Rain tapped softly against the windows.
Then—
the motion alarm outside beeped once.
Every man in the room froze instantly.
Hersh was already moving before the second alert sounded.
Weapon up.
Eyes deadly.
Wolf killed the kitchen lights immediately.
Trigger moved toward the side window.
Sheriff Tate reached for his radio.
My pulse slammed hard against my ribs.
“Hersh…” I whispered. “You’re hurt.”
His hand touched my back briefly as he passed me.
Stay behind me.
Always that.
The third motion alarm suddenly screamed outside.
Front pasture.
Close.
Very close.
Wolf looked toward the security monitor near the counter.
Static flickered across the screen.
Then—
a figure appeared through the rain near the fence line.
Tall.
Still.
Watching the house.
Flick gasped softly beside me.
Because even grainy through storm interference?—
we all recognized him.
Shepherd.
