The Art of Wag (4 page)

“I’m not sure you have a case, darlin’. You just turned down the only lawyer in Alpine Grove.”

Tracy grimaced. “Good point. I don’t want to talk about that anymore. Let’s talk about my trip. It’s still okay if I stay with you, right? I really gotta get out of this town.”

“What are you going to do about Roxy? You know she can’t stay with me. Billy Bob is just too much cat for her to handle.” Shelby’s cat Billy Bob outweighed Roxy by probably twelve pounds. The giant feline spent a lot of time sitting on the sofa cleaning his ample gut and he didn’t like a nosy dachshund interrupting his personal time.

“I know. I talked to Dr. Cassidy about the days off, but I forgot to ask about Roxy. Maybe she’ll have some ideas.”

“On the bright side, at least you don’t have to worry about Jerry now.”

“Yeah, although I don’t want to talk to my parents about my rent again. I’m really not up for another lecture from my dad about how I’m not responsible. I told you about the whole incident that happened with Roxy the last time she stayed at my parents place, so we all know she can’t stay at there again. That was a mistake. Dr. Cassidy banished Roxy from the vet clinic too. After being there as a patient, Roxy took issue with staying there. It was bad. But maybe Dr. C knows someone.” Roxy’s reputation as a troublemaker was spreading. It was getting seriously depressing.

Shelby said cheerfully, “You’ll get it figured out. You always do. I’m looking forward to seeing you. It’s been too long! Maybe we can study together after your class.”

“Oh boy, that just sounds like a whirlwind of fun. But I don’t think it would work. The class I’m taking is about art software and I doubt you’d have it on your computer, unless you suddenly decided to chuck that whole idea of getting your PhD in Comparative Literature. Do you have any coloring books? I could play with Crayolas while you work on your dissertation.”

“I suppose I could take a night off from it.” Shelby sighed. “Just one night wouldn’t hurt.”

Tracy methodically chipped at a piece of desiccated cereal on the bedspread, placing the crumbly pieces in a pile on the coffee table. “I’d love to go out someplace where I don’t recognize every single person I meet. Being anonymous in a large city is underrated. You can miss one night of study. I promise I won’t corrupt you with my idle ways.”

Shelby laughed. “If you couldn’t corrupt me in college, it’s way too late now.”

The next morning, the alarm went off promptly at six o’clock. With a groan, Tracy rolled over in bed and whapped the snooze button. It had been a long night after Roxy decided to emerge from her hiding place at two in the morning. The dog had crashed out of the kitchen cabinet with a yelp, clanking the pots and pans all over the kitchen. Worried that the dog might have hurt herself, Tracy hauled herself up to investigate. Roxy was fine, but then Tracy couldn’t get back to sleep. The financial implications of losing the restaurant job swirled around in her sleep-deprived brain. What was she going to do? Leaving town for this class was stupid, since gas cost money. She should start asking around town for employment possibilities. But she really wanted this weekend away.

After several more arguments with the snooze alarm, Tracy finally dragged herself out of bed, fed and walked Roxy, and actually made it into the vet clinic on time.

Dr. Cassidy looked up from the chart she was holding and appraised Tracy’s unkempt appearance. “What happened to you?”

“My dog has a really irritating sense of humor. I thought she killed herself getting out of her latest hidey-hole. Then I couldn’t sleep and I didn’t have time for a shower. I figure the dogs will just find me more interesting this way.”

The veterinarian pulled a file from the cabinet. “That’s probably true. Maybe you could comb your hair before the clients come in, though.”

Tracy reached up and tried to run her fingers through her hair. Yikes. “Sorry about that. I ran out of the apartment before I looked in the mirror.” She walked into to the bathroom to try to do something about her appearance. She looked at herself in the tiny mirror. It was like Buffy the Vampire Slayer had gotten herself chomped. The undead look was decidedly unattractive.

After the morning rush of clients had dropped off their animals for surgery, Tracy stood next to the vet as she worked to drain a large abscess on a cat’s neck. Tracy stuck out her tongue and made a face. “That’s nasty.”

“I know. Sorry. It’s not like this is Tigger’s first abscess either.”

Tracy averted her eyes, opting to study the gauges on the anesthesia machine instead. “I know I asked you about getting the weekend off, but I was wondering if there’s any way Roxy could stay here.”

“No. You know that didn’t work out well. We talked about that.”

“I know.” Tracy sighed. “It’s just that I really want to get out of town. Do you know anyone who might be able to take her? It’s only for two days. She can’t come with me. My friend Shelby’s cat and Roxy have issues.”

“Roxy has a lot of issues. Could you grab a needle?”

“I know. But I love her.” Tracy peeled open a sterile needle package so the vet could grab the needle with her gloved hand. “I can’t just leave Roxy in my apartment.”

The vet shook her head. “Well, maybe the boarding place could take her. Remember Kat Stevens?”

“Oh yeah. She has the huge dog that barfed all over you.” That had been quite a memorable performance.

“Yes. That’s her. I heard she’s opening a boarding kennel.”

“That’s great! I’ll get her name from the file and give her a call.”

Kat sounded nice on the phone and was remarkably amenable to taking Roxy on such short notice, as long as it was okay that the dog stayed in the house. Tracy agreed to drop off Roxy in the afternoon, so she could still make it to Shelby’s place that night.

After work, Tracy loaded Roxy and her crate into the car, which was an ancient brown Subaru station wagon that her father referred to as “The Turd.” The story was that it had been used by commune members in the mid-seventies until the car died an ignoble death in a pasture and was left to rot.

Tracy’s parents almost never talked about their years living in the Alpine Grove commune, but Tracy remembered the hippie life fondly. When she was a little kid, she had spent a lot of time outside and there had always been someone to play with. It had been fun, but she never told anyone now that her hippie name was Rainbow. And yet, every once in a while, she met someone who remembered. In a small town, there were no secrets. People knew
everything
.

When she was in high school, she had convinced her father to let her boyfriend Neil drag The Turd out of the pasture, and give him a shot at getting the car to run again. Although Neil wasn’t the greatest boyfriend for a number of reasons, he was a fairly decent mechanic. Through a complicated negotiation with the DMV, she was able to get a title on the formerly junked vehicle, and she’d been driving it ever since. The Turd made a lot of noise and sometimes opted not to run at all, but she never had to worry about anyone stealing it.

Tracy nosed the ancient car down the winding gravel driveway toward Kat’s house, cautiously picking her way around the deepest holes, since the car still had a long journey ahead of it tonight. Roxy was looking annoyed at all the bumps and barked a few times to express her displeasure.

“Sorry Roxy. We’re almost there. You have to be good while I’m gone. Kat is being really nice about taking you today. I hope this works out. Please, please be good.”

Roxy just looked out the window at the passing pine trees, ostensibly immune to the pleas for good behavior.

Tracy pulled the car under a tree and cut the engine. The car coughed out a final burst of exhaust before quivering into silence. A huge hairy brown dog ran from behind the house, skidded to stop by the old car, and began sniffing the tires as Tracy got out. “Hi Linus. Do you remember me?”

The big dog wagged his tail at the friendly visitor and was soon joined by a small black-and-white border collie. Tracy bent to pet the dogs and noticed the sound of a chain saw whining somewhere in the distance. Fall had definitely arrived, so it must be time to get the wood in. Out here in the middle of the forest finding firewood certainly wouldn’t be an issue. The front door of the house opened and a petite woman with long, wavy brown hair started down the front steps.

Tracy waved. “Hi, Kat. It’s good to see Linus looking so healthy. Who is the border collie?”

“That’s Lori. Two other dogs, Tessa and Chelsey, are in the house and Lady is out in the woods with Joel somewhere.”

“Is he the one making all the noise?”

“Yes. He finished fixing the roof of the house. Now he’s working on the firewood program, so we don’t freeze this winter.”

Tracy smiled. “Yes, him and everyone else. It’s like they say—-there are two seasons: winter and getting ready for winter.”

“I haven’t experienced winter yet. I’m not sure I’m up for chopping firewood. But Joel doesn’t seem to mind, so I’m going with it. Where’s Roxy?”

Tracy turned toward the car. “She’s in there. Let me get her out. She’s only got three legs, so it’s better if I don’t let her try and get out herself.”

Kat nodded and stroked Linus’s head slowly as Tracy extracted Roxy from the car. Linus leaned on Kat in an effort to soak up as much affection as possible. She looked down at the dog. “Listen, Big Guy, you’re going to knock me over. Cut that out.”

Tracy put Roxy on the ground and the little dog started barking furiously at Linus, who looked distressed at the outburst. “Roxy, no! Quiet!”

Roxy started marching off toward the forest until she reached the end of her leash, and turned to glare at Tracy. Kat said, “Maybe we should take her for a little walk to help her get acclimated?”

“Yes. Roxy tends to be a bit opinionated. Also, I know I told you about this on the phone, but don’t forget about her hiding thing. I’m not sure if she’ll do it here at your place, but she thinks she’s really funny. Hiding in my pots and pans cabinet is getting old.

Kat nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Roxy started barking again and was practically levitating in her state of hysteria, yanking at the leash. A tall man wearing bright orange chaps and a hard hat emerged from a break in the forest. He was carrying a large orange chain saw. A brown-and-black collie mix walked by his side. Seeing the dachshund, the dog ran ahead to say ‘hi.’

All of the dogs circled and sniffed each other in an elaborate, complicated greeting ritual. Roxy allowed herself to be sniffed, yipping occasionally at any impolite transgressions. The man removed his hard hat and waved. “Hi Tracy. I guess that’s Roxy?”

Tracy waved back. “Hi Joel. Nice chaps.”

“Kevlar. It’s not just for bulletproof vests anymore. I’m fond of my legs.”

Kat grinned. “So am I. And I’ve watched way too many chain-saw-massacre movies. So I’m all for Kevlar everything.”

Joel waved toward the house “I’m covered with sawdust and wood chips, so I’m going to go take a shower. It was nice seeing you again, Tracy.”

As he walked away, Tracy turned to Kat. “Wow, he sure looks different.”

Kat turned to look back at Joel’s retreating form. “What do you mean? He looks the same to me.”

“He’s going native, isn’t he?” Tracy nodded. “Yeah, this happens when men stay in Alpine Grove too long. They get hairier. Then they start losing teeth.”

“Eww. His teeth are fine. But I suppose he does need a haircut. I kinda like the longer hair, though.”

“Is he growing a beard? When was the last time he shaved?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe a couple weeks ago. At least it’s past the scuzzy stage. I’m trying to remain open-minded, but I told him if he starts looking like any one of the members of ZZ Top, we have a problem.”

Tracy shook her head. “It’s a slippery slope. The last time I saw him, he was gorgeous. Like every other woman in this town, I had a huge crush on him. But then he had the super-model girlfriend.” Seeing the look on Kat’s face, Tracy cringed inwardly. Shelby was right. She needed to learn to shut up once in a while.

Kat looked down at Roxy. “Um, well, that’s been over for some time.”

“Roxy, stop that.” Tracy pulled back on the leash. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that up. But everyone
was
hoping that girlfriend would get lost. It’s a big event when a good-looking guy arrives in town. There was a long line of women wanting to date him.”

Kat looked up and smiled slightly. “I think I cut in line.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sure they’ll back off. He’s going native now.”

“I guess that’s good news for me, since I’d prefer that he stay right here.”