Ginny started to stretch as she woke up. Curled up in a nest of pillows, she was feeling cramped.
“Ginny, hold very still,” Patrick said quietly in her ear.
Ginny froze and then slowly opened her eyes. There at the end of the bed was a very large and shaggy wolf. His head was resting on the bed and he was watching them. Ginny could hear him wheeze as he breathed. His muzzle was gray and his eyes had that cloudy look to the edges of them.
“Buster?” Ginny said softly.
The old wolf wagged his tail slowly. Ginny moved and brought her hand near to him, even though she knew he’d already scented her. He nuzzled her fingers and then slowly crawled onto a corner of the bed. Turning around a few times, he settled down and curled up nose to tail. He snored.
“I guess it’s a good thing this is a king sized bed,” said Patrick.
“I wonder who he is, and where he comes from,” said Ginny. “He’s got to be lonely. Especially if he’s willing to come curl up on the bed.”
“Or, he figures he’ll give me a bit of a break watching you,” said Patrick.
“Why do you figure that?” asked Ginny.
“Well, because he nudged me first and then went around to your side of the bed,” said Patrick.
“Oh. Then I guess you’d better go take your break. Grab us some food and talk to Sam about Buster,” suggested Ginny.
“Will do. You hungry for anything?” Patrick asked. He had that look on his face that told Ginny she’d better eat.
“A sandwich? Peanut butter cookies? Oh, and iced tea or lemonade would be great,” said Ginny.
“Okay. I’ll be back in a bit,” he said. He grabbed his shoes and headed out the door.
*
Sam was in the lobby when Patrick got downstairs. She was cleaning up a pile of papers.
“Sam, can I get something for us to eat?” asked Patrick.
“Sure. Wondered when you two would wake up,” she said. “Come into the kitchen and help yerself.”
“Thanks Sam. Oh, and I have a question for you,” he said.
“What about?” asked Sam.
“Buster. He showed up in our suite and ‘relieved me’ for a while. He’s sleeping on the end of the bed with Ginny,” Patrick said. “Do you have any more information about him?”
“Lemme see,” Sam said as they walked back to the kitchen. “I’ve got his stuff all boxed up and in the attic. I remember his last name was Walters and he came from Montana. He said this place reminded him of home.”
“Did he mention any family?” asked Patrick as he got sandwich fixings out of the fridge.
“No. Said he had no ‘next of kin’ when I asked what I should do if he passed away. Asked to be cremated and left me the money for it. Gave me money for his keep too, but I don’t care about that. This place generates more than enough cash for me and Buster,” said Sam.
Patrick smiled. “Do you have any peanut butter cookies? Ginny asked for some,” he said.
“Sure do. Buster would howl if’n I didn’t keep plenty to hand,” Sam said. She reached into a cupboard and pulled out a container full of cookies. She put twelve on a plate and gave it to Patrick. “Four of those are for Buster. Word a warning, don’t get between him and his cookies,” she said with a wink.
“Never. Thanks Sam,” said Patrick. He headed up to the suite with the food and drinks on a large tray.
Ginny had dozed back off. The sound of the tray scuffing on the table woke her up. Buster was still sleeping on the foot of the bed. The bed canted from his weight.
“How long have you been gone?” she asked.
“About twenty minutes. Chatted a bit with Sam while I made the sandwiches. She said Buster here came from Montana and said he had no kin. Makes you wonder just how old he is,” said Patrick.
Ginny nodded as she took her plate from Patrick. She half expected Buster to wake up as the food scents wafted by, but he didn’t. She watched Patrick set four cookies on the table. “Are those for Buster?” she asked.
“Yes. Sam loves the old wolf, even though she’d never say it outright,” said Patrick. He took a big bite of his sandwich. The two of them sat in silence while they ate. Patrick took Ginny’s plate and placed it on the table with his own.
“I’ll take this downstairs and be back in a few minutes,” he said.
“Okay. I’ll be here,” said Ginny.
*
Patrick was just heading upstairs when Doc Rogers walked in. He waved and waited for the doctor.
“How’s my patient?” Doc asked.
“She’s doing well. We just ate,” said Patrick as they walked up the stairs. “We have company too.”
“Oh? Family?” asked Doc.
“Not exactly. Buster came up to watch Ginny so I could get our dinner,” said Patrick with a smile. They walked into the bedroom as Buster finished the last cookie and licked the table for crumbs.
“I see,” said Doc Rogers. “How ya doin’ Buster?” Doc said to the old wolf.
The wolf ignored Doc. He gave Ginny a glance and then walked slowly out of the room.
“Well, I guess I know how I rate,” said Doc. Patrick laughed and Ginny giggled.
Doc sat his bag down on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?” he asked Ginny as he started to check her over.
“Tired, stiff from being in bed all morning and my head and nose still feel like I got hit with a sledge hammer,” said Ginny.
“How’s the ankle?” asked Doc.
“It throbs, but I haven’t been out of bed, so I’m not sure how it’s working,” she said.
“Well, let’s give it a try,” suggested Doc. He held out his hand to Ginny. She scooted to the edge of the bed and stood up on her good foot. Patrick came up on the other side of Ginny and stood by as she put weight on her foot.
“Ow!” said Ginny and immediately took all the weight off the foot. “Nope, that isn’t ready for a romp around the room.”
“Didn’t think it would be. I’ve got some crutches in the car. I’ll be right back,” said Doc. He left the room.