Dandelion Dead Read Free

Simon.”
    Simon shrugged. “I know I did. I meant to, but . . .”
    What I wanted to say was But you’re selfish and only think of yourself . Still, we were friends now, not boyfriend and girlfriend, and I needed to act like a friend. So I tempered my reaction. “I know that you’ve got a lot on your plate, especially right now. It’s okay, we’ll take him.”
    He arched an eyebrow. “Jackson won’t mind?”
    I shook my head. “We’ve already talked about it. We both knew it was coming.”
    â€œYou are good friends. Better than I deserve.”
    Instead of focusing on Simon’s flaws, I thought about all the times over the past few years that he’d been there for Jackson and me, with the murder investigations and incarcerations, and his help with lawyers and support. “It’s fine, Simon, really. I’m going over to Jackson’s now, so I can take him with me.”
    Simon blew out a breath. “Good, thanks, Willow. That’s a relief.”
    I put Zeke down on the area rug and pushed his bone toward him. He grabbed it and began to happily chew, his tail wagging. “So are we all set for this afternoon?”
    Simon nodded. “Ivy has the tasting-room setup handled, and the dining room, while Amy’s managing the B and B.” The bed-and-breakfast, behind the tasting room, was a quaint clapboard house painted sea-foam green with bright white shutters, containing four bedroom suites.
    The B and B had been up and running when Simonand David had taken over the vineyard and was a good moneymaker, especially after a complete interior and exterior renovation. Wine lovers enjoyed staying on-site, with the wine, the walks, and being in nature.
    I told Simon about running into David and Ivy outside. “She’s a real piece of work, isn’t she? David seems miserable.”
    â€œThey’re always like that. The whole family has been fighting for years. He argues with her and his family, and Ivy fights with him and Amy.” Simon pushed off the desk and came over to me. “Don’t worry, Willow, no one is going to kill anyone.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    He put his arm around me. Simon had always been demonstrative, and fortunately Jackson didn’t mind. “C’mon, friend, it’s been over a year since your last case. You haven’t been able to play detective since that murder in your medicinal herb garden. Are you sure that you don’t want something to investigate?”
    I shook my head. “You are nuts . I was just reporting what happened.”
    He smirked at me. “Whatever you say.”
    â€œIf that’s all, I’m going to go home and get ready.”
    â€œDon’t forget your new little buddy.” Simon picked up Zeke and his bone, patted his little head, and handed him to me. “I put all his stuff in that bag by the door—his dog bed, his blanket, his special puppy food and treats, bones and toys, you know, the works.”
    The duffel bag was big and heavy, but I managed to hold Zeke and his bone and put it over my shoulder.
    Simon waved to us as we went out the door. “Have fun, you two.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    I decided to stop by to see Jackson and introduce him to Zeke before I headed back to Nature’s Way. Less than five minutes later we arrived at his two-hundred-year-old house, on a generous two-and-a-half-acre lot, seven minutes east of Greenport.
    I found him out back repairing the paddock for the horses, while volunteers buzzed around him, tending to rescued animals in the paddock and in the adjacent barn, including donkeys, goats, pigs, birds, opossums, raccoons, and two turkeys.
    Rescue dogs and cats were placed in temporary foster homes with volunteers until they were adopted. Jackson put photos and bios of available animals on a website, and potential pet parents had to fill out an extensive