The three dogs were part of a pack of fourteen that now patrolled the outer grounds as backup to the guards she’d posted closer to the house. They’d been trained to stay away from Jerry’s cows, but federal agents seemed to be their specialty. Granted, if the feds had a warrant, there’d be no way she could keep them off the property, but her new pets weren’t illegal.

She’d been walking with Lou when he’d released them to the spot she knew Shelby and company had picked, but she didn’t immediately recognize the two agents who’d scaled the large elm. It had been pretty funny watching them climb as fast as they could in heavy winter gear trying to get away from the sharp teeth. One dog had managed to rip a piece off the woman’s jeans, but thankfully it’d missed skin since there’d been no cries of pain. She had enough headaches to deal with.

Joe lowered his window and pointed his gun at the elm, prompting her to start walking. “Good morning,” she said from behind them. She had to put her hands up when he swung the gun toward her. “Shoot me or the dogs, and you’re going to want to turn it on yourself when I’m done with you.”

Lou shouted a command from where he was standing, and the dogs sat but kept their heads turned upward toward the two people they’d treed. “Come,” Lou said, and the dogs went right to him.

“Get them the hell away from us,” the woman in the high branches called. “And keep them over there until we get down.”

She finally recognized the new agent when she hugged the trunk on the way down. “Do you have a warrant?” she asked Shelby. “I’m sure you noticed the posted signs on the way in.”

“You left the gate unlocked, so we didn’t think you’d mind,” Joe said.

“A lock is what it takes to make you literate?” Her question made Lou laugh. “Good to know. The other thing to know is there are plenty more of these guys, and next time they won’t be so nice. If you decide to chance it, pray Lou is out here to call them off. Considering how quick you are with your gun”—she pointed at Joe—“my first call will be to PETA if you harm one of these guys.”

“You can’t impede our work,” Dylan said as she pulled her pants up. It was comical since now one leg was shorter than the other.

“Again…” She sighed, losing patience. “Do you have a warrant?”

“No, but you know why we’re here, so cut the crap,” the guy with Dylan said.