Murder in the Rough: Head Rock Harbor Mystery #2 by Chase Connor

Author:Chase Connor [Connor, Chase]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chase Connor Books
Published: 2024-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

Typically, I don’t take my cat into restaurants. Also typical, my mother doesn’t allow pets into her restaurant unless they’re service animals. Since Rattlesnatches was using his best manners and resting quietly like a gentleman in the booth seat next to me, Deb chose to overlook my odd choice in dinner companion. At least for one evening. Since several other diners—townies who knew me—stopped by the booth to scratch Rattlesnatches behind the ears, it would have looked cruel of her to kick us out.

After our walk along the trail and Rattlesnatches finding his little button token, I didn’t want to walk back to the bookstore before stopping for dinner. I decided to sneak Rattlesnatches into the restaurant with me. By “sneak in,” I mean that I walked into Harper’s with him tucked under my arm like a purse. Deb immediately scowled at the sight of us, but one innocent “meow” from Rattlesnatches as he dangled helpless from the crook of my arm changed her mind. Deb flicked a finger towards the back booth in the corner, shaking her head as the two of us made our way to our seat.

As I sat patiently, waiting for my order to be taken, Rattlesnatches twisted his head back and forth, taking in the sights around him. He seemed to know that we were already breaking a rule, as he kept himself low in the booth, his head barely peeking over the table. Discretion is a rule of thumb in our household—two-legged or four-legged family members alike. Well…we like to pretend we know how to behave, at least.

“I’m not bringing out a saucer of milk if you’ve got yourself thinking that,” Deb said as she approached the booth.

“Cats shouldn’t have cow’s milk. Anyway, I’ll feed him when I get home,” I replied, speaking louder than normal to be heard over the other diners in the restaurant. “We were out walking and I didn’t want to take him home before I fed myself. That’s all.”

“Mmhm.” Deb shook her head. “The usual?”

“Yes, please.” I smiled widely up at my mother.

She took a moment to stare down at Rattlesnatches, her face blank as she took in my cat sitting in the booth next to me. When Rattlesnatches realized he was being watched, he turned his head lazily to look up at Deb. For a moment, the two of them stared blankly at each other. Finally, Rattlesnatches issued a disinterested “meow,” blinked his eyes, and laid back down on the booth seat, stretching out lazily.

Deb shook her head.

“I’ll see if Beau can chop up a little catfish for him.” Deb huffed and then turned on her heels without another word.

I smiled after my mother. Deb wasn’t a bad person. Simply cranky. I was glad I hadn’t mentioned to her that I had planned to sneak small pieces of cheesesteak meat to Rattlesnatches over dinner.

Once I was alone, I pulled the button from my hip pocket. The diners around me carried on with their raucous dinnertime conversations and the folks over in the bar who were playing pool and dancing continued with their shenanigans.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.