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It was alot everyone back on their own property and unarmed Another half hour and he had Maisy Aucoin's state in thenot to lose his te his brain's screen door knocked loose

Drew pinched the bridge of his nose, let out a slow breath, and tried again "Beauford, you lobbed a firecracker at Miss Maisy's cat—and it was a cherry boerous" Not tothat part w

asn't going to make anyone's life any better

Beauford's fingers played a nervous dru on "It just slipped out of my hand"

Of all the bullshit answers, that one was as laal firework just happened to slip out of the old eneral direction of the fleeing tabby cat The only thing that had saved the fur ball was the fact that at seventy-six, Beauford's aim sucked and he'd missed his mortal enemy by at least three feet

"This is Texas," the mayor blustered "A man's allowed to protect himself and his property"

From a ten pound cat?

Shaking his head, Drew took out the citation booklet he'd grabbed frolove box and flipped it open "Cherry boal under federal law"

"Well, whoop-de-friggin-do," the ht snarly

Drew glanced up The stubborn old goat was sitting with his chin cocked and his are wrapped around him like a blanket Any other day and Dreould have just written the ticket, done his duty, and ht all his life However, tonight, he found that he didn't give a shit about how things looked Let the town of Catfish Creek chatter, he was done taking shit from this man

"Sir" Drew stood, closing his citation booklet "I'onna have to take you in"

"On what charges?" Betty Sue asked, already reaching for her phone—no doubt to call their attorney

"Possession of illegal fireworks and cruelty to ani a pain in the ass were constitutionally protected

Beauford shot off the couch, faster than his arthritic knees probably appreciated "You can't do that, I'm the mayor!"

There it was, the same veiled threat he'd heard a million tih He was sick and tired of the Groundhog Day his life had become