The Rattlesnake Cafe by Miller Chinle

Author:Miller, Chinle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yellow Cat Publshing
Published: 2016-09-18T00:00:00+00:00

23

Bud pulled up in front of the Roberts’ house, a very nicely done low-slung Frank Lloyd Wright style with faux stone trim and extensive rock landscaping with native plants here and there.

Parked under a canopy by the garage was a red pickup with a white camper on the back, which looked like the same one he’d seen up on the Triangle the day he’d gone looking for the skeleton. Behind it sat a trailer with an ATV.

As he parked the FJ, leaving the windows down a bit for the dogs, who were now fast asleep, a man came out of the house and held out his hand, shaking Bud’s.

“You sure have a nice rig there,” Bud said, nodding towards the pickup.

“We’ve had that for 10 years now,” Rich replied. “It’s served us well.”

“Looks brand new,” Bud said.

“We take good care of our stuff,” Rich said flatly. “But let’s go on inside. Dixie’s not feeling too well today, so I may need to get her to the doctor again.”

Bud didn’t want to pry, so all he said was, “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll try not to take too much of your time.”

Rich continued, “You know, deputy, that skeleton didn’t set well with her. As a veterinarian, I’m used to such things, but she isn’t. She’s a retired teacher and kids are more her frame of reference, not dead men. And then it’s been real hard for her getting over the snakebite. They thought they might have to amputate her leg.”

“She got bitten by a snake? I didn’t know that. Was it up on the Triangle?”

“Yes, it happened as we were walking up the same wash where Buddy, er, the skeleton was. I had just called your sheriff and sent him a photo and the coordinates. That’s why we never met up with you. I was in a hurry to get her to the ER. I actually carried her down that wash at a half-run. You know, the best first-aid kit for a snake bite is a set of car keys—you just get to the ER as fast as possible. But let’s go inside and have some iced tea.”

Bud hadn’t been aware that the doctor was actually a vet, not that it made any difference, he figured. The man was medium-sized and had a tanned face and hands, like someone who spent a lot of time in the sun. His hair was pure white, almost as if dyed, as there wasn’t a speck of color anywhere. He was overly thin and didn’t look well, with an air about him that Bud couldn’t quite put his finger on, but maybe of someone who had little joy in his life.

They went inside, where Bud met Dixie, a slight graying woman who also didn’t look well and who very graciously invited him to sit down. She sat with her wrapped leg up on a footstool while Rich brought him a glass of iced tea.

“Do you have a business card?” she asked. “I don’t mean to be a bother, but in case we may need to talk to you.

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