Hair of the Dog (28 page)

“So he's a man who used to have good dogs,” I said. So far, this all sounded like old news.

“Not just good,” Aunt Peg corrected. “Some of the very best in his breed. And like his handlers, he followed up by becoming a very good judge. His opinion really meant something, and that's a rare gift. If Edward March put up your dog, you knew you had a good one.”

That was high praise coming from Aunt Peg. She didn't hand out accolades lightly.

“And?” I asked.

“And what? Isn't that enough?”

“It's plenty. But what does it have to do with me?”

“Oh, that.” Aunt Peg sniffed, as if the change in topic from dog show royalty to her wayward niece was distinctly uninteresting.

“Now you've got me curious, too,” said Sam. “So March is turning in his judge's license. Where does Melanie fit in?”

“Apparently, in celebration of his fifty-some years in the dog show world, Edward intends to write his memoirs. Anyone who's ever seen his desk could tell you that organization isn't his strong suit. He's looking to find a coauthor to help him do the job properly. I told him I knew just the right person.”