She Who Watches by Patricia H. Rushford

you plan on coming to the post with us?” Mac offered. “That is, if you can get away.”
    â€œI’ll try. Since there may be some tribal ties to the case, I doubt the police chief will have a problem with my attending. I’ll tell him I’m in for the experience. He’s pretty progressive with our training. Where should we meet?”
    â€œHow about our OSP office in southeast Portland at around ten? We’ll shoot for a post time of eleven or so. Is that too early for you with the drive time built in?”
    â€œLet’s see. My workday starts around three a.m. to take care of the farm and horses before I go to work. I may be able to drag myself out of bed on a Saturday by seven o’clock to make your schedule.”
    Nate grinned and slapped Mac on the shoulder.
    â€œI’m not getting up any earlier than I have to. I guess I wouldn’t make a very good farmer.” Mac glanced at his watch. Almost one thirty. Even with a late start in the morning, they wouldn’t get much sleep.
    â€œTell you what, Mac. There’s nothing better than working the earth with your own hands. I’ll make a deal with you. I help you solve this case, keeping in mind I don’t get paid overtime on my days off like you city slickers, and you help me on the farm for a weekend. Deal?”
    A broad smile inched across Mac’s face. “Do I get to drive a tractor?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œThen it’s a deal.” Mac offered his hand.
    Nate looked over Mac’s proffered hand before shaking it. “Looks to me like you could use some work that puts a few calluses on those hands, though.”
    â€œIf you two are done bonding, would you mind if we wrap this up?” Dana yawned.
    â€œI’m ready,” Mac answered. “Let’s get those bags of soil loaded up, and we’re out of here.” Looking over at Nate, he said, “Why don’t you go on home? I’m sure you have things to do—like making sure that fire isn’t encroaching on your property.”
    â€œYou’re right, thanks. I’m pretty sure my place is going to be fine, but I would like to get home and check my livestock. It’s the smoke I’m worried about now. You better take all you need from here tonight. With this southern wind blowing fuel into the fire, this place will be history.”
    â€œHopefully, we have all we’ll need. I went down over a foot under the body in soil collection, and I have plenty of photographs of the scene to look over if need be. It’s not ideal, but we’ll make do if we have to.”
    â€œYou calling it a night after you leave here?” Nate helped them load the bags into Mac’s trunk.
    â€œUnfortunately not.” Dana sighed. “We have to log all this evidence into the Portland office before we can even think about going home. We both live across the river in Washington, so we are a good three hours from hitting the pillow.”
    â€œOh, are you two . . .?” Nate pointed a finger at both of them, asking if they were a couple.
    â€œOh, no, no.” Dana was quick to respond. “We just live in the same town. Not the same house.”
    â€œYou don’t have to make it sound like the idea is totally repulsive, partner.” Mac tried to look insulted. “I feel you owe me an apology.”
    â€œOh, please.” Dana slapped her hands together to brush off the ash and dust. “I’ll see you later, Nathan.”
    â€œSee you, pal.” Mac scanned the parking lot, the gravity of his mission returning to him. He took one last look at the body dump and the glowing red sky before loading the remainder of the soil sacks into the back seat. Dana had placed a yellow plastic emergency blanket out across the back seat to afford the seats some protection from the dusty plastic sacks.
    She secured the beaded leather piece she’d gotten from Nate inside a second evidence bag before