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“What’s it like going to the office every day?” asked Tammy. “You already did it for two years while I was at Mama’s in Texas.”

“Mostly it’s fun. Sometimes it’s hard work helping people out of the messes they get themselves in. I like the murders the best, I guess. Figuring them out.”

Tammy made a face. “How many murders do you think there will be?”

I shrugged off her question. “Maybe none if people used their fucking heads.”

“Yeah, I hope they do. I can’t believe the county is paying us, Harlan.” Tammy tossed down a bale of hay from the loft, and jumped down the ladder after it.

I kind of caught her in my arms and hugged her. We wouldn’t be getting too close while we were working, and we’d already talked about it. She thought I should get a town girlfriend and she’d get by without a boyfriend for the time being.

I’d asked her a few times why she didn’t want a boyfriend and she was kind of vague and didn’t really give me a solid answer. Something to do with the guy who held her prisoner, I was guessing. What had that fucker done to her? Best if I didn’t know.

Pained me to think about him kidnapping her when she was ten years old. What kind of sick pervert was he? Adeadsick pervert now. According to Tammy, Annie had killed the guy on her ranch when he came looking for Tammy in Texas.

“I’ll put the horses in the corral and check the water. You run in and help Travis with breakfast. We gotta speed up.”

“Copy that,” said Tammy, and then she laughed.

Breakfast was ready after I got washed up and made it to the kitchen with the dogs. They always waited in the barn for me while I did chores. Mostly because I gave them a treat for being so fuckin good.

I sat down at the table and Travis put eggs and sausages on a plate and set it in front of me. A plate sat in the middle of the table piled high with toast. I took a couple of pieces and slathered them with peach jam.

“You working today, Billy, or sitting on your ass porch-smoking?”

He reached over and smacked me in the arm so hard I had a hard time staying on my chair. Reminded me of us doing that in the dining hall in Juvie. We’d punch each other so fucking hard,we’d get a point when somebody fell off their fuckin chair and hit the floor.

“I’ll get you for that.”

“You’ll have to catch me first,” said Billy. Joking because since he buried the axe in his leg, Billy Johnson was crippled up a little. He could barely walk, let alone run. Didn’t bother his sense of humor, though.

“So, you didn’t answer my question. You working or staying home?”

“I’m working. Molly can use the help with reports and there are tons of cases that need follow up reports—reports that Travis never did and never will do if he lives to be a hundred-year-old-deputy-dawg.”

Travis gave Billy the finger and Tammy started clearing the table. “Save the dishes, Tam. We’ve gotta get going.”

“Copy that.”

“You practicing saying that?” Travis laughed at her.

“Yep. Just practicing for when you give me my first order.”

I grinned as I got to my feet and patted the Beretta in my waist holster. “It’s gonna be a great day.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Molly brought a dozen donuts to the office to celebrate our first day as official deputies. She was our dispatcher and knew how to do everything that there was to do in a sheriff’s office. She could answer any question and was happy to help. Tammy and I had already learned a lot from Molly.

“No matter how much they beg and whine, don’t give the dogs any bites of your donuts,” hollered Travis. “I don’t like them having sugar. It’s not good for them.”

“Somebody is grumpy this morning,” said Ted. “Didn’t you get any on the weekend, super stud?”

“Shut up, Ted.” Travis gave him the finger.

Ted was the senior deputy. Town tow truck driver and if we got calls requiring the towing of a vehicle, Ted took care of it. He was a good guy and lots of fun.

I walked over and picked up a chocolate glazed donut and asked Molly, “Which desk do you want me to sit at, Molly?”