entered, her strong face pleasant. “Good morning.” Her deep voice sounded good-humored. Jimmy pushed back his chair. “Good morning.” He was polite, but formal.
Kay was quick. “Please don’t get up. We’ll take care of ourselves.”
He returned to his breakfast, and we moved toward the sideboard. I chose bacon, scrambled eggs with sausage and jalapeno, a waffle, fruit, and orange juice. I glanced in the mirror and admired my outfit. I had still opted for restraint in fashion, but my pale lime blouse had adorable embroidered parasols on it. A matching trim adorned my beige linen slacks. This morning I opted for beige woven leather moccasins. I felt ready for a busy and productive day. After breakfast, it would be time to disappear and take up sentinel duty with Ronald Phillips.
We carried our plates to the table and sat near Evelyn. Jimmy was reading what appeared to be a geology text.
Evelyn held up several sections of newspaper. “Would you care for the newspaper?”
Kay and I declined.
Evelyn lifted a section and became immersed.
Mindful of our ostensible roles, I murmured to Kay, “Do you want me to visit the historical society this morning?”
Clattering steps sounded in the stone hallway.
Diane hurried into the dining room. Her hair poked up in sprigs. She wore no makeup. Her housecoat was open to reveal pink-striped pajamas. “Did someone let Walter out last night? I thought he was inside, but maybe he went out. I whistled and called and he’s not in the house. I went to the back porch and called for him and he didn’t come. Has anyone seen him?”
I glanced at Kay.
She murmured, “The dog.”
Jimmy looked up. “He’s probably chasing a rabbit, Mom.”
She looked doubtful. “Jimmy, please go out and look. Walter’s always on the back steps in the morning if he’s been out at night.” Her voice wobbled.
Jimmy put down his coffee cup. “I’ll find him. He’s too cantankerous for anything to have happened to him.”
Diane nodded jerkily. “I’ll get dressed and come help.”
Kay gave me a quick nod. “Francie and I will help, too.”
In the distance, I heard Jimmy whistling and calling: “Hey, Walter. Where are you, you decrepit old reprobate. Found a lady somewhere? Come home, buddy.”
Suddenly I heard a faint yipping.
I swooped down as Jimmy came around the corner of The Castle. He was grinning as he walked to the workshop. He opened the door and Walter burst out, barking in a frenzy. The cocker wobbled around Jimmy, nipped toward his hand, then turned and pelted unevenly toward the house.
The old dog strove mightily but he was slow, hampered by an arthritic back leg. Laughing, Jimmy caught up with him. Jimmy reached down, grabbed him up. “How’d you get in the workshop? Dumb old dog. Mom’s frantic. Come on, stop wriggling, I’m taking you in.”
Before Jimmy came around the corner of the house, I dropped down by the back door and appeared.
Kay jogged up, her eyes darting nervously around. “What if somebody saw you do that?”
I wasn’t worried. “So they didn’t see me for a minute. Now I’m here.”
Kay held the door for Jimmy.
Walter squirmed, trying to get down. He snuffled and quivered, his rheumy eyes bleary.
Jimmy carried him through the kitchen and into the main hallway. “Hey, Mom. Walter got trapped in the workshop.”
Diane hurried to the top of the stairs. “I was just going to come down and help. I’m so glad you found him.”
Jimmy carried the dog upstairs and placed him on the floor. “Here he is. No worse for the wear.”
Walter trotted toward Diane.
Beaming, she picked him up and buried her face in golden fur, murmuring.
Suddenly the dog stiffened. He yipped, his tone high and shrill.
“Walter…”
The cocker wriggled free and dropped to the floor.
Diane called him, “Come here, you bad dog.” But she wasn’t scolding him. Her tone was loving and indulgent. “Come back here, Walter. Tell Mother where you’ve been.” Her voice faded as they moved away from the top of the stairs.
Jimmy grinned at us. “She’d be a lot more upset if something happened to Walter than to me.” But there was
