“Then I suggest filing a claim with your insurance company.Especially if the bush is so valuable,” I told her, my tone dismissive.
“My deductible would be more than any compensation I would receive.And then my rates will skyrocket.”
Great.She was back to shrieking.
Waffles made a noise, like the sound hurt his ears.
Same, bud.Same.
“This is a civil matter, Hilary.No crime has been committed.”
“You always say that!Every damn time I call about that stupid donkey, you say there’s nothing you can do.I know it’s because ofher.”When I didn’t respond, she stomped her foot.“Next time, I’m going to call animal control.”
“That would also be me,” I reminded her.
“I’m a citizen of this town and county, Finn Davis.You are an elected official, and my vote matters.”
“Yes, I am, and of course every vote matters.”I kept my face straight as I spoke.“Please exercise your right to vote against me should someone happen to oppose me in the next election.”
Before me, my father had been the sheriff of Trinity County.He’d run unopposed for decades.When he retired, I’d stepped into the position.This was only my first term, but I had been elected.And I would continue to be elected, most likely until I had a kid who wanted to fill my shoes.
I was one of the legacy families in Creswell Springs.Last names meant something in this town.Hannigan.Reid.Masterson.Davis.If anyone with those surnames stood up and spoke, people stopped and listened.Those families got shit done, not just when things were messy, but because they would get messy and they weren’t afraid of it.
My grandmother, Raven Hannigan Reid, had been mayor for sixteen years unopposed, until she’d talked my mother into leading the town.Lexa Davis would continue to be mayor until she was tired too.My sister, Tali, would likely fill the role when Mom stepped back.Not because she was a Davis, but because she was Raven Reid’s granddaughter.That was the only endorsement she needed.
Before she was elected mayor, Raven had already been running the town.The Angel’s Halo MC considered her their queen.She had more power than any elected official.She just made it formal by taking the reins when Jenkins, the mayor before her, retired.
Hilary’s next shriek was more of a war cry, the noise loud and feral.She turned and grabbed the first thing she could get her hands on.A rake that she must have left outside after weeding the decorative flower bed.
Lifting the rake high over her head, she charged at Waffles.
I grabbed her from behind just as Waffles startled and kicked his back legs defensively before taking off down the street.Hilary screamed again, the rake still high over her head while she struggled to get free of my hold.
Behind me, I heard the distinctive sound of a UTV and bit back a groan.Waffles must have heard it too, because he shifted directions and ran straight toward the four-seater side-by-side.It had a tag on the front and back that declared the off-road vehicle as FARM USE.After I’d written the driver a ticket the first time she’d driven it in town, she’d taken it to the garage and had it customized to be street legal, including turn signals and a horn.
As she drove closer, Waffles stopped to wait for her.Which only infuriated Hilary more.She tried to charge at the donkey again.
“If you touch him, I will arrest you for cruelty to animals, Hilary,” I warned, my voice low and lethal.
“You’ll regret this,” she hissed, glaring at me over her shoulder.
“I regret most things that involve you.”
Her eyes lit up with what looked like hurt and a challenge.It was the latter that had me releasing her on instinct, and I was thankful I’d turned on my body cam when I’d first spotted Waffles.Mom always loved watching me chase that damn donkey.Giving her footage she could giggle over was going to save my ass, in more ways than one.
Before I could take a step back, or even guess at what she was doing, Hilary pushed up onto her tiptoes and kissed me.
Right in front of Grier.
Fuck my life.
Grier
I didn’t wakeup every morning looking for chaos.That bitch followed me around like I owed her money.
Waffles was my excuse most days, but it truly wasn’t his fault.I’d been his momma since he was two days old, when his birth mom passed from complications, and my little guy had attachment issues.If he couldn’t find me back at the house or on the property, he knew I’d most likely be at the recreation center in town.
He was smart—and stubborn.MiMi said he was meant for me, because we were so much alike.I’d coddled him from day one, putting a diaper on him and strapping him to my chest in a ring sling.I took him everywhere with me for the first year of his life, and now he came looking for me when he missed me.Which was basically any time I wasn’t in sight.
