Page 25 of Fur-Ever Home

"Yes!" Connor's smile returned full force. "How much?"

"Twenty dollars."

"Oh." He patted the turtle made of black stone and said, "Maybe next time."

"Here," I grabbed it off the shelf before Connor could stop me and handed it to Burt. "We'll take this one."

"Good choice. Black tourmaline is a stone of protection."

"Wish it would have protected you from Shen's grabby hands," I whispered.

"Now it will!" He perked up again, shaking Burt's hand across the counter. "This is great!"

"Do you have a toy store in town?" I asked.

"Not here, but you might find something at the bus station. I can drive you whenever you're ready."

"That's so sweet," Connor said. "We'll be sure to give you a good review."

Burt's eyes sparkled at that. "Thank you. That would be wonderful."

I wouldn't be writing them a rave review, not with the price gouging in the middle of the night during a snowstorm.

"You write hotel reviews?" I asked Connor.

"Yes! They're fun!"

"Fun?"

"It's mostly for my own benefit. I travel a lot, so it's nice to remember which hotel had the bedbugs and which one gave complimentary chocolates on their pillows."

"Oh, my goddess!" Burt fanned his face. "I forgot to give you your gift basket last night! I'm so sorry!"

"See?" Connor whispered when Burt returned with a basket filled with wine, cured meats, cheese spread, and crackers.

Then, he offered to make us omelets for our complimentary breakfast. I couldn't argue. It was one of the lightest, fluffiest omelets I'd ever eaten.

"You knew he would do that?" I asked when we were safely tucked inside the bus station, waving to Burt as he drove away.

"I didn't know, but that happens sometimes."

"This was not complementary with the room." I pointed to the card and read aloud, "To Don from Doug. Happy Anniversary."

"Maybe they couldn't make it because of the weather."

He had a point. We had gotten free breakfast and lunch out of the deal, so I couldn't be too upset.

"I think I can sell the wine and get some cash to pay you back," Connor said. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me toward yet another souvenir shop. "I'll join you in a minute."

Sure, I probably should have questioned his confidence when swindling people out of their hard-earned cash, but I was more interested in the toy sitting on the top shelf in the display case. I couldn't see anything through the cracked cellophane window. It was too high up.

Inside the store, it was obvious the box was badly damaged and probably empty. Still, I had to try. "Is that a Wonderdog 3000?" I asked the clerk.

"It's the store display." Even though I was the only one in the small store, she rolled her eyes like this was the fifth time she'd been asked about the Wonderdog today. "Not for sale."

"Do you have other toys?"

She pointed toward the far-left corner furthest from the counter, and I wandered that direction, past Utah license plateswith people's names on them and postcards of various mountain and National Park destinations.

---