“Freeze, stranger! Put ‘em up!”

The voice startled Charlotte for a moment. It was a child’s voice.

She put her hands up and turned to look at who the voice was. “Take your shot, stranger! You’ll only get one!” She said.

Then turned to face a 4-foot-high cowboy holding an orange-tipped pistol in her direction.

“We don’t take kindly to strangers in these parts,” the boy drawled.

“Samuel Jones,” an older voice called. “Stop harassing people!”

Charlotte found herself startled again. The boy’s father was none other than the owner of the cafe!

“Oh hey,” he said.

“Hey,” she said. “I was told I could get the key to the air bnb here.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

“I know where the key is, Daddy!” Samuel chirped, forgetting about his duties as town sheriff.

Charlotte smiled as the boy took off into the house to grab the key.

“Cute kid,” she said, nervously.

“Yeah, he’s a handful. Running the cafe and raising a kindergartner alone —“

“I get it,” Charlotte said. “I mean, I don’t have kids and I’m not married but …”

Ugh, she thought. Way to just be awkward.

Samuel ran back and held up the key from a huge key ring.

“Here ya go,” the boy said. “Now be sure to follow the law.”

“I will, Sheriff,” she said, and took the keys.