“What direction will we be going?” she asked. “I need to drop off some things in town.”
“We can do that on the way back.”
“That would be lovely.”
Marshall and Doris walked with them to the door making it awkward for Judith to bid Luke good night.
“Is he going to give you a hard time when you go back inside?” Luke asked on the step.
“I can hold my own against my brother.”
Luke lifted her hand and kissed it. “Tomorrow then. Dress warm.”
She watched as he skipped down the steps and had to bite back a laugh when he slipped on the bottom step. Once he’d caught his balance, holding his hat to his head, he turned around and grinned at her before he strode toward the barn.
“Come inside before you freeze to death,” Marshall said.
Judith smiled, letting her brother take her arm and lead her into the house.
9
Luke was grim faced as he stepped into Sheriff Vosburg’s office. It’d taken most of the morning to get the monster-dog photo taken and then developed.
“Have yourself a cup of coffee there,” Abe said, indicating a pot on the stove. “Charles ought to be back from his rounds soon, and I’d like him here for this.”
“I appreciate it. This is surely brass-monkey weather we’re having this year.” Luke put the folder with the photographs for the sheriff down before going for some coffee. He took a seat and watched as Abe studied the pictures.
“That’s one mean-looking dog,” the sheriff finally said, setting the photograph down. “It looked worse in person. One of those beasts was bad enough. We’re lucky it didn’t go after any people.” His voice softened. “Or the school kids.”
His mouth dry, Luke met the older man’s concerned gaze. With the weather so cold, only the children who had rides had been coming to town for school.
“I’ve lived here in Lilac City for a dang long time, Luke, and I’ve never seen anything like this. Even as bad as things have been with the sheep wars, there’s something especially ugly about this dog.” Abe rubbed his face. “Ever since I investigated the first attack, it’s been troubling me. I was sure it had to be a lone wolf.”
“I’d wondered the same thing,” Luke said, staring out the window.
“Dogs prefer to run in packs.”
Luke shifted to look at the sheriff, “If we’d been dealing with a rogue dog—”
“We’d likely have had more attacks in the surrounding area. That’s what Charles and I had decided anyway. It’s easier for a wild dog to go after sheep on a smaller farm.”
“Any sheep farms reporting missing or killed animals?”
Abe gave a disgusted snort. “They’re always reporting missing animals, but it’s usually cattlemen who are responsible. There haven’t been any tracks to match that beast’s.”
Luke rose and strode to the window. “It’s a real uncomfortable position to have someone come after me.”
“The only thing that’s different from last year is your three sisters.”
“What would be served for William Lancaster to come after my catt—” A possibility struck Luke, and he broke off, his stomach tightening into a knot. As far as they knew, the girls’ uncle hadn’t heard about Doris’s marriage to Marshall Breckinridge. Lancaster would be assuming she and Frances were still living at the Lucky L with Luke as their only protector.
“What’s on your mind?” Abe asked, coming to stand by the window.
Luke told him.
“No other protector, huh?” The sheriff scratched his grizzly beard. “A man would have to be pretty desperate to try to ruinyouso your sisters would have to turn to him for support.” Abe grunted. “Well look who Charles is bringing back with him.”
“I’ve been wondering when Edgar would finally show up.” Luke was still angry with the man. After William Lancaster had discovered his oldest niece, Maude, had already married, he’d coerced Marshall’s cousin to come out to the Circle B with the intent to woo away either Doris or Frances. They still hadn’t figured out what was driving Lancaster to go to such extremes.
