I said, confused by why he was asking.
“No, you won't, Mercy.” Charlie yelled over the tow truck driver's shoulder.
“I'll be fine. I'll follow you two and it will be fine.” I said, trying with all my might to control my anger.
Charlie walked around the car and sat down in the driver's seat. I immediately stepped out and rushed to my car. Bill followed behind me, carrying Barney's crate.
“Don't forget Barney.” He said, smiling.
“Oh you don't have to worry about that. You need to worry about the health and safety of your sheriff, though.” I said, glaring at Charlie from behind. His six-foot frame and solid build didn't intimidate me in the least. I may have been smaller, all of five-foot-three on a good day and all, but I was mighty. I'd put up a good fight, although if it involved getting physical, I'd be more inclined to run in the other direction. I preferred verbal sparring over physical sparring. My mother and grandparents didn't raise a fool; just a loud mouth.
“Couples fight. He's under a lot of stress. You both are. Don't let it get to you.” Bill said, before we said our goodbyes.
“Thank you for everything and, for the record, we aren't a couple. I'm not even sure that we're friends at this point. But, thank you for your help. You may have very well saved my life.” I said, squeezing his hand with mine, before driving off.
Luckily, the sun had started to shine, so the temperature had warmed up a bit. Charlie led the pack as we made our slow commute through the snow, with the sun glaring in my eyes, adding to my inability to drive well. At least, that would be my excuse if I happened to drive us off the road again.
“What an adventure, huh, Barney?” I asked, but based on the rumble coming from the back seat, I understood that my favorite pooch was already fast asleep. Obviously, his memory had failed him, because had I been him, the last thing I would want to do is be in a car driven by the same person that almost cost me my life. Brave dog. Sleeping, almost always sleeping, but one very brave dog.
As I drove, I tried to keep my eyes focused on the back of Charlie's squad car. I wanted to kick myself for not asking him the most important questions, like how was the search coming along, what was his feeling about the coyote mangling, or what the deal was with the band of thieves. Once again, I'd let my emotions take over and I'd probably ruined my chance of getting Charlie to divulge any information to me. I was beginning to think that I should have thought all of these things out before I had gotten on the road and not now, just a few miles out from our destination.
Nubbin, when I find you, you're going to owe me big time, my friend , I thought. “Big. Time.”
I needed a distraction and since all I could see in front of me were Charlie's car and the tow truck, I had to find something else to keep me awake. Out of options, I turned the radio on. “Hog reports it is then.” It was better than listening to the guilt-ridden voices in my head.
*
“Thanks,” I waved to the back of Charlie's car as he sped up as soon as we arrived in Gering. “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.” I said before another round of sneezes hit me with full force.
Too much time had already been wasted, so instead of trying to find a hotel, I headed directly to the nursing home. At this point, it didn't matter that no one there would be thrilled to see me. I didn't exactly leave on good terms with some people the last time I was here.
I pulled into the drive leading up to Valley Retirement Estates, right off the highway into town and tried to figure out a way to get in and get on their good side. I needed an angle.
Barney sneezed, startling me. “You're right. Brilliant idea, Barney.” I said.
I pulled into a parking space and froze in place when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the rear view mirror. I was a hot
“No, you won't, Mercy.” Charlie yelled over the tow truck driver's shoulder.
“I'll be fine. I'll follow you two and it will be fine.” I said, trying with all my might to control my anger.
Charlie walked around the car and sat down in the driver's seat. I immediately stepped out and rushed to my car. Bill followed behind me, carrying Barney's crate.
“Don't forget Barney.” He said, smiling.
“Oh you don't have to worry about that. You need to worry about the health and safety of your sheriff, though.” I said, glaring at Charlie from behind. His six-foot frame and solid build didn't intimidate me in the least. I may have been smaller, all of five-foot-three on a good day and all, but I was mighty. I'd put up a good fight, although if it involved getting physical, I'd be more inclined to run in the other direction. I preferred verbal sparring over physical sparring. My mother and grandparents didn't raise a fool; just a loud mouth.
“Couples fight. He's under a lot of stress. You both are. Don't let it get to you.” Bill said, before we said our goodbyes.
“Thank you for everything and, for the record, we aren't a couple. I'm not even sure that we're friends at this point. But, thank you for your help. You may have very well saved my life.” I said, squeezing his hand with mine, before driving off.
Luckily, the sun had started to shine, so the temperature had warmed up a bit. Charlie led the pack as we made our slow commute through the snow, with the sun glaring in my eyes, adding to my inability to drive well. At least, that would be my excuse if I happened to drive us off the road again.
“What an adventure, huh, Barney?” I asked, but based on the rumble coming from the back seat, I understood that my favorite pooch was already fast asleep. Obviously, his memory had failed him, because had I been him, the last thing I would want to do is be in a car driven by the same person that almost cost me my life. Brave dog. Sleeping, almost always sleeping, but one very brave dog.
As I drove, I tried to keep my eyes focused on the back of Charlie's squad car. I wanted to kick myself for not asking him the most important questions, like how was the search coming along, what was his feeling about the coyote mangling, or what the deal was with the band of thieves. Once again, I'd let my emotions take over and I'd probably ruined my chance of getting Charlie to divulge any information to me. I was beginning to think that I should have thought all of these things out before I had gotten on the road and not now, just a few miles out from our destination.
Nubbin, when I find you, you're going to owe me big time, my friend , I thought. “Big. Time.”
I needed a distraction and since all I could see in front of me were Charlie's car and the tow truck, I had to find something else to keep me awake. Out of options, I turned the radio on. “Hog reports it is then.” It was better than listening to the guilt-ridden voices in my head.
*
“Thanks,” I waved to the back of Charlie's car as he sped up as soon as we arrived in Gering. “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.” I said before another round of sneezes hit me with full force.
Too much time had already been wasted, so instead of trying to find a hotel, I headed directly to the nursing home. At this point, it didn't matter that no one there would be thrilled to see me. I didn't exactly leave on good terms with some people the last time I was here.
I pulled into the drive leading up to Valley Retirement Estates, right off the highway into town and tried to figure out a way to get in and get on their good side. I needed an angle.
Barney sneezed, startling me. “You're right. Brilliant idea, Barney.” I said.
I pulled into a parking space and froze in place when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the rear view mirror. I was a hot
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