Page 6 of Dead to Rites

“Good boy,” I said, scratching behind his ears and down his back, his long little body wriggling in pure joy. “Good boy.”

I’d always wanted a dog, but my parents had told me more than once that they worked too much to take care of one, and even when I moved out and was on my own, property managers generally took a dim view of trying to stuff a dog into a studio apartment.

Well, it sure looked like I had a dog now.

I straightened and smiled at the woman holding his leash. “Thanks, Doreen.”

She returned my smile, although I thought I caught a flicker of concern in her dark eyes. “And you’re feeling better?”

“Much,” I said. “Thank you for calling 911. If you hadn’t — ”

But Doreen just shook her head. “Oh, Hazel would have haunted me forever if I’d let anything happen to her great-niece. I’m just glad I was looking out the kitchen window and saw you fall. You weren’t out for more than a few minutes before the paramedics arrived.”

Still….

Celeste approached then, dragging a turquoise-patterned, leopard-spotted hard-shell suitcase behind her. For just a fraction of a second, Doreen’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly as she took in the shredded fishnets, the utterly impractical stilettos and the sleeveless sheath dress that was far too flimsy for Prescott’s much cooler temperatures.

But then it was almost as if I could hear Doreen thinking, Well, she’s a friend of Lorelei’s, and Lorelei is Hazel’s great-niece, so, and she smiled at my friend.

“Hi, there. Need any help with that suitcase?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Celeste replied. Her gaze moved down to Chauncey, who was dancing around on his short hind legs like he was trying out for the circus.

Her mouth twisted in a quick grin. “I’d say he’s forgiven you.”

“Looks that way.”

“Well, come inside, you two,” Doreen said. She didn’t mention anything about my own luggage, probably because she already knew that I’d shown up the day before and had brought my stuff in before my ill-fated foray into the garden.

The three of us went into the house, Chauncey continuing to dance at my heels. I was glad I’d been wearing one of my few pairs of flats — the pointy ones with the silver pyramid studs — when I’d been felled by that bee. So far, it seemed as if I was feeling steadier with every passing moment, but I still didn’t think hobbling around in three-inch spikes or even some of my kitten heels would have been that great an idea.

“I’ve been coming over to feed Chauncey and take him for walks,” Doreen went on. “Good thing Hazel left me a key to the house for emergencies! He had his lunch a few hours ago, and we were just headed out for a walk. Do you want me to take him, or would you rather do that?”

The dog was looking up at me, tail still wagging. If things had been really urgent, I supposed he would have been encouraging Doreen to move back toward the front door, but he didn’t seem too interested.

And even though Dr. Hottie might have cautioned me about exerting myself too soon after my ordeal, I didn’t see how a placid walk around the block would do much to endanger my health.

“I can take him later,” I said, and Celeste nodded.

“That sounds like fun. It’ll give me a chance to take a look at some of the houses around here. This neighborhood is pretty fab.”

Another of those sidelong glances from Doreen at Celeste’s shredded fishnets and stilettos. It wasn’t exactly disapproving, which was what I’d expected, but more a kind of concern that those four-inch heels probably wouldn’t make it around the block.

“Oh, I’ll change,” she said airily. “No worries.”

Doreen essayed an uncertain smile. “Well, then,” she said as she bent down to unclip Chauncey’s leash, “I’ll leave the two of you to settle in. I’m right next door — the yellow house with the blue trim — so pop on by if you need anything.”

Celeste and I assured her we’d do just that if we needed her help with something, and Doreen smiled and handed over the leash before heading out.

The door closed softly behind her, and Celeste shot me a considering look.

“Feeling up for a tour, or do you need to rest?”

I thought about that for a moment. All things considered, I was feeling better than I probably should. Yes, I was still a little tired, and I had a feeling I was going to crash the second my head hit the pillow tonight, but for now, I thought I was okay.

“Let me show you around,” I said, and she perked up immediately. “I know you’re dying to see the place.”

“How could you tell?” she asked with a grin.