Mason

The tracks were deep in the dust and pointed toward the dry wash.

I didn't think much of them, except the Duke kept sniffing them and whining under his breath.

Roscoe wouldn't go near them at all.

He stood about ten feet back with his tail tucked, staring toward the hills.

That evening right before sunset I heard something knock against the side of the house.

It wasn't loud just three hollow taps from somewhere near the back corner.

I thought maybe one of the dogs bumped into something but both of them were inside with me.

Duke was lying on the rug, and Roscoe was sitting near the kitchen table staring down the hallway.

I muted the TV and listened.

Nothing happened for maybe 10 seconds.

Then there were three more taps.

Knock, knock, knock.

Same spacing, same spot.

I got up and looked out the kitchen window, but the angle was bad and the screen was dusty.

I couldn't see the corner of the house.

The sun was almost gone, and the yard had that flat gray look where everything loses detail.

I told myself it was probably a loose cable hitting the siding.

The wind had picked up a little.

There were plenty of old wires and pipes around the place.

Rural houses make noises.