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“No, but Travis is letting him practice on the laneway with the truck and he’s been riding the Harley too. He loves it on the bike.”

“Let’s have a party for his birthday,” said Lucy.

“Yep, it will be right in the middle of beginners’ and advanced,” said Tammy. “On the weekend, we should talk to Travis about it.”

“We will, and Travis will think it’s a great idea. Come on. I’m starving. Let’s go get a seat for breakfast.”

The dining room for the girls was set up with two long tables—ten chairs at each—and a cafeteria style bar at the front of the room where two ladies served the food.

Lucy pointed to two empty chairs. She sat down next to a girl named Maya and Tammy was happy to be next to Sylvie from Alberta.

They lined up with their trays and brought plates of bacon, eggs and toast, and bowls of hot cereal and fruit back to their table.

Tammy was so worked up with first day jitters, she took a couple of bites of her eggs and couldn’t swallow anything else. Lucy was giving her the stink-eye because she wasn’t eating enough, and Tammy was afraid she was going to cry again. She was relieved to see Marilyn walk into the room and divert Lucy’s attention.

“Good morning, girls.” Marilyn flashed them a big smile from under her cowboy hat. “This is the day you’ve all been waiting for, the start of the beginners’ course. Beginners’ class means that we all will be starting from scratch, so those of you with some experience already under your belts, I want all of you to forget what you think you know and open your minds to learn todo things the right way.”

“Good,” whispered Tammy. “That makes me feel better.”

“That’s about all I have to say before we start, so relax and enjoy the lessons. We’re going to have a lot of fun. I’ll give you fifteen minutes to saddle your horses and meet me at the training course.”

Lucy shoved the last bite of biscuit into her mouth and jumped up from the table. “Let’s go saddle up, Tammy. We only have fifteen minutes.”

Tammy grabbed a piece of bacon and a biscuit and ran after Lucy.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Ted and Molly were both at their desks when Harlan and I got to the station. The dogs ran on ahead and I followed them into the squad room to say good morning.

Because we didn’t have an open case, I was thinking about busting Clay Peterson in the corner garage, but I wanted the mechanic—Gary Pikeman—too. And I hadn’t figured out how Pikeman fit into the drug operation. Either Peterson or Pikeman reported to somebody else, and I wanted that person—the supplier—more than the other two.

What I need is a tag in the garage.

Harlan’s phone signaled a text and he stepped into the break room to see which one of the girls was talking to him. Glancing at the screen, he smiled. Tammy.

“Saddled up and ready to start. I’m so scared.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“I miss you. I didn’t get to kiss you goodbye.”

“Miss you too. I’ll kiss you on Friday night.”

He rinsed out his mug and filled it from the pot Molly had made. Thinking Lucy had enough confidence for two people and Tammy had none, he sat down at the table and texted Lucy.

“Tammy is scared. Help her.”

“I will. I’m right beside her. Miss you.”

“Miss you too.”

“Are the girls texting you?”

Harlan was staring at his phone when I stepped into the break room, and he jumped.

“Yep. They’re ready to start and Tammy is scared.”

“Lucy is with her. She’ll help Tammy through the first day.”