Angels Adrift (A Mercy Allcutt Cozy Mystery, Book 6) by Alice Duncan

Author:Alice Duncan [Duncan, Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!

Thirteen

Mr. Davis, along with his police escort, had barely exited Ernie’s office, leaving Ernie and Phil to chat some more, when the front door opened. Looking up, prepared to smile at the unpleasant Mrs. Swale, instead I gasped in astonishment. Maybe horror.

Yeah. It was horror.

Two of the largest animals I’d ever seen in my life thumped into the room. Before I could scream or hide under the desk‍—which wouldn’t have done me any good at all‍—I noticed Mrs. Swale behind the two canines, holding them by leashes so slender, they wouldn’t have stopped either one of the dogs from attacking and eating me for luncheon.

Aha. Mastiffs. The huge animals were mastiffs. I’d seen pictures of mastiffs. Saints preserve us.

“M-my goodness, Mrs. Swale,” I said after swallowing the lump of terror that had lodged in my throat. “Th-those are your dogs? M-mastiffs?” I pressed a hand to my thundering heart.

Frowning at me in unconcealed disapprobation, Mrs. Swale said, “Yes. There’s no need to be frightened, Miss Allcutt. My dogs are perfectly trained for obedience to my commands.”

“I see.” Thank God.

“Unless I give them a signal, they are two of the most docile canines in the world.”

“Oh.” I decided never to give Mrs. Swale a reason to dislike me. At least, any more than she already seemed to dislike me. Because I didn’t know what I’d done to offend her, unless she just didn’t care for underlings as a breed, I wasn’t sure what to do to get and stay on her good side, if she had one. “They’re…um, quite large. For dogs.”

“They’re massive,” said Mrs. Swale, giving her two dogs a loving look. “They’re bred from the original English mastiffs, you know.”

“Um, no. I didn’t know that.”

“My, yes. The forebears of these two handsome fellows used to function as guard dogs and were trained to hunt down and savage anyone who trespassed upon their owner’s property.”

“Oh.” My voice had gone slightly higher than normal.

“Breeders in Great Britain and members of the American Kennel Club have been attempting to breed the aggressive tendencies out of them, but they’re still formidable if given a reason to be.” Gazing adoringly at her pets and with a definite note of haughtiness in her tone, she went on, “Caesar and Augustus here are sweethearts unless called upon to chase an intruder or protect me. They’d never allow anyone to hurt me. If anyone tried, he’d lose. These dogs weigh two hundred pounds each. Well, Augustus weighs about two hundred fifteen pounds. They can take down pretty much anyone or anything.”

“I imagine they can.” Yet another octave. If those dogs remained in my room much longer, I might turn into a soprano.

With an impressive sneer, she said, “There’s no reason to be afraid, young woman. I already told you my dogs have been trained. Beautifully trained. Unless given the signal, they’re happy, friendly dogs. Are you not accustomed to being around dogs?” Her sneer turned into a frown, convincing me she did not approve of people who didn’t surround themselves with dogs.

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