Page 321 of Nobody's Girl

“I tell you what, boy. What did you say your name was anyway?” he asks.

“I’m Kyle Stevens.”

The old guy’s eyes narrow and he starts wagging his finger at Kyle. “Well, let me tell you what I think, Kyle Stevens. I think you did see something and I think you’re hiding whatever them things is.”

Kyle laughs. “Sir, I don’t know how you’re used to doing things down here in Texas. Where I come from, no one comes onto another person’s property and accuses them of such ridiculous things. Now you and your friends and this pack of dogs need to leave my property now, or I will call the police.”

“Oh, I must have forgotten to introduce myself to you, son. I am the police. My name is Sheriff Hardy. Two of these guys here are my deputies and that man over there is Judge Picket.”

Oh my God, what have we gotten ourselves into?

We’re getting off on the wrong foot immediately with the law here. I find I’m standing up before I realize what I’m doing.

“Shhh,” I say to the dogs and miraculously they all stop barking. The men all look up at me, astonished.

Kyle is dumbfounded, but somehow finds his voice. “This is Kat. She’s an animal trainer,” he offers for my feat.

“It’s a pleasure to meet such distinguished members of this community,” I say.

I walk to the back of the truck, holding my hand out for Kyle to help me down. He takes my hand and helps me jump down. The dogs all sit at once as my feet hit the ground.

“Who taught you to train animals, young lady?” the sheriff asks me.

“My grandfather back in New Mexico. He was a full-blooded Navajo.” I lie, and then I reach out to pet one of the dogs on the head.

“He might bite ya,” the guy called Jimmy cautions me.

“I highly doubt that,” I say as I stroke the top of the dog’s head, making him wag his tail.

“Would you look at that?” one of the men says under his breath.

“I think it’s time for us to be getting this fire put out and going back up to the house. Thanks for stopping by,” I say.

I motion for Eden to get down too. He comes down and stands beside me. The men seem puzzled, but call to the dogs, and begin to walk back the way they came from, mumbling as they go. One of the dogs turns around and runs back to me and Eden, wagging its tail like crazy. I pet his head, as does Eden.

I lean down to the dog. “Good boy. Now go back,” I say, and then he turns and leaves us.

Laura climbs out of the back seat of the truck and walks over to help us put the fire out. Then we get back in the truck and go up to the house.

Once inside, Kyle makes a big whooping sound. “Okay, Ally, you have to let us in on your secret. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“Don’t you mean Kat,” I say with a giggle. “Where did you come up with that name?”

Kyle laughs. “I have no idea. My mind was all, what the hell is she doing? I had almost no control of what came out of my mouth.”

Eden begins to laugh. “Navajo grandfather, Alyssa? I almost laughed out loud.”

“That was terrifying,” Laura yells at us. “These people are backwoods. I mean, the sherriff and his posse can just roll up in your pasture like it’s no big deal, ask you a lot of questions, and accuse you of shit.”

Eden moves to stand beside Laura. “Laura’s right, guys. We should stop joking about this.”

“It was tense, Laura,” Kyle tells her. “We’re just trying to lessen the tension with a little laughter. Try it sometime.”

Laura’s face goes red.

Oh, hell, here it goes!

“You are a child, Kyle,” she yells and throws her arms around close to his head. “I don’t know how they could have chosen you to keep them safe. We should have gotten in the truck right away and brought them back to the house. That scene should have never happened.”