Free The Case of the Double Bumblebee Sting by John R. Erickson Page B

put fun and games behind me, switched into Scramble Mode, and went streaking out to intercept the villains who had . . .
    Okay, relax. It was Slim and Loper, back from their big roundup adventure. They pulled down to the elm grove just west of the gas tanks, and guess who was the first to arrive on the scene and welcome them home.
    Me.
    I jumped up on Slim, licked his hand, sniffed out his boots and pant legs, and gave him a Big Howdy and Welcome Home.
    â€œWell, pooch, the last time I seen you, your nose was about the right size to fill up a grease bucket. I guess you came through that tribulation okay.”
    Oh sure. It was a piece of cake. No big deal at all. In fact, I had almost forgotten about it.
    I was the first to greet the returning cowboys, but Little Alfred wasn’t far behind. He came flying down the hill and threw himself into Loper’s waiting arms. Sally May came next, carrying Baby Molly on her hip. She gave Loper a big hug and a kiss.
    It was kind of a nice scene. Loper held Alfred and Sally May held Molly, and they all hugged each other at the same time, and Sally May said, “Aren’t we happy to have Daddy back home with us?”
    Then Loper said, “Well, hon, how’d it go?”
    Her expression changed. One eyebrow shot up and an odd smile flickered across her mouth. “How’d it go? Where shall I begin?”
    And she told the whole story of our trip to town in Slim’s pickup. When she came to the part about being stopped by the police officer, Slim and Loper roared with laughter. Sally May didn’t roar or laugh, but watched them with that same odd smile.
    â€œLet’s just say that leaving me with a snake­bitten dog and a totally illegal pickup was not a noble thing to do.” They got another laugh out of that. She let them laugh. “And let’s just say that you will both pay dearly for your fun, and you can start the yard work as soon as you put up the horses.”
    The laughter died. Slim and Loper were suddenly scuffing up dirt with their boots and jingling coins in their pockets.
    At that point, I left the gathering and went on with my work. See, that pickup and trailer had been off the ranch for three whole days, and somebody had to trademark all eight of those tires. Otherwise . . .
    Well, we didn’t know what might happen, but those tires needed to be processed right away.
    I was in the midst of that job when little Drover came streaking down the hill from the machine shed.
    â€œHank, oh my gosh, there you are!”
    â€œThat’s correct, taking care of ranch business and feeling much better, thank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome. I mean, good. You do look better and you sound better too. I was sure worried about you for a while.”
    â€œI’ll bet. If you were so worried, why don’t you pitch in and help me process these tires?”
    â€œWell, okay, I guess I could.”
    â€œAnd then we’ll need to do a thorough patrol of ranch headquarters.”
    â€œSure, Hank, but there’s something I’ve got to tell you.”
    â€œOh? It can’t wait?”
    â€œNo, it’s pretty important. You remember that cottontail rabbit you chased the other day?”
    I ran that one through my data banks. “Rabbit. Oh yes, just west of the machine shed. He took refuge inside a pipe, as I recall.”
    â€œThat’s the one. Well, he’s there again. He’s outside the pipe and he wiggled his nose at me. ”
    I froze. I studied the runt with eyes of purest steel. “A cottontail rabbit wiggled his nose at you?”
    â€œYes, he sure did, Hank, I saw it with my own eyes.”
    â€œWell.” I stopped processing tires. “This is very serious, Drover, and I have an idea that we’re fixing to get ourselves into some combat.”
    â€œI knew you’d want to know.”
    â€œNice job, son. You were right.” I loosened up the enormous muscles in my soldiers.