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It had been my intention to get in touch with the Sheriff's Office the following day at my first opportunity to find out what was known about what had happened to Chip. At least, what they were willing to tell. I would keep my ears pricked for any indication the Sandbanks gang had been sniffing around the garage, and if they had, to come clean and lose everything, if only to save my own skin, and possibly Ryan's. But as I set to the task of re-arranging things in advance of the T-111's arrival, the Sheriff's Office came looking for me.

Sandra Fielder was not the deputy. No, she was the assistant deputy. Now there's a made-up title if I ever heard one. Lapine. Kind of short and small. She wasn't a day older than me, if she was even that old. As she stepped out of her car and strode confidently toward me, her paw resting on the grip of her nightstick. I half-wondered if she was gonna use it.

"Morning, Mr. Fishkettle," she said.

"Nick's fine, Officer Fielder," I said.

She dipped her head. "Nick. I suppose you've heard by now about the death of David Snowshiver, Jr. under suspicious circumstances."

"Chip. Yeah. Pretty much first thing I got home."

"The coroner's report lends itself to the unmistakable conclusion he was beaten to death and then dropped into the river. Someone tried to make it look like suicide. Not very convincingly."

I nodded.

"You've been away for several weeks. Can you confirm your whereabouts?"

Immediately I was on the defensive. If I said I'd been at bullet camp, that was easy enough to disprove, if she dug in hard enough to get a warrant. I had to think fast. I took a gamble. "Ryan said Chip disappeared on the 14th. If that's true, well, I was on the road to my sister's place up in Guildwood by then. Arrived the morning of the 15th." That much was true, if she bothered to follow it up. I was at least off the hook for what happened to Chip. I drive fast, but ain't nobody drives_that_fast. But it was a strange thing to suddenly realize while I'd been heading home to find out just who I was, Chip was taken from home and ceasing to be who he was.

She nodded. I realized she hadn't really suspected me, she was just checking boxes. And, probably, out on a fishing trip of her own, and one I wouldn't find anywhere near as enjoyable as the one I'd shared with Chip.

Which, of course, was the next thing she brought up.

"I apologize in advance, but I can't afford to be discreet. There isn't time. I understand you were alone with Chip about a week before you went away for training. Is that correct?"

"Yeah, alright. It's true. We went fishing one weekend just prior."

She nodded. "Did he talk about anything? Anything he'd seen? People he was worried about, scared of?"

I shook my head. "No. We hung around, cast our lines, got way too drunk, and had a good time. Sorry, but that was it."

"Beulah says he came back a little fretty about something you boys talked about."

"I can't imagine what. Didn't she say?"

"Just that he seemed a little concerned. You sure you can't remember?"

I spread my paws. "I can't think of anything we said or did that would have upset him. We didn't do nothin' we hadn't done a hundred times before. This time he was married, though. I dunno; maybe that troubled him."

Her left eye narrowed over a cheek that twitched just a little. It's like she could smell it on me. I think I started to sweat a little. "Some folks think certain people around here lost a great deal of money, and hung the blame on Chip."

"Then why don't you go arrest them?"

"Because like you, there were someplace else when it happened. And until we can prove otherwise, we have to tread lightly. Courts don't like sloppy cases these days. Besides, we don't know if there's anything to that. There are a lot of theories. That's just one of them."

"Besides, Chip didn't live like a guy living on a pile of money," I said.

"No," she agreed. "Apropos of nothing, I hear you're looking to buy a major piece of equipment for your brother's garage."

I frowned. "Yes, I was. And I found one, too. We worked hard for that money, officer; me and my brother. You defend this community. I go out and practice to defend this whole country. Surely to God that's worth something...?"

I waited for her to lower her eyes and look away but she didn't. She couldn't outright call bullshit on me but she knew a shovel when she saw one. "Chip Snowshiver's dead and in his grave. Somebody around here sure thought_that_ was worth something. And I'd like to know what."

"Well, so would I."

"Good. I can count on your cooperation, then, if I have any more questions."

"That's a fact," I said, staring back. "That is a fact."

She locked gazes with me for a moment, tilted her chin, and then padded away. "Good luck with that new machine," she said, getting into her squad car. "I hope it didn't cost too much."

She cut me deep. I would never again look at that machine without remembering just exactly how much it had cost me and others.

* * * * *

I'll never know exactly why Ryan spent the days after Chip died finishing that mural on the side of his van. Maybe he felt duty-bound. Maybe it was a tribute. But a project is a project and with him, it must have cut way into his drinking time, so I was sorry to see it done. That morning, he took it over to Beulah.

I was in his kitchen making him lunch when he padded back up those stairs.

"Well, thanks," he said when he saw what I was doing.

"No thanks required," I muttered. "How'd it go?"

He just sat down and sighed. Real deep, real hard. Rubbed the back of his neck.

I just nodded and let him off the hook.

I stirred the chili I was making. "She say what she's gonna do with it?"

"Give it Phil, sounds like."

"Nice idea," I said. "He'll think of his brother every time he gets in it."

"Yeah." Ryan kicked his smokes out of his tit pocket with his thumb and started to light up. "Smells good, Mango."

"Thanks."

"Lots of onion?"

"After twelve years, would I make it any other way?"

"Hmm," he agreed.

I raised my head from the stove and looked out the window. "I did some other stuff while I was runnin' around finding the Diagnotron," I said.

"Yeah? What'd you get up to?"

"Went to see Jane," I said.

He didn't seem surprised. "What'd she say?"

"That you're not my father. Like you said."

He tapped his cigarette on the ashtray. "She say who was?"

I nodded, just a little.

He licked his lips and took a puff.

I looked down my legs at the toes he didn't make for me. "Do you wanna know?"

"I already do."

I turned and looked at him. "How come you never said?"

"Wasn't for me to say," he said, taking a drag and letting it go. "Was it."

I padded over slow and sat down.

He pushed his pack toward me. "You okay with it?"

"I spent the last fifteen years or so okay with the idea you were my father. Why shouldn't I be okay with Eddie?"

He just gave a long sigh. Closed his eyes.

"I love Eddie. Eddie's just fine," I said, holding a smoke I didn't light. "But I'd rather it'd been you." I had to swallow hard when I had a sudden vision of Priss, pretty and all grown-up, saying the same thing to him about me someday.

He leaned forward, flicking his lighter. "So when's this fancy thingamajig of yours showin' up?"

I leaned into it, puffing the smoke to life. "A week or so, I guess."

He nodded. "Good." Didn't ask me how I managed it. Maybe he already knew. Maybe it was more than he wanted to.

* * * * *

I wouldn't put on a shirt for Melba, but I did put one on for Anne Marie that night. So, sure as shootin' I slopped spaghetti sauce onto it. She grabbed it from me and hustled it into the wash. So much for trying to be gallant.

Both of us made an effort to be normal. But Chip was the third beast at the table and he kept silently buttin' in.

"How was the training?"

"Long hours. Hard days. But it wound up quicker than I thought," I said. I was polishing off my plate so she dumped another ladle of spaghetti and a few meatballs onto its open face. "Obliged," I said. "Most of the time me and Ry have this, it's 'cause some can just gave up the ghost." I almost winced, but didn't, hopin' my stupid thoughtless turn of phrase would sail by unnoticed.

"What'd you do after?"

"Well, the whole idea was to try to find this machine we need for newer cars. Everything's computers now. Scraped together what we could, and what the FG was paying me for the training, and I went looking. I found a deal. Should be here any day."

"I'm happy for you. Chip'd..." She sighed. Finished her thought; she'd started it, after all. "He'd be right pleased. Probably have thrown you a party."

"Yeah. Yeah, that's Chip." Involuntarily, I glanced at his empty chair.

She set her fork down, and turned away into her paw. Winced hard. Held it together. She turned to me with wet eyes but a warm smile.

I didn't say anything. I took her paw. She gave mine a squeeze.

After a moment, she gently eased away, nice and slow. More gave me my paw back than took hers away. "You come straight back after that? Finding the deal?"

"No, actually."

"Sightseeing?"

I worked my mouth around a little. Quick answer was 'yeah' and move on. But I didn't want a quick answer with her. I said, "I went home. Went home to see my mother for the first time in a year or so. Nearly two, really."

She smiled. Maybe the first one I'd seen that wasn't anchored by sorrow. "That's sweet. Was it a surprise?"

"No. I called her while I was on the road. Made the deal in Tall Meadows. That's only a couple days' drive from Guildwood, so it seemed a waste not to go."

She smiled, nodding. She looked a little puzzled. Struggled with something. I could see she wanted to ask something, but wasn't sure if she should. I realized later on she was trying to decide if she knew me well enough to put the question to me instead of letting it slide. And she decided she did. "Guildwood? I always thought you and Ryan came from Oriensa."

"Well, she moved to Chironto," I said, feeling my cheeks and ears tingle, and surprised at myself for letting that slip.

"Just her? Not your dad?"

It was time to lie. "Yeah, him too. Well, uh, they're kinda back and forth between Chironto and Steelborough." Now_that_ was the absolute truth.

"That sounds exciting."

"Oh, yeah, it's exciting," I smiled, rolling my eyes a little. I couldn't help myself. I wanted to laugh.

"Mango, how come you left? You never really talked about it. Is it okay to ask?"

"Yeah, sure. You can ask me anything, Anne Marie," I said. Don't promise you a straight answer, darlin', but you can always ask... I gave a shrug. "I was born kind of late, you know. Didn't ever really feel quite like I belonged. Big gap between me and Tanya. Like eight years or so. I was always kind of rebellious. Always admired Ryan. You know, war hero and all. Went through everything he did and came back and he couldn't really face us anymore. So he headed off down here. I guess I figured he'd understand how I felt. So one day after a big argument, I lit out for Rockfern. Everybody thought it would be just a few weeks or something till I came to my senses."

She smiled. "No?"

I shook my head. "I took to workin' alongside Ryan in the garage. He was just divorced from Alice and I guess having me around kinda steadied him, so it just sort of drifted. I started school here. We went home for Longnight. By the time all the talkin' was over, well, Mom and Dad sort of gave me their blessing to stick it out with Ryan for a while. Guess they could see we were good for each other. Two birds with one stone; you know."

She eyed my plate. "Some more?"

"Nah, thanks. Thanks so much. I'm stuffed, gal."

"Maybe I can give you some to take home? Later, I mean."

"I won't say no. I don't eat like this every day."

"Flatterer." She picked up our plates and transported them to the sink.

"Uh uh. I was happy for Chip when he settled down with Beulah. Sad for me, though. Had no excuse to help myself to your cookin' anymore."

She looked at me for a moment. "You didn't need him as an excuse to come callin', Nicky," she said. Put a little smile on it to keep it from seeming too serious. But I can't lie, my heart skipped a beat.

"I should have," I said. "Long ago."

"Let's go sit out on the porch. Would you mind?"

"Not at all."

She held out her paw, and I took it. "Oh!" She said. Dashed to the fridge, opened the freezer, and took out a couple of grape popsicles.

I laughed, and we stepped outside.

We sat in the porchlight watching lights come up across town.

She had her head on my shoulder. My arm was around her. Her pretty feet were cuddled up on the swing beside her. "How long you reckon," she murmured, "after you die do you go on to your next life? You think it's a long time, or just a split second?"

"I don't know. I guess I always thought it took a while. I was taught you have to answer for what you did in Purgatory before you can move on."

She gave a long, shuddering sigh.

"Don't you worry about Chip none. They got no reason to keep him hangin' around long, hon."

"That's sweet. But we both know he was no angel."

"Hey, well. Who is? Nobody in my family."

"He was in with some bad company. God, I wish I'd said something."

"Hey, he wasn't no big villain, now. He ran shine once in a while. That's practically a milk man around here. He was a good guy, Annie."

"I can't believe I've got to live in a town where the men who... That I've got to look them in the face, in the eyes, like they deserve to still be breathin' Chip's oxygen."

I put my chin on her head. Let her feel me nodding a little.

"Everyone's afraid to say anything. Everyone. Even Mitch is treading lightly. Sure as I'm sittin' here, Nick, Billy and Greg and Denny... They did this. Chip did something wrong, and they..." She closed her eyes and buried her face in her paws, pulling their darkness over what her imagination saw.

I rubbed her back. I kept my thoughts to myself. There was nothing I was going to say that was going to make this right. Everything I knew would only make things worse. Especially for me.

We sat there together like that for a good long time, contented in our shared torment. It was strange. There was a terrible beauty to it. But it seemed to soothe her. She actually finally stifled a yawn with the back of her paw.

"I guess I should get going."

She licked her lips and looked up at me. "You know... you don't have to, Nicky."

We sat there for a moment. I nearly did something stupid. But I felt Chip just back of me, hoping I wouldn't put myself first all over again. "I should," I said.

She looked at me, embarrassed, sitting up a little. "I-I don't mean to keep you," she said. "Sure you got stuff to do in the morning."

"Anne Marie."

She met my gaze.

I gently took her paw.

"I ain't saying I want to go. What I'm saying is... I want to be there for you. And if... in a little while you still feel the same... well... You won't have to ask me twice."

She blinked as her eyes grew dewy.

"But tonight," I said, "I best be gettin' home."

I stood up. I gave her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled. Hugged me a little.

"I'd like you by for supper Saturday night."

"You let me know red or white. I'll bring the best Rockfern's got."

She snorted. "Grape juice, vodka, and soda, then, I guess."

I smiled. "Whatever your heart desires."

"I'm thinking chicken."

"White it shall be." I stood on her porch a moment too long. "I'm lookin' forward to it."

"So am I. Oh! Your shirt!"

I gave her a smile. "I'll pick it up Saturday."

"So I know for sure you're coming," she said.

"That's a fact," I said. "That is a fact."

"See yah, then."

"See yah then." And I made my way home. Home, to where Jewel was waiting, in her infinite mercy.

But it was Tox waiting for me just inside the door. Sittin' in my chair. "Have a nice evening?"

"What do you want?"

"You ain't gonna tell them?" he said. Snapped his fingers. "Clear this all up, just like that? Give them a reason to round them assholes up, and make everybody safe again?"

"Yeah, and me go down with them?"

"All you did was trot off with some shine and drug money. They'll take what's left, probably confiscate the machine when it gets here, and give you probie. Sac up, man."

I glared at him.

"You killed him, Mango. You know that. Sure as if you'd pulled a trigger."

"Shut up, Tox."

"Big fucking game. Steal all the money. And Chip boasting about money he had they knew he couldn't account for. What did you think was gonna happen?"

"I don't know. But not this."

"Bullshit. You didn't care."

"Do I look like I don't care?" I screamed.

"Yeah, you do, Nicholas." Tox sneered. There was venom in his voice and he sprayed it into my ears and eyes. "You could solve the mystery right now by telling Mitch what Chip told you. About the money drops. You wouldn't have to fess up to nothin'. Just do that much."

I had to stop. I had to think. I shook my head, trying to clear it.

Tox leaned in. "It would protect Beulah! You know them boys are gonna keep lookin'..."

I said what I'd been thinking at the time. "If I told him, he'd know it was me stole the money. They'd know."

"How? It still looks like Chip stole the money."

"It looks like either of us coulda stole it. And how could I look him in the eye if he guessed Chip was dead because I took the money?"

Toxic straightened. "Is that all you're worried about? That someone might know you're a_thief?Chip is _dead, Mango. Fuckin' dead! You could do something about it! Before they maybe decide Beulah's sitting on that money."

"They won't touch her. They wouldn't dare."

"You'da said the same thing about them killing Chip. But they killed him anyway. Because they can, Mango. Because they will."

I shot to my feet. "So you think they'll spare me if they find out? Or maybe someone I care about, to get to me? What if they grab Priss, Tox? Or maybe Deke? Even if Mitch keeps a lid on it, I'd still have to testify. And what if it all goes wrong? They get off? Or even if them boys all go to prison... they must have friends. Connections. They just bide their time, and wait a little, and when no one's watching my back anymore, payback time."

Tox bristled. He looked at me like a cockroach. "You gutless fuck. You're dreaming yourself into a safe little nest, while Chip lies rotting in his grave and Beulah walks around with a big target on her back. Ryan Fishkettle's nephew? Oscar Fishkettle's namesake? You're despicable."

I pulled my fist back. I caught myself. "Get out, Tox. Get out. Don't come around here again. We're through."

"Fine," he said. And he was gone.

Much as I hated him for saying it, Tox was right. It was mostly my fault that Chip was dead. Oh, I'm sure they had their eye on him. Spending a little too much. A dribble of money here and there; maybe it had been picked up on. Maybe they'd bided their time. After all, if Chip was right, a lot of their runners had a beef. But when I'd stolen over a hundred grand from them, well... they had to act, and for whatever reason, he must have topped their list. Maybe he'd gotten drunk and said the wrong thing. Or maybe he'd dropped something by the cache on Bald Mountain Road. I'll never know just why they picked him. But they did, and it all came down to what I'd done. Me.

I closed my eyes and felt sick. It had seemed so funny at the time... Chip drunk and flappin' his gums, saying things he shouldn't. How could he know he was signing his own death warrant? He trusted me. And trusting me got him killed.

A grown man, I cried into my paws. As God is my witness, if I could have put the money back and kept him on this side of the veil, I'd have done it, no questions asked. But I couldn't. I'd taken that money, and they'd taken his life in exchange. The least, the_very least,_ I owed Chip was not to waste it. To make his death count for something.

It was a heavy debt, and one I knew I'd have to spend the rest of my life paying back. Or I wasn't worth the dirt I was made out of.

Hours went by while I sat there alone. More than once, I started up for a drink. But I owed Chip this pain. God and Goddess only knew what he suffered before he died; what right did I have to dodge my little share of it? Besides, I knew there was a thin line between liking it and needing it; I'd lived looking across that line for the past twelve years. And I was determined to keep to this side of it.

Around midnight, Jewel eased into the room with a sigh, evidently deciding I'd been alone long enough.

"Don't you start in on me," I growled under my breath.

"Ain't said a thing."

I looked away. But she was still there.

"Whattayah gonna do?"

I put my head between my knees and hugged the back of my neck. "I don't know, Jewel. I just don't know."

"I think you do."

"It's crazy."

"They learned you how."

"I don't know where the place is."

"Well, find out. You know how."

That was true. I did. "And then what?" I looked her in the eye. She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. "And what do I use as an alibi?" I said. "You?"

She smiled. "I'd lie like Palomar to keep you safe, honey."

I chuckled. "Ain't nobody gonna believe you."

Her eyes narrowed as they turned to the window, blowing curtains in the breeze. It was like she was looking far away, or way into time or something. She got this big smile and she padded over to me, one foot in front of the other; the sound of them soft pad licks on the floor making me think of other bits of bare skin on a girl. She leaned over me, her snout in my ear. "Why don't you spend some time with Anne Marie? You and Chip were friends. She'd probably like having you around to talk about him. And if it goes well, real well... then good. Maybe you got some nights where someone knows just exactly... where... you... were," she said, waking her fingers up the bridge of my nose.

"But you'll get all jealous," I smiled, getting hard for her.

She shook her head. "You know I won't."

I sighed as her paws did their thing. "Can't say I'd find that an onerous task," I admitted. "She's good company."

"So go callin' on her," she whispered. "Like she wants."

"Saturday," I said, and gave the night to Jewel. Goddess knows, I needed her.

* * * * *

Got a couple of small repair jobs out of the way the next morning. I called over to the Sheriff's Office and managed to get hold of Mitch. Before I could even ask, he cut me off and told me he'd been meaning to drop by and say hello. Told me to sit tight; he'd be by my place in a bit.

He was by in about half an hour. I noticed that he'd parked over by Melba's and made his way over on foot.

Me and him stood around out back out of sight, smokin' and suckin' a couple beers. Mitch wasn't above a neighbourly one or two on duty; he knew when to stop. That's a real cop for you.

"Mitch, what can you tell me about what happened to Chip?"

"Figured that's why you were calling. I'm glad you weren't here when we found him. Sorry you missed his day, though."

"So am I. More than you can believe."

He pushed his hat back on his head and took a long drag. "It's pretty clear someone went to work on him before he died. Some people are guessing it was the Sandbanks gang. That Chip crossed them somehow. They all have alibis, of course. None of them would harm a fly. They've poked a few boys in the chops from time to time, sure, but that's the limit. Maybe. But Chip didn't stick those rocks down his own shirt, that's for sure. Somebody helped him into the water."

I closed my eyes. Let out a sigh that hallowed me right out. God Almighty and Goddess Alight, the price he paid for my stupidity. And I couldn't even bare my soul, even to a friend like Mitch. "You think it was them?"

His cheeks puffed like he was winded. "Couldn't take it to the D.A. And it's always possible someone else had some other grudge. But he just got married last spring, so I can't imagine it was some pretty wife's husband. 'Sides, folks are pretty forgiving about that kinda thing hereabouts anyway. But what'll always get you killed is money. And lately, the biggest industry this town's got is what them Sandbanks boys are getting up to."

"I heard they're graduating from shine to something bigger."

Mitch took a long, contemplative drag, like the smoke was helping him see it. "Again, can't prove it. But I'd bet my pretty whiskers they've started up." He shook his head. "And if it's true, that would be a shame." He looked me in the eye. "Moonshining's an old tradition around here. It's almost honourable. And Sandbanks shine is the shit, I don't mind sayin'. Practically an institution. Handed from father to son for near forty years. Crysta, pullin' their runners over from time to time probably paid for every fifth or sixth car in the fleet. It's the only way to tax 'em, and it's been good for the county." He sighed. "Thought we had an understanding. A modus vivendi. But now they've gone on and hooked up with some really bad people and some really bad ways." He eyed me. "...Allegedly. And they've gotten greedy, and it's brought out the very worst in them."

"Well, in my books, Billy was always a dick."

"Yeah, he's always been a rough one. But he had his limits. Least I thought he did."

"Modus vivendi, huh?"

He snorted. Tossed the butt down and snuffed it with his heel. "Pickin' up ten dollar words is an occupational hazard lately."

"Sandy?"

"Mmm," he nodded. He looked at me with a cocked eyebrow. "Told me she came 'round here yesterday to 'liaise' with you. You like that one? 'Leeaaayyze'?"

"She was by. 'Liaise' is what, Frankic for 'bite my ass like a deer fly'?"

"She been asking you some pointed questions?"

I stiffened, just a little. "Oh... I don't know if I'd call them that."

"Well, she's asking a lot of people awkward questions. Figures that's her job. It's also clear she don't think she'll be around here long enough to worry if she steps on toes or kicks a few balls under tails." He shook his head. Even though we were alone, his voice became a low rumble. "You know lapines... A lot of them come up feelin' like that got something to prove. Show the rest of us."

I nodded. At least he didn't say 'bunnies'.

"Add to that she's a woman, and she's small, and, well... Seems sometimes she can't brush her teeth without filin' it in triplicate and issuing a press release." He sighed. "She's good. She's smart, in the book learnin' sense. One day she'll shake the dust of this town off her feet and end up runnin' the OIB in Horizon, I expect. Till then, well, we all get to be a rung under them twitchy feet of hers." He patted me on the shoulder. "Try not to take it personal. You're alright. For a Truenortherner."

"Gee, thanks," I huffed.

"Thanks for the suds, stud," he said, beginning to step away toward the street. "Good to have you back."

"Wish I could say it was nice to be back."

He nodded, taking my meaning. "Seriously, though, Mango. You remember anything, anything at all, about Chip, let us know. But, uh... bring it to me, okay?"

"You bet." As in Bet I'll keep it to myself. I was glad Tox wasn't around to give me grief.

* * * * *

Anne Marie's chicken Saturday night turned out to be fried. I'd never had fried chicken with white wine before. It was a new experience.

She was wearing a pretty little sleeveless sundress, blue and white gingham. She'd put her mane in braids, the way she'd worn it back when her and Chip and me started hanging out here. She'd moved on from that look once she got the office job at Gladepool's. She looked younger now, back like she did in high school.

I'd brought white and red, just in case. The white complemented the chicken real nice. By the time we decided what the hell and got into the red, we had kind of a glow on. We talked about each other instead of Chip. He was still there, but no longer sat at the table with us... sorta off in another room, doing his own thing. That's how it felt.

It was 'round about nine I gave in to the urge to test the waters a little. Or maybe I was just being friendly. I'm not sure. A little of both, I guess. Thinking little enough of it, I said, casually, "Why don't we set outside a spell? It's a nice night. Not too hot, not too cold."

"I was just fixin' to suggest that myself," she said.

I rose, and offered her the crook of my arm. She tucked her paws into it. "Such a gentleman."

I took a step toward the front porch only to find her pulling back on me.

"How about we sit out on the back porch this evening?" she said, looking out the window.

I followed her gaze. The backyard was dark, unlit. Fenced by the woods and gabled with stars. Its slope-roofed veranda was hardly there at all; just enough to keep the skeeters out and a little rain off your head. Looking out there, I felt that same flush of excitement I felt whenever prospects tingled at the root of my tail. "Well, I think I'd like that too."

We stepped over to the back door leading out onto the old back veranda. As we passed through, she reached up and flicked off the lights in the kitchen. There was to be no light at all when we stepped out there, but for the moon and what come up from the town below.

She stood on her toes and pressed her mouth to mine, knocking the cap from my head. I closed my eyes and took her in my arms. We kissed. Softly at first, and then harder and deeper. No, if this was what she wanted, she wasn't gonna have to ask me a second time tonight.

She reached down for my waistband and pushed it down. I hauled out my tail. My fatigues dropped to my ankles of their own accord, and naked, I shifted and kicked free of them. I put my paws under her skirt and filled them with her bare backside, warm and plush, while she sucked on my tongue. Her paws reached down to find me interested and coaxed me to full-on raging. She only stopped long enough to haul her sundress up over her head and toss it aside. I stooped, and took her breast in my mouth. Listened to her cooing in the still air of the porch as I glided the tip of my tongue around the warm, bare little track of her areola.

And then she was on her knees, loving me with her mouth. I moaned; moaned her name as I stroked her ears with my fingers and voice together. And when I was ready, I beckoned her to her feet, and eased her back into the big rattan peacock chair up against the side of the house. She dropped into it and drew her knees apart, making room for me as I knelt and poured my tongue into the gap. Showed her everything I knew with my tongue, my lips, my paws. She took pawfuls of my fur and pulled, arching, whimpering, getting ever closer. It was when I could feel her trying to heft me up onto her that I knew the moment had arrived.

I put my paw on her belly. I was throbbing, leaking spots onto the ancient wooden deck between my knees. I locked eyes with her. "Annie, you sure..."

"I ain't asking for a commitment. I just don't wanna be alone."

I was panting. Goddess, I wanted her. Needed her. But there was one last thing. "Annie... just so you know... I ain't on alma."

"Me neither." There was a twinkle in her eye. "If you're okay with that, so am I."

I didn't say a word. I just moved up over her in the chair, and I put myself inside her.

When I opened one eye at the clock beside Anne Marie's bed, it was a little before three in the morning. I looked over at her beside me, sleeping like an angel. An angel who snored, just a little. I had to stifle a laugh.

Jewel was at the bedside. She leaned in. "She is just cute as a button," she murmured.

I nodded.

"She as good as me?"

"Ain't no one as good as you," I whispered. "She's close, though."

Jewel leaned down and brought her mouth to mine. I got hard again. I looked over at Anne Marie and bit my lip. I nodded to Jewel, and she crawled into my lap.

"Don't wake her up," I said.

"That's entirely up to you," she smiled, and gave herself to me.

But there was no keeping the bed still. After a couple of minutes, Anne Marie stopped snoring and stirred. A little questioning noise came from her waking throat.

Jewel slipped away like a quiet little snake and I distracted Anne Marie by easing my paw between her legs, reaching my fingers deep into her. She made a soft, appreciative sound and opened her thighs a little. Before long, I had her good and wet again. She pulled me on top of her and I replaced my fingers with my cock.

"Oh, yeah... oh, yeeahh," she sighed, paws on my shoulders as I charged into her, again and again, while Jewel crouched just out of Anne Marie's sight, rubbing herself and watching it all. And for the third time that night, I poured myself into Anne Marie's womb.

I glanced back at Jewel licking her paw and smiled. It was clear to us both that me and Annie were getting along fine, just fine. Maybe Jewel's plan would work out after all.