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I go very, very still. If it's a snake, I do not want to startle it.
If it's a snake, I hope I never have to know, actually. I love all animals, every single one of them, except snakes.
The wet rough thing brushes my ear and I lift my head very, very slowly and look up into two brown eyes. Two enormous brown eyes and a snout with a long tongue that's coming at me again.
I scrabble back and my hand lands hard on a bramble. Pain shrieks through my palm and I shout out a curse.
Normally, I'd stay calm when confronted by an enormous animal, but that thorn through my palm is the last straw on an overwhelming and horrible day.
The owner of the enormous brown eyes, a skinny brown cow, stares at me for about a millisecond before turning and racing off into the woods.
"Sorry," I whimper, as I lift my palm from the thorn and see a spot of blood rise from my skin.
I expect the cow to get far enough away from me to be safe and stop, but it must be terrified, because it races through the brush as if entirely unconcerned for its own safety. As it streaks through a sun-dappled bit of forest, I can see its ribs protruding. This is not a healthy cow and it could really hurt itself running through the brush.
I stuff my phone into my back pocket, leap to my feet, and run after it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Grant
Stomping around in the woods is not how I want to spend my evening, especially after the day I've had. I'll take it over another stuffy meeting in a conference room, but I'd still rather be sitting on my back porch with the bag of Dani's cherry treats Lazy set aside for me after I texted him this afternoon with a craving.
I pause on the trail and peer into the ever-darkening woods, looking for a person dressed as Bigfoot. A hiker claimed they spotted Bigfoot near here about an hour ago, but the mythical creature is probably long gone by now.
My phone vibrates against my thigh, and I pull it out. It's an unknown number, but if it's a call with another Bigfoot sighting that might help me, I don't want to miss it.
"Grant Holiday," I say after I swipe to accept.
"Ranger Holiday. This is Goldy Weston. I got your number from a mutual friend, because I'm concerned about my sister Dani."
I hate that my heart speeds up at the sound of her name. It probably has to do with the delicious sweets she bakes and nothing to do with how adorable she looked arguing with me about her skunk cat. "I'm not sure I can help, since I'm currently in the forest."
"Oh, thank goodness. That's perfect. I'm just wondering if you might keep an eye out for her while you're out there, um… rangering around in the woods. She left the house rather upset this afternoon and has been gone for two hours. I'm sure she's fine, but…"
I picture Dani stepping off a cliff and nearly falling to her death and my palms go sweaty. "Do you have any idea where abouts she might be?"
"She left on foot from our house, but she's a fast hiker. She could have gone anywhere in two hours."
"I'm on the other side of the mountain right now, but I can head in your direction and keep an eye out for her." It makes as much sense to go that way to look for the Bigfoot impersonator, anyway.
"She has her phone with her, but I don't have any way to track her with mine."
"If I can't find her, I'll come to the house and we can talk next steps."
"Thank you so much. Will you call me right away if you find her?"
"Of course."
I hang up, pocket my phone, and turn around. My stomach roils with nerves and adrenaline makes my hands and feet tingle. I want to run and fight and solve this problem, but I'm going to have to stay calm and act sensibly to successfully track Dani.
I scan the woods as I walk, looking for movement, but also for signs of anyone passing this way or going off the trail. I don't have much hope of finding Bigfoot or Dani. Even if I take the same trail or head in the same direction, they could be long gone.
Dani could, at this moment, be halfway home. Goldy will call me if Dani shows up. Hopefully.
The thought of Dani at home, baking for her shift at the bookstore tomorrow, calms me. I pull in a deep breath and try to center myself. I am by nature a serene person, but since Dani has shown up in my life, I feel on edge, tensed, waiting for lightning to strike.
She's trouble, and I'll be better off if I can keep my distance.
