Anna Leigh glances up at me as she continues walking. “Inamed Fancy after Fancy Nancy. Why else do you think she’s wearing her tutu?”
Why else indeed?
“And we thought Jolene was Fancy’s sister when we first got them. Boy, were we wrong. But you just can’t up and change someone’s name, you know? That would give them an excited crisis, and we don’t want one of those.”
“Existential crisis?”
“That’s what I said.”
A dog barks, the sound a low warning that causes my steps to slow.
Anna Leigh notices my hesitation. “You don’t gotta worry about Bruno none. Especially since you’re with me.”
I take Anna Leigh’s word for it but inch closer to her just the same. A second later, a chocolate brown hound dog, long ears flopping on either side of his head, comes bounding out of the underbrush. He barks again, this time in what sounds like a greeting, trots over, and bounces a bit in his excitement. He shakes his head, and one of his ears folds backward, exposing the inside of his ear canal and making him look more like a goofball than a guard dog.
“Have you seen Jolene, Bruno?”
The dog tilts his head to the side as he peers at Anna Leigh.
“I really wish animals could talk like in the movies, don’t you, Miss Hayley?”
“Wouldn’t that be something,” I say.
A single-wide trailer that’s seen better days comes into view. The screen door creaks open, then slaps shut. A woman who must be Anna Leigh’s mother stands with one hand on her hip and the other shielding her eyes from the sun.
“Anna Leigh, where have you been?” Her voice is a mixture of exasperation and relief.
“Truffle hunting,” Anna Leigh responds like this is the only obvious answer in the world.
“Truffle...” The woman shakes her head. She notices me for the first time, and curiosity causes her to tilt her head much like Bruno had as she walks forward to meet us in the front yard. “Hello, there. I’m Shelby Hayward, Anna Leigh’s mama.”
I shake her hand. “Hayley Holt, the circulation librarian from Little Creek.”
Recognition dawns. “Oh, right. I heard you were coming. Although I thought that was supposed to have been yesterday.”
“It was. The bookmobile broke down.”
“Levi taking a look at it?”
I nod. “He is.”
“Then it’ll be fixed up in no time.”
“I’m sure it will. In the meantime, I was hoping everyone in Turkey Grove would take advantage of the bookmobile while it’s here. It’s chockful of all kinds of books.” I cut my gaze down to Anna Leigh. “I’m pretty sure I even have a few that feature talking animals.”
Anna Leigh’s blue eyes brighten. “Do you haveCharlotte’sWeb? I watched the movie with Fancy and Jolene, but I just know they’d love it if I read the book to them. That is, I can bring the book home, right? I promise I won’t drop it or get it dirty or nothin’.”
I grin at her. “Yes, you can check the book out and bring it home.”
A high-pitched squeal from the other side of the trailer interrupts us.
Anna Leigh takes off running, Fancy’s stubby legs trying hard to keep up. “Jolene, you came back!”
Shelby Hayward shakes her head, a small smile on her lips. “That girl does beat all. Truffle hunting. What will she think of next?”
My smile matches hers. “I’m sure she keeps you on your toes.”
She grunts an agreement but manages to make the sound ladylike somehow. “You could say that again and twice onSundays.” After shaking her head once more, she turns back to me. “I’d wanted to stop by the bookmobile yesterday but wasn’t going to be able to make it, so the fact you’re still here, while inconvenient for you, I’m sure, works out perfectly for me and Anna Leigh. I can round her up and we can head on over to Levi’s now, if that works for you.”
