#rivervale_lodge

And the two make their way to the lodge, even as word is spread that the shooter has been caught

Brekke is silent and angry. It doesn't take married-brain to figure that out, but Frank "hears" it more loudly than most.

Frank is equally enraged.

Before they enter the Lodge, Brekke takes pains to send a slow but accurate text on her phone. Her jaw is set as she looks to Frank and says, "I must go. I will return."

He pauses, though, and reaches for her hand.

"We are not... we may not be making wise choices. We are angry, and should be, but...."

She lets him take her hand, and her grip is tight. "Yes." It's an acknowledgment of fact, not a change of course.

He nods. "What do you wish me to do?" an open invitation.

She looks directly at him and pauses for a moment. Then she shakes her head. "I have no task for you in this." ((MB: I am keeping you out of this.))

"Brekke." calmly (MB: No.)

She gives his hand a squeeze before releasing. Then she turns away from the Lodge and heads out in the direction of her usual patrols.

Frank follows.

She stops and sighs. "Frank. You asked what I wish you to do. I wish you not to follow me now."

Oak follows them both

Signe trots along as well! Adventure??

"Oak, Signe, stay."

Frank looks left and right at the dogs, then back to Brekke. "You have said we are not making wise choices. What would I be, to let you continue making them this way?"

Oak sits, but looks frustrated . Signe? She stops and stays, but gives SAD eyes

Brekke pointedly does not look at Signe. "You do not let me make my choices," she says firmly.

"No." quietly "But I may speak to remind you, to recall you to yourself."

"And, I have done so." Frank takes a step back.

The dogs stay, as ordered, but watch. Oak huffs. Perhaps he has gone too used to being family, but he doesn't like Frank and Brekke upset with each other. They should sniff each other, share a meat ball, and start wagging again

"You have." She nods, expressionless. "I will be back." And she turns again and departs.

Frank pats his leg, summoning the dogs, and goes inside.

Both dogs follow

Sally Mae greets Frank with a cup of coffee and some food "Where's the Chief?' She asks

"No, thank you." to the coffee, and "Working." To the question.

"Oh. Any injuries?" She asks putting the coffee away

"Not on ourselves. Excuse me, Sally Mae." and Frank heads upstairs.

Sally Mae wishes badly she werea boggan right now. Hearth training says something is off. But that's as far as it goes

Oak grumbles and laps at water

Signe takes a drink out of her own bowl

SallyMae's phone rings.

She picks it up instantly "Sally Mae DeBuke. Hello?"

"SallyMae, it's Kerri."

"Hearth, how are you?"

"I'm fine, and about half-way back to Bergen. I got the notifications about what's been going on and started back. Just pausing for gas now. You okay?"

"I'm fine. Otto got hurt, Alisa brought him in, saved his life with one of our last cookies. Shooter has been caught. Sir Frank returned without the Chief though, and I sense tension" she admits "He didn't want coffee or food and went right upstairs. "

"Oh, crap...okay, yes, first job when I get back is replenishing the cookie supply. As for Frank and the Chieftain, that sounds like it might be temporary, but keep an eye on the situation. I expect I'll be back in...." pause for mental calculation "...another hour or two."

"I'll have everything clean and going. Your squire has been furious about being left out of the hunt, but put his energy into cooking and cleaning a storm regularly so there's little mess. I will say he tends to make too many sweets when he gets irked. That said, before the shooting he was still working hard without complaint . Really, it's a pity the boy wasn't born a troll" A smile then "oh, we did lose Gerd to other duties. She's an emmisary now. Visiting Texas"

"Tell Brogan I'm very pleased to hear that report about him, and I look forward to tasting what he's made. And...Gerd is emissary?" A pause. "I can totally see it, but wasn't expecting it. We'll have to talk more when I get back. Which'll happen sooner if I get off the phone. Take care, SallyMae," she says as she finishes the call.

"And you, Hearth" they hang up