CHAPTER 38

I had to admit this was a first--contemplating the ways a dwarfish, old toothless woman could do me harm should we face off.

I was pretty sure I could overpower her if she made a direct attack with any sort of weapon. She could, of course, use the element of surprise, so I determined to stay vigilant. There was poison. I remembered reading or hearing somewhere that poison was a preferred method for women who wanted to kill someone, so I made a note to politely turn down any drink or food she offered, social conformities be damned. Did she have the know-how to rig a booby trap, maybe a bomb wired to a front porch step that would explode when I tripped the device? I’d have to remember to look for wires.

There was no trace of a large dog that she could sic on me, but I hadn’t really been on the lookout for one. It could have been tied up somewhere out back. She might deny it food, just to make it especially hungry and aggressive. Not sure how I’d handle that. Maybe take along some bacon treats or a meat bone I could toss to the hungry mongrel that might buy me some time to make a getaway. Electrocution? Gas? An arrow in the back from a crossbow as I walked to my car? The list seemed endless. I mentally prepared appropriate countermeasures to each possibility that arose.

Kenny initially tried to make small talk during the drive, but eventually left me to my thoughts, popped a Willie Nelson CD into his car’s player, and sang along to Willie’s crooning.

When we pulled into Stevie’s driveway, I could see I had company. Sue Ellen’s Silverado was parked near my Camry, and I could see the back ends of Ronald and Stacey leaning under the hood on opposite sides of my car. Behind the Silverado was Jackie’s SUV, though she was nowhere in sight.

I was surprised to see Sue Ellen come out of the house at the sound of Kenny’s car approaching. She was wearing a green floral romper, white-strapped slide sandals, and a white canvas sun hat. A large, excited, barking Golden Retriever pushed past her through the open door and came bounding up alongside the car as we pulled up, seemingly intent to take a bite out of Kenny’s right front tire. Jackie came out of the house behind Sue Ellen. They were both laughing at the dog’s antics.

When we came to a stop, the dog stood up on its hind legs, its front paws resting against my door. It continued to bark and I could see its sharp teeth. Thank goodness the window was closed.

Jackie came up and stood by the dog. She had on beige canvas jumpstart shorts that showed off a pair of tan, shapely legs and a maroon Swiss dot pullover, its sleeves rolled up to just below her elbows. She wore black cross training sneakers with black laces. Her hair was pulled back and held with a simple beige scrunchie. She was enjoying the show.

“Don’t worry, she won’t hurt you, she’s a sweetheart,” I heard her shout through the closed window.

Obviously from the look on my face she could tell I was more than a little skeptical. She took the dog by its collar and pulled it back away from the car. The dog strained forward, but Jackie held on tight and said something to the dog that I couldn’t hear. It sat down obediently at her side, although it didn’t take its eyes off me.

“You can come out now,” she hollered.

I did so tentatively.

“This is Ginger,” Jackie said. She knelt down next to the dog and began stroking its head and neck. “Ginger’s a good girl, isn’t she?” she said to the dog.

The dog’s mouth opened and its tongue flopped out. It was breathing heavily.

“Is she yours?” I asked.

“Um, not exactly,” Jackie answered, and she turned to look at Sue Ellen, who came forward past Jackie and the dog and gave me quick peck on the cheek.

“How was the funeral?” she asked.

“Oh, pretty typical, though I think I’ve just about had my fill of them,” I answered.

“He was the hit of the party,” Kenny said, a big smile on his face, as he got out of the car. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he made some new friends.”

“Hi, Kenny,” Sue Ellen said as he came around the car. She gave him a hug and a quick peck. “Do you know Dr. Jackie Andrews?”

“Haven’t had the pleasure, but I’ve heard good things. How do you do?” he said, giving her a polite nod.

“Nice to meet you too,” Jackie said, still kneeling by the dog and petting it.

“Beautiful dog,” he said and he walked over, bent down, and began scratching the dog behind the ears. “I had a Retriever once, until we found out one of my daughters was allergic. Found it a good home, though I still miss him.”

While Kenny and Jackie lavished attention on Ginger, Sue Ellen walked over to and slipped her arm through mine.

“Can we talk--out back?” she asked.

“Sure,” I said.

We walked quietly together around the house, across the back yard, and out onto the small, worn, wooden dock that jutted out over the river. We stopped about halfway across it and I waited for Sue Ellen to talk. Instead, she stood looking out at the river and the people floating and frolicking past in canoes and on inner tubes.

“Ronald told me he told you about me and Tony,” she began, still watching the activity on the river.

“Yeah...well, no one will say anything,” I said.

“Hah,” she replied sharply, “you think I don’t know that practically everyone in town already knows? I don’t think Tony has been particularly discreet.”

I didn’t really know what to say so I just stood there, looking down at her.

She turned her head and looked up, her eyes sad under the brim of her hat. “I really did love him. I know people said I only married him for his money, but that’s not true. He was fun. He treated me so good, at first. I knew he wasn’t perfect, but I thought--well, I know how stupid it sounds, but I thought I could change him. I thought he might become more like his dad.”

“It doesn’t sound stupid,” I said, thinking about Jan and how she made my life into something I’d never imagined could happen.

“Well,” she said with a brittle laugh, “obviously I didn’t, and you must think I’m so weak and pathetic to put up with everything. But I’m sticking it out for my children. They’re the most important thing in the world to me, and I’m not going to let anything destroy the world I’ve created for them. I’m an adult. I made my choices. They are not going to pay for my mistakes.”

Her eyes had started to well up with tears and she turned her head quickly to look back out over the river. A mother and father with two children were splashing each other with paddles as they floated past in their canoe.

“What happened, Wes?” she asked. “How was it all so easy when we were kids?” If my parents were alive today, they wouldn’t recognize the woman I’ve become.”

“They probably had their problems too, only they didn’t let on. Life is hard, but look at what you do have. Friends, beautiful kids, Ronald, and his wife. So it’s not perfect, but I bet if you added up all the hours in a day, you’d find that most of them are pretty good.”

She looked back at me with a sweet smile and dabbed her eyes dry. “I’ve missed you, Wes. I’m so glad you came back.”

“Yeah...well...um,” I stammered. Fortunately at that moment we were interrupted by the sound of Jackie’s voice.

“Ginger, come back here. Ginger.”

We turned and saw Ginger racing toward us in an all-out sprint, Jackie trailing behind.

The dog raced past us and leapt off the end of the dock into the river, landing with a large splash that sent water cascading back, washing over Sue Ellen’s and my legs. Jackie continued chasing until she joined Sue Ellen and me on the dock.

“I took my eyes off Ginger for one second and she was off,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I think she really missed this river.”

Ginger had swum out to about the center of the river where she retrieved a floating tree branch and then turned and started paddling back our way.

“C’mon, Ginger. C’mon out,” Jackie yelled.

Sue Ellen started doing likewise, the two of them patting their thighs and urging the dog back. Ginger reached the shore and seemed to know the perfect spot where she could climb out onto dry land. She shook and water sprayed off her body.

“Did you say she missed the river,” I asked. “Have you brought her out here before?”

Jackie and Sue Ellen shared a conspiring look.

“Well...um...Ginger was Stevie’s dog. I’ve had her out at the house since...” Sue Ellen’s voice trailed off and she took a moment to continue. “She’s a good dog, only she’s been scaring the horses, chasing them around the paddock, and Tony’s been complaining about her barking all night, and I’m afraid he’ll do something rash, so...um...well Jackie and I thought...” She looked at Jackie for support.

“She’s probably missing Stevie, and her home. That’s why she’s barking so much. So we thought it shouldn’t be too hard to find her a good home, only--” Jackie began and then stopped.

They were both looking at me and I got a queer feeling that I knew where this was going. “Wait a minute,” I said. “If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, there’s no way. No way at all. I can barely take care of myself. I don’t know the first thing about dogs and this one looks like a handful.” I looked over at Ginger and she was lying on the ground where she’d come out of the water, gnawing on and making splinters of the large tree branch that she’d taken from the river. “I mean, look at that. Is she supposed to do that?” I asked.

Ginger paused for a moment to stop chewing on the branch, looked at me, and gave out a large bark as if to say, “You think you can take this away from me?” She went back to chewing.

“No, no, she isn’t,” Jackie said. “Ginger, leave it and come over here. Right now,” she hollered firmly at the dog.

Ginger took a moment to think it over then slowly got up, left the branch lying on the ground, and began to slowly and sulkily walk over to us.

“See, you just have to be firm with her,” Jackie said. “I’ll bring out some meat bones and chew toys for her. She’s over two years old, but in many ways, she’s still a puppy,” she said to me.

“Really, it’s too much, taking care of a dog. I’m pretty busy and don’t dogs need lots of attention--feeding and walks and things like that, don’t they? I wouldn’t know the first thing to do with it.”

“Oh, come on,” Sue Ellen said admonishingly. “It’s not too hard and, besides, Stacey’s here and you can always call Jackie if you have any questions.”

Ginger had finally made her way over to us. She walked over to me and began sniffing me, starting with my feet and working her way up my legs toward my crotch. I put my hand on her head to stop her progress. Her tail was wagging.

“See, she likes you,” Jackie said, smiling at me. I noticed the slight flecks of green in her brown eyes. “Just pet her. She’s really very affectionate.”

I bent over slowly and stroked her dry head like it was an eggshell. Sue Ellen and Jackie both laughed.

“She’s not going to break. Give her a good hard scratch behind her ears,” Sue Ellen said.

I rubbed the tips of my fingers more firmly into her scalp. She began to move her head to maximize the effect and help me get exactly the area she wanted scratched. It was pretty cool, I have to admit.

“Well maybe I could watch her for a few days,” I said.

“Great,” Sue Ellen said. She smiled and it was nice to see her do so.

“And I’ll tell you what. I’ll do you a favor as a reward,” Jackie said. “Ronald told me you wanted to talk to Doc Livingston.”

“Who?” I asked. I was engrossed in scratching Ginger, who had managed to move so that now I was rubbing her back end above her tail. Her fur was wet but I didn’t mind. One of her legs began to thump up and down on the dock. She turned her head and looked up at me with bright, happy eyes.

“The medical examiner for East Hastings. Ronald said you wanted to see him. I can set it up,” she continued.

I stopped scratching Ginger, who took her act over to Sue Ellen.

“You don’t have to do that,” I answered her. “I really don’t want to get you involved in this.”

“Nonsense,” she said. “Doc Livingston is a pretty good friend. It’s no big deal. Let me go get my phone in my car and call him. It might take a little convincing, but I think I can get him to agree.”

Before I could say another word, she turned and headed off across the back yard toward her car in the front. She bent over and picked up a stick that was lying on the ground.

“C’mon, Ginger,” she called back to the dog, who, seeing Jackie now waving the stick, went charging off after her. Jackie threw the stick ahead of her and Ginger went chasing happily after it.

“She is so great with animals,” Sue Ellen said, watching her. “People too,” she added, turning to give me a not too subtle nudge with her elbow.

“A dog, a woman--what’s next? You going to start dropping orphans off at the door?” I asked.

“One of us should be happy,” she answered.

“Who said I’m not?”

“Oh, please. Like my daddy used to say,” she said, looking at me squarely. “Don’t piss on my back...”