Dog Days Read online

  “That won’t be necessary, Millie. You can go. Thanks for everything.” Paul tried to keep his voice calm as he stepped past her into the outer office and extended his hand to the waiting man.

  “Good afternoon. I’m Paul Hanlon. Won’t you come in?”

  “I’m not asking for a handout,” the man stated, confirming Paul’s suspicion that he’d heard every word Millie said. “I just wanted to talk to you a little bit.” He followed Paul back into his office, giving Millie a wide berth as he passed by.

  Paul shut the door behind them. “Why don’t you have a seat, Daniel?”

  “No thanks.” The other man took a stance in the center of the room. “This shouldn’t take long.”

  Paul studied his visitor. He guessed that the slender young man was in his late twenties. His faded blue T-shirt was tucked into a pair of jeans that had seen better days. Their frayed hems matched the equally frayed laces of his battered sneakers.

  He was several inches shorter than Paul, and his sandy blond hair straggled down around the neckline of his T-shirt. Obviously, it had been a while since he’d seen a barber.

  Paul could tell he certainly hadn’t been overeating. His build bordered on being scrawny, though Paul suspected he had more stamina than one would think at first glance.

  Daniel glanced back over his shoulder, as though to reassure himself that the door was closed.

  “I’m no freeloader. I just wondered if you had any work that needed to be done around the church.”

  When Paul hesitated, Daniel hastened to add, “Anything. I’m not choosy. I can do any kind of handyman stuff. I can wash windows or mow the grass. I can clean toilets. Anything.”

  Paul thought back to a recent church workday when Eli and a crew of men from the congregation had taken care of needed repairs while the ladies banded together to clean the interior of the church from ceiling to floor, windows included.

  The man standing before Paul showed every indication of needing financial help. Paul felt tempted to pull some cash out of his own pocket, but he respected a man who wanted to work for his wages instead of receiving a handout.

  Seeking inspiration, Paul glanced out the window. The warm weather had boosted the grass into a growth spurt. Though not in terrible shape, it was in need of some sprucing up.

  Daniel followed Paul’s gaze. “Looks like your grass could use a trim. I’m a good hand with a lawn mower, and I don’t need one of those fancy riding jobs. I can even push around one of those rotary mowers if need be.”

  Paul smiled. “That won’t be necessary. We have a decent gas-powered model. But you’re right. The lawn could use a little help.”

  He opened the middle drawer of his desk and pulled out the key to the storage shed. “Come on. I’ll show you where the mower is, and we’ll make sure it has plenty of gas. If you’d still like something to do when you’re finished mowing, the flower beds could use some weeding.”

  The taut lines in Daniel’s face relaxed. “Sure, I’d be glad to.”

  Paul helped Daniel get started, then returned to his office and settled down to continue preparing the following Sunday’s sermon. Caught up in his studying, he was only vaguely aware of the mower’s steady hum.

  He was jotting a note to remind himself of an important point when a light tap sounded on the door. Paul started and glanced at his watch, surprised to see that three hours had gone by. “Come in,” he called.

  Daniel stepped inside the office. Bits of cut grass decorated the legs of his jeans, and his hands were decidedly grubby, but he stood a little taller than he had when he’d walked in earlier.

  Paul pushed back from his desk and stretched his back. “How’s it going?”

  “I’m finished. I mowed the grass and weeded the flower beds. Then I noticed that some of the shrubs needed trimming. I found some shears in the shed, so I went ahead and tackled those too. I hope you don’t mind. They look a lot better now.”

  Daniel wiped his arm across his forehead. “If you want, I can also chop down some of that kudzu on the back side of the shed.”

  Paul smiled. Daniel had spoken the truth; he was no freeloader.

  “I think that’s plenty for one afternoon.” Paul stood and reached for his wallet, then pulled out three twenty-dollar bills and handed them over.

  Daniel counted them quickly before shoving them into his pocket. His eyes lit up, and his chest swelled a bit.

  “Why don’t you sit down and take a load off?” Paul gestured toward the visitor’s chair.

  Daniel hesitated, then dropped into the seat. “Thanks.”

  Paul sat back down in his desk chair and studied his guest, trying to decide why a physically capable young man who obviously didn’t mind hard work would have to go knocking on doors to find it.

  Daniel didn’t look like the type who would take the money and spend it on drugs or alcohol. So why was he looking for odd jobs when he gave every appearance of being employable? There was a story behind this, Paul was sure of it.

  “Tell me a little about yourself,” he invited. “Are you from around here?”

  Daniel looked at Paul as if trying to determine how much he should trust him. He shrugged. “I’ve lived here for about a year. I’m renting a place a few miles outside of town.”

  “And you don’t have a regular job? I know it can be hard to find work in this area.”

  “Not right now. I was workin’ at a lumber mill, but I got fired a week ago.”

  “Oh? What happened?”

  Daniel shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I don’t know why it is, but I can’t seem to hold down a job.”

  “Really?” Paul said. “You certainly seem to be a good worker.”

  “I am, or at least I try to be. I get started, and everything goes fine for a while. Then the boss tells me to do something, and I don’t do it just the way he wants. The next thing I know, I’m out on the street.”

  “Is that what happened at the lumber mill?”

  Daniel looked down at his tattered shoes and nodded. “Yeah. So I’ve been poundin’ the pavement looking for a new job, but like you said, it’s hard to get work around here, especially when you don’t have any references. And in a little town like this, it seems like everybody has heard about me before I ever go to see them.”

  He looked up and met Paul’s gaze. “I’ve got a little bit of money left, but between groceries and rent and gas, that’s slipping away pretty fast. I figured maybe I could pick up odd jobs until something better comes along. I’ve been doing every single thing I can to make money. I’ve got to take care of my family.”

  Paul lifted his eyebrows. “You have a family?”

  The corners of Daniel’s mouth twitched. “Yeah. I have a wife, two little kids, and a pup.”

  Paul blew out a breath of air. “Then you definitely need a steady income.”

  Daniel knotted his hands. “That’s for sure. It just seems like the world is against me. I can go along for two or three months with no problem, and then something happens, and it all blows up in my face. It doesn’t matter what I do or how hard I work, something always goes wrong, and I never see it coming.” He made a fist and slammed it into the palm of his other hand.

  “I can only imagine how difficult it is for you right now.” Paul stood up and offered his hand. “I need to get back to work, but I want you to know that I’ll be praying for your success in finding a job, and I’m available any time you’d like to talk some more. In the meantime, feel free to come back if you’d like to go after that kudzu.”

  Daniel smiled and returned Paul’s handshake with a firm grip. “Thanks, Pastor. I just may do that.”

  KATE PUT TWO SMALL STEAKS into a gallon-sized, resealable plastic bag, then poured in a marinade blended from honey, soy sauce, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. Zipping the bag shut, she placed the package in a glass dish and set it in the refrigerator.

  Sighing, she folded her arms and leaned back against the refrigerator door. Here it was, two days after K
isses’ disappearance, and the little dog still hadn’t been found. Renee told Kate she had spent every waking moment since the dognapping calling everyone she could think of who might have seen Kisses, but to no avail. Kate had assured Renee that she’d already kicked her sleuthing mind into gear as promised, but the visit she and Renee had made to the park on Saturday afternoon hadn’t turned up any clues, as she’d hoped it might. She tried to reassure herself that the little dog would be home soon, but she wasn’t quite convinced.

  Kate glanced at her watch. Two o’clock. Nearly an hour before she had to leave for the first Friendship Club meeting at Abby Pippins’ house. Just enough time for her to do some stained-glass work in her studio.

  Kate started toward her studio, then hesitated. Working on something creative usually calmed her when she was feeling restless, but her concern for Kisses wouldn’t let her concentrate on anything else. She felt the need for physical activity instead.

  She snatched up her keys and her purse, then went out to her car.

  She pulled out of the driveway and drove south on Smoky Mountain Road, then she made a left turn onto Hamilton. Passing the park, she continued to the point where Copper Mill Creek meandered along the eastern edge of town.

  After parking the Accord on a grassy spot under a yellow poplar, she locked her purse in the trunk and pocketed her keys.

  Grateful for the pleasant summer breeze that greeted her, Kate set off on the walking path that ran beside the edge of the creek. She needed to spend some time in prayer for Renee and for Kisses’ safe return, and this was a perfect place to do it. Being outdoors in God’s creation always made her feel especially close to him.

  The splash and babble of water rippling over the rocks acted as balm to her soul. But even while she enjoyed the calming sounds of nature, the same thought kept running through her mind: What happened to Kisses? Has he really been dognapped? If he was taken by mistake, why hasn’t he been returned by now?

  The thought of the little dog being in any danger made Kate’s stomach tighten into a hard knot. Part of her wanted to press on at a faster pace, as though that would speed up her brain and bring the answers she sought. But even though the weather was a few degrees cooler that afternoon, she still didn’t want to arrive on Abby’s doorstep a sweaty, bedraggled mess.

  Reining in her desire to speed ahead, she settled down to a leisurely pace.

  Lord, this doesn’t make any sense, she prayed. How could Kisses just disappear like that? Renee is worried sick, and I can’t blame her. Would you somehow guide us to him, please?

  And while I’m on the subject of dogs, Lord, you know how uncomfortable I feel about being involved with the dog show. It is so not me. After seeing that group in action, I’m not sure how being on this committee is supposed to help draw people toward you, but I want to do this for your glory, not mine. You see the big picture, while I can see only a tiny slice of it. Please help me know the best way to handle this.

  Kate fell silent and waited for an answer as she continued walking, her shoes making soft brushing sounds against the thick grass that lined the pathway.

  Despite her plea for guidance, no answer came. Even so, lifting her concerns up to the Lord made her feel more at peace than she had since agreeing to attend the dog-show meeting with Renee.

  She rounded a bend and realized that she was nearing the footbridge that spanned the creek.

  Kate looked at her watch and saw that she would need to head back soon. She decided she would stop at the bridge, enjoy the view for a moment, then turn around.

  I guess I can’t expect to get answers on demand, can I, Lord? I’m just going to have to trust you to provide them at the right time.

  She glanced ahead to check her progress toward the bridge, but dense branches of a large serviceberry bush screened it from sight. As she drew closer to the bush, she heard voices.

  Kate stopped. The last thing she wanted to do was to intrude on a private conversation. Walking all the way to the bridge was an arbitrary goal anyway. There was no reason she had to continue that far. The rush of the water made it impossible to distinguish the words being spoken, but the tone sounded tense and angry.

  A female voice grew louder, almost to a shout, and Kate’s concern mounted. Though the bridge wasn’t very far from downtown, it was still a bit isolated. She didn’t want to turn away if someone needed help. Nor did she want to walk into the middle of a dangerous situation.

  Thank goodness for cell phones! At least she would have a means of summoning aid if the situation warranted it. Kate reached for her purse, then realized she had left it locked inside her trunk. Her stomach clenched. So much for that idea.

  She debated a moment longer, then she took a few steps forward and peered through the serviceberry branches. Through the screen of glossy leaves, she caught sight of a slender, dark-haired teenage girl.

  Her back was toward Kate, but a moment later, she turned so that Kate saw a side view and recognized the girl as Brenna Phillips. From the stormy expression on her face, Kate felt sure that Brenna was one of the speakers she’d overheard.

  Kate leaned as far as she could to one side but still couldn’t see the person Brenna was talking to. From the lower timbre of the voice, she felt sure it was male. Tension gripped her. What was Brenna doing out there on the bridge, who was she talking to, and why were the two of them involved in a shouting match?

  Kate felt distinctly out of place crouching behind a bush, eavesdropping. She was just about to head back when she saw a flash of white plummet from the bridge, then heard a loud splash as the object fell into the babbling water.

  She caught her breath. Had someone fallen over the bridge railing? Or been pushed?

  She started forward, praying that Brenna was all right. Then she heard both voices again, in much less strained tones this time.

  Brenna stepped back into view, and Kate saw the girl give her companion an easy smile. Then she threw her head back and laughed.

  Much relieved, Kate eased back and slipped away unnoticed. She hurried back toward her car, glad she hadn’t gone charging like some avenging angel into what was apparently a minor spat between friends.

  A few minutes before three o’clock, Kate pulled up in front of Abby’s house on Sweetwater Street and parked along the curb. Reaching into her purse, she turned off her cell phone, not wanting to disturb the meeting.

  She crossed the neatly tended lawn and rang the bell. A moment later, Abby swung the door open, her pleasant face flushed with excitement. Phoebe West stood behind her, cradling her baby, Violet, in her arms.

  “Welcome!” Abby spread her arms wide and enveloped Kate in a warm hug. “You’re the first to arrive. We’re so glad you’re here.”

  Kate walked through the door and Phoebe reached out to give Kate a one-armed hug. Little Violet looked up at Kate and gurgled.

  Kate glanced around the living room and gave a nod of approval. “I like the way you’ve set things up. The circled chairs and oversized pillows give the room a very cozy, welcoming feel.”

  Abby beamed. “We decided not to line the chairs up in rows or do anything else to make it seem like a formal gathering. We want people to be able to relax and enjoy being a part of this group. That’s what it’s all about.”

  A tiny frown puckered Phoebe’s forehead. “We were a little concerned about the meeting time. Do you think three o’clock on Monday afternoons will work all right?”

  “We know most of the working women won’t be able to come at this hour,” Abby put in. “But our first thought was to reach out to stay-at-home mothers and retirees—women who are at home all day and don’t have interaction with co-workers or other adults.”

  “And we knew that if we made it any later,” Phoebe added, “the moms who’ve been taking care of little ones all day will be busy getting supper ready for their husbands and putting the babies to bed.”

  “I think that makes a lot of sense,” Kate said. “Do you have any idea how many will be coming t
oday?”

  Abby gestured toward the chairs. “I really don’t expect more than eight or ten. I’ve asked Patricia Harris and several other ladies from church to come, and I’ve gone up and down the block inviting women I know are home all day.”

  Phoebe brightened. “That reminds me. I asked Lisa Phillips to come.”

  Abby clapped her hands. “So did I! She waited on me at the fabric store in Pine Ridge when I went in to buy some quilt batting last week. I know her schedule varies, so she’ll have some Mondays off. Maybe getting two invitations will let her know we really want her to join us.”

  Phoebe shifted Violet to her other hip and used a terry-cloth bib to wipe a bit of drool off the baby’s chin. “It may take a while before she’ll finally come. I’m not going to stop inviting her, though.”

  “Me, neither.” Abby folded her arms across her rather ample bosom. “There aren’t many people in her life right now, and she needs to know we want to be her friends.”

  Praise welled up in Kate’s heart. If Abby and Phoebe could convey the love and concern they felt for Lisa to everyone in this group, she felt sure that God would bless their efforts.

  She started to tell them so, but the doorbell interrupted her. Both hostesses hurried to greet the new arrivals. It appeared that the rest of the women had chosen to arrive at the same time.

  Five or six ladies entered the living room chattering like a flock of magpies. Kate knew Patricia Harris; the others were women she’d seen around town but hadn’t met.

  Phoebe pointed to the punch bowl, which was set on a table off to one side. “Help yourselves, ladies. The punch is icy cold, and I know it will taste good on a warm day like this.”

  Kate waited in line to fill her glass. The frothy, pink liquid was every bit as refreshing as it looked.

  Once the women had settled in their chairs, Abby stepped to the front of the room and cleared her throat. “Welcome to the first meeting of the Friendship Club.” She smiled at everyone present. “The name of the club explains its purpose. We want to reach out to women in the community who may not have a close network of friends. Of course,” she added with a laugh, “if you already have friends around town, you’re still welcome. But our main goal is to reach out and befriend those who may not have any close friendships.”