CHAPTER ONE

Wet Willie

"Willie! No! Don't jump!" The loud, desperate plea had Savannah Perry sprinting toward the pool at the retirement community where she worked as the social director. While Savannah loved her job she could certainly do without Willie's reoccurring plunge that happened at least once a week for the past month. "Oh baby, please don't! It isn't worth it!" Although the tearful wail had Savannah picking up her already swift pace she did manage to notice a sleek sports car parked in front of Whisper's Edge main office. The sun glinting off of the silver chrome piqued Savannah's curious nature but after hearing a splash followed by another wail of distress she slung her tote bag over her shoulder and kept placing one flip flop in front of the other.

After pushing open the gate that should have been latched Savannah glanced over at eighty year old Patty Parsons who teetered precariously close to the edge of the water. "Please back up," Savannah shouted but Miss Patty's hearing wasn't the best and the flowered bathing cap covering her ears made matters worse. Besides all of her attention was zeroed in on the basset hound who was desperately trying to keep afloat while dog paddling toward a green tennis ball bobbing just out of his reach. Willie's giant ears floated on the surface of the water but the rest of his stout body was sinking fast.

"Willie, I'm coming to the rescue!" Miss Patty pressed her hands together over her head and bent forward preparing to dive.

"Miss Patty, don't!" Savannah bellowed. "I'll save Willie."

Miss Patty raised her flowered head and spotted Savannah. "Oh, praise the lord!"

"Just back away from the edge," Savannah pleaded from across width of the pool. After Miss Patty took a safe step back Savannah kicked off her flip flips and jumped fully clothed into the water. Unfortunately, Willie had already made his way into the deep end making rescue a challenge and at five foot three inches tall Savannah's feet were nowhere near the bottom. And Willie, still determined to snatch the tennis ball, renewed his efforts to swim forward. When Savannah circled her arm around his middle they both went under. Willie panicked and wiggled free, managing to swim amazingly fast under water. Although her lungs protested Savannah followed and when she saw the wall of the pool looming closer she pushed up from the bottom giving Willie's butt a hard shove. He shot to the surface and bobbed like a buoy but before he could sink Savannah repeated her actions while dearly hoping that Miss Patty would be there to pull him to safety. With her lungs on fire Savannah gave him one last shove and was relieved that he made it over the edge.

With arms of lead Savannah came sputtering and gasping to the surface. Knowing she couldn't host herself over the edge she looked for ladder but her hair covered her eyes blocking her view. She dipped beneath the water to slick her hair back and heard another splash. With an inward groan she wondered where she would find the strength to save Willie again but to her surprise a strong arm clamped around her waist and pulled her to the surface.

"What are you doing?" The words formed in her brain but all that came out of her mouth was coughing and sputtering.

"Don't worry, I've got you," a deep voice assured her. "Put your arms around my neck and hold on."

Savannah clamped her arms around him and tried to assure her rescuer that she wasn't drowning but unfortunately the only word that came out a stuttered, "D–drowning."

"I won't let you drown," his soothing voice crooned into her ear. "Hold on and relax."

"The... d–dog," Savannah tried to explain.

"I know he tried to help but he's fine."

Help? Savannah's oxygen deprived brain finally processed that he thought that Willie jumped in with a Lassie attempt to save her! The thought had Savannah laughing but it came out a hoarse cough.