Thor ran to the door, tail wagging.
“Looks like your early-warning system is still working,” Bob said.
“His tail is wagging because he recognizes the sound of our truck,” I said.
Zeb and Zeke clattered up the stairs and into the cabin, followed by Mike. I introduced Mike to the sheriff, and Bob introduced his cousins.
“Did you really get shot, George?” Zeb said.
“Just a little bit,” I said.
Bob waited a minute for the boys to calm down and said, “Okay, boys, there’s gonna be a lot going on here shortly, and you’ve got to get out of the way.”
“Can we watch, Cousin Bob?”
“You two can take Thor up into the loft and watch from there,” Bob said, “as long as you stay quiet and as long as the sheriff agrees. That okay with you, Dan?”
The sheriff nodded.
“When you get up there with Thor,
