Free Lead a Horse to Murder by Cynthia Baxter Page B

deal.”
    “Harlan would love that,” Vivian interjected with a smirk. “Just think of all the pennies you’d save on gas!”
    I blinked, wondering if they were joking. Diana hardly looked like a woman who had to worry about making ends meet.
    As for Diana, she pointedly ignored her friend’s comment. “In that case, when can you come by to take a look at Fleur? She’s a Chartreux. I’m terrible at keeping track of schedules, but I don’t think she’s been to the vet in ages. She’s probably due for some shots or something.”
    “Let me check my schedule,” I told her, pulling my appointment book out of my bag.
    “Me, too!” Vivian piped up. “I have a Himalayan named Liliana. Can you take her on as a patient?”
    “I’d be happy to come by and check her out.”
    “See if you can fit me in, too!” she demanded, stepping in front of Diana and nearly crunching down on her foot.
    Scheduling appointments wasn’t easy, given all the tennis lessons, massages, and luncheons at Babbo, Bolo, and Nobu in New York City we had to work around. But both women managed to squeeze me in the following Monday—meaning I’d have to make the trip to this part of Norfolk County only once. After Diana Chase and Vivian Johannsen had punched me into their Palm Pilots, I was free to gather up my dogs and get on my way.
    It wasn’t until I was driving away from Heatherfield, with Max and Lou beside me, that I recognized what a bizarre morning I’d had. Here I’d expected to make a simple house call, examining Braveheart’s tendon and then checking in with Mr. MacKinnon. Instead, I’d nearly run over one of the most obnoxious young men I’d ever encountered, learned that Eduardo Garcia had been murdered, attended his wake, and met some really peculiar people who’d actually made me glad I wasn’t ridiculously wealthy.
    I couldn’t wait to tell Nick all about it.
    Of course, that would have to wait. He was at school and I had a full day of appointments ahead of me.
    As soon as I got home that evening, I took a few minutes to give every member of my menagerie a proper greeting. Then I reached for my cell phone. As I dialed the number of Nick’s apartment, I replayed the events of the day in my mind, trying to figure out how to tell him all about it in a way that made sense.
    “Hello . . .” I heard him say.
    “Nick, it’s me. Today was the craziest day—”
    “. . . You’ve reached Nick, but I’m not able to take your call right now. Please . . .”
    I hung up, then immediately punched in his cell number. But the phone kept ringing, and I realized he wasn’t going to pick up.
    “Damn!” I cried.
    “Damn the torpedoes, awk !” Prometheus screeched. “Full speed ahead!”
    “Hardly,” I mumbled. Unable to reach Nick, I was suddenly hit with a tidal wave of loneliness. Wasn’t Friday night supposed to be a date night—at least for someone who’d had the same boyfriend for four years, more or less?
    I was still feeling sorry for myself when I heard a knock at the door. I flung it open—and was confronted by the biggest mass of flowers I’d ever seen in my life. The bouquet was so huge that it completely concealed the head and torso of whoever was carrying it, making it look like a creature from a science fiction movie who was half floral and half corduroy-covered legs.
    I couldn’t be positive, but I thought I recognized those legs.
    “Nick?”
    The face that poked itself out from behind the bouquet did, indeed, belong to Nick. It wore a big, apologetic grin.
    “Are you still talking to me?” he asked sheepishly, pushing back the lock of straight brown hair that was always falling into his eyes.
    “Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “Because I’ve been ignoring you.”
    A wave of guilt immediately rushed over me. “Oh, Nick, I know how busy you must be. After all, law school just started last week!”
    I wasn’t the only one who was happy to see Nick, though. Max and Lou shot over, yelping with joy and