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surveyor says he can’t survey it for
two weeks. It will take him another couple of weeks to get the plan
drawn up.”
    Maddy crunched down on a carrot stick and
shook her head. “We can’t wait that long. We’re way behind schedule
as it is.”
    “We don’t have a choice, Mads. We can’t
start digging a well until we get that plot plan.”
    “Will the original do?”
    Everyone turned to Edgar. Adam said, “I
thought the original records were lost in the early 1900s.
    The old man nodded. “It’s true that the deed
and most of the paperwork was destroyed in that fire at the records
office, but Lolly never trusted anyone to keep track of her
important papers. Before she died, I know she kept a locked steel
box with her papers and buried it under her barn. I’d be willing to
bet there’s a copy of the deed from Matthew Bilsworth in that box.
There might be a plot plan with that.”
    Maddy and Adam shared a smile. Maddy wrapped
her arms around the elderly man. “Edgar, you’ve already earned this
week’s salary.”
    Edgar shook his head. I told you I don’t
want any money.”
    She hugged him tighter, “We’ll see.” Looking
at Adam, Maddy grinned. “I guess we’re going back to see the cranky
guy with the gun.
    “This time let’s go in the front way. Maybe
he won’t shoot us.”
    “Good plan,” Bud agreed.
    DS
    The Worth cabin was set well back from the
road, bounded by trees. Only a small area of grass surrounded the
tidy cabin with the long, deep porch.
    Overflowing half barrels filled with
petunias and daisies bracketed the wide, wooden steps climbing to
the porch. Rustic looking twig rockers were ranged along the length
of the porch. A huge, black and brown Rottweiler ran toward the
truck as Adam pulled in, showing massive, white teeth in a
snarl.
    In the backseat, Walter held all four points
of contact but gave a low growl in response, his big brown eyes
locked on the four footed aggressor.
    The dog jumped up and slammed its massive
paws against the window beside Walter and Walter yelped, abandoning
his four points of contact to scurry back away from the window. Dog
spit bathed the outside of the window.
    “Crap! I don’t know what’s worse,” Adam
said, “the gun or the dog with the really big teeth.”
    “We could let Walter out first.”
    Adam fixed Maddy with a look of pure horror.
“You want me to send Walter against that monster? It would be a
blood bath, and all of it would be Walter’s.”
    Eyeing the big dog quivering in the
backseat, Maddy nodded. “You’re right. What was I thinking? We
probably couldn’t even get Walter out of the truck.”
    “He’s not stupid.” Adam turned the truck off
and watched the cabin, hoping the door would open and spit Teddy
Worth out. Then he realized they were in a bad way if the angry man
with the gun was the better option.
    “Okay. What’s plan B?”
    Maddy chewed her bottom lip. “You got any
food in here?”
    “Chips. But I don’t think dogs like
chips.”
    “Where are they?”
    Adam unbuckled his seat belt and reached
over the seat, grabbing the unopened bag of salt and vinegar chips
he was saving for later. “I was really looking forward to eating
these so don’t give him all of them.
    “Maddy took the bag, ripped it open, and
sniffed. “Yum.” She reached inside and took a handful, dropping
them onto the dashboard.
    “Hey! Grease spots, Mads!”
    “You’re such a girl, Adam.” She opened the
window a couple of inches and nothing happened. The Rottie stepped
back from the car and watched it slide open, cocking his big head.
Maddy opened the window another couple of inches and held the bag
out, dangling it. “Look what I have, big boy. Yum…these look gr…”
The dog surged toward the bag of chips and snatched it.
    Maddy squealed and yanked her hand back
inside. “Yeesh! Land shark!”
    Adam fixed her with a look and she had the
good grace to look sheepish. “Sorry. I’ll get you another bag.”
    “Hey! Who said you