“You’re taking this rather well.” My guess was right—she’s trying to stay calm.
Milly shook her head. “I’m pretending.” She gave a crooked smile. “Besides, if I stop now, I’ll never finish this wall.”
After painting the last three feet of wall, I thought she’d be done for the night, but she started tidying the supply shelves while I rearranged crates and cleaned up the paint, keeping my eyes on the door.
Then the breeze shifted.
I smelled it first—smoke.
“Milly—?”
“Yeah,” she said, already catching it. “You smell that?”
“Stay here.”
I looked out the door and saw it. A faint orange glow coming from the old cattle shed. I jogged across the yard. The scent grew stronger with every step. Flickering orange pulsed against the low clouds.
“Levi, you seeing this?” I called into the radio.
“Negative. What’ve you got?”
“Smoke near the south shed.”
“I’m on my way. Two minutes.”
The fire was small—a hay bale. It hadn’t been burning long and was moved away from the rest. I yanked a hose off the post and hit the flames, steam hissing. Levi’s and Mason’s trucks barreled over the rise seconds later. Thirty minutes later, the fire was doused and out.
“What happened?” Mason asked, coughing.
“Smelled smoke, followed the glow.”
“Too cold and still too wet for a ground fire. Besides, what lit it?”
Levi’s head snapped up. “Where’s Milly?”
“In the barn,” I said automatically, then paused.
“She texted me five minutes ago,” Levi said slowly. “Wanted to know if you found the fire.”
Cold flooded my chest. “She texted you?”
“Yeah. Figured you told her to keep tabs.”
I didn’t answer. “Sweep for tracks, tire marks, anything. Don’t let anyone through that gate.”
“Austin—” Mason started.
“I’ll check the barn.”
I ran. The yard blurred, barely recognizing the fence, the house. The barn lights were still on, but the doors were half-open.
“Mil—”
The word died.
Open bag on the stool. Closet open. Phone on the floor. No Milly.
Inspector sat in the aisle, fur puffed, staring at the side door.
