It was getting dark by the time Tommy and Irisa returned to Defiance and the young man debated going home and reporting to Nolan in the morning, but there was a light on in the sheriff's office. "Looks like somebody's waiting for us."
The Irathient's eyes narrowed and she strode over to the office, pushing the door open so hard it banged against the wall as she stormed in. Nolan was at his desk with his foot up and Doc Yewll examining it and they both jumped.
"Irisa. How nice to see you back," said the Indogene dryly.
The girl glared at her father. "You were supposed to rest."
"Yeah, well, the town needed its sheriff," said Nolan virtuously. She regarded him stonily. "All right, I haven't gone anywhere-Rafe sent a couple of miners over and I deputized them. They've been doing all the legwork-I've just been sitting in the office."
"I can attest to that," said Yewll. "Nolan, your ankle is much better but you still need to keep off your feet for a few more days."
"Where's Rafe?" asked Irisa as Tommy came in and dropped a bundle on the floor.
"Over at the NeedWant." Yewll headed for the door. "You'll have to excuse me-I'm going back to work."
Irisa shut the door behind the doctor, then turned to her father. "I'm going over to tell Rafe to take his deputies back and then you're going upstairs and staying there until your ankle is better."
"Whatever you say, kiddo." Nolan smiled and Irisa went to him and gave him a swift strong hug, then brushed past Tommy and went out the door.
They watched her leave, then Tommy knelt and undid the bundle, shaking out a mass of fur. "We got the bobcat-I brought the skin back because I know people will want to see it."
Nolan leaned forward. "You sure you got the right one?"
"I'm sure." Tommy's hands tightened on the skin. "We found it with its victim. Poor guy…I wasn't about to try bringing back what was left of him, we buried him out there, but we got his wristwatch and his hailer for his family."
"Did you have any trouble?" Nolan's voice was elaborately casual and Tommy smiled.
"It was a little dicey at the end, but I think the fact that it was a man-eater worked in our favor." Nolan looked puzzled and Tommy pulled up a chair and sat down across the desk. "We practically walked into it. A normal cat would probably have attacked us out of surprise, but this one just sat there and looked at us. It wasn't afraid of us, so it gave us a chance to shoot it." The deputy started to get up, sat back down, hesitated, then blurted, "Nolan, can I ask you something?"
"Depends what it is."
"It's probably going to sound stupid."
Nolan shrugged. "It's up to you."
"Okay." Tommy got up and took a turn about the room, then came back and sat down again. "The thing is…I like Irisa, sir. And I thought, well, maybe this was a chance to get to know her a little. I know it sounds stupid…we weren't out on a date or anything like that…but she didn't want to talk at all. You know, I offered her a drink…" At the look on Nolan's face, the young man said hastily, "Just because it was so cold and we couldn't have a fire. Anyway, she said she didn't drink."
"Was that all she said?" asked Nolan levelly.
The deputy shrugged. "She said she had a drink once and she didn't like it, and you wouldn't like her drinking. She didn't want to talk about it." Nolan was silent and Tommy finished awkwardly, "I just wanted to ask you…do you think she hates me or something?"
The Lawkeeper smiled. "Tommy, my daughter barely talks to me. And she's never mentioned that incident before." He caught sight of Irisa returning through the window and said quietly, "If Irisa told you that much about herself, I think she must really like you a lot." Tommy's face brightened and Nolan went on in the same conversational tone. "Just be sure you don't hurt her, because if you do, you're going to wish the bobcat got you."
Tommy gulped. "Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir. I mean…"
Irisa came in. "I talked to Rafe and he's told his miners not to come in the morning." She frowned at Tommy. "Are you still here?"
"I was just…"
Tommy was at a loss and Nolan said gravely, "He was giving me a report of your hunt. Sounds like you both did great. You can be in charge of all man-eaters in the future."
Irisa gave her father an exasperated look, then said to Tommy, "So you'll be here tomorrow?"
"Bright and early." He nodded to the Lawkeeper. "See you later, Nolan. And…thanks."
Tommy went out the door and Irisa gave her father an odd look. "What was he thanking you for?"
"I just helped him with a problem he was having." Nolan started to get up, wincing as his weight came down on his injured leg, and Irisa hurried over and steadied him.
"What kind of a problem?"
"You can ask him about it, kiddo. I think it's probably something you'd be better at anyway."