Murder Grins and Bears It by Deb Baker Read Free Book Online

neither
do I. We have an understanding. They’ll hang around and eat bugs,
especially wood ticks, which I hate, as long as I don’t try to coop
them up inside chicken wire.
    Guinea hens take their chances in the
treetops through the night, and occasionally a conniving raccoon
will outsmart one of them, but it’s rare. During the day when they
aren’t snacking on bugs, they stand guard in the front yard against
automobiles attempting to encroach on their territory.
    I was out in the driveway having my “bug
off” conversation with the hens when Blaze’s sheriff truck pulled
in, followed by another truck full of deputies. A slew of uniforms
piled out and I noticed Devil Fang’s cage in the truck bed.
    The guineas must have spotted the dog too,
because they cleared out.
    I groaned as Deputy Sheedlo hauled the
animal out under Dickey Snell’s supervision.
    “ What are you planning on
doing with that pathetic excuse for a search dog?” I
asked.
    Deputy Dickey puffed up his skinny rooster
chest. “This superb police dog will locate the suspect once he
acquires the proper scent. He’s trained for this line of
investigation.”
    “ The suspect?” I shouted at
Dickey. “By suspect do you mean my grandson? I’ll suspect you, you
little twerp.”
    Blaze grabbed my elbow and pulled me
back.
    “ We’re still trying to get
a good scent going.” Blaze hitched up his pants over his potbelly
with his free hand. The weight of the gun on his hip was helping to
send them south.
    I looked at my son’s gun. “Little Donny’s
still missing.” It wasn’t a question.
    Blaze nodded.
    “ He hasn’t called here. I
was hoping he’d at least call and let us know he’s
okay.”
    “ No one’s heard a thing,
Ma.”
    “ Your sister and her
husband are inside, and I don’t want them more upset than they
already are. Take that vicious animal and get out of here.” I
pointed at Deputy Sheedlo. “Go on, put that thing away.”
    “ No can do,” Blaze said,
demonstrating his remarkable grasp of the English language. “The
dog needs to help find Little Donny. What if he’s hurt in the woods
and can’t find his way out? The dog can help, Ma.”
    I hadn’t thought of that, and I didn’t want
to think of it now. With mixed feelings, I let them inside, and
Blaze led the way to the spare bedroom where Little Donny slept.
Big Donny and Heather watched from the hall, and when Heather
realized what was going on, the dam broke again. I would have to
put tissues on my grocery list.
    “ What’s goin’ on out here?”
Grandma Johnson shuffled out of her room, forgetting her new teeth
in the excitement. Devil Fang and several weighty deputies almost
ran her over. Blaze threw out an arm to protect Grandma. “In
there,” he said, nodding toward the spare room.
    Devil Fang went right to the jacket that I’d
rummaged through to find Little Donny’s keys. Another battle
started between the dog and me. Blaze jumped in between us and I
managed to kick him in the shin. The dog, excited now and not sure
whose side he should be on, grabbed Blaze’s other pant leg. Blaze
howled. Heather screamed.
    The ruckus ended as quickly as it had
started.
    The cops stared at Devil Fang, clearly
puzzled by the dumb dog’s inability to tell the difference between
Little Donny and a crusty old woman.
    “ He’s getting up there in
years,” Dickey explained, defensively. “I was thinking about
retiring him next year, but at this rate, he’ll be grazing sooner
than planned.”
    I grinned at Devil Fang. That’ll teach the
mangy mutt.
    Blaze reached over and patted Devil Fang’s
head. “Good boy, Fred.”
    “ Fred? That’s his name?” I
couldn’t believe this aggressive mass of hooked fangs could be
called that.
    I pulled the bed sheet from the bed, balled
it up, and gave it to Blaze. “This’ll give Fred a good start. Now
get going. You’re riling Heather.”

    ****

    Cora Mae was hanging all over George
something terrible.
    “ I just love