“I don’t know. I think he’s a bartender. He came out here lookin’ for her, and she left with him. That’s all I know.”

She put her hand on her hips. “And you just let him take her?”

“It weren’t like that.” He waved his foot at the dogs in front of the recliner, and they scattered, one of them dragging the fur of something that looked alarmingly like a raccoon. Billy Jack flopped down in his chair without spilling a drop of beer—an amazing feat. “I done told you we had a fight. She locked herself in the bedroom, then she came barreling out and hopped in his car. She must have called him.”

“Where’d she go?”

“Damn, woman, yer like a broken record. My answer’s the same as the other first half-dozen times you asked. I don’t know.”

Neely Kate considered his answer before asking. “What were you fightin’ about?”

He stopped mid-sip, mumbling, “I forget.” Then took a drink.

“You forget?” Neely Kate’s tone was dry.

“That was two days ago—” he snorted his disgust, “you can’t expect me to remember everything.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Try again, Billy Jack.”

They had a staring contest for several seconds before he looked away, squirming. “She thought I was messin’ around on ’er.”

“Were you?”

He looked defiant. “Even if I was, it still don’t make it right that she smashed my TV on her way out.” He gestured to a flat screen TV with a shattered screen. “I traded that for a hundred pounds of jerky to Big G at the pawn shop.” His eyes widened. “Do you know how hard it is to make a hundred pounds of jerky?”

“Where’s Dolly’s car?” Neely Kate asked.

He shrugged. “The repo man came and took it two weeks ago.” He downed more beer.

“If you see her, have her call me. I can’t get her on her cell, and her momma’s worried.”

Fear filled his eyes at the mention of Neely Kate’s aunt. “That woman’s the devil.”

“And you’re lucky she didn’t come out here and tan your hide.” Neely Kate glanced at me. “Give me one of your cards.”

My mouth parted. “What?”

“Your business card. Give me one.”

Did she really think Billy Jack was gonna hire me to landscape his yard? “I don’t think—”

She held her hand out to me. “Give me one.”

I dug into my purse and pulled out one of my new business cards. I gave it to her, and she handed it to Billy Jack.

“If you remember anything or hear from her, call this number.”

“I ain’t gonna hear from her. I told her not to bother comin’ back.”

Neely Kate headed for the front door, apparently done with him.

“Take that box with you,” he called out.

“What box?” she asked.

He pointed to a cardboard box on an end table on the other side of the wall. “That’s Dolly’s stuff. Take it with ya.”

Neely Kate looked torn with indecision, so I hefted the box on my hip. She gave me a grateful smile, then opened the front door. Just then, one of the dogs shot across the floor with the raccoon skin in his mouth and raced outside, the other four dogs following.

“You let my dogs out with that skin! Now I’ll never get them back!” Billy Jack hollered, fumbling with the lever on his chair as he tried to put it down. “Fluffy! Carmen!” he shouted.

Neely Kate’s eyes widened. “Run!”

We hurried out the door, trying to take advantage of our lead time and our sobriety. The dogs were shooting toward the woods, the dog with the raccoon hide in the lead.

We’d made it to the dirt road when Billy Jack finally appeared in the doorway. “Carmen! Poncho! Mr. Wiggles!” His gaze landed on us as we halted in horror, both of us staring at him. “I’m gonna get you for this!”

Neely Kate took off running again, and I struggled to keep up while juggling the heavy box. Thankfully Billy Jack was drunk enough that his coordination was off, and he missed the top step, landing flat on his face. He fell hard enough that I worried for a moment that he was really hurt, but as he struggled to his feet, it soon became apparent that Neely Kate and I were the ones in real danger.

We made it to the truck, and I swung open the driver’s door and jumped in, heaving the box into the backseat as Billy Jack came staggering around the corner, moving faster than a drunk man had any right to.

“Hurry!” Neely Kate hollered as she leaped into the passenger side and shut the door behind her.

I dug the keys out of my pocket, shutting the door seconds before Billy Jack reached the truck. He slammed the palms of his hands on the truck hood.

“You lost my babies!”

“His babies?” I asked in disbelief as I fumbled to get the key into the ignition.

“Don’t ask. Just go!”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. I started the engine and jerked the truck into reverse. I floored the gas so hard that the truck shot backward, leaving Billy Jack off-balance with a stunned expression on his face.

I made it to the end of the lane and backed onto the highway, thankful there wasn’t any traffic to hamper our escape.

“I’m gonna kill you, Neely Kate,” I muttered as I checked the rearview mirror. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Billy Jack running down the road after us.