Savannah laughed a little through her sobs. "No. Sure don't." She blew her nose into the tissue and took a ragged breath. "Now what was it you just asked me?"

"Uh, you said that Michael lost his temper. At what point did that happen?"

"Michael was wonderfully calm. He tried to talk to the guy. So did I. But he wasn't having any of it." She thought for a minute. "I don't think Michael started really fighting back until that monster threatened me." She paused. "Yes, I think he got angry at that point." She looked over at Jim. "He didn't want to fight. He did his best to defuse the situation. He had no choice other than to take a beating and..." She began to choke up. "I'm so glad he didn't do that." She sobbed into the tissue in her hand. Her next words were m.u.f.fled. "He could have been killed."

"Okay, Savannah," Jim said, "what I get from your statement is that Pete Gamble was pretty much riled up when he walked in and he began issuing threats at that point. He was armed and he struck the first blow." He looked down at his notes. "Maybe all the blows."

"Yes, I don't think Michael ever did hit him." She smiled a wicked smile. "But he sure slammed Pete down on the floor a good one."

Jim looked up at Savannah-a slight grin on his face. He then became serious again. "And do you want to press charges?"

"Yes! People can't go around hurting other people like this. It's uncivilized."

Jim chuckled. "Yes, uncivilized, indeed." He looked over at Savannah. "Are you okay now? Ready to have Sarah check you out?"

"Yeah. I'm okay," she said without emotion.

As Savannah walked into the waiting room, she heard Sarah say, "Sir, you were lucky. This could have been much worse for you."

Savannah slid into a chair next to Michael and put her arm around his neck, pressing her cheek against his shoulder. "Yes, my husband is quite the sc.r.a.pper, as it turns out. I didn't know he had such he-man skills."

She pulled back and Michael turned to face her. He managed a strained smile and repeated, "Sc.r.a.pper? He-man?"

Sarah chuckled right along with Michael and Savannah.

"And you ma'am, looks like you got nicked a little there." Sarah reached over with her gloved hand and touched near a sc.r.a.pe on Savannah's arm.

"Oh yes, I guess I caught it on something when I went down."

Sarah's eyes widened. "He hit you, too?"

Savannah shook her head. "Pushed me."

"Same thing," Sarah said while moistening a gauze patch with an alcohol solution and dabbing at the fresh cut. "It's a.s.sault. Any other cuts or bruises?"

"Well, my knee's sore," she said, rubbing it gently. "I think I went down on it."

"Let's take a look."

Savannah began to pull up her pant leg when she stopped and said, "Darn, feels like it's swelling." She carefully worked the fabric up to her thigh to reveal a skinned knee that was already puffy and turning purple.

"Oh hon." Michael's tone was sympathetic. He then twisted his face into a scowl. Through gritted teeth, he virtually growled, "That d.a.m.n..."

Savannah reached over and patted his knee. "It's okay, Michael. I'm okay."

"I can't stand that he hurt you."

"Oh nooooo," Savannah said.

"What?" Sarah and Michael asked in unison.

"Blood on my favorite jeans," she wailed.

"Now the woman knows her priorities," Sarah quipped. "Hematoma on the knee-no big deal; blood stains on the clothes-problem." She laughed, as she dabbed at the scratches with alcohol and taped a patch with ointment over the sc.r.a.ped knee. She looked Savannah in the eyes. "Any head trauma?"

She shook her head slowly from side to side while working her jeans back down over her knee. "I don't think so."

Sarah continued to stare at Savannah. She then glanced over at Michael. "You should both be seen."Addressing Savannah, she asked, "You can drive, can't you? Your right leg is okay?"

Savannah nodded.

Just then, a male paramedic walked in and addressed Sarah. "We're taking the other guy to the hospital with a police escort."

Savannah grabbed Michael's arm, shaking it a little. Her face brightened into a wide smile. "Did you hear that, Michael? You put him in the hospital. My hero."

"Naw, honey. He just wants to go there instead of jail; right Jim?"

Jim, who had been standing against the reception desk going over his notes, tilted his head in their direction. "Could be, Dr. Mike. Could be."

The three of them watched as Sarah packed up her equipment. "Can we go?" Michael asked Deputy Jim.

"Yes, but I recommend you do as the medic suggests. Go get checked out. This is partly for your health, Dr. Ivey, but you may need a report if this case goes to trial." He winked. "Just a little off-the-record professional advice, sir."

Savannah sat up straight. In her most authoritative tone, she said, "That's where we're going right now, then." She looked toward the hallway, a hint of sadness crossing her face. "...as soon as we put that poor dog in the cooler."

After locking up the back area of the clinic and grabbing their belongings, Savannah and Michael returned to the waiting room. Just then, Jim stepped in and spotted them. "You might want to wait until they load Gamble into the wagon. He's pretty angry. I don't think you want to hear his tirade."

Savannah felt suddenly weak-kneed. She took a deep breath and then pressed her lips together in an attempt to hold back another barrage of tears.

Chapter Two.

"It was like watching a barroom brawl on the big screen with Sylvester Stallone," Savannah said, her green eyes widening as she relived the scene. She became somber. "Only it was my gorgeous husband out there. Oh Auntie, I was so scared."

"You were scared?" Michael challenged as he set his sandwich down on the plate in front of him and took a sip of sun tea.

"Yes. I was really scared." She looked over at him, c.o.c.king her head. "And you weren't?"

"Sure was," he said picking up his sandwich and taking another bite.

"Well, you didn't act like it. You were so courageous. Made me swoon."

"You swooned? I thought you just tripped over something."

"Yeah, when that guy pushed me," she said, looking down at her leg which she had elevated on a kitchen chair. She adjusted the icepack.

"You two checked out okay at the emergency room, didn't you?" Margaret asked, concern taking over her round face.

"Yes. Well, Michael got a pretty good wallop on the back of the head and he needs to take it easy for a few days. My knee is throbbing like heck."

"And we're both stiff and sore," Michael said. "We move like old people."

Margaret's husband, Max shook his head slowly from side to side. "I can just imagine." He looked across the kitchen table at Michael. "So what's he charged with?"

"Probably a.s.sault."

Max poked at the small portion of coleslaw left on his plate. "Really too bad all the way around. You lost a dog-that's gotta be hard to start with-and then his owner goes berserk and threatens your life. And then you get beat up."

Margaret c.o.c.ked her head, her brown bobbed hair dancing across one shoulder. "But look at the bright side."

Savannah creased her brow. "Bright side?"

"Yeah, what bright side?" Michael challenged, squinting his clear blue eyes.

Everyone waited to hear Margaret's reasoning. She looked around the room and then said, "You're still here. You live to treat more dogs and cats, have some kids, and finish the renovation of this old place."

"Yes, we're still here." Michael reached over and squeezed Savannah's hand. "I'm definitely thankful for that."

Margaret blotted her mouth with her napkin, folded it onto her empty dinner plate, and addressed Michael. "What you're doing with this house is wonderful. I'm so glad you two were able to buy it. It's perfect for you."

Max shoved his plate toward the center of the kitchen table. "Yes, Michael, you are quite the craftsman. I had no idea."

"We do love it here," Savannah said, reaching out to stack the dinner plates, "where Adam can come, where I can have Peaches, where Mom and my sister can stay when they visit. It's great."

Margaret stood. "Stay there, Vannie. I'll take care of that. You two need rest. Isn't that why we came over and fixed supper for you?"

"And it was delicious," Michael said. He addressed Savannah, "Honey, see if you can get the recipe from Max."

"Yes, Max. That is the tastiest grilled cheese sandwich I've ever had. What is your secret ingredient?" Savannah asked.

"There are several of them-like the Texas sliced bread..." Max started.

"That's right, you have to use fresh thick-sliced bread," Margaret agreed. "I like to bake my own or buy it fresh-baked and cut it into thick slices."

"And then you use pepper-jack cheese, right?" Michael asked.

"Yup." Max nodded. "Or any cheese of your choice. Two slices on each slice of bread. And in between, before putting the sandwich on the griddle, we spread a mixture of roasted tomatoes, lime zest and juice, red or green onions, and chopped cilantro. I like to roast the tomatoes with a little olive oil and garlic."

Savannah tilted her head toward Max. "That's it?" She then looked over at her husband. "I think we could do that, don't you, honey?"

"Yeah, we should be able to manage it. Sure was good." He addressed Max, "Did you learn this recipe at the culinary academy?"

Max thought for a moment and then said, "No. I think one of the restaurants I worked at in Chicago had one similar to this on the menu. This is a copycat recipe."

"Berry cobbler anyone?" Savannah offered. "And coffee?"

"When did you make that?" Margaret asked.

"Early this morning. I thought we'd have some for breakfast, but we got kinda side-tracked. After my ride, we hot-footed it to the clinic and...well, you know the rest of the story." She reached up and whisked her long bangs to one side. "So any takers?"

"Sure." Max nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeowza!" Margaret said from where she stood rinsing dishes at the sink.

Savannah started to move her leg off the chair. "I'll heat the cobbler and set the ice cream out to soften. That will give the coffee time to brew."

"I'll do it. You just sit, will ya?" Margaret scolded.

"Thanks, Auntie," she said while rearranging the icepack again.

"It hurts, huh?" Margaret asked, concern in her voice.

"Yeah, a little. Trying to keep the swelling down."

"What's that?" Margaret jumped back and looked down toward her feet. "Well, h.e.l.lo Walter. Where's your sidekick?"

Just then, the jangle of a dog collar could be heard and everyone looked over in time to see Lexie rising up from a nap in her bed near the kitchen door. When the dog saw the furry black cat rubbing up against Margaret, she rushed over to him and began b.u.mping him with her nose. Walter laid down and froze in place; Lexie pawed at him.

"Watch out Lexie, he's going to get you," Michael warned.

Suddenly, Walter swished his tail once and then twice. His ears went back and the game was on. The cat and the Afghan-mix dog began chasing each other through the kitchen, into the dining room and living room and then back into the kitchen where they tore around the table-Walter in the lead during one go-around and then it was Lexie. Finally, amidst laughter, the duo raced into the living room and up the large staircase where they disappeared.

"What a pair," Max said, still laughing.

"Yes, they are entertaining," Savannah agreed.

"So how does Rags and the little Himmie fit into the scheme of things here?" Max wanted to know.

"They stay out of the way when those two decide to play," Michael said.

Savannah chuckled. "Rags and Buffy have teamed up. But they're quite the odd couple. Buffy is so prim and fastidious. Rags is lackadaisical. She likes routine and loves to laze around in someone's lap. He thrives on adventure and, as you know, has bundles of energy and some rather creative habits. She was kind of a loner, wasn't she, Michael, before Rags came along?" He nodded and she continued, "Now she follows him around, plays with him and even lets him sleep in her pink canopy bed."

"Now there's a vision I can't quite wrap my brain around-that long-legged cat of yours curled up in a pink foo-foo bed..." Margaret said with a laugh.

"Yeah, it is rather humorous," Michael agreed. Then he explained, "He's still king pin around here. It was Rags's home first, you know."

"Oh yes, I know," Margaret said. "He took over as soon as he and Savannah moved in here with me last year." She placed the cobbler in the oven and turned to face the others. "He wouldn't leave my stuff alone-had to get married and move it all over to Max's place."

Max stiffened and frowned at his wife. "You married me to get away from Rags?"

Margaret laughed, walked over behind Max and put her hands on his shoulders. "Just kidding." She looked at Savannah and asked, "Does he still steal things?"

"Uh, sure does, Auntie." Savannah grimaced. "In fact, I think I see him snooping in your purse."