“He just doesn’t give up, you have to give him that. Tell him no way, again, Linnie.”

“He also wants to know Miles’s timetable for moving the plant here. He’s all ready to shove it through the county planning commission, and he needs the plans for the plant. He said it should sail through, given Kettering Helicopters Inc. won’t be sitting any farther than fifty yards from the Benedict Pulp Mill.”

“I gave Miles a real good deal on the price,” Katie said.

“Mayor Tommy’s rubbing his hands together about all the new jobs he’ll get credit for.”

Katie said, “Tell Tommy that Miles will be here tomorrow. He can talk to him then.”

Deputy Neil Crooke stuck his head around the corner. “The toilet in the men’s room needs work, Sheriff.”

“Call Joyce at City Hall. She’ll take care of it.”

Wade said, “Oh yeah, Billy Bob Davis was hitting on his wife again, but when I went over there, she just snuffled and said she’d run into the door. There was nothing I could do.”

Katie rolled her eyes. “You know what, Wade, why don’t you and I go out to their farm and have a little chat with Billy Bob. Maybe if we rub his nose in some of the manure out there, it’ll help him listen better.”

Wade grinned and grabbed his leather jacket. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll follow you out there.”

Katie bundled up again, planted her straw hat on her head, and headed out, sucking in the sweet cold air. She walked to her newly repainted Silverado, all the bullet holes and dents finally repaired. She smiled toward the thick fog-covered mountains. She could reach out her hand and touch them, nearly. She hummed as she revved the powerful engine. She drove slowly down Main Street, making sure none of the snowdrifts would cause any problems. She waved to Dr. Sheila Raines, running across a well-plowed Main Street after her cat, Turpentine, black as sin and easy to see against all the snow. She saw Dr. Jonah Flint wave to Sheila, then eagerly join her to go after Turpentine. Hmm, something just might be going on there.

She was still humming forty minutes later when she had her knee on the small of Billy Bob’s back, pressing his face in the dirty snow in his backyard while she told him what was what.

She heard one of the Gibsons’ dairy cows moo loudly into the bright blue sky. She heard the Benedict Pulp Mill’s noon whistle.

It was a perfect day in the most beautiful place on God’s earth.