I shook my head. My father was back to his old tricks. Had he learned nothing from his brushes with the law, including more than a dozen charges in three states? In the window, lined up like soldiers for inspection, were rows of dark green bottles bearing Tennie’s likeness, now ten years outdated, along with the name “Miss Tennessee’s Magnito Life Elixir for Beautifying the Complexion and Cleansing the Blood.” For the patients’ sakes, I hoped the contents weren’t a decade old too.
Inside, Pa was sitting behind a desk, his feet propped up, a lit cigar hanging from his mouth. I took a deep breath. No time like the present. I pushed open the door to the dimly lit shop.
“You’re still selling that snake oil?” I said by way of greeting.
“The prodigal daughter returns.” Buck looked up from the
