The car swept dust into a furious boil down the long gravel driveway.  Within minutes a second car from the opposite direction pushed the dust across the creek bed and alfalfa field.  The retriever barked, tearing after the car as it raced towards the house.  Greg tracked the car's progress from inside the bramble thicket, squinting to get a better look.  It was a new car, a stranger's this time.  The heavy beat of music boomed over him and then died.  A car door slammed.  Greg crept out into the clearing and switched the safety back on the Browning.  It felt comfortable in his hand:  the smooth walnut stock, the sleek magazine and the satiny steel barrel.  The wolves or coyotes had scattered.  He whistled, but the dog was too far away, or, more likely, he'd made a new friend and was being corrupted by numerous pats.  Greg shouldered the gun and set off up the driveway.

"Hannah has a new friend," Mona announced, greeting him at the edge of the yard with two glasses of red wine.

"I see that," he said.  They walked to the patio sipping the wine.

"He's a nice enough boy, this Marcel.  We know his parents, the Bautards.  From Hannah's spring concert.  He played the drums.  Cheers." She touched his wine glass with hers, producing a delicate chime.

Greg did remember.  The kid was talented.  He played the drums like the devil, wild and fast.

"I don't like him," he said.

"You haven't even met him," she half whispered, glancing up at her daughter's bedroom window.  "Give him a chance."

"He drives too fast."

"All kids drive fast.  Hannah's got a lead foot."

"Doesn't make it right."

"Sit down and relax.  I'll put the steaks on." Mona set her glass on the table and picked up a platter of steaks and grilling vegetables.

Greg leaned the gun against the table and took the chair next to it.  The table was set for four.  "Was that extra plate set for this kid or the one that left?" he asked, and then drank half his glass of wine at once, eyeing his wife.  She ignored him busying herself at the flaming grill.

"Does she always have to have a boyfriend?" Mona poked at the steaks.  "Where are all her girlfriends?"

Mona put the cover on the grill and strolled over to the table.  Her hands were smudged with black grease and she held them out.  He found a napkin and motioned her over.  After he wiped her hands, she picked up her glass and curtsied in front of him with the glass held off to the side.  He studied her face and then his gaze dropped to her cleavage.  He grinned. "No wolves?" she said, changing the subject before he might grab and kiss her, as he liked to do in front of company.

"I didn't see them, but I heard something," he answered.  "They were probably coyotes."

"I don't know; the two I saw were awfully big.  I think they've got young down in the sand pit behind the barn.  I can tell when the adults return to the young.  They yelp and cry and carry on.  I was in the kitchen when I first heard them.  The sound echoed right through the house.  It was so eerie.  I didn't know whether to be sad or afraid." "Coyotes yelp; wolves howl.  I'll go out again tomorrow."

The screen door slammed.  "Hey, food ready?" said Hannah.  She tugged at her friend's sleeve.  "Marcel's starving."

"I am not," he mumbled from behind Hannah.  He was crouched next to the dog, petting him up and down, working the dog into a delirium.  Marcel didn't look up.  The dog panted hard.  Greg and Mona had to peer around Hannah to get a look at him.

"Well, I'm famished!" said Mona.  "Dinner is almost ready.  Would you get the salad, Hannah?  It's in the fridge."

Hannah spun around on her feet, bumping into Marcel.  They laughed and scrambled off into the house.

"The kid's a loser," said Greg.  "Won't even look at us for Christ's sake."

"He's shy," said Mona.

"Shy, my ass, he's. . . ."

"Got any ranch, Mom?" Hannah yelled from the door.

"Check behind the cheese," Mona yelled back.

"Okay . . ." Hannah said.  "If you say so."

"The only reason that kid won't look us in the eyes is because he's up to no good.  She's not going out with him tonight."

"Mom, I can't find it!"

"Really?  Okay, I'll be right in." Mona glared at Greg.  "You be nice.  She just broke up with Mike.  She needs someone to talk to.  They're just friends.  Put that gun away, will you?  And watch the steaks."

"Friends," Greg grumbled.  He swiveled his chair and looked over at the garage.  The kid's car was parked right behind his new truck with maybe a hair's width between them.  Greg rose an inch off his chair, "God damn," but the dog pushed him back into the chair with a nuzzle to his crotch.

"

What do you want?" he said, holding his hands back from the dog.  The dog whined for affection.  "You want me to pet you?  Didn't you get enough from the new guy?  You traitor, you ran from me, your master, into the arms of an evil stranger.  And you call yourself a watch dog?"

The dog yapped and flopped a paw on his knee, panting for redemption.

Greg let a heavy hand drop to the top of the dog's head, studying the dog's eyes, knowing that he would never be truly loyal to him.  He was everyone's friend.  The dog squirmed.  Greg scratched his neck.

"Greg!" yelled Mona.  "The steaks!" She set the salad bowl on the table and rushed to the grill.

"What!" He charged out of his seat and hovered beside her at the grill.  "Are they burnt?" He glared back at the dog.

"No, thank God," she said, absolving him.  "But in another minute they'd be burnt to a crisp.  We'd better eat now."

The back door opened again and Hannah appeared with Marcel in tow.  "I found these veggie burgers in the freezer for Marcel." Hannah held up a plastic bag, dangling it for her mother to see.  "He'll have two."

Greg eyed Mona, raising an eyebrow.

"Sure," Mona answered, taking the bag from Hannah.  "I'll just stick them on the grill to heat them.  It won't take long.  We have lots of veggies for Marcel, too.  I didn't know he was a vegetarian."

Greg twisted a sour smile at Mona.  He went to the table and picked up his gun.  He ran his hand down the barrel and then brought it to his shoulder, aiming at Marcel's car, the woods beyond.

"Greg, what are you doing?" Mona said, casting her eyes between Greg and Marcel.

"Dad," Hannah said with a note of embarrassment.

"I'll wash up."

"Marcel doesn't eat vegetables, Mom," Hannah added.  "Only veggie burgers and pasta.  He doesn't care about food much."

Mona looked at Hannah as if she misunderstood and then looked at Marcel who was petting the dog again.  "Oh, really?"

Hannah tossed the salad and giggled while Marcel mumbled something Mona didn't catch.  The dog banged his tail against Hannah's leg.  With the salad spoons, Hannah scooped a large portion for each of the plates except for Marcel's.  His plate remained empty until the veggie burger was hot.

"Here's some bread." Greg said, dropping a bag of bread on the table.  He pulled his chair closer to Hannah.  "Must be tough to be a vegetarian and not eat vegetables." He chuckled and looked to the others with a dumb smile.

Hannah rolled her eyes.  "Dad, he's not a vegan or anything.  He just likes certain foods.  No biggie."

"Funny way to eat if you ask me.  You are what you eat.  No meat no veggies -- what's left?  Beans?" He laughed.

"Gross, Dad.  He eats potatoes, rice, and pasta, okay?"

"All carbs?  Sounds dull."

Greg felt a swift kick to his shin.  He looked up into Mona and Hannah's eyes boring into him.  Mona slapped the plate of steaks into his hand.

Marcel chomped on his veggie burger with his head down looking at the dog sitting vigilantly by his side.

"I'll be home early," Hannah said as if it'd been decided.

"That, I doubt," said Mona.

"I mean tomorrow morning," she added.

Greg frowned.  "What's going on?"

"There's a party tonight at Marcel's.  All our friends will be there.  Marcel's parents are letting him have a going-back-to-school party."

"Your parents will be there?" Mona asked, looking at Marcel.  They all waited for him to respond.

Marcel looked up and smiled angelically.  "Oh, yeah, both my parents.  We live on the river.  I have a bonfire party every year."

"See?" Hannah said.  "I told you.  I'll be home early."

"Which of your girlfriends will be there?" said Mona.

"I don't know for sure, but most of them."

"Forget it," said Greg.  He pushed his chair away from the table and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Dad, Mom said it's okay," Hannah quickly put in.

"No, you're not going.  Forget it."

"Greg," Mona said, sweetly entreating.  "Her girlfriends will be there."

At that Marcel got up, as if knowing his cue, and took the dog for a walk.  Mona began clearing the plates.

Hannah glared at Greg in a showdown.  He shook his head and glared back.

"I said no."

"Mom?" Hannah pleaded.

"Take these dishes to the kitchen and load the dishwasher.  Hannah quickly scraped and piled the dishes then hauled them inside.

When she was out of earshot Mona said, "She'll be with her girlfriends.  It'll be fun for her.  She has to get together with the gang again.  Renew old friendships.  She needs her friends now.  She just broke up with her boyfriend of two years.  That's hard.  I remember how it was.  Old boyfriends are hard to get over sometimes."

Greg looked over at his truck.  "I don't like him.  He's too careless.  Look how he almost dented my truck.  The little bastard."

"Greg, your truck isn't dented.  His parents will be there."

"I hate a guy that won't look you in the eye."

"There's only a week before school starts and you know how busy she is during school with the play and honors and being the captain of the soccer team.  She needs a little fun.  Trust her.  She's a good kid."

Greg watched Marcel throw a stick for the dog.  The dog ran after it and then brought it back, dropping it at his feet.  It had taken nearly a year for Greg to train the dog to drop the damn stick.  Another year to teach him to drop the ducks.  The two of them ran around the yard now, the dog nipping at the stick in his hand.

Hannah reappeared with a backpack.  She went to each of them and planted a big kiss on their cheeks then scampered off to Marcel's car.  The motor sprang to life along with the boom of music.  Hannah lowered the window and blew them a kiss as they sped off.  "Thanks parents!" she called out.  "See you bright and early."

Mona got up and carried the left over vegetables and steak into the house.  Greg watched the car barrel down the driveway and soon lost sight of them in all the dust.  He sat looking out, not really thinking, just trying to erase the uneasy feeling inside.  The dog lay in the grass out cold.  Greg watched his belly rise and fall steadily.  A small cry came, but not from the dog.  Greg turned towards the woods.  The eerie cry grew louder, one voice to two to three and then a choir of yelps and howls.  The dog jerked awake alert and ready.

Mona appeared at the door, looking worried.  "They're back."

Greg pushed himself from the chair.  "I'll get my gun."