When Perry pulled in to park, the sun was barely peeking over the edge of the ragged mountains on the east side of the Riata Plains. The last of his shift had been quiet. Now he saw the storm was blowing off to the north, leaving behind a skiff of dirty snow and broken clouds the sunrise painted red and gold. For all its stark, rough nature, New Mexico could be beautiful. He knew he wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
Rolling shoulders gone stiff from fighting the wind out on the highways, he collected his gear and got out. Badger jumped down and followed him into the house. Everything was quiet, and to all appearances not a speck of dust had been moved. Badger padded off down the hall and stuck her head around the slightly ajar door of the back bedroom. She gave an audible sniff before
