“Doc wasn’t going to work forever.” He wasn’t sure what people had thought. Doc had been getting on up there in years. There wasn’t anyone else in town even vaguely interested in medicine.

Except his daughter, and that wasn’t something she could do online.

“We should have found someone like us. We shouldn’t have to go outside the town when we’re hiring.” She pointedly looked at Roxie.

“We’re lucky to have experts who are willing to come here and work with us.” It was obvious Lorna Petrie needed to get out more.

“Ms. Daley is very nice,” Roxie said, letting the obvious insult slide off her. “I think she’s going to be a great addition to the community. And she’s got strong ties to here. She’s Remy Guidry’s sister-in-law.”

Lorna turned her nose up at that. “His new wife is from the city as well. I’ve heard she’s making all kinds of changes at the restaurant. And she’s paying less for our hauls. All in all, I don’t think the new people are making a positive change.”

Good for Lisa. He’d thought that a lot of people had taken advantage of the Guidrys over the years. They were excellent restaurateurs, but none of them had been to business school like Lisa had. Her taking over the business end of Guidry’s likely meant it would be healthy and serving the community for years to come.

“Carrie! Get on out here. You have visitors.” Lorna strode up the porch steps.

The house had been standing for years, and he had to admit the Petries built houses to last. Despite their isolation, the house looked solid and well kept. Carrie stepped out on the porch, her left arm in a sling. She looked older than she had the last time he’d seen her. Not in a timeworn, normal way. Her youthful cheeriness had been replaced with a weary, haunted look.

When she smiled his way, the expression didn’t come close to her eyes. “Hello, Sheriff. Is there something I can do for you?”

Her tone didn’t waver. There was no look of surprise in her eyes. When he showed up unexpectedly, it was almost always bad news. One of the worst parts of his job was the look that came over a person’s face when they opened the door and saw him. There was none of that in Carrie’s expression.

“I heard you broke your arm.” He needed to get her away from Lorna. She wouldn’t talk honestly around her mother-in-law.

“Yeah, I fell. I was feeding the chickens and tripped,” she explained.

“You have chickens out here? Those coops better be up to code.” Roxie turned and walked off the steps.

“There’s no damn code out here.” Lorna took the bait fast, nearly running after Roxie as she started looking for the chicken coops.