Page 63 of Reckless Harmony

“I haven’t,” she said quickly. “Any of the dogs I’ve taken from his property, he’s willingly surrendered, and I have the paperwork to prove it. But he drinks a lot, and when he’s drunk, he conveniently forgets that he surrendered the dogs and occasionally…”.

“What?” he asked.

“He’s threatened me a few times,” she said.

A weird anxiety rocketed through him. “Then why the fuck is the sheriff asking you to come out there?”

She scowled at him. “Because one of his dogs is badly injured, and Louis has agreed to surrender it to the rescue to get vet care.”

“So, let the sheriff bring the dog to you,” Stark said.

“He has enough on his plate,” she said.

“It’s dangerous for you to go out there.”

“The sheriff will be there,” she said. “Nothing’s going to happen.”

She slid into her SUV, and he immediately jogged to the passenger side and climbed in, tossing his gym bag in the back seat.

“What are you doing?” she said.

“Going with you.” He buckled his seatbelt.

“I don’t need your help,” she said in exasperation. “Get out of my car, Stark.”

“Make me,” he said.

“Oh my God, not this again,” she groaned. She started the vehicle, clicked her seatbelt into place, and gave him a look. “Louis is dumb as a tree stump and mean as a pissed-off alligator. If you say anything that makes him angry, he will not give up the dog. If that happens, I will personally kick your ass, so no matter what he says, don’t take the bait. Are we clear?”

“I’ll be on my best behaviour, Ms. Abrams,” he said, giving her the grin that never failed to charm.

She remained thoroughly not charmed. “Make sure that you are, Stark.”

“Thanks for driving out here, Rayna.” The sheriff was waiting for them in the front yard of the farmhouse.

“It’s not a problem,” Rayna said.

The sheriff glanced at Stark, and he held out his hand. “Hi. I’m -”

“Isaac Stark. It’s good to meet you officially.”

“You as well,” Stark said.

Sheriff Gideon Walker was a big man with a calm demeanor. He had a reputation for knowing everything that happened in Harmony Falls. Considering that the sheriff’s sister was Stark’s real estate agent, he didn’t doubt that the sheriff knew he and Rayna were fighting over her property. Still, if he found it strange that Stark was with her, it didn’t show on his face.

“The dog is in the smaller barn,” the sheriff said. “Looks like a coyote attack, but the wounds are badly infected.”

“Did you come out here because of the dog, Sheriff?” Stark asked.

Gideon shook his head. “We’re here on another matter, but Lennox saw the dog and convinced Louis to let us call you.”

“Sheriff, I’ve got - oh, hey, Rayna.” Lennox materialized out of the darkness, his nose red from the cold and a thick scarf wrapped around his neck. “How are you?”

“I’m good, Lennox. You?”

“Can’t complain.” He grinned at her. “I have my date with Jasmine on Friday.”

“That’s great,” she said.

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