Page 24 of Last Call at the Doghouse

“We need help,” he rumbled in a deep voice that held more than a touch of frustration, maybe even anger.

“Who you gonna call…” she began lightly, giving in to a slightly hysterical laugh.

Duncan gave her shoulders a comforting squeeze. “You’re not going to like it.”

“What else is new?”

“We need to go back to Mystic Springs.”

Didn’t that just figure…

CHAPTER 7

Armi had spent more than half her life trying to escape from Mystic Springs. Her infrequent visits, after her hasty exit at the age of eighteen, had been short and reluctant. Andrew had never visited and neither had her boys. Her grandmother had passed before their marriage, and after that Armi had done her best to forget that she’d had a life before leaving this small town.

They hadn’t been married long when Andrew had suggested making a trip to Mystic Springs to see where she’d grown up and meet her few remaining relatives. She’d told him he wouldn’t like it, that her home town wasn’t his speed, and then she’d changed the subject.

The truth was, she hadn’t wanted Andrew to see her here, to see who she became. An outsider. The one who didn’t fit in. The powerless one. She felt so awkward in her weird, mystical hometown; so out of place. There had been times during those early and rare visits home when she’d felt as if she were suddenly fourteen again, inept, out of step, an outcast.

She’d left it all behind to build yet another life where she was all too often playing a role, out of step with those around her, an outcast…

Things were different now, but there had been a time when she’d cared very much what Andrew thought of her.

Well, she sure as hell fit in now, if what Duncan had been telling her was real, and she no longer cared what her ex thought of her.

She wished that was entirely true.

While waiting for Duncan to pack his bag, Armi was happy to sit alone on the porch that faced the lake, enjoying the view, actually relaxing for a few minutes. It was peaceful here. She had a feeling she should grab whatever moments of peace she could.

They’d had to wait a while for the auto repair guy, a friend of Duncan’s who’d gladly made his request a rush job, to drive his van to the cabin and replace the windshield. The dents here and there would have to wait; that wasn’t going to be a quick job. Duncan paced while he waited, anxious to get going, eager to get back to Mystic Springs.

Armi would take this lakeside cabin over Mystic Springs any day, but it didn’t look like she had much of a choice.

It normally wasn’t much more than an hour’s drive, but on this night Duncan made it in just over forty-five minutes. Armi wished he’d slow down. She wasn’t eager—hell, she wasn’t even ready—to go home again.

It was well after dark when they arrived at the B&B. Walking toward the house like a woman condemned, Armi refused Duncan’s offer of help and carried her own duffle bag. He grumbled, maybe even growled a little, but he let her have her way. She also wore a large crossover bag over her shoulder that was big enough for her wallet, a lip balm, her cell phone, and the shield-embossed red book. For the duration, the book would stay with her, on her, in her hands or hanging from her shoulder. Maybe she couldn’t read it yet, but she knew she couldn’t let this book out of her sight until it was returned to its proper place in the library. Helen would never forgive her if she didn’t. Well, she’d forgive, but she would not forget.

Duncan wasn’t thrilled about reconnecting with his cousin, but there weren’t a lot of options for overnight stays in the small town. They could’ve found a couple of hotel rooms up the road in Eufaula, but he seemed determined to be within the boundaries of Mystic Springs.

Armi wanted to argue with him, but she didn’t have the heart for it. Not tonight.

At least they hadn’t been attacked by birds or something worse on their way back to town, though she’d sure as hell been on alert for surprises on the road. That was part of her job now, she supposed. Being alert.

Molly was cute, bubbly, and a little scatterbrained. As far as Armi could tell, she and Duncan had nothing at all in common; nothing but the same last name. They were related by blood, she knew that much, but they were, as he’d said, distant cousins. Even if they’d been first cousins, they might not have been close. There was a significant age gap, a huge difference in their personalities, and though they might’ve been in the same room at the same time briefly, they didn’t know one another. Duncan’s dad had run away from Mystic Springs the same way Armi had. That didn’t make for close family connections.

Many Springers had been running away from this place for a very long time. Sad that there was now no place for them to hide.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” Molly gave her cousin a big hug then drew back. “This must be your lady friend.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“Just a friend,” Armi said, thrusting out her hand for a shake when it seemed Molly was moving in for a big hug. Armi wasn’t entirely averse to hugging, but complete strangers? No, thanks.

“Oh.” Molly looked disappointed. “Well, this is your lucky day. Right after you called, I got another request for my last available room. I mean, I had no sooner hung up the phone…”

“Two rooms, right?” Armi asked sharply.

“Sorry, just the one. I thought…” Again the waggle of the eyebrows. What was she, twelve?

“One is fine,” Duncan said. “It’ll just be for a couple of days. We’ll make do.”