Read Pink Velvet Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 9 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) for Free Online

where Ben was just
finishing up. Making sure that all was well, she left the shop and headed for
home.

Chapter 10
    Pulling
into her driveway, Missy was alarmed to see someone sitting on the sidewalk out
in front of her house, apparently in a great deal of pain. She didn’t recognize
the man at first, but when she saw the majestic Doberman at his side, she knew.
    Getting
quickly out of her car, she ran to him to see if he was okay. “Carlton, are you
okay?” she called out, approaching the writhing man who was holding his ankle
in both hands. “Should I call an ambulance?” she worried, stopping short when
Chauncey growled a warning.
    “Hi
Missy,” he replied, through gritted teeth. “No, there’s no need for an
ambulance, I have a weak ankle and I rolled it. Happens about once a year. I
just have to baby it for a while and I’ll be fine,” he grimaced.
    “Can
you walk? How can I help?” she asked, hating seeing him in pain.
    “If
I could impose upon you to help me sit on the porch so that I can elevate it,
that would probably help,” he suggested.
    “Oh,
it’s no imposition at all, really,” she assured him. “Let me go put my purse
inside and I’ll be right back out to help you to the porch.”
    Missy
hurried inside, put down her purse and her keys, leaving the car in the
driveway, and returned to Carlton’s side in minutes. She helped him to a standing
position, ever mindful of the overly protective Doberman at her heels, and
supported him while he hobbled over to the porch. The stairs were a bit tricky,
with the tall, athletic man placing a good deal of weight on his petite helper,
but they made it to the top slowly, and eased him onto the porch swing, lifting
his foot carefully up onto the seat beside him.
    “Well,
it doesn’t look swollen, so that’s good,” Missy observed. “Would you like an
ice pack?”
    “I’m
really sorry to put you to all this trouble,” Carlton apologized. “An ice pack
would be great, thank you,” he winced as he shifted his weight to get more
comfortable.
    Missy
disappeared into the house, returning shortly thereafter with an ice pack and a
pillow, which she arranged carefully under the injured ankle. “I’ll be right
back,” she promised, disappearing again. This time she came back carrying a
small tray that held a plate of homemade sugar cookies and a glass of minted
iced tea. Scooting a small table over beside the porch swing, she set the tray
on it. “I have to run in and let the dogs out in the back yard, but I’ll be
back in just a few minutes,” she promised.
    “Thanks
so much, Missy. I really appreciate this,” Carlton responded pitifully,
reaching for the tea. Chauncey the Doberman had settled under the swing, baring
his teeth occasionally.
    Missy
went back into the house, put leashes on Toffee and the Malti-Poo, whom she was
calling Bitsy, taking them to the back yard for relief. When they were done
taking care of business, she let them frolic freely in the in the back yard
since they wouldn’t be going to the park anytime soon. She was confident that,
although tiny, Bitsy wouldn’t shimmy between the white pickets of the fence to
escape. The diminutive sweetie seemed quite content to stay close to her new
best friend, Toffee. Pouring herself a glass of tea and returning to the front
porch to check on her impromptu patient, Missy was delighted to see Chas
Beckett standing in front of Carlton, arms crossed. Chauncey had stood and
assumed a pre-attack position, growling loudly at the detective, who kept a
wary eye on the animal, while assessing his owner.
    “An
old injury?” she heard Beckett ask as she opened the screen door.
    “Yeah,”
Carlton shrugged embarrassed. “I played lacrosse in college and sprained it
really badly. It hasn’t been the same since.”
    “Hey
Chas,” she greeted him happily, not moving in for a kiss in consideration of
her guest.
    “Missy,”
he nodded, returning his focus to Dobbs.
    “Would
you like some