Angel Flight
Copyright© 2023 by Mark Randall
Chapter 4
When we got home, Suzy took Kathy into the house. I unloaded the packs and then turned the critters loose in the corral. Jughead wanted payment for all his hard work, and I obliged him with a bucket of grain. I also scrubbed and curried Margarite and Gunnar.
When I finally got to the house, I could smell something good cooking. Suzy had also got Kathy washed up and into a dress that she found in Kathy’s luggage.
I squatted down to her height so we were eye to eye. “Well, don’t we look pretty? If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was with royalty.” Kathy giggled and blushed bright red.
Suzy called out from the kitchen. “Dinner will be a couple more minutes, honey. In the meantime, why don’t you see if you can get Paul on the radio?”
“Good idea.” Stepping over to the radio, I checked the battery level and saw it was good for a few hours.
Keying the mike, I called “Mountain Man to Deputy Dawg. Come in, Deputy Dawg.” I had to repeat myself several times. I did not expect an immediate answer. While Elk City was an end-of-the-road small town, the sheriff had responsibilities that needed attention.
When I got a reply, I recognized Steve Ring’s voice. Steve was the deputy/dispatcher for Paul Thompson, the sheriff. “Mr. Reynolds, I wish you wouldn’t call me that. You never know who might be listening. They might get the wrong idea.”
Laughing, I replied, “Aw, Steve, a little touchy this morning? Is Tina giving you a rough time?”
Tina worked for Mable at the diner as a part-time waitress. She and Steve had become an item a year or two earlier. “No, not really. She keeps asking about getting married. She also wants me to quit the sheriff’s office. Get a safer job, she says.”
“Yeah, women are like that sometimes. Just smile, nod your head, and say yes, dear. Anything else will just get you into trouble.”
“I’ve tried that, but she still nags me.”
“That’s her job, son. Speaking of which, is the boss around? I need to let him know about something.”
“You’re in luck, he just stepped in.” There was a pause, and then Paul came on the air. “Matt, old boy, what’s going on?”
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