“I’m worried about you and Yasmin working out in the open today. Who knows what that guy was up to?”
“It makes no sense.” When they reached Yasmin, Luger and the collies sniffed noses, tails waving, strangers seeming forgotten. Brian bent to rub Laddie’s ears, and spoke to Yasmin and Nick together. “Why would anyone be watching this place?”
“Watching?” Yasmin asked.
“Nick thinks the guy was out there for a while, pacing around, watching us. Except there’s nothing to see.”
Yasmin glanced at Nick. “Could Sam or Reggie have followed you?”
“I didn’t spot a tail. Plus they’d have had to drive miles around, park all the way down the back road, and hike in through the woods. Seems like a lot of work just to see what I’m doing.”
Brian was not a fan of creepy mysteries. This sucks. “Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe he was hanging out in the woods to do… mushrooms or something.”
“And ran away when he saw us?”
“I’d run if I was trespassing and Luger was charging toward me.”
“Maybe.” He could tell Nick didn’t believe it, though.
Yasmin said, “Well, no damage done, and the ewes won’t take their own dewormer. Come on, Brian. We’ll bring in the flock from the big oak pasture today and work through those.”
Nick frowned. “You wouldn’t consider staying inside? Until we find out…”
“Find out what?” Yasmin gave a single headshake. “Nope. Work needs to be done, and I’m not going to let some peeping Tom keep me from doing it.” She flicked her fingers at the dogs. “Lad, Lass, let’s get ’em.” The collies leaped to her side, tails wagging in anticipation.
Brian said, “I’ll open the pole barn for you.” The dogs would gather the flock, while Brian set up gates to funnel them in through the doors.
Nick watched Yasmin as she strode to the more distant gate and let the dogs through it. Luger whined as if he wanted to follow, but Brian held his leash tight. Luger’d only be trouble around a bunch of milling sheep. Nick said, “Keep your eyes open, okay? Keep Luger near you today. If he acts antsy, don’t brush it off.”
Brian glanced back at the woods. Nothing moved. The sun was bright. Luger yawned and wagged his tail. Ordinary. Normal. “Sure.”
Nick still hesitated. “I need to go talk to Charlie.”
“Go on. We’re fine. The guy’s long gone.”
“I’d be happier if I had any idea what he was doing there.”
“Planning more vandalism?”
“Maybe, but there’ve got to be more important targets. It wasn’t Sam or Reggie. Their feet are bigger than that.”
“Well.” He didn’t want to think about it anymore. He wanted to tether Luger and get set up and lose himself in the rhythm of handling grubby, sweet-faced, foot-tromping, knock-you-over sheep. “Tell me what Charlie says.” He headed for the barn with Luger at his side, but he was aware, as he rolled open the door and began shifting out the sides of the chute, that Nick was still standing there, staring back at the woods.
Is it too much to want to just work a farm? Too much to not have strangers and damage and mysteries and greed and being scared?
Finally, he heard Nick walk off toward the car, the gravel crunching under his boots. He wondered if Nick realized he was whistling, very cheerfully, as he went.
Chapter 20
Three evenings later, Nick was becoming all too familiar with the sound of Sam’s voice. Of course, he shouldn’t be complaining. He was getting it via earbud from the transmitter in Charlie’s pocket. Charlie had to tolerate it firsthand.
“…and then the fuckin’ transmission went.” Sam was starting to develop that whiny slur that suggested he was on his fourth or fifth drink. “Two fuckin’ thousand dollars. Where’m I gonna get that?”
“Can you borrow it?” Charlie sounded sympathetic. He was one hell of an actor.
Nick slumped lower in the seat of his car, parked at the back of the lot beside the bar. He’d debated with Charlie about how to put the screws to Sam, to get him to finally make a fucking move, but now fate had done the job for them by taking out Sam’s Mustang. The guy still had his truck, but he was clearly pining after his sports car.
“I already owe a couple people. No one’s gonna lend it to me.” Sam’s voice dropped a half octave. “Unless you wanna? Y’r a good guy, Charlie. I’d pay you back.”
Charlie laughed. “I’m on disability. My old lady just had a kid. If you think I’ve got a spare dime,