Page 101 of First Bride to Fall
Grant dropped the lid back on the grits pot, and it clattered. “Who? Robby?”
“In bird years, yeah.”
He blanched. “What?”
It was all she could do to keep a straight face. He could always confess the truth, but Nell knew that he wouldn’t. He was in so deep with his rooster story, there was almost no way out without him swallowing his pride and admitting he’d lied.
“Are those different from people years?” She pursed her lips so she wouldn’t giggle. “Like, how it is with dogs?”
“Oh. Oh. That! Not sure.” He set his jaw, pretending to ponder a memory. “I’ve never thought too much about it, really. When we got him, he was mature.”
“Not a chick?”
“Nope, not that. Full grown.” Grant’s gaze darted toward the back door like he wanted to race right out of it. But she wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily.
“He had his comb, then?”
He blinked like she’d spoken to him in some alien language. “Comb?”
She held her hand above her head and wiggled her fingers.
“Oh yeah, that!” He swallowed hard. “Well yeah. Of course, yes. He did.”
“So he crowed?”
“Ah…yep!” His whole face flushed. “Cock-a-doodle-do!”
She held in a smirk. “Bet your neighbors loved that.”
He stirred the grits again, only faster. “They were—very tolerant.”
He was extra cute when he stumbled over his words. Too bad his reasoning was far from endearing. “Charlotte says she might be able to help you track him down, you know.”
Sweat beaded his hairline. “You’re joking.”
“No. She has friends in Fowl Animal Rescue.”
“Fowl?” His eyebrows knitted together. “Wait. Is that a real thing?”
She nodded, having the best time with this. And boy, he deserved it after making up that poor little rooster story. “Their records go back a long time.”
“Yeah, but—this wasn’t in Majestic.”
“I figured that. There’s an interstate database.”
His jaw dropped, but he shut his mouth quickly. “I’m sure he’s long gone by now. Long, long gone. That was ages ago.”
Her eyebrows arched. “Might give you some closure?”
Grant turned off the skillet like he was ready to close down this whole conversation.
“Ah, no. No, that’s fine. That was kind of Charlotte, though. Really sweet of her to offer.”
Nell patted herself on the back for her incredible control. If she weren’t so strong, she’d be rolling on the floor laughing.
“I can tell it’s still tough,” she said. “Memories of losing your childhood pet.”
He shifted on his feet and gave an awkward smile. “It is. But you know what they say—time heals old wounds.”
