Page 23 of Buck (Diver Downeast #2)

Bobbie was quiet in the van driving to the clinic. Reyghan, on her back, had fallen asleep in Bobbie’s lap, all four legs in the air. It looked like a damned uncomfortable position, but what did she know? The pup was out like a light. Maybe the baby was finally worn out from her traumatic morning.

The discussion amongst the brothers on the short journey was all speculation on how the tiny canines had come to be thrown in the river. Everyone’s best guess was that a rogue puppy-mill, hidden somewhere in the back-country up north, was responsible.

The Sothard sibs threw possible scenarios back and forth, and the one that made the most sense was that the perpetrator ran an illegal breeding operation, then got rid of any “product” that were either runts, like Reyghan and the dachshund, or proved to be “mistakes”; mixed breeds that couldn’t be sold off as purebreds, which would account for Duck, and Buck’s little white poodle-mix.

Shortly thereafter, with everyone seething that the breeder would be brought to justice, Buck pulled up to the vet where there was a sign out that read, “closed”. But the door opened and an older woman’s friendly face poked out.

“Come in, come in. I’m Doctor Katze,” she greeted as they emerged from the van, pointing to a plaque on the siding with her name on it.

Seriously ? That was so cool. The name she’d given was spelled, “Katze”, but was pronounced “cats”. Bobbie wondered if the woman had decided at an early age to go where her name led her.

Dr. Katze was still talking. “The chief filled me in and said you were on your way,” she tsked.

“I can’t believe anyone would dump a load of puppies like that.

” Her displeasure was evident in her words, but not in her demeanor or posture as she reached out and patted each bedraggled beast. Bobbie speculated that she purposely didn’t exhibit negative emotions in front of her four-legged clients in order to keep them calm.

Immediately, Bobbie knew that this woman would be her vet from here on in.

“Let’s get them inside. They all seem lively enough.” The vet backed up and the four of them with their precious cargo trooped in.

“This one was unresponsive when we opened the suitcase,” Buck said, lifting the white dog up for inspection. “But I gave him CPR and he came back to life pretty quickly.”

“Let’s check him out first, then,” Dr. Katze responded, all business. “The rest of you have a seat in the waiting room.”

The vet hustled into the back with Buck on her heels.

Here was Bobbie’s opportunity.

“I had a brief conversation with Buck earlier, then Chief Ildavorg while we were waiting by the river.”

Mase raised a brow. “And?” he prompted.

“And they both told me that Buck used all his college money to pay off the damage to my boat and the hardware store,” she threw out, wondering how they’d react to that.

“Old news.” Spencer tickled Duck under the chin and got a sweet little groan from the pup.

“We were all aware of what happened. Because of the way things played out, though, and since it was agreed that Buck would be headed into the Coast Guard, he didn’t need his cash.

But why are you bringing this up now? You had that money years ago. ”

Bobby shook her head. “It never went into my hands.” She didn’t hesitate to lay her cards on the table. “I didn’t even know about it until Buck told me today in my shop. I had no idea that any money had ever been exchanged.”

Mason’s whole body became instantly alert, and the little dachshund balanced across his knees, whined in solidarity. Mase patted it, and tried to calm down for the puppy’s sake. “Okay. Where did the cash go, then?” he questioned between tight lips.

“Your “guess” is as good as mine,” Bobbie answered sarcastically, her insides suddenly churning with anger again. “Am I correct in thinking we might all be guessing the same thing?”

“Your asshole brothers?” Spencer put in, then backed off a bit. “No offense or anything. I know they’re your family.”

“Family. Right,” Bobbie responded bitterly.

“By blood only. They’ve never spared more than a few ounces of familial compassion for me, and now I’ve found out that even when I thought they did, it’s all been fake as hell.

So you don’t need to couch your language with me.

They are assholes, and always have been.

I just never thought they’d…” Her voice broke, and she took a couple deep breaths to regroup.

“I didn’t think they’d stoop as low as that,” she went on.

“But what I’m going to tell you will show they can go even lower.

They let me stew in my loss for a few years, then graciously gave me a small downpayment toward a loan for my new boat, and told me that they’d co-sign the papers.

I thought… I thought they were trying to be good brothers.

I know now that they had to have had other motives.

They did the same when it came time for me to start my catering business five years ago; a small cash downpayment, and a co-signature on a note.

In that instance, however, for their generosity in “helping” out, they asked for a fairly decent share of my company’s future profits, which I’ve been paying ever since.

Of course, I was more than happy to grant that to them at the time, not knowing how duplicitous they were being. ”

It ate away at her to know that everything rightfully could have been hers, including college, without the struggles she’d had, or the bleak years she’d been basically trapped in that run-down excuse for a home.

Buck’s growl from the doorway startled them all.

“Are you shitting me? They own part of your business?”

His angry voice sounded from across the room

Bobbie didn’t know how long Buck been standing there, but the irate look on his face said he’d heard most everything.