“If you’re going to watch,” Sage suggested, “maybe you should participate. Major is always looking for more volunteers.”
Major grunted. “As long as they know how to turn their talk buttons off.”
My lips quirked. “I think I could manage that.”
By the time that I got home that night, my mind was reeling with my day.
First the dog attack.
Then a man following me and putting a tracker on my car.
Then the search and rescue practice where I had to watch Odin work with his dog.
A cute dog that pranced at his side, looking up at his master like he was his world.
It gave Odin a softer edge that blunted the harshness of his demeanor.
But what really got me was the way he’d not only walked me safely to my car, but he’d made sure I got home safely, too. With no unknown stalkers dogging my every move.
“Your day was eventful,” Dad mused when I told him and my mother about my “bodyguard.”
“The guy was legit, too.” I shook my head. “When we were done with the searching, Odin got a call from Sheriff Black. He’d met with the Otto guy’s boss who sent over a full contract. In it was my full name, with a signed permission in my own handwriting—or at least close handwriting. And Errol’s. But the photos that were sent over to them weren’t Errol’s. It was some AI-generated guy, according to Sheriff Black. The guy they’re supposed to be protecting me from was Errol.”
“Do you think that Mackey’s parents could’ve hired them?”
“I mean, yes. If it wasn’t for the name swaps. Why use Errol’s name as the client and then his photo as the man they’re protecting me from?”
“Why, out of three children, are you the most difficult?” Dad asked.
I threw my hand up with a laugh. “I have no clue. I thought I was the easy kid, too.”
“You were until you got pregnant,” Dad muttered. “Before that it was Harvey’s drinking and Essie’s inability to say no to dick. But compared to your shit, theirs seems rather paltry.”
I smirked. “I wish I had an answer for you, Dad.”
My mom placed her hand on my shoulder. “Be careful, dear. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but you’re right in the middle of it.”
I couldn’t agree more.
“Thanks for watching her today.”
“We had fun.” Mom smirked. “We went into town and stopped at Tractor Supply. She demanded we get chickens, but I convinced her to wait.”
“How?”
“By distracting her,” Dad snorted. “She has almost a completely new wardrobe.”
“Speaking of wardrobes.” Mom got up and washed her coffee cup out in the sink before turning back to me. “Don’t blame me if she wakes up in the morning complaining. I tried to get her to wear something normal to bed.”
I walked my parents to the door and thanked them one last time. When they were gone, I headed to Wendy’s room to get a look at what she’d worn to bed.
My lips curved up at the edges when I saw.
Skintight jeans tucked into flashy red cowboy boots. A pearl snap shirt. Rhinestone belt. And a cowboy hat that had slipped off and covered part of her face.
Closing her door, I headed to the hall to set the alarm when there was a knock at the door.
Expecting it to be my parents, I opened the front door wide and felt my mouth drop open. “Odin, what are you doing here?”
