Chapter 31

An ice cream brownie dessert and a couple of beers later he was able to put his concerns aside and enjoy the late summer evening with his handsome new neighbor. As they sat quietly talking together on the patio, the two hounds, who had been dozing between them, leapt to their feet and, baying for all they were worth, ran off into the darkness.

“What the hell?” Nick said, jumping to his feet.

Jesse followed, but before the men had gone more than a few steps, they heard the baying turn to yelps and whines.

“Shelby,” Jesse cried out, as Nick echoed with his own call to Clyde.

The hounds returned to the pool of light from the patio. They were whining, rolling and rubbing themselves on the ground. Jesse was assailed by a telltale stench.

“Holy fuck,” said Nick with a moan. “Skunk!”

The dogs ran for the men, who sidestepped them, yet still tried to keep them out in the yard and away from the patio and the furniture.

“What do we do?” Jesse asked, holding Shelby at arm’s length.