That was Boone, master of stating the obvious.
“Yep.” Dakota sounded the ‘p’ with a definitive pop before taking a sip of the hot rum drink. “Ended my probationary period a few months ago.”
“Nice. Shoot anybody yet?”
Dakota repressed a groan. Later on, he’d tell Tad about his little bet and how he’d lost to himself because he’d estimated it would take Boone at least a few minutes to ask him that question, not less than sixty seconds.
Tad elbowed Dakota in the ribs, almost falling out of his chair in the process. Dakota rolled his eyes and didn’t answer. Instead, he threw his arm across Tad’s chest and pinned him to the camp chair so he didn’t end up in the fire pit.
“Seriously? Boone, you are such an idiot. Sometimes I wonder if you really are my brother. Of course Dakota hasn’t shot anyone!” Tad huffed once he was stable again. “Furthermore, most police and deputies go their entire careers without ever drawing their weapon, much less shooting anyone.”
“Really?” Boone stroked his thick beard in a way he probably thought made him look smart. Maybe that’s where Tad had gotten the idea of a mustache from, although why Tad would trust any choice Boone made, Dakota couldn’t begin to understand. “Huh, that’s something you’d know, newsboy.”
“Screw off, Boone. Dakota’s already solved a case too.”
“Tad…” Dakota said in a warning tone.
“Well, you have. Admit it. If you hadn’t spotted Mike and Sam Treadle lurking around the town square last week, clearly up to no good, they would have gotten away with stealing the lights for the tree lighting.”
Larry barked a laugh. “They thought they were stealing copper wire and would be able to resell it for fast cash. Fucking idiots.”
The curse of a small town was that just about everyone knew the details of stuff they shouldn’t, and sometimes they all knew before law enforcement could even flip on the red and blues.
“Those two need a keeper,” Burl interjected. “Been in trouble since the day they learned to walk.”
“I heard Nick and Jordan have been getting in a fuckton of trouble lately, too,” Tad added.
“Tad,” admonished Penny.
“I think you mean only Jordan. Nick Levine is usually more levelheaded—so says Sheriff Morgan anyway,” Dakota said.
That whole group of friends was up to no good constantly. Low-grade pranks and a lot of alcohol for the most part. Dakota had heard Sheriff Morgan complain more than once that he hadn’t hired another new deputy just to follow them around.
“Do you want hot buttered rum or a hot toddy?” Waylon asked his eldest.
Boone cocked his head toward Tad and his hot rum drink. “One of those.”
“Anyway, Dakota’s achievement is more than nice. It’s great,” Tad said fiercely, bringing the conversation back around. “Dakota worked really hard to get where he is. Sheriff Morgan didn’t have to hire him, there were other qualified applicants. But Dakota was the best.”
Dakota rolled his eyes at Tad’s words even as he secretly enjoyed the praise. He’d worked his ass off and was proud oflanding the deputy position. Hehadn’tknown there were others up for the job—Tad had his ways of ferreting out this kind of information. He still could be a pity hire, but odds were that Sheriff Morgan believed he was the right person. Dakota had to admit that he didn’t see him handing out jobs because he felt sorry for someone. It still felt weird, like he was wearing someone else’s clothes though.
“Here’s your drink, son,” said Waylon. “Pull up a chair and sit down.”
Boone stepped into the firelight to accept the mug from his dad. He didn’t sit down though, just continued to stand and shift his weight from one foot to the other.
He was nervous, Dakota realized. What the hell had Boone done now?
“Sit down already,” said Tad. “Your looming is making my neck hurt.”
“ImgonnaaskAmandatomarryme,” Boone blurted quickly, as if he was scared he wouldn’t get the words out otherwise.
“What?” asked Burl and Kit in unison. Their expressions matched just about everyone else’s around the fire.
“Say that again, son,” was Waylon’s response.
Dakota doubted that was humanly possible.
“Boone Warren Gillespie,” Penny exclaimed, jumping up from her seat, “you finally woke up and realized Amanda is the one for you! It’s about dang time!”
