The next morning, just after six, Scott strolled into the kitchen to see Sidney sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee. She was dressed for the day, today wearing a dark gray shirt over her jeans. She was staring down into her cup and looked up when he entered.
"You're up early," he noted as he went to the coffee pot.
"I had some checking to do."
"Oh?" It was not unusual for Sidney to go out before dawn and roam the hills with the coyotes and Tongo. He turned and leaned against the counter as he sipped his coffee.
"Duke and I went out looking for the grey's den."
"Did you find it?"
The blonde head bobbed. "She had two pups."
Scott was almost afraid to ask his next question as he sank to the table across from his sister. "Were they ok?"
"I brought them back with me. Princess is watching them right now. They're eyes are barely open Scott."
He reached across the table, covering her hand with his. He smiled tenderly. "They're in good hands now Sid. They'll be fine with you and Princess taking care of them." The woman offered a small smile that made Scott think of an eleven year old girl.
Her hand curled around his tightly. "You're the best brother I could have." She looked toward the window. "Here comes the sheriff."
Scott looked at the window and only then heard the sound of the car. He grinned at her. "You and your keen hearing. Better pour him a cup of coffee. He's going to want something for being dragged out here this early." Scott opened the kitchen door as the familiar sheriff extracted himself from the squad. Josh Logan’s gaze jetted to the pile of fur in the middle of the yard then bounce to meet his and Scott saw it fill with fearful question. Scott Lyndon shook his head and saw the relieved expression come to the uniformed man's face.
"Mornin'," Josh Logan said as he came up on the porch. "Where's my..." He grinned when Sidney appeared in the doorway and stuffed a filled coffee mug in his hand. "...coffee." Something in the depths of her blue eyes told the sheriff that his hat would be staying on his own head today. He followed the two Lyndons into the kitchen. "What's up?"
"We had a visitor last night," Scott told the sheriff as the trio sank to one of the trestle-style tables in the room.
The sheriff jammed his thumb over his shoulder, aiming at the dead coyote outside. "I gather that's the calling card he left."
Scott nodded.
"Damn," Josh said and pulled a notebook out of his pocket. "Ok, give me the particulars."
Scott relayed the information then let Sidney fill in the rest.
"And then he took off out of here like a bat out of a sunrise," Sidney finished.
"You said the plate was California truck One-T-Seven-Two something?"
The woman nodded. "Dark blue Ford four by four. Like a midnight blue."
Josh Logan had learned, long ago, that this woman could see and hear things most humans could not. He attributed it to her love of and rapport with wild animals and left it at that. He was not sure he wanted to know the truth. "What window'd he shoot out?"
Scott had seen the broken window when he had checked the yard just after sunrise. "The lower left window on the big shed."
The sheriff sipped his coffee then leaned back in his chair and looked from one Lyndon to the other. "Would either of you recognize them if you saw them again?"
"I would," Sidney replied evenly.
Josh looked to Scott for an answer.
"I don't think so. I didn't have a good angle and it was too dark."
The sheriff nodded. Both were answers he was expecting. He closed his notebook and tucked it back into his pocket. "Do you want to file a complaint?" He saw Scott Lyndon look at his sister and knew something passed between their gazes. "I could get him for trespassing, disturbing the peace and destruction of property, for starters," he informed. "Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about the coyote he killed and dumped out."
"You know who it is?" Scott asked.
"I think so. The truck description and plate prefix matches Jansen's. I'd need a positive ID but he's right at the top of my suspect list."
Scott looked back at his sister. "What do you think Sid?"
She sighed softly then shook her head. "We can replace the glass by noon and trespassing isn't that big of a deal. I can take care of the grey and everything else."
Scott knew the ‘everything else’ was the pups. He slid his gaze back to the sheriff. "We won't file a complaint," he told the uniformed man. "But could you do me a favor?"
Josh nodded.
"Could you find a way to let Jansen know that we know it was him and if he comes over here again we will file a complaint."
The sheriff smiled. He had always liked the Lyndons. They were good people and they didn't rile easily. They were good to their neighbors and had helped many townspeople out during their sixteen years here. They were a quiet bunch, never bothered anyone and rarely asked for favors. He downed his coffee as he got to his feet. He rinsed out the cup then sat it upside down in the sink before he turned. "You bet I can." He tapped the brim of his hat in salute then headed for the door. "I think I'll take a little ride south," he gave them a wink then went out the door.