While holding a half-empty glass of merlot in one hand, Warner paced back and forth on the Italian tile in the kitchen of their townhouse. After turning down the stereo, Kendra joined him and took a seat on the barstool in front of the counter.
“My doctor’s appointment is on Tuesday in Everett. I can cancel it and go out to the property—” Kendra began.
“No way,” Warner interrupted, “Now that we decided to have kids, that appointment is more important than checking on the property.”
“It’s just a physical.”
“I know, but I don’t want you changing your mind.”
“I won’t,” she said with a touch of exasperation. “Why don’t I move the appointment to the morning? Then I can go that afternoon. I’ll be halfway to the cabin anyway.”
Warner stopped pacing and downed the remainder of his wine. “I’d change this trip,” he said in frustration, “but it’s Dad’s birthday, the first without him, and it’s going to be the hardest for Mom. All I can do is cut a day off the trip and hope the thieves won’t do anything before then.” He began pacing again. If I could, I’d hide in the woods and shoot the bastards when they came back.
“I’m surprised the deputy wasn’t more helpful.”
“I suppose it isn’t his fault they don’t have the manpower.” He stared at his empty wine glass a moment before looking up at Kendra. “I should have pushed the deputy.”
“No, you were right. We don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Sheriff’s Department.”
“Yeah, then we’re really screwed.”
“Funny,” Kendra said. “I used to worry about you being out there by yourself because I was worried another bear might attack you. That bear’s looking better and better all the time.”
Thinking guiltily of that first attack, but not by a bear, he took the empty barstool next to his wife. “I can’t believe there’s nothing we can do.” He smiled when she reached out to rub his neck and continued, “I didn’t grow up in Oklahoma with a cop for a father and a roughneck for a brother without learning a few things about taking care of myself. These bastards are nothing but animals on two-legs and I’m not letting them scare us away.”
“We have put a lot of money and hard work into our dream,” she said.
“Exactly. Now that we’re having kids, the cabin’s more of a home than this townhouse ever was.”
“We’ll work it out, although I admit the thought of living out there makes me a little nervous now. Who knows what they’re capable of?” Kendra said.