bagged the chocolate, and grabbed the CLOSED sign. “If anyone needs anything, they know how to reach me. What’s in the box?”
    â€œAnother shocker,” Cait said, knowing it was true. Or at least it would be when her grumpy gran saw it.
    Amy shrugged and headed out the door. They set out for Deydie’s as a storm came in from the sea.
    Amy still managed to talk a mile a minute over the gale-force winds. “I hope Rhona has enough fabric to make another Log Cabin quilt. The babies are due in January. I bet Rhona is cutting out pieces right now. I reckon the rest of us will work on the blocks. I think we can