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“It smelled like soap in there, too.” Shep picked his way through his memory of the cacophony of scents they’d encountered. “And fresh linen, maybe?”
“Yeah, I picked up on that.” Prim’s head swiveled between them. “Did either of you happen to see a washing machine anywhere?”
Shep and Adriel shook their heads.
“You know, like they have at car washes,” she explained, “to wash towels and buffing cloths on site.”
“Nope. Didn’t see a washing machine.” Shep replayed the scene, carefully analyzing each detail. “I saw more tires than I’d ever seen in one place before. Even with four to five vehicles having tires swapped for car shows, that still leaves a lot of tires rowed up on the back wall.”
“If I may interject,” Adriel was still scowling darkly. “The PD hasn’t received a single complaint about dumping. I had no ideawhat Levi was talking about when he mentioned storing tires on his property.”
“Let’s be grateful, sheriff,” Shep teased. “It was awfully nice of him to offer you a preemptive explanation before the next round of complaints.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.” Adriel’s glower eased as he drove up the driveway toward the cabin Shep shared with his uncle. “Thanks for having my back tonight. Both of you.”
“Just doing what we agreed to do, sheriff.” Shep wasn’t sure if they’d been much help or not.
“For what it’s worth, I think we make a decent team, Whitaker.” Adriel drawled. He rolled down his window to watch Shep and Prim unload the dogs.
Shep faced him with Rooks’ leash in hand, not sure what the sheriff was hoping to hear. “I appreciate the opportunity to keep my search and rescue skills sharp.” It was so much more than that, though. He’d gotten his initial training at the Heart Lake PD and followed it up with a professional certification course at the Texas Hotline Training Center. However, this was the first time he’d gotten the opportunity to build his own team from the ground floor up.
Prim moved around the car and silently held out a hand for Rook’s leash. She angled her head toward Adriel. “Bro time,” she said softly. As she led both dogs away, Shep heard her praising them for how well they’d “sniffed the stuffing out of ol’ Levi’s garage.”
“Things are changing in Heart Lake.” Adriel followed Prim’s progress up the driveway until she disappeared behind the cabin. “Might go so far as to say the growing Heart Lake PD is getting a little crowded these days.”
“Things are always changing.” Shep was pretty sure the sheriff was trying to gauge his interest in job opportunities on the rez. “I’ve never been afraid of change.” He cast a sidewaysglance toward Prim as she came back around the side of the house for a game of fetch with the dogs. She’d spent enough time training with them that they minded her as well as they minded him. Maybe better. She certainly had a way with animals, even goats. He smirked at the mental image of her wrestling a goat at the clinic.
“Speaking of change,” Adriel leaned closer. “You and Doc make a mighty good team as well.”
Shep met his gaze. “Can’t deny that.” He hadn’t been seeking the sheriff’s approval, but it felt good to have it, anyway.
“Hey, Shep.” Adriel’s tone abruptly changed. “I’ve been politicking with the tribal council, hoping to sell the merits of turning your volunteer search and rescue team into an official branch of the rez PD.”
“Oh?” Shep couldn’t have been more astonished.
“That’s the other reason I wanted you and Prim to come with me this evening.”
“For the visibility, eh?”You wily sheriff, you!
“Everybody already loves Doc,” Adriel drawled. “Figured you’d score some brownie points, being seen with her and all.”
“Yeah, even Mato was cool to Doc tonight.” Adriel’s mention of brownie points made Shep realize there might be other Comanches besides the sheriff who were speculative about his loyalty to the tribe.
“Saw that.” Adriel made a pistol out of his thumb and forefinger. “I hope you’ll think about that new department I mentioned.”
“Already am, sheriff.” Shep ducked his head to meet the man’s eyes. “Like I said, I’m not afraid of change.”
As Adriel drove away, Shep loaded his gear back into his truck.
Prim tossed a tennis ball that bounced and rolled to a stop beside the truck. “What was that about?” she called to him.
He glanced her way, grinning. “You’re not going to believe it.”
“Try me.” She tossed another tennis ball.
Rook fetched it, brought it to Shep, and dropped it at his feet.
“Good job.” He picked it up and threw it back across the yard, knowing the dogs enjoyed playing fetch even more than they liked chowing down on snacks.
