Skullduggery, Phantom, Or Nearsightedness?

Last Sunday, there was a tiny bit of panic in Hillmomba. It may or may not have been solely in Mrs. HM's noggin.

I came home from town like normal. The dogs ran to greet me. I took off Pepper's collar for charging, and gave them a treat of a cut-up cold hot dog. As I was putting away groceries, I heard them barking their fool heads off in the front yard. What in the Not-Heaven? I went to check on them. Both were facing Shackytown Boulevard.

I opened the front door and stepped out on the porch. They ran up the steps, wriggling with joy for an unscheduled petting. Then turned to look towards the BARn area, and bark some more. 

Nobody had been at the BARn as I passed on the gravel road. I always look, to see if Farmer H might be home, and have SilverRedO or the Gator parked over there. Even though I knew that today was Sunday, and he was at his SUS2.5, not coming home early. It was just the white truck that HOS is buying by working it out. Parked by Farmer H's burn pile, where they had moved it a couple weeks ago.

Now I saw a vehicle parked on the lower side of the burn pile, facing the Mansion. It was kind of coppery-silver, like the truck with the red door that Farmer H's junking buddy has. Only this vehicle was lower. Like a sedan, maybe. Or a mini van.

Of course I got on the phone to Farmer H.

"Is anybody supposed to be over at the BARn today? I see a car or something parked by your burn pile."

"No. There ain't nobody supposed to be there. My one buddy might deer hunt sometime, but he just left here a couple minutes ago. So it ain't him. Or my squirrel buddy, but he parks by the driveway, and comes in the mornings. So nobody should be there. I guess it could be HOS, if he came to work on the truck. I don't know what he'd be driving except his mom's car, but I don't know what she has now."

"The dogs are going crazy, looking over that way. Do you want me to drive over and check? Can I get through by your sheds?"

"No, I have my trailer parked there. You'll have to go around up by the sinkhole. But you don't have to. It should be okay."

"I don't mind. I haven't changed out of my town clothes. I'm just afraid Pepper might get into trouble following me. I'll put his collar back on, and drive over there."

I drove to check. There was nothing in the field except that bright white truck HOS has been working  on. The dogs followed and came back with me. I called Farmer H to report my findings. Of nothing! I looked out the front door again, and didn't see anything but that white truck.

Now I don't know if I was seeing things the first time. Or if somebody had been there and heard me hollering at the dogs, "WHAT are you barking at?" Then left while I was in the house calling Farmer H. I didn't notice any tire tracks in the grass. Maybe it was just a late Halloween phantom.