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Chapter 1
“I’ve never seen anything like this, Sheriff,” Parker, one of Mack’s deputies, said, face drawn with worry.
“Who would do this kind of thing?” Tanner, another deputy, asked, hands braced on his hips as he took in the sight before them.
Mrs. Turnbell had called it in early this morning, right when Mack was sitting down with his morning coffee. That’s when he knew today was going to be a long day. Small towns were supposed to be easy to handle, or so he’d been told. Mack had grown up in Hobson Hills, though. He should have known better.
“I know who did this.” Mack took a drink of his coffee. “We all know who did this.”
“Ernie,” the two deputies said together.
“Yep.” Mack shook his head at the sight in front of him. Someone, probably Ernie Wilson, had put knitted bonnets and scarves on the Turnbells’ cattle. One brown-and-white heifer even wore bright-pink leg warmers.
Tanner sighed. “Last night at the pub, Mr. Turnbell told Ernie that Bigfoot doesn’t exist. I’ve never seen Ernie so mad. Honestly, I don’t think Mr. Turnbell cares about Bigfoot being real or not. He just likes to see Ernie’s face turn red.”
“Should we dust for fingerprints?” Parker asked, dark eyes twinkling with laughter. “Bag the knitted goods?”
Mack grunted and took another long drink of coffee. “You two get in there and take those things off the cattle. I’ll talk to Mrs. Turnbell.”
She makes a good cup of coffee, too,Mack thought, looking mournfully into his empty cup. If the Wilsons were already stirring, then today really would be a long day. He needed more caffeine.
“I’m too old for this shit,” he muttered, striding up the Turnbells’ steps.
Mrs. Turnbell stood in the doorway, a fresh cup of coffee in her hands. “Here you go, Sheriff.”
Mack gratefully took the cup and leaned back against the porch rails. “Sorry about this, Angie. My boys will take care of the cattle.”
She rolled her eyes with a huff. “I told Phil that he shouldn’t have riled up Ernie like that. If he wasn’t such an old man, I’d have made him take care of the cattle. He’d likely throw out his back though.”
“Hey now, I’m not that old.” Phil sat on the porch swing with a book in his lap. “She just likes to watch those boys move.”
Mack laughed and looked over his shoulder. Tanner and Parker were chasing the heifer with the leg warmers at the moment. She didn’t seem to want to part with her new outfit.
“They do move well,” Angie said with a grin. “I remember when you used to be that energetic, Mack, chasing after Darren like a new puppy. I had the hardest time keeping the two of you apart in class. My two favorite students.”
He smiled, enjoying the memories. Darren had been gone for years now, but Mack had never stopped loving him. He never would.
“How are Lacey and Renee?” Angie asked, giving him a fond smile.
“Bossy and nosy,” Mack said with a huff. “All they talk about is how I need to retire and ‘enjoy my twilight years.’”
Phil laughed loud enough to startle the cattle, unfortunately for Tanner, who had just managed to remove one leg warmer from the heifer.
“You aren’t even sixty yet,” Angie said, shaking her head. “She must think us ancient, Phil.”
“Youjustsaid I was an old man.” Phil pouted. “If Mack is in his twilight years, then we’re ready for the grave.”
Angie leaned next to Mack and nudged his side. “You know what you really need?”
“To move to a quiet town where nobody knows me?” he asked hopefully.
“Nope.” Angie patted his arm. “You need to start dating again. Maybe if your life was more than work, your girls wouldn’t think you were a doddering old man.”
“I date,” Mack protested with a sniff.
“The occasional dinner out with a friend isn’t dating,” Angie said, sighing.
Mack winced. He knew that. After Darren passed away, Mack hadn’t wanted to get close to anyone else. Losing his husband had hurt. Plus, he knew there wasn’t much of a chance that he would ever find a love like he’d had with Darren. Dating didn’t seem worth it.
