Nubbin but Trouble (7 page)

Bill left the room and returned with a couple of quilts and a thick bathrobe. “These were my wife's. They might be a little big on you, but they're better than wet clothes.”

He showed me to a bedroom to change. Barney followed obediently behind me.

“Thank you,” I said as I closed the door.

When I returned to the kitchen, Bill had a fresh pot of coffee and a plate of food waiting for me on the table.

“I hope you eat meat. This is beef country. I fixed a bowl of food for your dog too.” Bill said, pulling a chair out for me. “So, about your friend...”

I rubbed my hands together to warm them up. I just knew I was going to get sick from having been exposed to the elements.

“He's missing.” I said as I sat down. “I came out here to help find him.”

“Are you talking about Schmeckpepper?” Bill asked. “I heard about that. Don't know why he would just take off like that. I don't know why anyone would.”

“You know Nubbin?” I asked, hopeful that he would know where to find him.

Bill changed his tone, saying, “No, I don't know him. I just heard about it on the news. Not much happens here. Now all of a sudden we have all sorts of unfortunate stuff happening. The coyotes killing that poor man. Thieves preying on small town sensibilities and a snowstorm that will probably wreak more havoc than any other storm I can remember.”

“So, they haven't found Nubbin yet?” I asked, hoping I was wrong.

He shook his head. “I'm afraid not. No one knows what happened to him. There's speculation that he may be the one that the coyotes...” He paused as I shuddered to think about it. “I'm sorry. I'm sure they'll find him. He's probably holed up in some place warm, having a good laugh about how people are going on about him.”

I hoped he was right, but something told me that it just wouldn't be possible. Nubbin had never gone more than a day without contacting me. It didn't matter what was going on, he felt the need to call me and tell me all about it. I didn't mind, though. He was such a card. His phone calls would make my day, except for our last conversation. He was upset about something and I was too busy dealing with something else that I didn't take the time to find out what was going on and now this has happened.

“I feel so helpless.” I groaned.

“You're not. You made it this far. Things will clear up and you'll get out of here and all will be well again.” Bill said, turning on a small television that sat on the counter top.

A reporter was in mid-report. “I repeat, they were last seen in Hutchinson, Kansas, driving a gray conversion van with Nebraska license plates. Four men in all. Three men appearing to be in their early to mid-thirties and one described as geriatric.”

*

“Could you please not yell? My head is throbbing enough as it is.” I rubbed my temples as Charlie and a tow truck driver hooked up chains to the rear bumper of my rental car.

Charlie scowled at me. “And, just what were you thinking? The highway is closed. I know you can read. Why did you keep driving? What are you – some kind of hero?”

“Don't you listen, Sheriff Wagner?” I asked, stepping forward to try to help.

“I told you why I'm here. Nubbin is my friend.”

“If he is your friend, you wouldn't have encouraged all the nonsense he's been up to because of you,” Charlie snapped back at me.

Bill put his hands up. “Now, arguing isn't going to solve anything. You're lady friend is just concerned about her friend. No need to be nasty.”

Charlie glared at me briefly, then turned his attention back to the task at hand. “Get in my car, Mercy. And, stay there.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but another round of sneezes took hold of me. I'd spent the night before going back and forth between sneezing and coughing thrown in with a mixture of cold sweats and extreme bouts of heat. I knew I'd end up sick. I just hadn't counted on becoming sick so quickly and so violently. No matter what though, I still fully intended to do whatever I could to locate Nubbin and get him back to the nursing home, safe and sound.

It only took a few minutes for my rental car  to be pulled out of the ditch. I couldn't wait to get back on the road and back to business.

“You're all set. Did you want to ride into town with the sheriff or ride with me in the tow truck?” The tow truck driver asked me.

“I can drive myself.” I said, confused by why he was asking.

“No, you won't, Mercy.” Charlie yelled over the tow truck driver's shoulder.

“I'll be fine. I'll follow you two and it will be fine.” I said, trying with all my might to control my anger.

Charlie walked around the car and sat down in the driver's seat. I immediately stepped out and rushed to my car. Bill followed behind me, carrying Barney's crate.

“Don't forget Barney.” He said, smiling.

“Oh you don't have to worry about that. You need to worry about the health and safety of your sheriff, though.” I said, glaring at Charlie from behind. His six-foot frame and solid build didn't intimidate me in the least. I may have been smaller, all of five-foot-three on a good day and all, but I was mighty. I'd put up a good fight, although if it involved getting physical, I'd be more inclined to run in the other direction. I preferred verbal sparring over physical sparring. My mother and grandparents didn't raise a fool; just a loud mouth.

“Couples fight. He's under a lot of stress. You both are. Don't let it get to you.” Bill said, before we said our goodbyes.

“Thank you for everything and, for the record, we aren't a couple. I'm not even sure that we're friends at this point. But, thank you for your help. You may have very well saved my life.” I said, squeezing his hand with mine, before driving off.

Luckily, the sun had started to shine, so the temperature had warmed up a bit. Charlie led the pack as we made our slow commute through the snow, with the sun glaring in my eyes, adding to my inability to drive well. At least, that would be my excuse if I happened to drive us off the road again.

“What an adventure, huh, Barney?” I asked, but based on the rumble coming from the back seat, I understood that my favorite pooch was already fast asleep. Obviously, his memory had failed him, because had I been him, the last thing I would want to do is be in a car driven by the same person that almost cost me my life. Brave dog. Sleeping, almost always sleeping, but one very brave dog.

As I drove, I tried to keep my eyes focused on the back of Charlie's squad car. I wanted to kick myself for not asking him the most important questions, like how was the search coming along, what was his feeling about the coyote mangling, or what the deal was with the band of thieves. Once again, I'd let my emotions take over and I'd probably ruined my chance of getting Charlie to divulge any information to me. I was beginning to think that I should have thought all of these things out before I had gotten on the road and not now, just a few miles out from our destination.

Nubbin, when I find you, you're going to owe me big time, my friend
, I thought. “Big. Time.”

I needed a distraction and since all I could see in front of me were Charlie's car and the tow truck, I had to find something else to keep me awake. Out of options, I turned the radio on. “Hog reports it is then.” It was better than listening to the guilt-ridden voices in my head.

*

“Thanks,” I waved to the back of Charlie's car as he sped up as soon as we arrived in Gering. “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.” I said before another round of sneezes hit me with full force.

Too much time had already been wasted, so instead of trying to find a hotel, I headed directly to the nursing home. At this point, it didn't matter that no one there would be thrilled to see me. I didn't exactly leave on good terms with some people the last time I was here.

I pulled into the drive leading up to Valley Retirement Estates, right off the highway into town and tried to figure out a way to get in and get on their good side. I needed an angle.

Barney sneezed, startling me. “You're right. Brilliant idea, Barney.” I said.

I pulled into a parking space and froze in place when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the rear view mirror. I was a hot mess!

“I look like I walked from California. My dark, curly hair was a frizzy mop. My nose and eyes were red, not to mention that both were leaking like sieves. No way was anyone going to let me past the front door, let alone anywhere near any of the resident's units.

I had to think fast. Even with a great plan brewing, I would never make it through the facility without anyone noticing that I was sick.

A minute of primping and I was about as good as I was going to get for the time being. With any luck, I hoped I'd go unnoticed.

I stepped out of the car and took a deep breath before taking Barney out of his carrier and braving the ice-packed driveway.

“Here goes nothing,” I whispered as the automatic door opened and a floral scent hit my nostrils.

As the second set of doors opened, I went over my plan: get in, get some information, get out. That was easy enough.

“Are you kidding me?” The sound of a woman's voice stopped me in my tracks.

Instinctively, I put my head down to shield my face from view.

I recognized the shoes. I looked up and our eyes met briefly before I looked behind me, contemplating whether or not to turn around and walk right out of here.

“Mercy Mares?” Kathy shook her head as she said my name.

Since she said my name in the form of the question, I decided that I'd take that and run with it.

“Kathy, right?” I pretended to not be sure of who she was.

Sternly, she asked, “What are you doing here? No one said anything about you working here again and why do you have that dog with you?”

I clutched Barney closer to my chest, so he wouldn't hear his former owner's words.

“Why do you think I'm here, Kathy? Let's cut to the chase. I didn't want this to go this way, but since yours is the first face I've seen, I'll ditch my original plan and ask you directly – what happened to Nubbin? What did you do?” I looked at her accusingly.

She gasped, shocked that I would ask her such a question, but I didn't have time for any of her excuses. I'd heard them before and wasn't interested.

Kathy's beady blue eyes darkened. “What are you implying? I didn't have anything to do with this? You know how Nubbin is. You know he acts without thinking all the time.”

Barney started barking, causing Kathy to move a few steps back. I didn't correct him because I felt my eyes beginning to water and knew that she'd figure out that I wasn't feeling well. If I kept a little distance between us, I hoped she wouldn't notice. I didn't have much faith in her nursing skills, but on the off chance that she'd surprise me and notice that I was sick, I had to do my part to not give her any reason to doubt my well-being.

“Nubbin is a good man. Isn't it your job to make sure that he's safe? Weren't you watching him?” I could feel my face begin to burn with anger.

Kathy opened her wide mouth, but didn't utter a word in response. I think I stumped her.
Good!

“Mercy, is that you? Wow, how long have you been in town?” Sarah, one of the nurse's aides I'd met during my stay here last Christmas, asked.

“Hi, Sarah. How are you?” I poured on the sugar just to goad Kathy.

As expected, Kathy huffed off in her bright orange Crocs, reminiscent of a certain celebrity chef I'd seen on television. I kept one eye on her egg-shaped body as she pounded her feet on the ground and rushed away from me.

“You brought Barney with you.” Sarah grabbed Barney out of my arms and showered him with kisses. “Did you hear about Nubbin?”