So far, Miranda Jessup Buckley has been raising the son of her ex-lover, Dougie Wilcox. Dougie disappeared and while everyone suspected Missy Toblerone of having something to do with it, he has recently reappeared. Now, Miranda fears that Dougie is here to take his son back.

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My mind is spinning. Dougie is alive, and I don't know what to do. Of course, for Waylon's sake, I'm happy he is alive. But, Dougie doesn't do things for others. He does things for himself, and I have a feeling nothing has changed in that aspect. Why show up now? Why run in the first place should probably be my first question, but the timing is odd for his return.

"You should probably call Mitch," Rita says. She comes over closer to reach out and rub my arm. She's at a loss here. She has a million questions just like me, and thankfully, she has enough restraint not to ask them.

"Yeah, yeah, you're right. Do you mind watching the front while I go back to the office?"

Rita shakes her head. "Go ahead," she says. "Oh, what do I do if he calls again while you're talking to Mitch?"

I think about it for a minute. "He won't. Dougie's an ass, but he isn't stupid. He knows what I'm like when I'm pissed off."

I close the office door and with shaky fingers I dial the phone. "Sheriff Mitch Danner, please," I say when the receptionist answers.

"Who may I ask is calling?"

"Miranda Buckley."

There is a pause and the receptionist relaxes. "Oh, geez, Miranda, I didn't recognize your voice. He's on a call right now. Can I give him a message or tell him to swing by when he's done?"

I take a deep breath, trying not to lose it. "Tell him it's official business. I have some information that he needs to know about."

She clears her throat. "Okay. Hold on for a minute." She puts me on hold and some terrible music comes pulsing through the line. It's B-side seventies soft rock. I keep repeating the words "hurry up, Mitch", over and over until the music stops.

"Miranda, hey, what's up?" Mitch says.

His voice does two things. It calms me and yet, I can feel the panic bubbling to the surface. I open my mouth to tell him, but the words catch in my throat. "He's, uh, he's back."

"Miranda, what? I'm not following you. Who's back?"

I roughly swipe a tear from my cheek. "Dougie."

Mitch says nothing. I hear him exhale before he finally starts talking, "You saw him? You saw Dougie Wilcox?"

"No. He called. Here, at work."

"Maybe it wasn't him."

"Mitch, I know his voice. He was asking about Waylon. He called me Randa. He's the only one who has ever called me that."

"Can you get in touch with him? Did he give you his number?"

"No. I hung up on him. Told him not to call me again."

"Geez, I kinda of wish you hadn't done that, but I understand."

I listen while he asks more questions, like did I hear any background noises, or do I remember seeing anyone out of the ordinary hanging around the trailer park or the Little Eagle. I try to draw my strength from his voice. "He's coming for Waylon, Mitch. I know he is. What the hell am I going to do?"

"He abandoned the kid. He doesn't deserve him, but legally, you only have temporary custody. He's the biological parent. Push comes to shove, the court is going to grant custody to him. I'm sorry, Miranda, I know that's not what you want to hear, but I don't want to lie to you and fill you full of false hope."

I sniff back my running nose and swipe at my eyes again. "I know. I've got to figure something out. I'm not gonna just lay down and roll over. If Dougie does push for Waylon, he's gonna have a fight on his hands. That's for sure."

"Atta girl. Now, what are you gonna tell Waylon?"

My heart sinks. I know I've got to tell him. But, he's gonna have a million questions, and I don't have any answers.

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When I come out, Rita looks at me. She can tell I've been crying. "What did Mitch say?"

"Things that I didn't want to hear. The truth. That Dougie has every right to take Waylon. And there isn't a damn thing I can do to stop it."

"Oh, Miranda, I'm sorry. Maybe he didn't come here for that. Maybe he came back for you. He called you babe, and well, maybe he isn't over you."

"He was never in love with me, Rita. You don't treat people you love like they are inconveniences. You treat them with respect. Dougie is a user. I just need to figure out why he's shown up again. If I thought it was about missing his son, I could deal with it. But, I don't trust him. Dougie Wilcox is back for something. I just need to figure out what that is."

Rita answers the phone, never taking her eyes off of me. "Little Eagle, this is Rita, how can I help you?" She starts nodding her head and a smile breaks her intense look. "Hold on, she's right here."

"Dougie?"

She shakes her head. "Ms. Weaver from the Patterson Gazette," she whispers.

I roll my eyes. Knowing Colleen and her nose for news, she already knows Dougie is back. Probably calling for an exclusive on the impending custody battle. "Colleen, long time no hear. Slow news day?"

"Miranda. There is always news. I was just wondering what your schedule is for this week."

"My schedule? If I give it to you, can you promise me I'll make the front page?" I say sarcastically.

"I might drop by one day."

I wince. She is like a robot. There is nothing above the surface and nothing below. "Stop by?"

"Yes. Visit you at the Little Eagle. So, what days are you there?"

"Uh, I have Saturday and Thursday off. Can I ask why, for shits and giggles, you want to come see me here?"

She makes this odd little noise with her throat and then in her professional way, brushes my question aside. "So, Friday, I'll see you. Is that agreeable with you?"

"I guess. But can you give me a heads up as to the purpose of this visit?"

"I'm not at liberty to say," she says crisply.

I stand there holding the dead receiver in my hand.

Rita frowns. "What was that all about?"

"I have no idea."

I look at the clock behind the counter. I have the rest of the day to let this whirlwind roll around in my head. I could use a drink, but it'll be a long time before I can satisfy that urge.