I took long strides toward the barn, enjoying the kiss of the humidity. Not too steamy. Just right. Especially with the breeze tickling my senses. With the dogs dutifully following me, even keeping pace, I finally managed to shove aside the last of the ugly and far too vivid mental images.
That’s the very reason I’d experienced the creepy-crawlies every other day since returning.
“Hi, babies. Hungry this afternoon?” With the dogs insisting on helping, I grabbed the feed, taking the time to stroke the horses’ manes while they were eating.
Maybe at some point, I’d convince Viper to go on a ride with me. I leaned on the surface of one of the gates. When the dogs suddenly rushed from the barn, I turned my head hoping to see Viper.
After a couple of minutes, I realized it was wishful thinking. Maybe he was allowing me some space.
After refreshing their water, I left the barn, closing the doors behind me.
Crack.
The single sound caught my attention. While the noise could be nothing more than a squirrel crossing the path, as always, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. I walked down to the end of the fence, glancing in that direction. As expected, therewas nothing out of the ordinary or anything that would indicate someone was on the property.
However, the dogs were MIA.
I checked on the other animals and they weren’t bothered in the least.
Maybe Viper had called the dogs back to the house. Just as I turned away, another more definitive sound was more startling than before.
This time I headed straight to the path leading to the river.
And the other barn.
When I was a few yards down the cobblestone, I stopped again, this time scanning the perimeter and listening for any sign there was someone on my property. As usual, I noticed nothing but wind flowing through the leaves on the trees, just enough to rustle through foliage on the ground.
I stood where I was, rubbing my arms while chastising myself for being so silly. Somehow, I needed to drive the fears away and I honestly wasn’t certain how. Fine. The goddamn barn would come down.
My mind was filled with possibilities, including talking to the reporter who’d covered both catastrophes. Maybe she’d also heard of other fires that might be connected. Why not do a little sleuthing of my own? What was wrong with that?
More frustrated than ever, I spun on my heel. But before I could take a single step, a much louder noise captured my attention and I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Was that movement? I crouched a little lower so I could see through some bushes. Someone was running through the forest headed in thedirection of the perimeter fence. I’d bet every cent I had I was right.
I took off running, racing after whoever it was, fighting tree limbs and forced to duck under low branches.
Every time I stopped for a second, there was a heavy footstep crunching down on debris. Determined to catch them red-handed, I continued running, momentarily caught in a thorny bush that grabbed my clothes and wouldn’t let go.
Yelping from frustration, I ripped at the branch even as thorns tore at my hands, the sting biting. But I kept running, finally breaking free of the cluster of trees. When I went down on all fours, pain tore through my arms all the way to my shoulders.
Another sharp cry erupted from my throat.
“Grace. Jesus Christ. What are you doing?” Viper was suddenly right in front of me, crouching down and sweeping me into his arms and on my feet. I clung to his arms, gasping for air.
The dogs were right beside him, both Ellie May and Sailor going nuts barking and jumping. They could smell something. Of course they could.
“There’s someone here. Someone was spying on me.”
“Are you sure?” He whipped his head around, his face pinched as he scanned the property.
While I could be wrong, another crack of foliage and I pointed. “That way. Right there.”
“Fuck. Stay right here. Do not move.” He steadied me, his fingers digging into my arms. “Do you hear me?”
“Yes. Yes. Go find the bastard. Please.”
“Damn it, Grace.”
His groan was pure frustration, but he backed away, taking off running, the dogs following closely behind. He was going much faster than I could. Even so, whoever it had been had a solid head start and could easily have a vehicle parked on the same road Viper had used. They could be on the main road in seconds.
