A brief thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed my 'Legacy of Thunder' series so far. I am in this for the long haul and can't wait to see where the life of Katheryn Beaumont and the rest of the gang goes from here. So many adventures, milestones, and chances to impact others await them all. As of this story, it has been nearly one year since I began writing this series. And it is just the beginning! Thank you again for taking the journey with me. It truly means the world to me.

This installment to the saga takes place just shortly after the episode "Special Witness" and before "The Principal" by several weeks.

Dog Days PART ONE

"Score! We won!"

Carlos dodged Kath as she reached over in front of him with her free arm to high-five Tommy while the latter two laughed and cheered. They paid little regard to Carlos as he glanced to either side of himself, a sarcastic mien gracing his dark features.

"Hey, we should have you both stay here more often," Trent smiled from his place in the adjacent arm chair. "You know, to keep the place lively."

Molly leaned forward from the other chair nearby to reach for the deck of cards and shuffle them. "The feeling is mutual, Trent, but we wouldn't be here if Kath wouldn't have caused a certain item of the bathroom to enter World War III. You should have seen the mess it made!"

Katheryn returned Molly's glare with an airy scoff. "How was I supposed to know you said 'rush order on Tandy's birthday present' and not 'flush that odor'?"

Smirks and soft laughs drifted across the room.

"Well, it was quite distinguishable in my opinion."

"Molly, I was at the other end of the apartment! Oh, and you could have warned somebody that you had dropped your lip gloss in there several minutes before hand!"

"Okay, you two." Trent smiled, raising his hands to calm the heated discussion. "Either way, we're glad you both are staying here for a few days. Isn't that right?" Trent looked to Carlos in earnest, hoping he'd agree.

"Absolutely," Carlos grinned. "And if I'd known we were having a family slumber party at the Malloy's, I'd have clogged my commode too."

Katheryn let out a rather loud laugh at that point, its contagious nature causing the rest of them to snicker out a few laughs also.

"Well, it wasn't just that," Katheryn inserted, catching her breath in between a few light chuckles as she brushed away a tear from her eye. "It was the flood that ensued also. Some of our carpet will have to be replaced before we can move back in."

Carlos simply nodded and smiled, feeling rather pleased for the opportunity to spend more time with Katheryn no matter what circumstance the notion was under.

"Alright, everyone!" Mrs. Malloy arrived from the adjacent dining room, graced in her shining smile. "Dinner is served."

All five of them worked at gathering themselves off of their respective seats notwithstanding a few groans while Mrs. Malloy turned back towards the dining room, pausing as the couples made their way towards her.

"How's your arm feeling?" Carlos nodded towards Katheryn, noticing her slight wince as she stood.

"It's okay," Katheryn smiled and readjusted her arm in the contraption slightly. "But I won't lie. I can't wait to be rid of the darn thing."

"Carlos," Mrs. Malloy called as Trent and Molly slipped passed her into the dining room.

Carlos raised his eyes with a brief single nod.

"Would you be a dear and go let Tandy and Ty know dinner is ready?"

"Sure," Carlos grinned and parted ways with Katheryn. "Where are they?"

"Oh," Mrs. Malloy chuckled. "They're outside I believe. In the front yard."

Carlos offered one last nod and smile before he rounded the corner into the foyer, the hinges of the entry door sounding a bit to let them know he was headed outside as the door then softly shut behind him.

"So," Trent lowered his voice, glancing briefly behind him and Molly to the living room as if the younger ones were there. After all, it wasn't the first time the twosome had spied on his conversations. "What's this about a rush order on Tandy's birthday present?"

Molly gently smiled at Trent's secretive notions before she spoke, lowering her voice to join in the brief charade. "Katheryn and I saw the most beautiful karate belt rack in a catalogue several months ago. It has a couple of flowers engraved in it along with the option to have their name added. I thought it would look just lovely in her room. With all that's been going on, we haven't had the time to order it. So I called the other day to place the order. In order to get it here on time with having it monogrammed and all, we'll have to pay a bit extra to rush it."

"I see." Trent pulled a chair out for Molly, offering a smile as they briefly met each other's gaze. Trent then found his place at the head of the table while Katheryn took a seat next to Molly across from where she hoped Carlos would be seated for dinner.

Tommy then took the next seat down, leaving exactly three spaces open for the remaining members of the family.

"You know, I'd be glad to help cover the cost." Trent picked up the conversation once he was settled.

"Oh, that's okay," Molly insisted. "Katheryn and I don't mind. Do we?" She turned to her best friend beside her.

"Not at all," Katheryn chimed in with a broad smile, glancing upward to the vague stream of twilight sunshine coming from the window.

"What are you talking about?" Tommy tried wedging into the conversation he was currently oblivious about.

Just then, Carlos entered the dining room with two young Malloys in tow. Carlos noticed how quick the room got quiet and shot a confused glanced towards Trent and Tommy as he passed behind the ladies.

Trent quickly hushed the conversation in all directions and lifted a grin to his younger siblings. "You guys have fun with Moses out there?"

"Yep!" Tandy plopped into the seat next to Katheryn, leaning forward to smile at her big brother on the far left. "And we put him back in his kennel like you told us to." Tandy's lips curled into a frown before the light of Kath's smile changed that into a gentle smile.

"Good for you." Katheryn continued smiling, stroking the little girl's hair as she received a soft giggle in return.

"Wait, why are you putting him in a kennel? He's always seemed so content on the porch."

Trent turned his face up to Carlos, remembering his brief confrontation with Mrs. Williams as he sighed. "It's the new neighbor down the street. It seems she has this idea that Moses has it in for her little Yorkie of which Moses has never set eyes on. But to perhaps prove her wrong, we consented to keep him in the kennel for a while. Maybe that way the real culprit will show up."

"Gotcha." Carlos followed Ty around to the other side of the dining table with a chuckle on his lips as he pictured the lady with the Yorkie in his mind. It had to be a humorous sight nonetheless. They had just taken up the two seats on the other side of the table when Mrs. Malloy returned from the kitchen, the last dinner dish in hand as she settled it on the table and took her place opposite Trent on the other end of the table.

"Let's pray," Trent extended his hands to Molly and Tommy on each of his sides while the rest of the family joined hands and bowed their heads. "Dear Lord, we thank you for this day and the food set before us. Let us never take your blessings for granted. And thank you for the wonderful gift of family and friends as we enjoy the gifts you've given us. In Jesus' name. Amen."

After a host of echoing amens drifted around the table, Trent lifted the first dish of food and began passing it around followed by the usual passing of food as everyone laughed and talked and began another memorable night around the Malloy dinner table.

##

Isabella Ramirez's gaze fell to the ground as she watched her father take another sip of whiskey from the quart-sized bottle he held in hand, limply hanging his arm over the chair as he lay strewn out in front of the television set. He let off a curse word or two as the Cowboys failed to make a touchdown just before he threw the now empty liquor bottle across the room. It barely dodged the young girl as she ducked behind the corner back into the kitchen with a whimper on her breath. Coming out slowly, she felt his eyes secure upon her. She had seen those eyes before. She had seen them last year when mama had threatened him that she was leaving. That was just before he struck her down, leaving her with a scar that had not healed since last she had seen her mother.

It had been quiet evening. Too quiet as she slipped away and to the diner where she had heard rumors that her mother worked. Isabella had peered through the window of the little restaurant, desperately craving the opportunity to run inside and throw her arms around her mother. But she couldn't. She had to get back home before father woke up from another drunken stupor.

"Get over here!" her father snarled, sniffing hard and wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Now!"

Isabella jumped slightly, coming out of the reverie of the memory of her mother before she hurried over to her father's side. "Yes, papa?"

"Is dinner ready, Bella?"

Isabella nodded vigorously. "Almost. It shouldn't be but a moment longer." She almost turned to run away to the meager safety of the kitchen but stopped and turned back. "Papa, I got an A on my test today at school." Isabella waited for her father to respond but got silence in return.

"Come on! You can do better than that!" The man shouted at the television, waving off Isabella with a grunt before he reached for another whiskey bottle. "That's it!" He smiled a bit, the short-lived smile shadowing Bella in fear that he would do something to her. Not even joy from the man was an assumption of safety for the young girl who had been forced to grow up way to fast…if only to survive.

Isabella had almost reached the kitchen when her father's voice stopped her. "Yes, sir?"

"Come back here!" he growled.

Isabella hurried back, her hands folded in front of her as her head hung low.

The man reached for his dwindling pack of cigarettes, drawing one out as Isabella slowly raised her head. "Get me a lighter, girl. And quick!"

Isabella scurried over to the coffee table and picked up the light almost smiling at the fact that it was silly he had asked her to pick up an item that he could have reached for himself. Feeling a bit sympathetic, she glanced at the lighter in her hand and then back at her father. If only he could stop one of his addictions, perhaps the rest would fade away too. Hatching a plan quickly in her mind, Isabella neared her father and proceeded to light the cigarette. Accept the flame had not been drawn. Instead, Isabella hoped her father was so preoccupied that he wouldn't even notice.

He took a couple puffs on the cigarette before he realized it wasn't lit and grabbed Isabella by the arm. She winced in pain as he jerked her closer to himself. "Did you do this?!"

"Y—yes, sir." Isabella could feel his hot breath beating against her face as she cringed, praying in her heart that the beating wouldn't be so hard this time.

Grabbing the lighter from her hand, the man raised it in her face, scoffed, and threw it across the room angrily. Isabella ducked as if it were going to hit her but it hadn't. Meanwhile, her father's grasp lightened. She almost relaxed and smiled, thankful to have escaped a harsh punishment this time. That is, until she felt her father's calloused fist strike her in the chin, sending her across the floor as she writhed in pain, feeling the sting of the punch as she cradled her face in her hands, rocking back and forth.

"Now get up and light this right, Bella! You aren't worth a thing! You hear me?!"

"Y—yes, sir. Coming." Isabella struggled back to her feet, crossing the room to where the lighter remained while trying not to make eye contact with her father. She could also smell a faint burning smell and silently cried as she knew the end of her struggles would not come tonight.

##

Sunset was just barely merging with the night sky when the entire Malloy family plus Carlos, Katheryn, and Molly proceeded out onto the vast veranda to take in the evening over several cups of coffee and much-needed relaxing conversation. The evening was slightly crisp, the spring coolness still holding on as summer tried pushing it out of the way. Secretly, Katheryn treasured it. It was the best feeling. That cool before the Texas heat set in. It was the first spring she had experienced since moving to Texas last year, yet she could hardly believe that summer was upon them and with it was coming one year since she had met these incredible people. Still she pushed that thought aside and decided to live in the present, taking it all in while assuring herself that that anniversary was still months away. It was only April and would be May in just a couple of short days.

"Alright, I'll go set it up!" Tommy yelled behind him to Trent as he darted for the garage to set up the dojo equipment for a quick tournament among friends while the rest of them looked on with smiles from the side porch.

Tandy and Ty scooted past the adults and sat on the steps, their legs outstretched as they examined the pages of a book they had brought outside. Mrs. Malloy hurried to gather a few more chairs from the front of the porch, returning a short moment later and situating them in a circular pattern for the others. Carlos and Katheryn claimed the two that was already there while Molly and Mrs. Malloy settled into the final two Katie had brought all while cradling cups of coffee in hand once they were all settled.

Trent meanwhile was the last to come outside, finding Molly's gaze on him as he stepped onto the porch, a groan gracing his lips as he shut the door behind himself and paused to watch Tommy set up the mat in the driveway.

"Trent," Molly frowned, bringing her coffee to her lap as Trent's groan distracted her. "Are you sure you're up for this? It's only been a few weeks since you got out of the hospital."

Trent sighed. "I know. But I've got to get back going some time. Besides, the stitches are basically all healed up. And the doc's given me a clean bill of health."

"That doesn't mean you shouldn't take it easy." Molly glared at him with widened eyes, hoping he'd see that rest was the best way to get back going. She knew nothing would stop him. She liked that about him. But she feared he was hurrying the process along a bit too soon.

Trent wanted to smile, appreciating Molly's concern but held it off and turned to Carlos. "How about it, buddy? Some one-on-one?"

"Nope." Carlos was matter-of-fact as he raised his coffee to his lips for a rather long sip. Agreement shined from his eyes as he gave Trent a look that told all.

Katheryn watched the exchanged in earnest, wondering if Trent would take them all seriously and wait a few more days.

Carlos lowered his mug and stared at his best friend with little emotion coming from his face.

"What?" Trent's breathy chuckle echoed among them. Clearly he couldn't see what was wrong with his actions. Perhaps there wasn't nothing wrong except him friends and family being concerned for his wellbeing.

"Trent," Katie looked her oldest son in the eyes. "We just don't want you to hurry back into your routine until you are healed fully."

"Trent, buddy, the doc may have given you a clean bill of health. But have you forgotten how weak you were just last week at Foley's trial?"

Trent dropped his gaze gently, listening to their concerns as he remembered how little strength he had just to take the witness stand and put Foley away for good. It had felt good. But it did pull an extra amount of effort from him to make it there and testify as he promised he would.

"And what about at the Special Olympics in San Antonio over the weekend?" Katheryn chimed in, proud of Trent for having made it there. It had been a wonderful thing to see Trent stand from the sidelines and cheer on Sally as she took the win. Even from the bleachers she could not have been more proud of him.

"What if I promise to take it easy?" Trent pleaded his case, looking from one person to the other.

"Is there such a thing as 'easy' with you?" Carlos teased with a sly smile coming from the corner of his mouth.

With a bit of a light laugh, Molly was the first to stand, handing off her coffee cup to Katheryn. "I'll go one-on-one with you. After all, I think Trent would go easy on me."

"Oh, really?" There was a twinkle in Trent's eye as he received what was ultimately an ultimatum from the woman who had slowly begun to work her way into his mind fairly often over the past month.

"Alright!" Tommy bounded across the driveway and skipped a step or two up to the veranda, landing next to Trent. "You ready?"

Trent still held Molly's gaze, drawing Tommy's eyes from Trent to Molly then back again.

"Hello?" Tommy prodded.

"Tommy, little brother, looks like I'll be working out with Molly tonight."

Tommy almost smiled but stopped in time, scoffing softly instead as he quelled his own slight dose of disbelief. "Alright. Have fun." Tommy paused and pointed a finger at Trent. "But you take it easy!"

"I will!" Trent insisted with a light chuckle.

Tommy then proceeded to corral Tandy and Ty for a brief lesson on the mat while Molly retreated inside the house to change, leaving Trent in route for the pads and equipment that Tommy had just retrieved from the garage moments ago.

A few moments passed before Katheryn cast a quick glance up to the sky above at least as much as she could see beyond the veranda while she sipped on her hot drink. She was mostly in a rather pensive state, admiring the stars on such a clear night. "Such a beautiful night, isn't it?"

"That it is," Mrs. Malloy agreed, turning her gaze to the coming night sky. "A night like this would be perfect for camping."

"Oh, it would! We should plan a camping trip this summer."

"That's a wonderful idea, Katheryn!" Katie turned a smile to Katheryn. "Perhaps we could plan one after the state karate tournament in a few weeks."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Katheryn posed a frown as she sipped some more of her coffee.

"Don't forget about the race." Carlos winked to Katheryn, bringing up the coming event that had excited them all.

Katheryn sank a bit into her thoughts, remembering that Team Cherokee would be competing again this year in races at Texas Motor Speedway in a few weeks. And Katheryn swore she wouldn't miss it for the world.

"How could I forget?" Katheryn turned a hearty grin to Carlos. "I can't believe I'm finally going. I've dreamed of it for a while, but I never was able to work it out."

"Well, we can definitely remedy that."

"And I can't wait," Katheryn chuckled softly before she evened out her smile. "I have to admit I'm rather excited to meet the Falcons. One day I'm going with Ranger Walker to the reservation. I would love to meet some of the families and learn more about the Cherokee."

"It's a wonder you haven't made your way there already," Mrs. Malloy inserted, remembering some of Katheryn's comments in the past in regards to her love of the Native peoples.

"I guess I've been kind of busy," Katheryn chuckled, thinking back on all the cases she had helped solve since divinely encountering the Texas Rangers and Miss Cahill last August. "The past ten months have flown by so fast."

"That they have," Carlos agreed with a nod, cherishing the last sip of coffee in his cup with a grin. "Maybe we'll just have to tell the clock to slow down a little bit so that we can keep up."

"How I wish!" Katheryn's eyes twinkled a bit as she gave Carlos a heart-felt smile.

Mrs. Malloy hid her own smiles behind her coffee cup as she watched the two love birds exchanging silent sentiments with only their eyes before she cleared her throat and stood to her feet. "Well, if you two don't mind, there's a mountain of dishes awaiting me."

Katheryn snapped out of it long enough to gather herself quickly to her feet. "Oh, would you like me to help?"

"No, no," Katie insisted, waving her back to her seat. "You young folks enjoy yourself out here. I'll be back."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Mrs. Malloy chuckled almost sternly as she accepted Katheryn and Carlos' empty mugs and proceeded inside, passing Molly as the latter arrived onto the veranda in search of Trent.

"He's in the garage," Carlos directed with a nod of his head, already knowing what Molly would ask.

"Thanks." Molly grinned before hurrying forward into the ensuing moonlight. The meager light highlighted her thin frame well. Molly was dressed in a pair of faded jeans with an oversized t-shirt, yet she still looked just as beautiful in that attire as any other.

Katheryn could tell that the thought was a mutual one as she saw Trent emerge from the garage and pause as Molly ceased her step in front of him. She could have sworn he stumbled over a word or two as he carried a few pieces of equipment into the open. Katheryn waited quietly, her patience being rewarded as she heard Trent tell Molly how pretty she looked before they proceeded to the mat for a bit beginner defense skill exercise.

Meanwhile, Carlos noticed Katheryn watching them intently. He also took notice with a smile. "They make a nice couple, don't they?"

"Yes, they do." Katheryn could see Carlos almost smirking at her as she watched Trent and Molly so intently from afar. She swatted his arm with the back of her hand with an exhale. "I'm just curious."

"PI instincts, right?"

"Of course," Katheryn shrugged, insisting upon her innocence.

"Katheryn?" Tandy had stood and made her way onto the veranda a second later, stopping between Carlos and Katheryn.

Katheryn smiled and gave the little girl her full attention. "What is it, Tandy?"

"Would you like to come check on Moses with me? I'm afraid he's all alone. Maybe he needs a friend."

Carlos and Katheryn exchanged a smile as the latter rose to her feet, taking Tandy's hand securely. "I'd love to. Let's go." The two ladies hurried from the veranda and past Trent and Molly towards the back of the house where Moses' kennel was kept, the twosome full of smiles until they both suddenly stopped in unison at the large cage-like structure, their eyes widening at the same time.

"Katheryn?!" Tandy's voice shook as she gripped Kath's hand a bit harder.

Katheryn took a step forward to be sure she wasn't seeing things. "Are you sure you closed it good?"

Tandy nodded eagerly. "Uh-huh. I'm sure. And Ty double-checked it I'm sure!" The little girl was almost in tears as no trace of Moses seemed to show while the door to the kennel remained wide open.

Katheryn quickly knelt down and gathered Tandy in her arms. "Shhh! It's okay. I'm sure he just wandered down the road. It'll be okay, sweetheart." She reached a hand to cup the little girl's head and gently stroke it with a few more comforting words following.

By now the sounds of Tandy's sobs had reached Trent and Molly, drawing them and subsequently Carlos to the scene as he saw them hurry away.

"What happened?" Trent slipped into the concern of a big brother as he noticed Tandy's tear-stained face.

Tandy shifted from Katheryn to Trent, letting her big brother wrap her in his strong embrace. "Moses is gone," she sniffled, a wayward tear falling on Trent's shoulder.

"What do you mean 'Gone', honey?"

Katheryn pointed to the kennel, making eye contact with Carlos. "It was wide open when we got here. Tandy promises it was secure when she and Ty left it."

Trent pulled Tandy back to look her in the eyes. "Is that the truth, Tandy?"

"It is! I swear it is," she sobbed into her brother's shoulder.

Molly couldn't hide her sympathies for the little girl as she creased her forehead, her lips pursed into a frown. "Where could he have gone?"

Carlos pointed behind himself with his thumb, glancing towards Katheryn. "We'll go knock on a few doors and see if anyone has seen him."

Katheryn nodded and joined Carlos as they proceeded down the drive on foot, leaving 118 Providence Way in route for the nearest homes nearby. Hopefully this would all be summed up into nothing more than a misunderstanding. That is, hopefully it would be solved before Mrs. Williams' Yorkie was bothered again by whatever menace had plagued the neighborhood over the course of the past week.