“What?” Ernie’s eyes grew as big as headlights. “You can’t put me in jail. I already told you, I didn’t mean to hurt the boy. I thought he was a wolf and I was defending my property.”

The sergeant looked Ernie in the eye. “I didn’t necessarily say I was putting you in jail…but I am thinking about it.”

“What’s jail going to do for an old man like me? I made a mistake, sure, but I can guarantee you I won’t never make the same mistake again.”

Ranger Brock snapped his fingers like he’d been thinking hard and the answer just occurred to him.

“What is it?” answered the sergeant.

“What if instead of charging Ernie with something like attempted murder, or assault with a weapon, we call one last town meeting so he can tell everyone how wrong he was about wanting to kill the wolves? He could even suggest that everyone should put away their guns…”

“I can do that,” Ernie said. “I won a prize for public speaking in elementary school, you know. I could tell everybody that guns is the wrong way to go, and then I could even make sure they put down their weapons. I can do that for you, easy.”

The sergeant stroked his chin like he was considering the offer. “I don’t know.”

“Gimme a chance, Sarge,” Ernie said. “I won’t let you down.”

“Everyone should get a second chance,” said Ranger Brock.

“Okay,” the sergeant said, at last. “You convince everyone to stop shooting and I won’t put you in jail.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you,” Ernie said, shaking first the sergeant’s hand, then the ranger’s. “And you tell your son no hard feelings, okay? He won’t have to worry about me hurtin’ him ever again.”

“That’s good,” said the ranger. “I’ll let him know…and I’ll tell him not to kill you when he gets out of the hospital.”

“What?” Ernie’s face went white.

“Relax,” the ranger said, “that was a joke.”

“Oh, yeah?” Ernie said, gasping for breath.

“Argus would never kill you. He’d only beat you to within an inch of your life.”

“Really?” You could almost feel the fear in Ernie’s voice.

“No, not really.” A pause. “That was another joke.”

Ernie sighed. “Oh.”

“C’mon,” said the sergeant. “Let’s get him out to my car before we have to carry him there.”

Chapter 15

It was late afternoon the next day when Harlan and Noble went to visit their bigger brother at the hospital. On the way, Harlan picked up a fresh hot burger and an order of French fries at the drive-in restaurant next to the school. Although the hospital was feeding Argus three meals a day, Harlan was sure Argus wasn’t getting half as much food as he needed.

“Hey, brother,” Harlan said, as he entered the room.