“Hello,” called the distinctive voice of Susan Harris. I put down my broom and quickly ran my hands under the water to rinse off the disinfectant that had sloshed on my skin.

“Now what are you doing here, Mrs. Harris?” I called as I dried my hands with a shop towel.

“I was just wondering if anyone wanted lunch. I brought some sandwiches and some chips. And pickles. Have to have pickles with your sandwiches.” She held up a brown bag. “Meleyna keeps drinks here, I know.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Harris.”

“Please, call me Susan. I haven’t been a missus for a number of years, not since my husband died in Vietnam.”

“Oh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Matthew. He was a good man and gave me Meleyna’s father for which I am grateful.”

Susan led me to the small office that I had not explored. She sat at the desk and waved to the chair at the side of it. She pushed aside some folders and handed me a sandwich.

“I hope you don’t mind. Ham. It’s getting to the last of it.”

“No. I don’t mind. I love ham.” I took a bite. “Perfect, mustard instead of mayonnaise. Excellent.”

“So, my granddaughter went into town?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“No. She just took off.”

“She said something about a tax bill she had to pay.”

“Hmph,” she said. “I thought we paid all the taxes.”

“She didn’t mention another word about it.”

Susan shook her head. “Damn fool girl, chasing after dreams again.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. So, everything going well here?”

“Yes. I like it. It’s been a while since I worked, other than my studies with Max.”

“He was a good friend to you.”

“Became one. Parker, now. He’s my best buddy.”

At the sound of his name, Parker trotted to both of us and put his head on my knee.

“You have a girl?”

“No.”

“Kids?”

“No.”

“So, what do you plan to do with your life, now that you are out of the service?”

I thought that was a very good question. But I had been so busy dealing with my injury and the after effects I hadn’t thought much beyond the next day. “Not sure. I’ve been too busy to think about it.”

“And yet you come to Russellville.”

“It’s beautiful country.”

“Think you might stick around?”

“Don’t know.”

Susan sighed. “Just like Meleyna. Can’t get a word out of ‘ya. Okay then, I’ll go back to my knitting, and you get back to work. I’ve got some linens for you for the cabin and some other supplies. I’m sure she will help you carry them back. That is when she gets back.”

“I’m sure Parker and I can handle things, regardless.”

“Well, in few hours the day clients will start arriving. Usually, they want an account of their pup’s day.”

“I’ll do the best I can. And I should get on those walks that she talked about.”

“You don’t need to get too crazy. What do we have here, three groups?’

“I believe that’s what she had outlined.”

She shook her head again. “I never met a woman with an eye for detail like my Meleyna.”

“She would have made a good Marine then. We are all about the details.” But then I spotted the sudden grief on her face and remembered that her husband died from war. It was no wonder that had the subject come up, she would discourage her granddaughter from serving too.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay. I know she would have done us proud, but we’ve given enough to our country, don’t you think?”

“Yes, ma’am, you have.”

She sighed and then stood. “At least we can thank the good Lord that you came home, along with others. And I’m glad you and Meleyna are getting to be good friends. I keep telling her to be more social and branch out and meet new people.”

I felt a little guilty then because here this kind woman opened her home to me, and what was the first thing I did? Try to get her granddaughter into bed.

“You are both good people, and I thank you for your kindness.”

With a sad smile, Susan patted my cheek with her hand and pushed past me to exit the office. The screen door squeaked open.

“Now who is that?” said Susan.

“Hello,” said a feminine voice.

Parker picked up his head, and I stood and walked out of the office. “Hello,” said Susan.

“It’s me, Mrs. Harris. Cherie Tate.”

I walked toward the main door. Cherie Tate was a five foot five (the same height as Meleyna) and was a brunette. But she had pretty eyes and a bright smile so I could imagine how a man might find her attractive. That is if I hadn’t already set my sights on one woman in particular. “Good to see you again, Officer.”

“You’re…?”

“This is Matthew Rees. He’s helping us while Meleyna and I get back on our feet.”

“Oh, yes. I saw you last night. Good to meet you, Mr. Rees.”

“Matthew.”

“I’m looking for Meleyna.”

“Not here,” said Susan. “She went to town for a few hours.”

“Oh,” she said. Her eyes narrowed as if she suspected something. “I wanted to give her the rabies test results.”

“That’s quick,” said Susan.

“I had them rushed. They are negative, by-the-way. I sent a copy of the results to the hospital.”

“Thank you, Cherie,” said Susan. “That’s mighty kind of you.”

“No problem.”

“Is there anything else?” said Susan.

“I just want to ask Mr. Rees here some questions about the attack.”

“I’m afraid I didn’t see much.”

“Well,” said Susan. “If you don’t need me, I best be getting back to my knitting. Now, when you see your mama, Cherie, tell her I’m ready to start up the quilting circle again. Have her call me.”

“Yes, Mrs. Harris.”

The screen door slammed after Susan.

“I’ve told Meleyna she needs to fix that door,” said Cherie.

“So, you know her well?”

“Went to high school with her. She and Randy were juniors when I started. She was on the softball team, he was on the football team. The cheerleaders loved the fact that Meleyna was into sports rather than cheerleading.”

I’m sure they would, I thought.

“So, what can you tell me about the attack?” Cherie asked.

“The coyote, from what Meleyna said got into one of the runs from the roof. I noticed when I cleaned it that the rope from the canvass was gnawed. It must have been looking for food.”

“Unusual. There are plenty of rabbits and squirrels to eat.”

“I’m sure there is no accounting for taste. Besides Meleyna said something had been knocking over the garbage cans and licking out the dog food cans. Maybe it was ill and couldn’t hunt.”

“It was well enough to attack her. Well, show me the area again.”

I walked Cherie to the dog run, and she examined the area. After pulling out her phone, she snapped a few pictures.

“You know,” she said, “Randy seemed awful upset about the incident. I mean, yeah, it was a bad attack, and Meleyna was hurt, but aside from the rabies scare I knew she’d be okay.”

“Meleyna is doing well. Walking. Talking. Everything.”

“That’s good. But I’ve never seen Randy that upset. “

I wondered why she was veering off the subject and onto Meleyna. It was a puzzle, especially since she seemed into Randy Barker the night before.

“From what Meleyna told me they were friends for a very long time,” I said carefully.

“Yes,” she said drawing out the word. “You know, there was an awful lot of talk about those two in high school. Thick as thieves they were. Inseparable. Couldn’t put a ruler between them. Then when they started dating things got interesting.”

“Oh?” I asked. “How’s that?”

“Well, you know,” she said. “Even though they seemed joined at the hip, there were rumors about Randy. Like how some guys like other guys—instead of girls.” I wasn’t going to play her game. Obviously, she was fishing for information.

“Do they now?” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. What was this woman up to? “It wouldn’t be any of my business, anyway.”

“Perhaps not. You don’t sound like you’re from around here.”

“Idaho,” I said.

“Yeah, a real liberal place, Idaho. Pot is legal there.”

“So?”

“Other things aren’t frowned on either.”

“Such as?”

“Well, you know—”

“No, I’m not sure I do.”

“Things the Bible doesn’t approve of.”

“You mean like wearing clothes woven from two different kinds of thread?”

“Pardon?”

“Leviticus 19:19. Or do you mean the prohibition against working the Sabbath? Have you worked any Sabbaths, Officer?”

“That’s different.”

“How so?”

“It just is.”

“Oh, so, when it’s different for you, it’s okay to go against Bible teachings?”

Cherie’s face began to turn red.

“That’s not what I mean. There are things that Christians shouldn’t do.”

“I agree. Like judge. As I recall from my Sunday school that was a biggie on the list.”

“Now see here,” stammered Cherie.

“I see just fine. You aren’t getting along with Sheriff Barker like you think you should, so you look for a reason. And you hang your theories on old gossip for which you have no proof and come around here sniffing for any little thing that will back up your theory.”

“Well, aren’t you rude?” she snapped with her hands on her hips.

“Not rude enough to go poking my nose into other people’s business.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing?”

“I think that this a conversation you should be having with your boyfriend, Randy,” I said. “And certainly not with me.”

“Really. How many things are not your business? Has Meleyna become yours?”

I involuntarily tensed, and my body grew rigid.

“You’re a good investigator, aren’t you?” I retorted. “I’m surprised you’re not a detective.” Even to my own ears, the tone of my voice was harsh.

Parker stood on all fours and trotted over to me and put his head on my knee. I thought I was handling this conversation well, but Parker picked up on my annoyance.

“Officer,” I said, “let me introduce you to my service dog, Parker. I served in Iraq, you see. Parker here helps to keep me calm. He reminds me to use the calming techniques I learned in therapy. Do you get my meaning?”

Cherie Tate’s face flushed bright red.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. And for the record, I do like Meleyna and Mrs. Harris. And they happen to need a hand, and I have the time to help them out. But if you think that my certification as a dog trainer, as well as my background in the Marines, doesn’t qualify me to work here, well, I’m sorry. But all that matters is the Harris’ opinion, doesn’t it?”

Cherie’s jaw set, and she looked like she wanted to say more, but she held herself back.

“Here’s a copy of the rabies report.” She pulled a manila envelope from her pocket and handed it to me. “Please see that Meleyna gets this.”

“I will.”

“Tell Meleyna I came by.”

“Sure.”

Cherie Tate turned to leave but ran right into Susan Harris standing in the door.

“Cherie,” she said stiffly.

“Yes, Mrs. Harris.”

“I think there is something you forgot.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You forgot to thank Matthew for his service to his country.”

By now, Cherie’s face was almost purple with anger and embarrassment. “Thank you for your service, Mr. Rees.”

Cherie left quickly, allowing the screen door to slam against the jam.