Strider, who was eagerly looking up at me and whose tail was loudly whipping and banging on the old hewn timber porch boards, was almost smiling.

Sam went on. “I think he’s taken up a strong liking towards your daughter, Layla.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” I quipped.

Sam continued, “Well, like I was sayin’, if’n you don’t mind, I’d like to leave him here while I go into town. I was up all night worryin’ about those hornets and what might had happened if they’d come after your baby. They is mean bastards and since y’all is here for the long weekend I’m gonna go into town and borrow a long ladder and a spray rig that’ll help me reach ‘em. I want to knock ‘em down right after dinner, so y’all stay inside, okay?”

I said, “Sure, just let us know when you’re about to start. If we’re here, we’ll just stay inside. How long do you think it will take?”

“After I’m set up it will take about fifteen minutes,” Sam said.