Luger’s frayed rope and added, “On second thought, he’d probably get loose and do even more damage. Never mind.”
“I can patrol with him at night,” Brian offered. “Or maybe when Nick gets here, he can.” That might appeal to Nick more than farm work. Brian was worried about Nick getting bored.
“That’s probably overkill.” Zander turned off the barn lights and rolled the door shut. “I might get better locks. Maybe a motion-activated light.”
“Sure.”
“Let’s go sleep. Damn it, I have an early start at the clinic tomorrow. You’ll help Mama with whatever needs doing in the morning?”
Brian ducked his head to hide the warm rush from hearing that. For years, he’d always been deadweight, the person not doing his share. Except for his Finding talent, he’d never felt like he had much to contribute. Well, maybe with Nick. For some reason, Nick was willing to lean on him sometimes. But it was incredibly cool to have someone smart and capable and not in love with him, like Zander, wanting his help. “I’ll do anything she needs,” he promised.
Yasmin was thumping around in the kitchen as Zander let them back inside. The line of her back and the way her feet were planted on the worn linoleum spoke of anger. Brian wanted to creep down the hallway to his room, but when she turned away from the stove, she smiled at them. “I’m making hot chocolate. You boys want some?”
“I guess,” he said. “Sure.”
“Have a seat. I’ll bring it.”
He sat at the table and signaled Luger to go lie down in the corner. Out the front window, he could see past the porch to the barn. The bright lights were still on, creating pools of dark shadow. Nothing looked out of place, but he couldn’t help imagining someone out there, lurking. Luger sighed, laid his head on his paws and sprawled his hind legs out, and that helped. Luger wouldn’t relax if there was danger. Brian was able to look away from the window and smile back at Yasmin when she set a mug in front of him.
Zander took a cup from his mother too, but stood leaning against the end of the counter. Yasmin settled in her chair with a grunt and a glance at her feet. “Should’ve put on shoes.” She sipped from her mug and wiggled her toes, rubbing the ball of one foot on the floor. “Getting senile, I guess.”
“You’re not senile.” Zander frowned. “Did you cut yourself?”
“Just bruised.”
“Are you gonna call the sheriff, or not?”
Yasmin shrugged.
Brian said, “You have to, right? They must be trying to catch the guys doing the damage.”
Zander and Yasmin exchanged an undecipherable look. Eventually, she said, “Yeah, I’ll have to report it for the insurance anyhow. I’ll call the sheriff herself in the morning. Not gonna bring a deputy out here tonight.”
“Herself?” Brian asked. “The sheriff’s a girl?”
“A woman,” Yasmin corrected him. “Tough as any man and don’t you forget it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He ducked his head and stared down into his cup.
“She’s had a rough time of it,” Yasmin said. “Back when she was running for office, the folks who didn’t want a woman sheriff pulled out all kinds of rumors. Claimed her shooting-range scores were faked— until she showed off a bit in public. Called her bitch and butch and lezzie behind her back and to her face.”
“Is she? A lesbian, I mean?”
“Nope. She’s got a husband. Might be bisexual, I suppose, but that’s nobody’s business anyhow. Not as long as she does her job right, which she mostly does.”
“But she won the election?”
“Yep. Sheriff Bachmann, before her, was crooked as they come. People got tired of him and his men taking care of rich folks’ business when it suited them and shoving the rest of us around. There were two men originally running against him too, but they dropped out, so it was keep Bachmann or vote for the woman. He must’ve figured it was a safe race. Wish I’d seen the look on his ugly face when the numbers came in and she beat him.”
Zander said, “How’s she working out?”
Yasmin tipped her hand in a so-so gesture. “Bachmann’s chief deputy retired when he lost. They were thick as thieves, those two. He’s no loss, but she had to promote a new chief. Several other deputies quit, and she fired three, cleaning house. Hired a couple of new guys but they’re city boys who don’t know the area.”