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“They are not even slightly shy,” he said as he handed me the carrots. “I told them I was a stranger, that they shouldn’t be so easy, but they didn’t care. Now that I bring them treats, I don’t think they’ll ever leave me alone.” He smiled at the horse that nudged at his hand.

“I can see you don’t like it at all.” I smiled too as I worked double-time to pay attention to the other two as well.

“I’ve never been around horses. I admit, they are fascinating.”

“Yes, they are.”

“I also find them playful and majestic when they are running around the corral. Do you ride?”

“I don’t. I’ve driven the Jeep forever, which gets me into parts unattainable by non-offroad vehicles. I had an assignment up at the Grand Canyon a few years back, and we had to ride burros down thin switchbacks. I was terrified and sore afterwards.”

“May I ask what the assignment involved?”

“Sure. Someone found a tooth underneath what was thought to be First Peoples’ bones. Indians, Native Americans, have the right to take back the bones of their ancestors so they may bury them in the proper ways of their traditions. The tribe didn’t trust the government guy they brought in, so they called me. After the arduous journey into the canyon, I could quickly determine that the bone belonged to someone who’d lived in the 1980s and were definitely not Navajo or any other tribe.”

“How did you make the determination?”

“Well, the skull mostly.” I tapped my brow and then my temples. “Shapes and measurements.”

“Interesting.”

“I love my job, but that trip into the canyon was …” I paused. “Who am I kidding. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

“You mentioned a tooth.”

“Yes, the tooth was under the skeleton, but they couldn’t get at it without disturbing the skeleton. Once I determined that the skeleton wasn’t First Peoples, we could remove it carefully and then get at the tooth. It belonged to a saber-toothed tiger.”

“A real one?”

“Well, yes, but from a long time ago, of course.” I offered a couple more carrots. “Once we got the skeleton out, I could further determine that the man had died by a gunshot wound to the head. We tracked down that he’d come from Chicago and were able to reach his family who’d thought maybe he’d just run off about ten years earlier. With the information we put together, the killer was found. Sadly, the killer had died a few years earlier so he couldn’t pay the price for his crime. But the family of the victim got his remains and some answers. Not knowing is the worst.”

“That’s amazing, Hazel.”

I smiled again. “Any alien response yet?”

He laughed. “Not yet, but I have faith. I mean, if there really were saber-toothed tigers, then anything is possible.”

“I do not disagree.”

“You, uh, look pretty. Is that okay for me to say?”

“Thank you. Yes, it’s okay. And you look great.” He did. He was cute. I wanted to smile every time I looked at him. This man might be a real threat to my sour constitution. I wondered what he’d have thought if I’d worn the dress. Maybe the next date.

“I’ll take that.” Sonny swiped his hands together, as if wiping off some dust. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“Starving. Literally. I might waste away if I don’t eat soon.”

“Can’t have that. Come on in.”

Lou had left the house in good old cowboy shape. The brown leather living room furniture matched. Lamps sat on two end tables, the bases made of wrought iron bucking broncos.

Paintings of cows and horses filled the walls. The space was masculine and smelled like tomatoes and oregano. My fringed shirt fit right in, and my stomach growled.

Sonny made his way behind the peninsula that sat in between the kitchen and living room. Its burnt-orange top matched the old appliances and the other counter space. The small house was tidy, though, so the old accoutrements only seemed sort of retro hip now.

“I wasn’t sure what toppings you like so I made a few with different combinations of meat and veggies. I’m not good enough to make all the edges a perfect circle, but I think you’ll like the sauce. Everyone does.”

I sat on a stool on this side of the peninsula as he opened the bottle of wine. “Can I pour you a glass?”