The sky was turning purple black by the time he got home.
Tyrell was still gone. And Dad.
He took Ruby and headed out toward a high knoll where he could see the road coming up to the house. Along the way, he angled over to the ridge that looked down onto the Brodie place. What happened that night? Why would Banjo dig under the fence to chase sheep? What would cause him to do that when he never had before? Was there really a pack of wild dogs?
It didn’t make sense.
Danny was about to head back over to the knoll when he kicked something in the grass. He bent to pick it up.
An empty beer bottle.
He raised it to his nose. It hadn’t been out there long.
Beer? Who drank beer?
He looked around for more but didn’t find any. He took the bottle back to the barn so one of the steers or horses wouldn’t kick it and cut up its feet.
When he came back out, he saw Ruby running down to the trees where the horses were. He whistled for her to come back, but she kept on going. She’d be safe over there.
He strode over to the knoll, thinking he had to call Meg Harris. If he didn’t, she’d probably keep putting up signs, and sooner or later Mr. Brodie was bound to see one.
Danny looked back when he heard the growl of a truck.
Headlights coming up the drive.
Dad.
Danny whistled and waved, got a horn tap back.
The time had come. Something needed to change. He had to tell the truth about Banjo. If he didn’t, and Dad found out from someone else, the whole mess would explode into something worse than it already was.
The lies end here.
Dad got out of the truck, reached in, got a paper bag, and headed to the knoll.
He scrambled up the rock and sat next to Danny.
In the west, a long thin layer of red cut under dark clouds on the horizon. The mountains silhouetted below looked like the edge of a saw.
Danny stalled, wanting a few more minutes of feeling good before blowing his dad’s trust to shreds. “What’s in the bag?”
“Take a look. It’s for you.”
Danny peeked in. “Yes!” He threw the bag aside and cradled the new Bushnell riflescope. It was heavy and smooth. “Perfect. Thanks!”
“Thought you should have one for the Winchester.”
Danny pulled off the lens protectors and put the scope to his eye. “Wow,” he said. “You can make out the lettering on the mailbox, even in this light.”
“With that you’ll see the hair on an elk’s ear.”
“Great, Dad, just great.”
Dad nodded toward the gully. “I see she’s getting the lay of the land.”
Danny whistled, and Ruby looked up. “Come here, girl.”
She bounded toward them, and Danny lifted her into his lap. “She almost shook hands with a rattler today, out behind the barn.”
“You shoot it?”
“Chased it away.”
He had to remember to check and see if the snake had come back, and if it had, chase it away again. Or else capture it and take it way out into the rocks. Shooting it would solve the problem, but Danny didn’t want to kill it. They ate rodents and diggers.
Dad reached over and let Ruby lick his fingers. “Mr. Brodie’s a stand-up guy, bringing you this pup.”
Danny nodded.
“You out here thinking about Banjo again?”
Danny stroked Ruby’s head. “It’s like a nightmare I can’t wake from.”
“You’ve got to get over it, Danny. Things like this happen in the country.”
Danny nodded.
They got up and walked toward the house. Dad put his arm around Danny’s shoulder and tugged him close. “That all that’s bothering you, son?”
Tell him.
“Dad I…I…just tired, is all.”
“Turn in early. We’ve got a big weekend coming up. We need you rested with a clear mind. I hope you haven’t let up on your practice.”
He’d let up way more than he should have. But he had two days left to make up for it. “I’ve tossed a rope some, but I need to spend more time with Pete.”
“I’m here most of the day tomorrow and Friday morning. We’ll run some drills.”
“Tyrell’s got work, but maybe I can get Ricky to come over.”
“If he can’t, we’ll make do.”
Dad looked up at the night sky, now starting to speckle with stars. “What an evening.”
The phone rang inside the house.
“I’ll get it.” Danny ran in.
“Hello? This is Danny.”
“Your dad home? I’d like to talk with him.”
Mr. Brodie.