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“Oh no,” said Harlan. “Those social workers make me sweat.”

Harlan jumped when Tammy stood behind him and stroked his shaggy hair.

“Don’t you be afraid of no social worker, Harlan. If they try to take you away from me and Travis, I’ll drag your ass to Texas and hide you in the safehouse on Mama’s ranch. No Montana woman will ever get you there. We got guards and security cams and guns. Mama’s got lots of guns. Scopes too. She loves her scopes.”

Harlan’s eyes were wide. “Thanks.”

Tammy’s sincerity made me smile.

Eleven o’clock rolled around soon enough but Tammy and I had been busy during the wait time in between cleaning up the house and putting things away.

Tammy spent time with Harlan in his room, getting everything in order, making his bed and hauling his dirty clothes to the laundry room on the main floor.

By the time Haley Drayton stood knocking on our front door, we were ready for her.

“Miss Drayton, come in. I’m Travis Frost.” I shook her hand, and she smiled a wary smile. I figured a lot of places she visited tried to put it over on her.

“Nice to meet you, Sheriff. You have a lovely home.”

I showed her into the living room where Billy was sitting on the sofa with his leg elevated. “This is Sheriff Billy Johnson, on leave for his injury.”

“Nice to meet you, Sheriff.” She turned to where Harlan and Tammy were sitting in armchairs near the stove. “You young people are certainly well protected.”

After a few minutes of small talk, Haley asked Harlan to show her his room and he took her upstairs.

After a glance at his room, Haley pointed to his bed, and he sat down to answer her questions. “How do you like living with the sheriff, Harlan? Any problems so far?”

“No. None. I figured I wouldn’t like living with a cop, but I do like it. Travis treats me good and so does Billy.”

“And you’re interacting well with your foster sister?”

Harlan smiled. “Tammy is so nice to me. I just met her, but I like her a lot.”

“Have clothes been provided for you since you arrived? May I look in your dresser and your closet?”

“Go ahead. All of my clothes are new, and Travis said he wasn’t taking money from the county for anything I needed.”

“Your well-being is the only thing I’m interested in, Harlan.” She gave him a card. “Keep my number handy and if you need me for anything at all, just call. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Haley Drayton came back downstairs after her secret talk to Harlan, and it was my turn to answer her questions. The two of us sat at the kitchen table and she brought up the subject I knew was coming.

“I’m concerned about Harlan’s education, Sheriff Frost. You haven’t had time to put anything in place yet, but have you discussed going to school with Harlan?”

“Not yet, but if he wants to get his diploma and go to college, I’ll certainly provide the funding.”

“You will only be responsible for Harlan until he turns sixteen and according to his file, that’s only a few months from now.”

I shook my head. “No. After he turns sixteen, Harlan will be staying with me. We’ve already discussed it.”

“I see. Isn’t that a little unusual?”

“Maybe, but if there is any trepidation on the part of the county, I’m prepared to take the legal steps necessary.”

Haley Drayton left the ranch and we all let out sighs of relief. Her stressful visit was over.

“How often does she come?” asked Billy.