“I bet he spells Glenn with 2 ‘N’s. An extra N for extra evil.” Floyd pawed at the ground, impatient to get this task over with. Domestic troubles and a ticking clock never had a good working relationship.
“That’s exactly how I see it, Floyd.” Valerie’s face was set. For such a happy person, she looked very grim. He assumed that this conveyed the gravity of the situation.
Moira was hidden up at the barn. This was a good plan. Good enough to buy them the time they needed to save the planet. But he needed Valerie’s help, and she wasn’t leaving anyone in the lurch.
As inconvenient as the timing was, he took this loyalty as a good sign. It was good to know her help came with this guarantee, but perhaps now was not the moment to clarify. There was the sheriff’s truck coming down the lane. Valerie told him it was a good plan. Floyd couldn’t explain his nervousness.
He took in an analyzing breath. The air was still breathable enough for everyone. So there was no logical reason for the man to start screaming the moment he opened the truck’s door.
“I know you’re hiding here, Woman!” He slammed the door harder than it was probably healthy to. “Get out here and face me like the courageous crusader you think you are!”
“Walk softly for now.” Valerie whispered. Floyd did as she asked. There was just enough silence to hear the sure-footed steps of Orson’s boots cross the cabin floor, and open the door.
“I’ve been called many things, Sheriff.” He held up his hands. Moira had told them how Glenn liked to be in charge. “But I’ve never been mistaken for a woman.”
“Stealing from me is a dangerous undertaking in these parts.” Glenn shook his head as if he were admonishing a child.
“I’ve stolen nothing.” Orson was calm. It was hard to believe this was the same guy who had a meltdown over a accidental internet post a couple days ago. Floyd thought he would never hear the end of it.
Valerie tapped him on his withers.
“Make some noise.”
Floyd snorted loudly and hammered his hooves into the dirt as they surged forward. They took their place between Glenn and his truck. Floyd made a show of pawing the ground and dancing in place. Snorting and grunting, but let it be known that Valerie was in control of him. Glenn stepped back quickly and took in Floyd’s size.
“Is there a problem here, officer?” Valerie’s voice was smooth, and tranquilizing. But Floyd thought he detected a hint of venom in her words.
“Do you have that animal under control? Or does he need to be put down?” Glenn held on to his gun and drummed his fingers. The threat was clear. Floyd felt Valerie’s legs stiffen.
“You interrupted his workout. He’s a stallion and thinks he needs to protect me. But he will calm down when you tell me just what you are doing on private property.” Her voice grew deeper as she stared him down. She nodded over to Orson, and clarified. “Our. Private property.”
Glenn chuckled. And opened his arms wide. Floyd stomped a foot and Glenn put them down.
“I’m a sheriff, Ma’am. I aim to serve and protect.” He put on a brave smile, but Floyd could smell his fear. Good. “And I’m trying to protect a woman who’s been missing for 48 hours, and her GPS puts her right here.”
“You talking about the vet?” Orson started to rub the back of his neck and looked down at the ground.
“What is it, Babe?” Valerie sounded much scarier than Glenn, even when she was being cordial. Floyd pawed the ground again, genuinely to calm his nerves this time.
“I gave her 50 bucks for her phone when she was here.”
“What???” Glenn and Valerie shouted at the same time. Valerie took charge of the interrogation.
“Why would you do that?”
“She offered, and I thought I could sell it for more online.”
Valerie looked up at the sky, or ocean, depending on how you wanted to look at it. She sighed.
“It strikes me, Sheriff, that he has only been foolish.” She glared down at him again, in an effort to close the discussion. It was a mistake.
“Perhaps.” He said. “Pardon my intrusion, Ma’am, but you look familiar to me.”
Floyd was impressed. Valerie didn’t flinch. She actually eased the tension in her legs before responding.
“I’ve just got one of those faces. I moved here 5 years ago.”
“Funny, that’s right about the time the big house burned down.”
“I heard a lot about that around town.” Valerie nudged Floyd with a tap from her foot. Floyd started to paw the ground with both legs, almost turning into a rear with the frenzy of dust he was creating. “If that’s all, we’ll finish our workout.” She didn’t wait for a response before urging Floyd forward, past the sheriff, making him take a step back. Glenn raised a hand, and started to bring it down. Valerie almost lost her cool.
“You hit my horse, and I will not stop him from trampling you!”
“You can’t threaten me!” Glenn’s angry mouth was about to continue something else ridiculous.
“YOU can’t threaten ME!” Valerie shot back. “You’re not the only one with technological resources! What would your supervisor say if we replayed your dashcam footage from the last 5 minutes?”
“I won’t leave without my property!” Glenn was very much about to lose his emotional control. Best not to break that dam.
“Orson!” Valerie snapped. “Give him back his phone.” She turned her head before a sneer could overtake her face and gave Floyd’s belly a small kick. He responded and went forward as if he were trying to go faster than light. Maybe he was.
They settled into a hiding place beyond the tree line and watched as Glenn drove away. Moira was safe. For now. Glenn might believe their story, and he might not. But right now, they had a world to save.
