The Case of the Double Bumblebee Sting Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’ll get as gant as a coachwhip, but then he’ll get over it.”
    â€œYou don’t take them to the vet?”
    â€œWell, some do and some don’t, Sally May. See, a lot of times, you don’t even know the old dog’s been bit. He’ll go off by himself and lay under a tree somewheres and he won’t come back to the house until he’s over it, is what usually happens.”
    Sally May’s eyes returned to me. “But that’s not what Hank did. He came to me.”
    â€œYep. I guess he likes you, Sally May.”
    â€œHow could I be so lucky?” She stood there for a moment, shaking her head and moving her lips. “So! You boys are going off to a three-day roundup and your dog picks this very moment to get himself bitten by a rattlesnake.” She turned to Loper. “And what am I supposed to do now? Loper, this is YOUR dog.”
    Loper had been deep in thought. Now he spoke. “Hon, I hope you understand that I didn’t plan it this way.”
    â€œI understand that, dearest.”
    â€œWe can’t cancel this deal. Jimmy’s planned his whole roundup around us. We’ve got to go, and pretty quick.”
    Her eyes widened. “And leave me here with this . . . this drooling dog?”
    Boy, that hurt. I couldn’t help it that I was drooling.
    Loper nodded. “I’m afraid so. I hate to do it, but when a man gives his word, he has to stand behind it. If we cancelled out over a sick dog . . . we just can’t do that, hon.”
    â€œFine. I understand that. I agree. But what am supposed to do with your dog? I don’t even like him!”
    That one hurt too.
    Loper thought it over. “Well, you could just leave him alone and let nature take its course. Just make sure he has plenty of fresh water. Chances are, he’ll get over it.”
    Sally May heaved a sigh. “Yes, and for the next three days, I’ll have to look at the poor beast. And if he died, guess who would feel all the guilt and responsibility.”
    Loper nodded. “Okay. Maybe you’d better load him up and take him to the vet.”
    â€œLoad THAT dog into MY clean car, and haul him to town with MY two children?”
    â€œYou can take Slim’s pickup. It already stinks.”
    Slim nodded on that. “You bet, that’ll be fine, Sally May. You won’t hurt that old thang. It’s just right for haulin’ dogs.”
    â€œAnd my children?”
    â€œOh sure. They won’t hurt it.”
    â€œSlim, I’m not worried about IT. I’m worried about THEM!”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œThe last time I saw the inside of your pickup, I wanted to go get a smallpox booster.”
    â€œNaw, I’ve cleaned it up since then, Sally May. It ain’t bad, really.”
    â€œI’ll bet. I’ve seen your cleaning jobs before, Slim Chance. You shovel out the dead rats and call that clean.”
    â€œYes ma’am.”
    She whirled around and faced Loper. She was wearing a crazy smile on her face. “Well! After ten years of marriage, I can’t believe you’re doing this to me.”
    â€œI know, hon, and I feel bad about it.”
    â€œThis,” she shook a finger in his face, “will cost you. I want the floor fixed in the utility room.” Loper nodded. “I want the screen door patched.” He nodded. “I want a new faucet for the kitchen sink.”
    â€œI’m putty in your hands, hon.”
    â€œI want two wheelbarrow-loads of manure spread on my flowerbeds.”
    Loper swallowed hard. “That’s a pretty expensive dog.”
    â€œAnd you’ll tend to those jobs the very day you get back, right?”
    â€œI guess you’ve got us pretty well roped and tied.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll take your dog to town.”
    He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You’re sweet, and you win the Pioneer Mother Award.”
    â€œI’ll win the Angry Ranch