Blaze (Steel Brothers Saga 21)

Come to the guesthouse. Now if you can.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

CALLIE

“Shocking,” I say quietly to Rory after we’re done in the exam room and we come back out to the reception area to make the next appointment for our dogs.

Brittany, as I suspected, is nowhere to be found.

“I guess I’ll make the appointments myself.” Doc Sheraton walks behind Brittany’s desk and taps on the computer. “I’ll need to see them both back here in a couple of weeks just to make sure there aren’t any issues. How does two weeks from today sound?”

“Sure,” Rory says. “Saturdays are good for us.”

“Great.” He scribbles an appointment on a card and hands it to Rory.

“Thanks.”

“Where’s Brittany?” I ask.

“Got me. Usually she lets me know if she’s taking a break. I’m sure she’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Rory darts me a stink-eye at my snide tone.

“Doc Sheraton,” Rory says. “When did Brittany come back to town?”

“A couple of weeks ago. She and her boyfriend moved back here.”

“Boyfriend?” I ask.

“Yeah, a guy who used to live here a while ago. His name is Pat.”

“Pat Lamone?” I say, trying to sound normal.

“Yeah. That sounds right. Nice guy.”

Right. I knew she was lying to me. “How long have they been together?”

“Several months, I think. They were both up in Laramie, working, and they got together.”

That sounds like a manufactured story to me, but I keep my mouth shut.

“We’re very happy for her,” Rory says with a smile.

Doc Sheraton returns her smile, looking a little besotted. Rory has that effect on men. And women. And anything in between.

“Where are they staying?” I ask.

“Brittany’s staying with me, and Pat has rented a room somewhere in town.”

I nod. I already knew where Pat was.

“What’s Pat up to?”

“I believe Brittany said he’s working over at the Snow Creek Inn. Evening hours, I believe.”

Still no new information.