Raining Cats & Dogs (A Melanie Travis Mystery) Read Free

option for him.”
    “I’m not saying he would be a star,” Sam said. “But taking a few lessons might teach him how to deal with new things. You know, he could learn how to learn.”
    “Or how to think,” said Davey, shaking his head. “Because that is one dumb dog.”
    So much for not insulting the new family members.
    To my relief, Sam chuckled. “I wondered how long it would take you two to notice. I don’t know when was the last time I had a Poodle that was so lacking in brain power.” His hand waved in the direction of Raven and Casey, his older females. “Those two know everything. If you told them to cook you breakfast in the morning, they’d ask how you wanted your eggs. But Tar…well, what can I say? Everyday he wakes up to a whole new adventure, because nothing he learned the day before ever seems to stick.”
    Hearing his name, Tar lifted his head. His weight shifted, and his leg moved. His sodden foot slipped off the rim of the water bowl and landed on the floor with a soggy thump. Cold water splashed up onto his close-clipped hindquarter. Expression quizzical, clearly confused, Tar turned to see what had caused the spray.
    “I don’t think obedience would help,” I said.
    “Maybe agility,” Sam mused.
    The thought made me laugh. “I’ve seen Tar get lost coming down the stairs. And twice so far, I’ve had to untangle him from Davey’s swing set. Something as fast-paced as agility would probably send him into shock.”
    “You’re probably right,” Sam admitted. “I bet Faith would be good at it, though.”
    “Don’t even start,” I said. “I just had this conversation with Aunt Peg—”
    Abruptly, Tar leapt to his feet. He crossed the kitchen in a single, athletic bound, barking ferociously as his front paws slammed against the back door hard enough to make the glass rattle. Immediately, the other Poodles were up and on alert. Their outraged voices joined his. I spun in my seat and looked to see what had caught their attention.
    The Poodles had all been out in the fenced backyard earlier; the outside lights were still on. Silhouetted in their glow, a large orange cat was clearly visible through the window above the sink. He must have been standing balanced on the windowsill; his yellow eyes calmly scanned the room.
    Tar was a mere few feet away, barking so hard now that the effort bounced him up and down on his hind feet. The cat cocked his head in Tar’s direction but didn’t retreat. The Poodles’ raucous ire at his invasion of their space didn’t seem to faze him one bit. His fluffy tail lifted high in the air and swung slowly from side to side. A gesture of disdain if ever I’d seen one.
    “I didn’t know you had a cat,” said Sam.
    “I don’t. He must belong to one of the neighbors, though I’ve never seen him around here before.”
    “You’d think a cat would have more sense than to come here,” said Davey. “This place is like Dog Central.”
    “Maybe he’s lost,” Sam said.
    I looked again and the cat was gone. Now that he’d removed himself from their sight, the Poodles quieted. They were beginning to look rather sheepish about their outburst. I stood up, walked over, and peered out the window. The cat had disappeared.
    “Wherever he came from, he’s gone now,” I said. “And speaking of which, Faith and I have to go, too.”
    “Go ahead,” said Sam. “Davey and I will clean up. Then after that, we’ll hit the books.”
    He made it all seem so simple, I thought as I dug out Faith’s choke chain and leather leash. No need to arrange for a babysitter. Or worry that if I took Davey to class with me, his homework wouldn’t get done. Marriage might not be the easiest thing I’d ever done, but it definitely had its perks.

2
    A ccording to the brochure I’d picked up at the New Canaan YMCA, Steve Barton had started the South Avenue Obedience Club in his backyard. A longtime competitor in obedience trials, he’d become frustrated and ultimately