Nickel-Bred by Patricia Gilkerson Read Free Book Online

Dotty.”
    “Will you do me a huge, big favor?”
    “What do you need?”
    “I really, really need a Dairy Dog, the foot
long one, and a cherry Slushy Slosh.”
    “Okay,” I said. “I’m on my way. See you in
twenty minutes.”
    I said goodbye to Miss Julie, who wanted to
sit outside on her porch for a while. As I walked into town to the
Dairy Dog, I ran through different scenes in my head. What I would
say if Dad said this, and so on. But it was getting too complicated
and I didn’t see any way out of the mess.
    I got two foot long Dairy Dogs, smothered one
with mustard for Addie and left mine plain, and balanced two Slushy
Sloshes on a cardboard tray for the walk to Addie’s.
    In a couple of minutes I was at her small
white house, surrounded by maple trees. I let myself in the front
door and yelled, “Jones’s Delivery Service!”
    “Back here in my bedroom,” Addie called. I
found my way down the hall and stepped into Addie’s lavender cave.
Honestly, I liked purple too, but I think she overdid it. The wall,
bedspread, carpets- it was all in shades of lavender, lilac and
periwinkle. It looked like someone took a bucket of paint and threw
it over everything. The only thing that stood out was the enormous
lime green bear sitting on a chair. I set our lunch down on Addie’s
desk, threw Limey the Bear on the floor and sat down.
    “Thanks, Piper. I was starving.” Addie sat
against the headboard with her right foot propped up on the bed.
She wore a white sock on her foot with a brace over that. Her other
foot was bare and tapped the floor.
    “No problemo. I was hungry, too, and Mom went
to shop for something to wear when Sam comes to dinner
tonight.”
    “It sounds serious. What if he moves in?”
    “No!” I didn’t like the idea. “He has to stay
out at Miss Julie’s so she’s not alone all the time.”
    “I thought you liked him. He’s really cute.”
Addie had a one-track mind about men, whatever age they were.
    “I do like him. I just...I guess I’m not
ready for Mom to have anyone move in with us. It sounds creepy,
even if he’s not.”
    “I wonder if they make out. They could.”
    “Shut up! Stop!” I covered my ears. “Change
the subject now!”
    Addie stared at me. “So, tell me how things
stand with Nickel.”
    I filled her in on the problems I was having
convincing all grownups about the horse and then took off. Mom
would want help finishing up the house and getting dinner ready. I
had to talk to Dad one last time to see what he was thinking.
     

Chapter Twelve
    ~ Willie Nelson ~
     
    As I walked
up to Serendipity Springs Veterinary Clinic, I noticed the old tan
beater car that we’d seen out at Chickie’s. It was the only car in
the front parking lot and was parked at an angle, which was odd.
Usually the noon hour was a busy time of day for my dad’s
business
    Dad’s truck was parked in back, but Sue’s SUV
was gone. Therefore, Sue was at lunch and Dad was by himself,
handling whoever had driven up in the old car. Curious, I opened
the front door and went in. Cool air and the clinic smell of dogs,
cats, medicine and cleaners blew in my face.
    “Dad?” I didn’t see him anywhere, but maybe
he was in an exam room. Maybe Chickie or Earl owned a dog. I
thought if they did, it would be a coonhound, or maybe a
Rottweiler. I like to guess what kind of dog people would have.
    I went through into the back area where they
keep the drugs, equipment and microscopes, and heard arguing. As I
decided I shouldn’t interrupt, the door to Exam Room One came
flying open. Angel glared at me as she strapped an enormous red
purse over her shoulder.
    “Outa the way, you brat!” she said. Muscling
her way past me, she grabbed the outer door and pulled. And
pulled.
    “Blast it!” she yelled as she realized it
opened out. Angel stomped out the door, got in the old car and
threw gravel as she sped off.
    “I guess she doesn’t want this kitten,” said
my dad. He was standing in the exam room