Broken Heartland by J.M. Hayes Page B

disapproving. “What are you doing here? Is everything all right?”
    That was what she’d wanted to ask him, but now the horrible sense of concern she’d felt about the possibility of losing a second parent was finally beginning to fade.
    â€œSure, Dad. I just wanted to come spend Election Day with you. Help you celebrate.”
    â€œWhat, my retirement?” But he smiled at her and she could tell he was glad she’d come, even if she was cutting classes.
    â€œIt’s great to see you,” he continued, “but I’m in the middle of a busy morning.”
    â€œYeah,” she said. “I heard about Wynn. I helped Mrs. Kraus answer some calls over at the office when I got in. One was from a deputy in Hays.” She told them what the man had had to say, though not who he’d thought he was saying it to. She could see tension bleed out of both men as she explained that none of the kids on the bus were seriously hurt.
    â€œAnd I heard how shorthanded you are,” she said. “Actually, that’s why I’m here.”
    She reached in her fanny pack and pulled out the stuff she’d brought from his office. “You need a deputy, so I got you one.”
    â€œReally!” She could see the excitement in his eyes. “Who’s that, honey?”
    What she’d brought from the office was a shiny old badge bearing the logo, BENTEEN COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF. He had lots of spares since no one was using them at the moment. And she’d stuffed in his old set of handcuffs. The ones you could open with anything you could insert in the keyhole. She already had a can of pepper spray, so she’d left his spare pistol. She wasn’t keen on guns.
    â€œMe, Dad.” She pinned the badge on the inside of her jacket. “Swear me in. Okay?”
    ***
    Hailey was visiting the courthouse. Since it was warmer outside than in, someone had propped the front doors open, making it simple for the wolf to enter.
    There was an unusual crowd inside the foyer, waiting to vote at the booths lined up across from the door to the sheriff’s office. Hailey watched for a minute, even let an elderly woman she knew stop to pet her. She didn’t wag her tail, but she didn’t bare her teeth either.
    Agnes Wagner presented herself at the table, had her registration verified, signed in, and was presented with a ballot. She took it to the farthest booth. Hailey observed it all with the intensity her ancestors reserved for lonely caribou calves.
    Agnes took her time. Several booths near her were occupied more than once while she laboriously studied the names and propositions and carefully checked each against a list she’d brought to spur her memory. She finally finished and walked to the man by the ballot box.
    â€œMorning, ma’am,” he greeted her. He reached out and took her ballot. “Here,” he said. “Let me put that in the box for you.”
    Agnes smiled and fluttered ancient eyelashes at him. He let the ballot drop to his side as he reached out to guide her toward the door with his other hand. Hailey’s lips curled as he turned back to the ballot box. When he reached to insert Agnes Wagner’s ballot Hailey put herself between him and the box. Her teeth flashed and she took the punch card out of his hand.
    â€œHey!” the man said. Several people turned to see what had caused the exclamation. “Nice doggy,” he said. “Give that back now.”
    Hailey made a rumbling sound in her chest and drew back her lips to let him see how long her canines were. She turned and trotted across the lobby into the sheriff’s office. Mrs. Kraus was on the phone. The wolf padded around the corner of the counter as the man from the ballot box trailed her through the door.
    â€œCan you make that dog put that down?” he said.
    Mrs. Kraus shook her head. No one ever made Hailey do anything. “Actually,” Mrs. Kraus told the