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“Quick study, too. We can start laying the stone tomorrow. I’m going to let the edges meander a bit. It—”
“Goes with the house,” Sloan finished. “I didn’t expect this.”
“That’s why it’s called a surprise.” Dean gestured to Nash. “Andhe needed the lesson. Looks like you got it, Nash. Let’s check the level.” Dean glanced back at Sloan. “Sure could use some cold drinks.”
“I guess that’s the least I can do.”
She went in, gave the dogs biscuits before heading to the closet to stow her weapon.
After grabbing a trio of Cokes—making a mental note to pick up more—she took them outside.
Where Nash and her father laid a second stone.
“You said tomorrow.”
Dean took the Coke she offered.
“And this one says how we’ve still got plenty of daylight, and he’d like to see how this part’s done.”
“Start at one end.” Sloan handed Nash the second Coke. “Vary size and shape and color. A natural look. You don’t want uniform for this. Level each stone. Don’t want any to rock or end up tripping you.”
Exaggerating the move, Dean puffed out his chest. “That’s my girl teaching you.”
“That’s just the right gap between those two,” Sloan observed. “You know, I may not fill in with gravel. I’m thinking potting soil and Irish moss or chamomile.”
“See that?”
Nash nodded at Dean. “Yeah. Your dad just said that’s what you should do.”
“Because it goes with the house.” With her Coke, she walked over to the group of flagstone, examined, considered. Then setting the Coke down, hefted one.
“This one next.”
In the woods, Sam peered through field glasses.
“We’re right on the time she gets home usually, babe. Giving or taking like a half hour. And yeah, she takes off the gun when she gets here.”
“That’s what we needed to know.”
She took the glasses from him and studied Sloan and the two men with her.
“The dogs worry me some,” she admitted as they ran around, sniffed the air, sniffed each other. “But we didn’t see a sign of one when we came around yesterday. We don’t want to deal with dogs.”
“I sure don’t want to hurt a dog, but they aren’t little ones we can set loose miles away like we did with that woman in Hazelton. So if we have to…”
He looked through the glasses again. “I’m betting they go with the men. We’d’ve seen them in the yard yesterday or heard them in the house when we looked in.”
“We don’t want to deal with the men either.”
“The way they’re going at it, they’ll have that slab of stone done. It ain’t much of a space to cover.”
He lowered the glasses, rubbed a hand on her arm. “You know I’m ready when you say, babe. You gotta remember we have to go back to work next week. We can’t take more time off.”
“You’re right. We’re as ready as we can be. Wednesday night. I feel that’s the time to take the first. We’re going to practice, doll. Practice the timing and all the rest.”
She took the glasses back for one last look.
“Look at her out there. Thinking nobody sees what she is. She’s going to find out different. She’s going to find out different real soon.”