Page 24 of Perfectly Perplexing Zombie

Ray waved the concern off with practiced, practical ease. I couldn’t necessarily disagree with his logic, but I still thought a heads-up would have been nice.

“Is there anything else I should know?” I mean, she seemed to like me well enough, but I wasn’t sure about anyone else, and I didn’t want to inadvertently get them killed. I wanted to be a responsible pet owner, and getting someone killed didn’t sound like the best way to meet that life goal.

“Scuttlebutts are carnivorous. They have hinged jaws and can open their mouths wide, much like a snake. Her mouth is also filled with tiny dagger-like teeth. Depending on where and the depth of her bite, she can maim or kill.”

Lovely.

“Does she need shots or anything?”

“As in vaccines?” Ray asked.

“Yeah. I know dogs and cats need them. I think ferrets do too. Horses get vaccines, not that I could ever afford a horse, but I think you get the idea.”

“I do, and no. Although the numbers have been few, scuttlebutts have occasionally ventured to Earth and have never seemed adversely affected. They are very hearty creatures in Fairy as well.”

“That’s good.” I scratched where I thought her back was. “Does she have a name?”

“Ilish called her Trinket, but you may feel free to change the name. According to Ilish, she was very small when found. He was uncertain if she would survive. But Ilish is very good at what he does and was able to bring her into young adulthood.”

I thought about it. I hated to change her name just because I wanted to. “Trinket will be fine,” I decided.

“Then it is settled. She will desire fresh meat. I believe that should not be an issue given your own diet.”

“Yeah. Muriel’s been bringing more brain tissue, but I think it’s obvious that’s not the solution she’d hoped. I’ll ask if she can bring other tissue too. Do you know how much Trinket needs? Is she like a bottomless pit, or is her appetite equivalent to her size?”

“I believe her nutrition meets her general size. However, I have seen larger scuttlebutts eat a surprising amount in one sitting. If they do so, they often do not require food for several more days.”

“Okay. Good to know.” Trinket snuggled in closer, fitting perfectly into the crook of my neck. That tail of hers made sure she held on tight. I figured I could even wash dishes with her like this.

Tugging on my bottom lip with my teeth, I couldn’t stop my grin. I hadn’t been this happy in…well, I couldn’t remember when. I didn’t know how to thank Ray, and I wasn’t certain I understood his motives, but regardless, what he’d given me was priceless.

“Thank you,” I finally managed. “Those words don’t seem sufficient, but they’re all I’ve got.”

“Your appreciation and apparent happiness are thanks enough.” Ray looked taken aback by his words, as if he either hadn’t meant to say them out loud or was surprised by their validity.

“Okay.” Oddly embarrassed, I found I couldn’t exactly meet Ray’s eyes. My gaze traveled back to my waiting water and dirty dishes. “I really should get back to work,” I said.

“I understand. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions regarding Trinket’s care. While I am no expert, I have resources and access to the information you require.”

“That sounds good, and Ray, thanks again. You didn’t have to do this, but…thanks.”

Ray offered a single nod before leaving. This time, I watched him go, and what was left of my heart ached a little bit more than usual. Petting Trinket, I whispered, “He really is unreasonably handsome.” And maybe, just maybe, a little more understanding and considerate than I’d originally given him credit.

ChapterTen

Hellfire Rayburn

“Ray, you got a minute?” Johnny called out. I was near Dusk’s exit when I heard his voice. Expecting him to inquire about my interactions with Wendall, I turned but remained silent.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Johnny huffed. He looked more tired than usual, or maybe a bit more worried. “Listen,” he needlessly said while drawing closer. “Lizbeth just told me something.” Johnny licked his lips, and his eyes widened a fraction. “She had an odd encounter with Wendall earlier. Lizbeth said he was in the corner, staring off into la-la land. She had to call out to him a couple of times to get his attention, and when she did, Lizbeth said Wendall looked spooked.”

Having surprised Wendall on a number of occasions, I believed he startled easily and said just as much. “It has been my experience that Wendall is prone to surprise.”

“Yeah, I know, but she said it wasn’t that. And then Lizbeth said he asked her if she’d seen the lady that just left.”

I still didn’t understand the importance or Johnny’s obvious concern. “I would assume you had several female patrons in the bar tonight.”

Johnny huffed, clearly unimpressed with my sarcasm. “Yeah, we did, but we didn’t have any bald, tatted-up ones. And the ink wasn’t pictorial. Wendall said he didn’t know the language.”

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