#56
The man leaned against the fir trunk enjoying a smoke. He checked his knife, there was still a minor bloodstain on the blade and he spat on it and wiped it on his pants leg. He hadn't counted on the country folk being armed and such accurate shots. That huge sucker he had to knife had nearly caught him. He was going to have to be way more careful if he was to accomplish his goal.
Sandy left Trey and Christy with Evie while she ran over to Ev's to do the chores. Ruby was lonely and dogged her every step, in the way more than she was a help. Sandy was halfway done with the chores when Inky and Junior showed up. The three dogs went romping and playing all over the barnyard.
Junior nearly met his match when he ducked under the hog pen board and started to play with the piggies. He got a little rough with a porkers ear and the pig squealed. Mama sow took offense and came hustling over to defend her baby. Junior thought discretion was the better part of valor and scooted back out side the pen. Sandy came from the henhouse just in time to see a curious pink piggy nose wiggling under the fence.
Setting the bucket of eggs down, she went to the barn for a couple of cement blocks. She hated chasing piglets, and was going to plug the fence hole before disaster happened. Dropping the blocks against the fence, she turned when the bucket bail clanged.
Junior was learning about buckets and really strange smells. Picking up the broken eggs and shells, Sandy threw the gooey mess into the hog pen trough. Muttering under her breath, she picked up the bucket and walked over to the hydrant to wash her hands.
"Inky, go home," she ordered, fed up with all the help and nonsense. Inky, Junior and Ruby started for Evie's with Sandy bring up the rear. Half way home Junior played out, so Sandy picked up the squirming mass of puppy and tucked him under her arm.
Junior got so excited and happy to be interacting with Sandy, he let go with a little internal pressure, wetting the side of her jeans.
By the time Sandy got the assorted mutt's home, she was sick and tired of dogs and their foibles. Ruby marched right in the kitchen like she owned the place and lay down in Inky's favorite spot next to the stove. Junior curled up next to her, leaving Inky looking indignant that he had been ousted.
Evie chuckled as she stirred the pot of hamburger macaroni with tomatoes. "Dog drama," she said to Sandy as the youngster washed at the sink.
"Yeah, that little bugger got in the hog pen and the old sow was about to make a meal of him. Then he peed on me.," Sandy said disgustedly. "More trouble than he is worth."
"Well, not really," Evie smoothed over the troubles. "He will be good with the youngsters. How did things look over at Ev's?"
Sandy looked sideways to see where Christy and Trey were. She walked close to her Grandmother, before saying in a low voice, "someone has been in their house, took food and I don't know what else. Ev didn't lock the place, so I did. I think maybe the so and so's that knifed Wayne might have been in there. We've got to be careful, not let the kids out of our sight and be prepared for anything."
Evie nodded, took the pot off the stove and set it on a hotpad. "Kid's are you washed? Supper's ready."
Sandy casually locked the kitchen door on her way past, staring hard out the window into the encroaching night.
"Hurry up Auntie," Trey complained, "We got's to say grace and I'm hungry."
Sandy smiled at him and winked as she sat down. "Well, we'd better get cracking then. Are you ready to share hands?" She reached for Trey on one side and Christy on the other. Evie joined them and began the blessing.
Bedtime couldn't come quick enough for the full, sleepy kids, they were very agreeable to wash up and be tucked in. Sandy double checked the windows and front door, propping a straight backed chair under the door knob. She did the same with the back door.
Evie retrieved the shotgun from the pantry and laid it on the table. "Got the pistol?" Sandy questioned, and Evie patted her skirt pocket. "Me too," Sandy grinned. "We're a couple of pistol pack'in mamas," she snorted, amused but serious.
"I sure hope Wayne is better," Sandy said quietly. "I'm really worried Grandma, that was a pretty bad stab. Did I say thank you for the prayer's. That really meant a lot to both of us," Sandy swallowed hard.
Evie thought Sandy's sweet little face had way to many pain lines, so grown up for her age. Evie reached out and patted the thin arm resting on the table. "How are you feeling Honey? Any heart problems?"
Sandy didn't want to tell the truth and didn't want to lie, especially to Grandma. She also knew that the old lady was sharp enough to catch her in a fib. "Sometimes," she prevaricated. "I haven't been sleeping well, worrying about Wayne."
Evie let her get away with the non answer, this time. "I think you are loosing weight, and have you looked at the dark circles under your eyes. You need to balance more," she pressed lightly. "I worry about you," she smiled softly.
"I know Grandma, I appreciate it, I really do," Sandy replied with love. "I'm confused," she finally admitted. "I don't know what's going on between me and Wayne. Sometimes I think he likes me, and then the next day......." she sighed as she picked at a small scab on her arm. "They say girls are moody and changeable, but boy is he a revolving door."
"Would you like a couple of observations?" Evie asked with caution, not sure how the teen might react to her dishing out advise.
"Well, I guess so," Sandy agreed slowly.
Evie gingerly began. "Wayne has no manly example to learn from. The only man he was associated with was the most horrible person in the world. I tried to expose Wayne and Brett and Benny to men of character as they were growing up, but the lack of a responsible father is a huge roadblock for young men. Ev did a wonderful job, along with Will, but they have families they need to tend. If I could say anything, it would be go slow. Give him time to grow into his intentions, let Wayne come to his conclusions as he figures out what you already know," Evie crinkled her eyes as she smiled at Sandy.
To Evie's relief, Sandy giggled. "Grandma, how did you get so smart?"
Jennings rolled to the side as he gamely fought to keep his manly dignity. He couldn't believe Tammy's reaction to his well intentioned duck and cover protection. She knew the danger that was possible. She might not have like the way she found out, but it had happened and he had to go with the consequences.
The coldly efficient, well trained lawman had no experience being the enforcer of the law toward his own family. In a short hurry, he was finding out why people would react in certain ways. The main problem, he felt, was the fact his family gave him no respect.
Just like a lot of lawless people on the streets had no respect for the law and the men and women they hired to protect them; he was a stranger to his family in that matter. J was used to giving orders in tense situations and having them obeyed; not questioned and ignored by a person he loved and whom he hoped loved him.
J got to his feet and helped Tammy to hers. She said "thank you," in a dismissive way, and went to sit down at Brett's table. J seated himself at the same table and took a long drink of water.
"That was some move," Brett approved to the husband half of the new owners. "Will and Benny do things like that all the time, must be the training you guy's go through?"
Jennings said calmly, "we are trained to protect, especially those that mean the most to us."
Tammy had the grace to blush and look away, closing her mouth against the sharp retort that was forming.
Kent took the stew bowl from Lainey, the young woman serving him but sneaking quick peeks at Benny who was watching all the drama with cool precision. Benny felt the young woman's interest, looked up and smiled at her.
Lainey absently reached for the water pitcher and poured more than a glass full into her seated father's lap; all the while staring mesmerized at the handsome sheriff.
The diner erupted in amused laughter, the interest between the homegrown boy and the pretty newcomer well known and gossiped about.
Kent reached up and tilted the pitcher upright. Grimacing, he dropped his napkin in his lap and thought his daughter was a menace to society.