“Chief Gillock, you’re needed immediately,” she said. “The town librarian is randomly beating people with her handbag. I can’t even imagine what provoked her.”
Drew left at a run, with the flower bobbing merrily behind him. Soon it would be tall enough to tip over and fall out of his pocket.
I sighed. “Thank you, Cousin Liberty. Did you cast a spell on the poor librarian?”
She shook her head. “Just good timing. Although Harold’s sending people her way who could use a good whack.”
“Why don’t you look tired?” I asked. “Last night was exhausting.”
Flipping her stole over her shoulder, she smiled. “This is my second life, essentially. I don’t want to waste a moment sleeping. Bixby, do you agree?”
“Most heartily, madam. You may hold me until Harold’s return.”
Accepting the dog, she eyed him warily. “Why are you being so nice?”
“I imagine he’s monitoring your diaphragm,” I said. “Turns out I only cured hiccups. A sneeze just had floral punctuation.”
She closed her eyes. “Not again. Janelle, must you—”
“Yes, apparently I must. And could I ask, just for today, that you spare me the lecture. What happened was a lot to take in. But I do appreciate what you did for me very much.”
Her green eyes got cagey. “How much?”
I spread my arms as far apart as they’d reach. “This much.”
“That looks about enough,” she said, with a wink.
“Enough for what?”
Liberty turned to the window. “A favor in return.”
“How big?” Bixby asked. “And how much do you want it?
Setting him on the window seat, she turned and stretched her arms as far as they could reach. “This big. This much.” Harold appeared at the door and Liberty walked toward him. “We’ll talk later. You’re exhausted.”
As she left, I went over to collect Bixby. “This is going to be bad, I can feel it.”
Then I sneezed again, somewhat less violently than the first time.
Mr. Bixby stared through the glass as I picked him up. “Nice one. Liberty has something blue growing out of her stole.”
We laughed. What else could we do, in the mayhem that had become our lives in Wyldwood Springs?
I turned the sign to “open” and walked back to eat the rest of my tart before the first customers came in.
“Five-letter word for ridiculous,” Bixby prompted, asking to be set down again.
“Happy,” I replied. “Because despite how crazy it’s all been, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here, in my store, with my friends nearby and the best dogs in this world or beyond.”
He stretched out in his sunbeam of choice and released a contented sigh. “Precisely.”
Want to join Janelle and Mr. Bixby on their next crime-solving adventure? Mistletoe, magic and murder make for a memorable yuletide season in All I Haunt for Christmas.
Looking for exclusive bonus content about Janelle and Mr. Bixby? Sign up for the Ellen Riggs newsletter to receive the inside scoop!
More Books by Ellen Riggs
Mystic Mutt Mysteries
I Want You to Haunt Me (prequel)
You Can’t Always Get What You Haunt
Any Way You Haunt It
I Only Haunt to be with You
Do You Haunt to Know a Secret?
All I Haunt for Christmas
Bought-the-Farm Mysteries
A Dog with Two Tales (prequel)
Dogcatcher in the Rye
