B R Snow [Snow - The Case of the Salubrious Soft Coated Wheaten

Salubrious

Soft Coated Wheaten

A Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mystery

B.R. Snow

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are either used fictitiously or are the product of the authors imagination. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written consent of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher are illegal and punishable by law.

Copyright 2018 B.R. Snow

ISBN: 978-1-942691-52-5

Website: www.brsnow.net/

Twitter: @BernSnow

Facebook: facebook.com/bernsnow

Cover Design: Reggie Cullen

Cover Photo: James R. Miller

Luna Photo: Jim Cummings

Other Books by B.R. Snow

The Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mysteries

• The Case of the Abandoned Aussie
• The Case of the Brokenhearted Bulldog
• The Case of the Caged Cockers
• The Case of the Dapper Dandie Dinmont
• The Case of the Eccentric Elkhound
• The Case of the Faithful Frenchie
• The Case of the Graceful Goldens
• The Case of the Hurricane Hounds
• The Case of the Itinerant Ibizan
• The Case of the Jaded Jack Russell
• The Case of the Klutz King Charles
• The Case of the Lovable Labs
• The Case of the Mellow Maltese
• The Case of the Natty Newfie
• The Case of the Overdue Otterhound
• The Case of the Prescient Poodle
• The Case of the Quizzical Queens Beagle
• The Case of the Reliable Russian Spaniels

The Whiskey Run Chronicles

• Episode 1 The Dry Season Approaches
• Episode 2 Friends and Enemies
• Episode 3 Let the Games Begin
• Episode 4 Enter the Revenuer
• Episode 5 A Changing Landscape
• Episode 6 Entrepreneurial Spirits
• Episode 7 All Hands On Deck
• The Whiskey Run Chronicles The Complete Volume 1
• The Whiskey Run Chronicles The Complete Volume 2

The Damaged Posse

• American Midnight
• Larrikin Gene
• Sneaker World
• Summerman
• The Duplicates

Other Books

• Divorce Hotel
• Either Ore

Wedding week.

After months of intense planning and my mother and I doing everything possible to achieve perfection and anticipate the inevitable what-ifs, not to mention the interminable waiting, mercifully, it has finally arrived. But its only Tuesday, and Ive still got four days to go before I can walk down the aisle and answer the priests question.

Do you, Suzy, take Max to be well, you know the rest.

And I will respond with confident pride in a loud, clear voice.

Damn straight, I do.

My mother has threatened to kill me right on the altar if I say it. I know she wont, and she is almost certain I would never talk to a priest like that. And Im almost certain I wont. But I am tempted. I know it would get a big laugh as well as give my mother something to complain about at the reception.

Given everything swirling around me at the moment, Im a wreck. Like a dust-bunny caught in the breeze, Ive been unable to maintain control and keep my thoughts from drifting across the emotional spectrum, often before I even realize its happening. Without warning, joy becomes panic, doubt trumps confidence, animated gives way to forlorn.

And Im exhausted.

Im worn out from the minutiae and endless decisions. Worn out by my mothers habit of changing our minds and making a few minor tweaks to what shed assured me were the final plans. Worn out from the uncertainty of knowing exactly whats going to happen next as well as what my new life is going to look like going forward. Im still recovering from our debate about one decision in particular. It should have been easy. A layup in the parlance of people fond of using sports metaphors to make their point.

But as my mother has taught me through the planning process, no detail is too small to not beat to death.

Im referring to the song Max and I will choose for our first dance, a relatively straightforward decision. But it required extensive negotiations with my mother. The full inventory of our first-dance conversations isnt worth reciting, but to give you an idea, this is how our most recent chat went.

We really need to make a decision on the song, darling.

Max and I are still discussing it. But dont worry, the band will know what it is before the reception.

Funny, darling. I think the song should be something traditional.

Traditional, huh? I said, raising an eyebrow as I went on point. Like what?

Well, there are so many wonderful choices. How about At Last by Etta James?

Nah, its been done to death, I said with a frown.

Then how about What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong?

Great song. But its not a good choice for us.

Okay, lets try something a bit more current, she said. How about My Heart Will Go On ?

Next.

Whats wrong with it? my mother said, her agitation ramping up.

First, its from Titanic . And shes singing to the memory of a dead guy. Second, its Celine Dion.

Okay, no Celine Dion. Maybe As Time Goes By . Casablanca, dear. One of your favorite movies.

To watch. Not dance to, I said, making a face as I shook my head. What else you got?

Okay. How about Elvis? she said. Cant Help Falling In Love . Beautiful song.

Nah, I said. Not my favorite Elvis song.

Then how about Hard-Headed Woman ? she deadpanned.

Funny, Mom. You want to solve the problem or do you want to fight?