Ghost Roads by Lisa Stowe

Author:Lisa Stowe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 1910 fire, big blowup, forest service ghost roads, mountain mystery series, pacific northwest mysteries, wallace idaho
Publisher: Lisa Stowe

Chapter 17

The vet clinic was still open, although the young assistant, Angel, was closing out the till when Harlow walked in, still shaky from her encounter with Nate. Angel simply lifted her chin in the direction of the kennel area and Harlow walked through to where Weda still slept. She opened the door and sat on the floor so she could reach in and rest a hand on his side. His breathing seemed regular, maybe less shallow. But she didn’t know if that was hope or imagination or truth. Either way she felt oddly comforted.

The male vet from the first day came through to tell her they were locking up, and to say he would be the one watching over the animals for the night.

Harlow bent over to whisper in Weda’s ear. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. You just get better.” She stood to discover her feet and legs had fallen asleep. She rocked carefully from boot to boot as tingling needles shot up her ankles. “You’ll call if there’s any change?”

“Of course. Even the slightest.”

“For better or for worse?”

“Of course.” The vet turned sideways, his body language clearly showing the way to the door.

She stood there as long as she could get away with, but when the guy finally pointed to the door, Harlow bent to quickly run her hand over Weda in farewell before heading outside. In the Scout, she started the engine, rolled a window down, and waited while the fresh evening air displaced the stuffy heat inside. Her stomach grumbled and she wondered what Leigh planned for dinner.

Exhausted and unsettled, she put the Scout in gear and headed home. Worry for her dog, the weird encounter with Nate, the weirder encounter with Palmer, the nagging fear that another body would be found, all of those things would make anyone nervous. So she told herself.

At the house, lights were on, windows were open to the cool twilight breeze, and her mother’s car sat in the driveway. Harlow pulled in beside it and headed for the back door, avoiding looking at the empty kennel. She could hear music, oldies that Bonnie liked. Harlow walked inside listening to something about the streets of Laredo being sung in a twangy male voice.

For a very brief second she wondered if she could simply keep going through the kitchen to her bedroom, to her blankets. Where she could burrow underneath and close out the world.

But Leigh, at the counter peeling asparagus, lowered the knife when Harlow came in the room. “There you are.”

Harlow looked at the asparagus and raised an eyebrow.

“Come sit by me.” Bonnie sat at the table, her feet propped up on a chair, and a mug of coffee in one hand. She wore dark green capris, a peach colored loose cotton blouse, and a scarf around her gray hair. She looked outdoorsy, relaxed, and happy.

Harlow bent to kiss her mother’s forehead and Bonnie lifted her mug in salute.

Leigh glanced over her shoulder. “How’s your dog?”

“No change,” Harlow said, going to the refrigerator and taking out a can of light lemonade.

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