Page 107 of Surly Sheriff
“Oh, Xena,” Rae scolded. “That wasn’t nice.” She nudged Xena back, sank to her knees, and stroked the Labrador’s back. “Kismet’s our friend. See? Friend.”
Kismet licked her forearm.
Xena’s eyes flicked between human and canine.
“Say hello to Kismet, Xena,” Rae ordered.
The Rottie slowly,very slowly, lifted her paw and placed it on Kismet’s neck … while giving her human a scowl.
Rae chuckled. “Good girl, Xena,” she praised.
“Momma! Mister Beau! Momma’s awake!”
Both dogs started barking, and Rae winced at the onslaught of noise. “Quiet! And inside voice, Jack.”
“Sorry, Momma,” Jack stage whispered. “But you tookforeverto wake up.”
“What time is it?” She looked around for her cellphone.
“Just after nine,” a rumbling voice said.
Her head snapped up.
Beau leaned against the doorjamb, dressed in his uniform, a mug in hand, and a smile on his lips. He glanced at his watch. “Nine seventeen to be exact,” he said, pushing away from the frame. “Leaving soon.” He crossed the room and handed her the mug.
“You brought me coffee,” she whispered, taking a cautious sip.Ah. Pure ambrosia.
“I’d’ve let you sleep longer, but I need to be at the office for a meeting at ten.”
In the past, Beau had always left home well before shift change at eight. He’d stayed to let her sleep in. How thoughtful.
“Deputy Toby brought Kismet,” Jack called out, hugging the Lab. “But we must be careful, Momma, because Kismet’s bones hurt. Mister Beau says it’s called ’thritis.”
“Arthritis,” she corrected.
Jack wrinkled his nose. “Ah-thritis.”
“Smart like Momma,” Beau said, mussing Jack's hair. “Jack, why don’t you go and play frisbee out in the back yard with the dogs?”
The little boy’s face brightened. “Okay, Mister Beau. Come, Xena. Frisbee time! Come, Kismet.” He rushed out the door, Xena right behind.
Kismet stayed beside the bed. “Go, boy,” she encouraged. The hound moved toward the door at a slower pace, and she noted his uneven gait with sadness. “Poor hound.”
“Yeah. Some days are good, others not so much.”
Rae mentally shook off her regret over the beloved hound’s deterioration and took another sip of coffee.
“There’s no alarm here.”
She frowned at Beau’s cryptic segue. “Sorry?”
“Want you and Jack moving to the house today.”
“What house?” Her eyes widened as his meaning registered. “Ourhouse?”
He nodded. “It’s got an alarm, Rae. And I’ve ordered cameras and exterior motion sensors.”
Beau wanted her to move back totheirhouse.
