Uncle?Colton said that at the fair, but Zach hadn’t thought about it in the moment.

“Thankfully, you and that fool son of mine had the sense to remembersomeof your training. He called me like you're supposed to when shit like this happens.”

“I’m sitting right here, Dad.”

“And you stay right there and watch like I told you.” The sheriff shook his head. “Like I said, Greg called me and filled me in. I asked Frank why seven ofhispeople threatened two ofmydeputies removing someone from the fairgrounds. That bought us some time, but you two need to explain what’s going on before he and them seven come up with what they think is going to be a convincing lie.” He held up his finger and tapped the small box clipped to his chest. A green light came on, and Colton nodded once.

“What’s your name, son?” The Sheriff asked.

With that one question, every illusion Zach had maintained about this being he and Colton getting to know each other, vanished. Things just got very real, very fast. “Zachariah Baxter, sir. People call me Zach.”

“Okay, Zach, tell me why you needed a police escort off the fairgrounds.”