“Got no money, Doc Quin. That’s the sad truth of it. Got us some insurance for the kids and all, but nothing out there for the cows and chickens. I surely do hate that you have to put them down, but there wasn’t any way I was going to be able to afford to pay for meds for them when I got me five kids that need it more.” He told him he still should have called him. “My missus, she told me I should have before it got so bad. But I knew you’d have to put them all down. I knew in my bones that it would hurt the kids more than if I were to keel over and die myself.”
The man had been heartbroken for his children. The cows, ten of them, had been too old to milk for some time, but the kids, he’d seen, had loved them too much to let them go to the butcher. Now there was nothing to do but burn the bodies and hope they’d find some other animal to love.
There had been seventeen chickens, ten cows, two horses, as well as a plethora of other farm animals, including a goat and a small lizard. The goat and the lizard had been saved, but nothing else. The infection had spread from animal to animal in less time than it would have taken for him to come out and get them vaccinated.
Before he left, he handed Mr. Windle all the cash he had on him.
“I can’t take that from you. You done already came out here and did this for us, and I got no way of paying you.” He told him it was for the children. To take them out for a pizza or something. “That would be fine. Right fine, I think.” The man wiped at his tears with his handkerchief. “I’m a good man, Doc. I didn’t mean for this to happen. But it just got away from me.”
“I can see that, Mr. Windle. I’ve already made a couple of calls to Mr. Luma and Mr. Sheppard. They’re going to cut out a couple of their cows for you to use as milkers. I’ve already been there to give them their vaccines. You make sure you call me for anything you might see. I’m not doing this as charity, I promise you. But I might need you some time to do something small for me, and I want to be able to depend on you. All right?” Windle nodded, looking at his kids. They were well mannered, polite, and cleaned up. They were also well-fed and good kids. It was one of the reasons he was helping him. “You come by the house sometime too. I know my momma would love to see you and your family. You know how she loves kids.”
“She does. She did a good job raising you boys too, if you don’t mind me saying, despite you having a bastard as a daddy.” He told him he didn’t mind. “Thank you, Doc. I surely do thank you from the bottom of my heart for this. You just call me. I’ll help you in any way I can.”
Now here he was, trying to make his body relax enough where he could at least get a couple of hours’ sleep before he had to go and see his family. Not that it was a hardship to see them, but he knew there were some guests in town, and he didn’t want to be in a bad mood because of his job. Beast, his cat, jumped up on the bed with him and got on his back. That, he thought, was what he needed, and he let sleep take him under.
When he woke, it was bright in his room. Thinking he might well have overslept and trying to work up the idea that he should be upset, he got up to take another shower. As he was letting the water just run over him, Loman spoke to him.
Are you all right? I heard what happened out at the Windle farm. That’s not easy, I’m betting. He told him what he’d found when he got there. I heard about it from his wife when she was here. I’m at your house, in the kitchen. You’ve got a cook now. I don’t know which one of the sisters did it, but you do. Mrs. Windle sent you over six apple pies for your help. I’m being the best brother I can be and having a few slices of one of them for you. Throwing myself on that bomb, so to speak.
Thank you ever so much. He laughed. Washing up, he stretched as he worked the shampoo out of his hair. Have your friends shown up yet? I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet them. But duty called.
Rogue’s sister and her kids are here. Rogue, like you, was called away with work. She’s going to be here sometime this afternoon. The FBI is bringing her straight here in one of their choppers. He asked what she did for them. She photographs crime scenes. While that sounds like no biggie, she’s really good at it. So good that when she asked them for a specialized camera to work with, they got it for her immediately. They use her photos in court, and no one disputes her findings.
She sounds a good deal like you when it comes to taking pictures. Loman told him she was intense. And you’re not? I’ve seen you taking pictures of crap, Loman, and you’re stiff as a board. I have no idea how when you take a picture, you can make it look so beautiful. You’re very talented too.
Thanks.
Quin turned off the water and grabbed a towel.
Sorry bro, but I’m going to
