Read Halloween Hiccups: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Novella for Free Online Page A

suddenly appeared on my front porch.
     
    “I can't get him to move.” I said, pointing at my stubborn charge.
     
    “Well, is he breathing?” Margie leaned close to him to feel for his breath, retreating immediately when he surprised her with a snort as he nestled himself further into the chair. “He's breathing alright. Just leave him here. I have to get this mile in before I hit the gym for some tennis.”
     
    She had more energy than a schoolyard full of children, while I had to bribe myself with a tiny morsel of chocolate just to get out of bed in the morning.
     
    “I can't leave him here. What if he gets lost?” My frustration made me sound whiny.
     
    “What are you bellyaching about, Dodge. If I don't want to go for a walk, why should I have to? I walked enough in my life. Back in the day, I would put in five or ten miles a day, just taking care of my crops.” Nubbin kept his eyes closed as he spoke.
     
    Barney was waiting impatiently at the bottom of the steps. “See, even Barney wants to go for a walk. Why can't you join us? We're not going to go too far. If I can do it, you can do it. It will be good for you.” I said.
     
    Nubbin opened one eye and said, “No can do, Toyota.”
     
    Margie, all one hundred twenty pounds of her, stood right in front of a semi-slumbering Nubbin and grabbed him by both of his hands and yanked him forward.
     
    “You're getting up now. We're jogging. If Miss-I-hate-exercise-and-being-healthy can do  it, so can you. Get up, you old coot. I have a tennis lesson to get to and you're slowing down progress. Now, open your blinkers and let's get moving.” Margie continued with all her might to try to lift Nubbin off the seat, but considering he was at least three times her size, she wasn't getting much traction.
     
    “Nubbin, look at what you're making her do.” I said, stepping in between them before either one of them got hurt.
     
    “Who is this woman?” Nubbin groaned, smoothing out his shirt. “Whoever she is, she's a real pill and I don't like medicine.”
     
    “Well, you're a grifter!” Margie crossed her arms in front of her small frame, fixing her eyes squarely on Nubbins.
     
    He looked at me, expecting me to do something to quiet Margie down, but I was just as baffled as he was about how aggressive she was all of a sudden. I actually kind of admired her. I knew she was spunky, but I never saw her like this, especially with a complete stranger. This was fun!
     
    I took a step back, my hands in the air, indicating that there was nothing I could do. He needed to be riled up a little. I could see that he didn't like to have the tables turned on him, but I had an inkling that this would do him some good, as long as Margie didn't go too far with him because Nubbin did have a boiling point.
     
    “Fine, don't help me, Range Rover. That's a nice how do you do! I come all the way from Nebraska to spend two weeks with you and you sic this pit bull of a woman on me. Thanks for nothing, Nova.” Nubbin tried to scowl at me, but catching a glimpse of Margie revving up for round two of their back and forth, a smirk appeared on his face for a moment. He liked her. I could tell.
     
    “Nubbin, meet Margie Cline. Margie, this is Nubbin Schmeckpepper.” I smiled to myself. These two were a match made in Heaven. Not that I was any sort of expert, but it seemed perfect to me.
     
    “Cline? I never did like the Clines.” Nubbin grumbled.
     
    “Schmeckpickle?!?! What kind of name is that? Nubbin wasn't bad enough?” Margie winked in my direction, proud of herself for getting Nubbin to respond.
     
    “It's pepper, you twist!” Nubbin protested.
     
    Margie rolled up her sleeves, exposing her thin but strong forearms and asked firmly, “Did you just call me 'woman', you crumb?”
     
    Uh oh! It was time to put a stop to this.
     
    “Can we go for a run now?” I stepped in between them again.
     
    Nubbin pushed himself forward in the seat, grabbing me with his