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“Here comes the sheriff now.” Trevor nodded toward the roadway.

As they all watched the vehicle approach the small hill that brought the land into view, the sheriff slowed down.

Charlie felt the anger hit his gut as Lori jogged by the sheriff’s car and the sheriff appeared to be talking with her and making her laugh.

Charlie had awesome vision and could see a good distance clear in front of him. When Lori waved then ran down the small path that led toward the swimming hole without even looking their way, he felt like running after her.

“She didn’t see us. His car was blocking her view,” Dante said as if he read Charlie’s mind.

“She’s meeting us at our place in an hour,” Trevor said through clenched teeth. Then the sheriff pulled up.

“Howdy, looks like you’ve got a lot done in a short period of time,” Sheriff Morgan said after he got out of the patrol car.

“Yeah, it’s impressive, isn’t it? Charlie, Trevor, and Dante know a lot of people and they’re all gung ho about working this summer and fall,” Tom told him.

“Was that Lori who ran down the path?” Trevor asked with his arms crossed in front of his chest as he stared down the sheriff. Charlie felt the same way.

The sheriff looked back toward that direction and smiled.

“Sure was. I saw her heading this way and spoke with her a bit. Was real surprised that she had the energy to do her jog today.”

“Why’s that?” Dante asked him.

“She worked late.”

Charlie wondered how the hell the sheriff knew that. Before one of them asked th

e sheriff, he offered the information.

“I walked her out to her car around three thirty or so. The place was really crowded, all night long.”

“Lori’s trying to save money for college, but I think she works too hard,” Tom stated and the sheriff agreed.

Charlie felt a twinge of jealousy knowing that the sheriff was with her, but he was a lawman, and would protect her from harm.

Tom started telling the sheriff about the threatening letters and phone calls. The sheriff wrote everything down and continued to ask Tom questions.

“I did check out that abandoned vehicle you guys called in this morning. It belongs to the son of a couple in town. He ran out of gas and left the car there, then walked all the way back home for help. They should be here shortly to fill it up with gas and get it out of there.”

“Well, we appreciate you looking into things. I want this construction to go well,” Tom added.

“You two talk. We’re going to wrap things up for the day. We’ll see you tomorrow morning, Tom. Same time,” Charlie stated.

“Sure thing,” Tom said as Charlie and his brothers headed over to the men who were gathering together preparing to leave for the day.

* * * *

Lori pulled on the shamrock-green strapless sundress that hugged her curves and landed just above the knee. It was a classy, yet casual look, and she topped it off with low-heeled white sandals. She wanted to look good for Charlie, Dante, and Trevor. She missed them and with all the stress she was feeling, she looked forward to getting lost in their arms.

She had filtered through her drawers, pulling out the little bag with the new set of thong panties she brought. They were black and all lace, which didn’t really cover much at all.

She had showered using a special bodywash she picked up at the same store and felt that it was fresh and appealing.

“Wow, you look great and smell good, too,” Maggie said as she entered the bedroom, closed her eyes, and inhaled.

“What is that stuff?” she asked as she took a bottle off the bureau and began opening it.

“It’s not that one. It’s a bodywash I bought the other day.”