Dead Wrong

“It is exciting, all right,” Joa

Through the long, sometimes stormy months of Joa

“What’s wrong?” he asked now. “You sound fu

“The baby is not coming,” Joa

“It’s just that what?”

“Your parents came instead.”

There was a long pause before Butch exclaimed, “You’re kidding!”

“No, I’m not. They were waiting at the house when Je

“I had no idea whatsoever!” Butch sounded genuinely exasperated. “I mean, I told them when we thought the baby was due, but I never expected they’d show up like this. If you want me to, I’ll come straight home and send them packing.”

“No. That’s not necessary. We’ll get through it somehow.”

“But, Joa

“As your mother said, it’s her first grandchild.” Joa

“With them under hand and foot, we’ll go nuts,” Butch said bleakly.

“No, we won’t,” Joa

“But I should come home tonight,” Butch said. “As soon as they give me the award-”

“No, you stay right where you are and enjoy it,” Joa

“Are you positive?”

“Like I told you earlier, I’m a big girl, and I’m the sheriff, too. If I can handle crooks or a live-ammo shoot-out, I should be able to handle your mother.”

“A shoot-out might be less dangerous,” Butch said.

Joa

Returning to their booth, Joa

“I can’t imagine why anyone would want to keep a dog like that,” Margaret said. “If it were up to me, I’d have put the poor thing down. When animals are damaged like that, it’s not fair to keep them alive.”

Je

“He’s not damaged, and he’s not a poor thing, either,” Je

Don, realizing that his wife had spoken out of turn, tried to smooth things over. “Are there trainers who specialize in working with deaf dogs?” he asked. “Did you have to send Lucky someplace special?”

“I’m training him at home,” Je

And a little common sense, Joa

“Butch just called,” she said. On her way into the restaurant she had decided to let Butch give his parents the news about his unexpected award. Now, though, needing an icebreaker, she changed her mind and told them herself. “He’s receiving a new writer’s prize tonight, based on the quality of his manuscript for Serve and Protect. A prize and a check for ten thousand dollars. That’s why his editor was so adamant about him going to El Paso. She knew the award would be a

“Great!” Don Dixon boomed. “That’s terrific news. Butch must be ecstatic.”

Margaret’s enthusiasm was notable for its absence. “Ten thousand dollars for a murder mystery?” she asked. “Imagine that!”

Her comment left Joa

“She’s a great little helper, isn’t she,” Margaret said. Fortunately, she didn’t see the silent roll of the eyes Je

“Yes,” Joa

Back at High Lonesome Ranch, Je

It was a relief when, at eight-thirty, the telephone rang. More than half hoping it was something that would necessitate her driving to a crime scene, Joa

“Sheriff Brady?” Ernie Carpenter asked.

“Yes.”

“You weren’t asleep or anything, were you?”

I wish, Joa

“I know it’s late,” Ernie said, “but I was wondering if I could stop by for a while to talk to you.”

For the first time since Joa

“If you’d like me to meet you at the department…” she began.

“No,” he said. “This is personal. If you don’t mind, I’d really rather stop by the house. I’m in town, so it’ll be a few minutes before I get there, but it won’t take long.”

“Sure,” Joa

She went back to the couch and found both Margaret and Don Dixon looking at her expectantly. Ernie had explicitly arranged to meet with Joa

“It’s one of my detectives,” she explained. “He’s coming by to brief me on the developments in one of our homicide cases.”

Fortunately Don Dixon took the hint. “Come on, Margaret,” he said, taking his wife’s hand and helping her to her feet. “We’d better turn in then. If Joa

“You’re sure you’ll be warm enough out there?” Joa

“Oh, heavens, yes,” Margaret replied. “The RV is just as cozy as it can be.”

“Good night, then,” Joa

Lady, who had made herself scarce with a strange man in the house, emerged from the bedroom and stayed next to Joa

“Come in,” Joa

“I’m not working at the moment,” he said. “You wouldn’t happen to have a beer, would you?”