Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained Page 4

  “We’re going to the dog rescue shelter, remember?”

  “I remember but I didn’t think you did, because dress slacks, earrings, and fashion boots aren’t what I’d choose.”

  “Excuse me. I’m volunteering to work in the office. I’m dressed appropriately for that.”

  He shook his head. Obviously, his wife had a lot to learn about volunteering. Especially at a dog kennel. Far be it for him to continue that conversation. He always said the wrong thing. Like the day, Bea bought a long black skirt for the holidays. As usual she tried it on for him. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t what he saw. For one thing, the skirt was too large and the red sweater hung loosely down below her hips. It didn’t do her justice.

  Bea twirled around, looking prouder than a peacock. “So, what do you think?”

  Now everyone knew Ed loved Bea to pieces, and he’d do anything to avoid hurting her. But he was also honest. Sometimes brutally so. Apparently, this was one of those times. “You look like a priest”

  “A priest?” Obviously, his comment didn’t please her. “A priest? I’m surprised you didn’t say a nun.”

  “Your top’s not the right color for a nun.”

  She looked down at her red sweater. “Just what every woman wants to look like. A priest!”

  “I’m sorry, honey pot, but you asked. I think it’s a bit too large.” It wasn’t often anyone could say that about her clothes. Bea’s not the thinnest woman in the world. She has what she refers to as a ‘wide girth’.

  “It is a bit oversized, isn’t it?” Bea lifted her sweater and showed Ed the waistline.

  Too big was putting it mild. “Well, you’ll grow into it.” Not the smartest thing he’d ever said.

  Bea could pierce right through you with just a look. Yep, he got the look.

  “I certainly hope not. Harrumph.”

  “Well you can take it in, then.” He was batting a thousand. At that point, he didn’t think he had anything to lose.

  “Maybe I’ll have to. Although I don’t think it’s going to fall off me. I’ll need a new pair of shoes now.”

  “Well that would certainly help. Those oxfords certainly don’t look good.” Bea’s shoes looked like something off a podiatrist shelf. They weren’t of course, but damn close. Apparently in her younger years, Bea wore spike heels every day, and her feet suffered from it now. She seldom wore anything fashionable. He didn’t know much about fashion, hardly paid attention to shoes, but those clunkers weren’t exactly feminine. That’s when Bea went out and bought the fashion boots.

  They picked Ethel up on the way to the rescue center. The two of them were as excited as kids at a birthday party. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and Ed had to admit he looked forward to it. He always loved dogs. Wanted one ever since they got married, but Bea wouldn’t hear of it. If he had his way, they’d be leaving with a foster dog. One step at a time. He pulled into the parking lot. “I assume you ladies have a plan.”

  “Sort of.” Bea unbuckled her seat belt.

  “Okay then. Let’s go.” He opened the door and went around to the passenger side to help Bea and Ethel out.

  “Good morning, and welcome to Pets for You Rescue. It’s always exciting to see new volunteers. I’m Louise Jensen. Mr. Eberhardt, Mrs. Eberhardt…” Louise looked between Bea and Ethel.

  Ed introduced them and Louise shook each of their hands.

  “Mr. Eberhard, your assignment is to feed the dogs, report to Adam in the kennel and he’ll show you the ropes. Mrs. Capony, if you’ll help Jill with the new dogs coming in. They should be here in….” Louise looked at her watch. “Any minute actually, just go through that door and you’ll find her. And Mrs. Eberhardt, if you’ll make a copy of these two reports, I think we’re all set.” Ed and Ethel left, and Bea took the reports to the copy machine.

  “You know, I can do that, Bea. You don’t mind if I call you Bea, do you?”

  Well, everyone knows Beatrice Lulu feelings about her name. She straightened to her full five-foot two-inch height, looked Ms. Jensen square in the eyes, and went through her recitation about her name being Beatrice Lulu.

  Louise brushed a strand of blond hair from her eyes and looked at Beatrice Lulu like she was crazy. Not that Beatrice Lulu cared. She’d gotten used to people looking at her like that.

  “I see. Well, Beatrice Lulu, I think we could use your services better cleaning out the pens.”

  “Cleaning pens?” Beatrice Lulu grabbed on to the edge of the desk. “You want me to clean out the pens. I thought I was going to work in the office.”

  “Yes, well, there’s nothing I need you to do in here.”

  “I can’t clean out the pens. I’m not dressed for it.”

  “Hmm. I see what you mean. But you did sign on to help where needed, and right now we need help cleaning out the kennel. I suggest in the future you wear jeans or sweat pants and tennis shoes or boots. And I don’t mean fashion boots.” Louise looked down at Beatrice Lulu’s feet.

  Just great, her new boots were going to get ruined. That wasn’t good, nope, not good at all. How was she going to get out of it? Besides, the plan was for her to be in the office, find an opportunity to look around. The nerve of that woman and to be so insulting. The ad said they needed volunteers for the office, not just the kennels.

  Louise put her hand on Beatrice Lulu’s back and led her, more like pushed her, outside. “We’ll find Adam, maybe he can find something else for you to do.” A dark-haired man approached. “Ah, Adam, just who we were looking for, Mrs. Eberhardt is ready to clean out the pens. You’ll show her the ropes, right.”

  Adam looked Beatrice Lulu up and down through raised eyebrows. “Um…right. Yes ma’am. Come on Ms Eberhard, it’s not as hard as it sounds.” Adam put his arm around Beatrice Lulu and led her out back to the pens. A boy raced around the corner and darn near knocked her over. If it hadn’t been for Adam, she’d have been on the ground.

  “Russell, slow down!” Adam shook his head. “Darn kid doesn’t know what slow means. You okay?”

  Beatrice Lulu pulled away, brushed off her shirt where Russell bumped into her, and nodded.

  Adam grabbed a hose, turned the nozzle, and proceeded to spray the floor. “Once a week we mop them down with bleach. In between we just hose them off.” He handed her the hose. “Here you go.”

  He left her standing there, hose in hand, getting soaked because the nozzle leaked. She didn’t sign on for this. She stomped her foot and water splattered on to her slacks. “Darn it anyway, the very idea of her cleaning out the pens, what did Louise think she was? And why the heck would you make anyone dressed like this clean out the pens? Why didn’t they give this job to Ed?” Beatrice Lulu mumbled. Obviously, Louise had it out for her. Just a darn good thing she didn’t have to mop with bleach, her new slacks would be ruined for sure. She turned the hose on the next pen and the little dog she saw the other day huddled in the corner.

  Beatrice Lulu turned off the nozzle and walked over to him. Poor little thing just hunched there, afraid to move. She reached out to pet him. He lowered his beautiful golden face and cowered away from her. “Hey, little guy. I’m not going to hurt you.” She let him sniff her hand and he relaxed a bit. She patted his head. His silver and black, mixed with a little brown and tan coat was unusual. Beautiful, round, brown, adoring eyes looked up at her, just begging her to love him. Her heart melted.

  “Bea, what are you doing out here? I thought you were working in the office.” Ed appeared out of nowhere.

  “Yeah, so did I, but there wasn’t anything to do in there, so Louise sent me out here to clean the pens.” She stood and looked at him. “Can you believe she made me do this? Me! Of all people. Why didn’t she have you do it? The gall of that woman. How dare she send me out dressed like this?”

  “Listen, I’ll clean out the pens and you feed the dogs. I think that’s more suited to you.”

  “Works for me. What do I have to do?”

  “Pr
etty easy, really. Just a scoop of food from that cart for each dog. Their dishes are in their pens. Who were you talking to?”

  Bea moved aside and showed Ed the little dog. “Poor thing is scared. Look at him shaking.”

  Ed leaned down, reached out, and scooped him up. “Looks like a Yorkie mix. Poor little guy.”

  Beatrice Lulu had no idea what a Yorkie mix was, but figured it had something to do with its breed. She didn’t know one breed from the next, so it didn’t tell her much. All she knew was that little dog was going home with them. He curled up in Ed’s arms and laid his head on Ed’s chest. Ed had a knack for dealing with dogs as well as kids. Something about him calmed them. Not that it surprised her. Big as Ed was and loud as he could be, there was a reassuring peacefulness about him. The little dog went right to sleep.

  “You know we’re taking him home, don’t you?” Ed said it as a statement not a question.

  “I knew the minute I saw the little thing I couldn’t leave it here.” Much as Bea didn’t like dogs, there was no way she’d leave it, scared as it was. That little guy needed love and attention. It had already worked his way into her heart.

  It didn’t take long to apply for foster care. The center was always in need of people to care for pets. Ed didn’t know it yet, but this wasn’t just a foster situation. They’d be keeping this cute little guy. Bea decided to name him Bixby.

  “Well that didn’t go as planned,” Beatrice Lulu said when they left and were out of earshot of Louise. “I was hoping to work in the office, get a feel for the place, see which dogs were sick and such.”

  “That’s what I was hoping, also. I thought maybe we’d find something out from Adam and Jill, but no such luck. It was interesting to see the new dogs, though.” Ethel hooked her arm through Beatrice Lulu’s. “They bring them in from all over the state. Poor things. Some are strays that no one claimed, others - people decided they didn’t want, and some people just couldn’t keep for one reason or another. They got four in today and are expecting five more tomorrow. Good thing you took one to foster, they’re going to run out of room soon. I’m going to talk to Greg about fostering one, too. There’s a beagle I’ve got my eye on.”

  “I don’t mind telling either of you today wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.” Beatrice Lulu hooked her other arm through Ed’s.

  “Well the day wasn’t a total loss. We found this little guy.” Ed nodded toward Bixby curled up in his other arm. “Besides, honey pot, this wasn’t my idea. I just came along to keep you out of trouble.

  “Harrumph. Like I can’t keep myself out of trouble.”

  “You have to admit you’ve not been too successful with that lately.”

  “We better stop and pick up dog food and supplies for Bixby.” Beatrice Lulu changed the subject.

  Chapter 5

  They no more than got home and the doorbell rang. “Get that, will you, Ed? I’m fixing up Bixby’s bed.”

  Bea had sure surprised Ed the way she’d taken to that dog. He opened the door. A young woman stood there, glaring at Ed. Seriously, if looks could kill he wouldn’t be here today. “Yes, may I help you?” Part of him was afraid she’d say yes.

  “I’m looking for Beatrice Eberhardt.”

  Obviously, it wasn’t someone who knew Bea well since she hadn’t used her whole name. “Who may I tell her is calling?”

  “Daisy Lippit.”

  The name sounded familiar? “Come in.” Ed moved aside and led her into the kitchen. “Bea, someone’s here to see you.” From the look on Daisy’s face, this didn’t look like a social visit.

  “Who is it?” Bea came into the kitchen carrying Bixby. She stopped dead in her tracks. “Daisy!”

  Daisy glared at Bea, walked toward her, and shook her finger. “Just who do you think you are nosing around in my personal life? What Frank does on his own time is his business. You think you can just go snooping around, ruining people’s lives.”

  Bea stepped back, plopped down in a chair, her mouth fell open. Ed took Bixby from her because the poor dog started to shake. Poor little guy didn’t like loud voices. He stepped back and waited. This could prove to be interesting. It suddenly came to him who Daisy was. Maybe Bea would learn to mind her own business, although he doubted it. If being kidnapped didn’t teach her, nothing would.

  Bea opened her mouth to speak, but Daisy cut her off. “You know nothing about my life, nothing about Frank. He’s a dear, sweet man and your accusations are insulting to say the least.”

  Bea deserved getting reamed out. Maybe Frank was cheating on Daisy, but that didn’t affect Bea or Mabel. Ed almost applauded Daisy and her courage to come here.

  “I…I’m sorry. I only did what your mother asked. She was concerned…”

  “Don’t bring my mother into it. Everyone knows you’re a busybody. How dare you follow Frank and take pictures of him? It didn’t concern you.”

  “Now wait just a minute…” Bea tried to stand.

  “No, you wait.” Daisy moved closer and shook her finger under Bea’s nose. “Be forewarned, we’re suing you. You’d better get yourself a good lawyer.”

  Up until then, Ed almost enjoyed seeing Bea getting reamed out. She deserved it. Although why Daisy wouldn’t care her husband was fooling around was beyond him. But as Jess always said, ‘to each his own.’ When she mentioned lawsuit, he couldn’t stand by and let Bea take the abuse. Besides, it was his money she was talking about now.

  “Excuse me. Did you just say you’re suing my wife?”

  “Damned right I did. She’s not getting away with this.”

  “Might I ask for what?”

  “Defamation of character for starters. My lawyer will be in touch.” Daisy turned to leave.

  Ed shook his head. “Excuse me. Whose character did Bea defame?”

  “Frank’s and believe me, he’s not too happy about it. Your wife needs to mind her own business. She has no idea what’s she’s doing or who she’s dealing with.”

  “Might I ask how she defamed him?” Ed didn’t know a whole lot about the law, but from what he understood, all Bea did was film Frank kissing another woman and gave the video to Daisy’s mother. Not sure how that’s defamation.

  “She accused him of having an affair, which wasn’t true.”

  “I did no such thing.” Bea stepped forward. “I never accused him of anything.”

  Daisy ran her hand through her long blond hair and raised her head as if to look down at Bea. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.” She slammed the door behind her as she left.

  “Well! I never.” Bea was beside herself. “The nerve of some people. To come in here like that and accuse me of defamation. Wait until I talk to Mabel.”

  “Now, Bea, maybe that’s not such a good idea. Maybe Daisy just needs to cool off.”

  “Can you believe that? I gave her mother proof that Frank was fooling around and she doesn’t believe it. What could that man possibly have said to make her believe he was innocent?”

  “From what I heard, he sure can’t say it was a cousin.” Darn! Ed bit his tongue. Hopefully, Bea was too upset to notice. “What was all that about, anyway?”

  Bea sat down, leaned her head in her hands. “A lawsuit. Just what we need.” As if a lightbulb went off in her head, she stood and looked at Ed. “What did you mean from what you heard?”

  Good thing he’d had a few minutes to think about it. “From your conversation with Daisy. Apparently, you filmed Frank someplace at some time. What was she talking about anyway? When did you accuse Frank of having an affair? Isn’t Daisy the little girl who used to live next door to us, Mabel Crankshaw’s daughter? What do you have to do with this? They moved years ago.” Ed walked toward Bea, hoping she’d buy his story. “Have you been involved in something that was none of your business again?”

  “Remember I told you about it. That’s where me and Ethel spent all our time a while back. Mabel called and asked me to do some snooping. She was suspicious of Frank, so Ethel and I followed him for
a couple of weeks.” Bea explained the whole thing to Ed again.

  Too bad Ed didn’t remember that confession. “Are you ever going to learn?”

  “I’m going to bed.” Bea changed the subject.

  “I’ll take Bixby out and be right up. You don’t mind if I watch TV for a while, do you?”

  “No, that’s fine. I’m tired. I’ll probably fall right to sleep.”

  The next morning Ed got up to take Bixby out. Bea had just finished making coffee.

  “Edgar Leroy Eberhardt!” Bea yelled before he even got to the door. “Have you been sleepwalking again?”

  “How am I supposed to know when I sleep-walked? I was sleeping. Why?”

  “I set a brand-new loaf of bread on the counter yesterday, and it’s gone. If you’re going to sleepwalk, will you stop hiding things?”

  “Now honeypot, even if I did sleepwalk, what would I be doing with bread?”

  “Good question.” Bea looked in every cupboard and the refrigerator. “Dang, the milk’s gone, too.” She slammed the door and gave Ed one of those looks. The one that said he’d better come up with a good explanation and darn quick. “What the heck is going on around here? It’s bad enough you sleepwalk and sometimes eat, but a whole loaf of bread and gallon of milk. Even you couldn’t eat that much.”

  “Not to mention, I don’t drink milk. There’s something strange going on here, Bea, and I don’t think it has anything to do with me sleepwalking.”

  Bea tapped her foot and glared at him. “Then would you like to tell me just what it has to do with? You feeding stray animals or something?”

  Ed took Bixby out, came back and poured two cups of coffee. He handed one to Bea. “I have no idea what’s going on, but it’s mighty strange the things that have come up missing lately. A new jar of peanut butter, several loaves of bread and gallons of milk, even the left-over roast. I think someone’s breaking in and stealing food.” He hated to say it, but the first thing that crossed his mind was Butch.

  Bea set her coffee on the table and sank into a chair. “You think someone is breaking in? But who?” She shook her head. “The idea of someone being in the house while we’re asleep scares the heck out of me.”