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I used the time to clean up the kitchen and make some more sandwiches along with some coffee that I put in several insulated Thermoses. My hope was to find all three men together, but fortune only favored the brave and I ended up finding Dallas and Nolan working together in the livestock area. I had no clue where Maddox was and didn’t care, either.
Liar.
I walked into the barn and found Nolan and Dallas cleaning the stalls. Well, Dallas was cleaning them, and Nolan was clearly trying to stop him by stepping into the man’s path every time he tried to enter one of the stalls.
“Please, Dallas, just let me finish up here and go lie down for a bit.”
Dallas shook his head and put his hand over the bandage on his throat as he rasped something that sounded like, “Fine.”
I cleared my throat to get their attention.
Both men looked up.
“I made some sandwiches,” I offered. “I’ve got some coffee, too.”
Both men seemed to relax for the moment as Nolan waved me forward and Dallas cleaned off the top of what looked like some kind of grain bin. I handed them each a couple of sandwiches which were in plastic bags. “I made sure the bread was fresh,” I said to Dallas. “I know you need to keep eating softer foods for a bit yet.”
Dallas nodded and smiled.
“How are things going in the office?” Nolan asked as both men began eating.
“Good,” I said. “Quieter today.”
I chuckled when both men looked relieved.
“You know, if you want me to help out here with anything, just let me know,” I said. “I’m stronger than I look. And Newt can help out with stuff too, as long as someone’s keeping an eye on him.”
I could see both men were trying to come up with reasons to say no to me, so I cut them off before they could respond. “Please don’t make me a charity case,” I said softly. “Because if that’s what I am, then Newt and I should just go—”
“No!” Nolan said as Dallas made a weird sound in his throat. “Sorry,” Nolan murmured. “You’re right. It’s just that Dallas and I both know how physically exhausting the work can be…”
“All the more reason to let me help,” I said. “I’m not saying I’m going to be able to do it all, but surely there are some tasks that don’t require brute strength.”
“How about tomorrow I show you and Newt how to clean up around these guys?” Nolan said as he motioned to the various livestock in the stalls.
“Great,” I said. “Speaking of brutes, any idea where your brother is?” I asked as I looked to Dallas. “I made him some sandwiches… you know, so he won’t eat unsuspecting children or villagers who happen by.”
Dallas and Nolan both laughed, but Dallas’s had a rasping quality to it. Dallas took out his phone. I liked that even though Nolan probably already knew the answer, he let Dallas tell me.
He’s fixing the fence on the mountain lion enclosure.
“Do you want me to take it to him?” Nolan asked carefully. No doubt both men were sensing the tension between me and Maddox. I was half-tempted to take him up on the offer but the reality was, Maddox and I needed to clear the air, especially if Newt and I were staying for a little while.
“No, it’s okay,” I said.
I left the barn and walked up the trail toward Gentry’s pen, which was on the side of the property where the rest of the larger, more dangerous animals were kept. As I walked, Jerry the zebra started walking along the fence line that bordered the path. I couldn’t help but laugh as I remembered Maddox’s fake horror at the thought of the striped menace biting him. Despite the animal being so far out of its natural habitat, I couldn’t help but think it looked at home as it plodded comfortably through the thick snow.
“You behave yourself tomorrow,” I said as I eyed him. “I heard what you did to Nolan when he started,” I added as I shook my finger at him. I stopped when Jerry hung his head over the fence and began shaking it like he was agreeing with me. It did not bode well for me come tomorrow.
“I think you can take him.”
I jumped a good foot at the sound of Maddox’s voice. This time he wasn’t behind me, but just a few feet ahead of me on the path where it split.
“Son of a mother!” I shouted. “God, will you please stop doing that?” I groused as I tried to calm my racing heart.
Maddox seemed amused as he said, “Sorry.”
I didn’t quite believe him.
“I thought you were working on the mountain lion fence,” I said.
“Finished,” was all he said in response. He looked yummy in his navy parka. Unlike Dallas, who regularly wore a jumpsuit of some kind to keep his clothes clean, Maddox wore just jeans and heavy work boots. His parka was buttoned, but I’d seen that he was wearing a thick hunter-green knit sweater earlier in the day.
