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  Nodding, she smiled again before hugging her purse to her chest. After taking a deep breath, she walked outside, bracing the wind. Shivering, she glared at the parking lot, surveying the now darkened area. There were a few cars remaining but given the late hour, there was almost no traffic on the road.

  Parked around back, she kept her head down as she headed in the direction, cognizant of everything around her. She had her keys in her hand and was able to click the lock and jump inside in a matter of seconds. Once she started the engine and heard the click of her locks, she breathed a sigh of relief. There was no boogeyman, no monsters waiting to take her to an empty forest, putting a bullet between her ears.

  She put the truck into gear and turned on the radio for comfort. As she drove out onto the street, she could swear there was an orange glow on the horizon. She craned her neck, and even in the blackness of night, had a hint of where the mountains were. Her imagination began to work against her, creating visions of Boone being lost or worse, stuck without the ability to escape. Shuddering, she shrunk back.

  Then she noticed the headlights.

  They weren’t there before. She was certain of it. She kept her eyes on the road as she moved through the darkened city, stopping at a light. Unable to see anything in her rearview mirror, she remained on edge, trying her best to hum to the tune on the radio. But she was nervous, more anxious than she should be. This was just someone leaving a bar for the night and going home.

  There were two ways to get to her house that she knew of. Without using her blinker, she made a sharp right turn, accelerating.

  The vehicle followed.

  From what she could tell given the single street light, the car following her was an oversized SUV and there appeared to be a single person inside. Holding her breath, she calculated the next turns, unsure of where she was going after a few minutes. Think. Think! She tried to calm down, practicing breathing exercises as she slowed down to a normal speed.

  The SUV followed.

  Making another turn, she didn’t see the lights and almost slowed down. Then the headlights appeared. Now, full of fear, she pressed down on the gas pedal, determined to lose the asshole. She rounded several corners, even doubling back. The vehicle remained behind her. What the hell was she supposed to do? She had no idea where the sheriff’s office was located and even if she did, what could she say, and did she really think the jerk was going to follow her there? Not a chance in Hell.

  Stasha continued the drive, moving onto a straight section of road but one with few lights and even fewer stops. When she was getting close to the turn off for her house, she made a quick decision and flew onto the adjacent road, pulling to the side and stopping, cutting the lights immediately.

  Praying, she hunkered down but could still see in her side mirror. When the vehicle rolled by without turning, she gasped for air. Then she waited, certain the asshole would turn around. After five full minutes, she was certain she was simply losing her mind. She eased out of the spot and kept going, making the turns until she came to the driveway leading to her clinic. She looked again, just to be certain, then rolled up the slight embankment.

  For some reason, she sat still in her truck, breathing in and out, anticipating a visitor. She gasped for air and grabbed her purse, jumping out of the truck and racing around the back, dropping her keys not once but twice as she attempted to unlock the door. When she was inside, she shifted the bolt into place and sunk against the wood. This was insane. She couldn’t go through her life like this.

  She made certain all the doors and windows were locked then walked into her bedroom. After changing into a fuzzy robe, she walked to the window, peering outside. There was nothing but the ominous shadows coming from the surrounding trees. She needed to check on the puppies.

  Huffing, she inched closer to the door leading to her clinic. The locks were in place and when she opened the door, the only sounds were the humming noises from the various refrigerators. She left the door open leading to her clinic then moved to the room in her apartment. The nightlight that had been installed was all she needed and when she walked into the room, she was engulfed by the fur balls crawling all over her. “Hi there. How are you babies tonight?”

  After refreshing their water and filling their food bowls, she cleaned up the various piles of poop and sat down to play with them. She was exhausted and overwrought with worry, and the comfort the puppies gave her was more comforting than she could have thought. When she could barely keep her eyes open, she kissed and rubbed them goodnight before leaving and closing the clinic door.

  The instant she did, she shrunk back in the shadows. A bluish hue came from the hallway leading to her office. Had she simply not noticed it before? She dragged the edges of the robe together and took several tentative steps. She always left her computer on so that wasn’t an issue, but the screen would have gone to sleep. Maybe some vibrations jarred it somehow.

  She slunk along the wall, darting her head out into the hallway. Her office door was open, and she could see the computer from where she was standing. There was no way anyone could have gotten in. Moving with increased confidence, she walked into her office and flipped on the light. Nothing was amiss, nothing moved as far as she could tell. Even her chair was in the same position, nestling securely under the desk.

  Pulling on the arm, she rolled the chair out and sat down. The screen was the normal background she used. Exhaling, she was about to turn off the monitor when she noticed an open file on the bottom. She always closed out everything. Always. Her hand shaking, she moved the mouse, swallowing hard, she clicked on the file.

  The almost blank document zoomed into full screen. Almost blank. She noticed writing so small that she had to zoom in.

  Written in simple text were a few words.

  We’re coming for you…

  “No!”

  “We’re cut off.” Antonio’s words rang out to the men.

  “What the hell happened?” Riker asked as he paced the small clearing.

  The roar of the fire was all around them. Boone could feel his heart pounding in his chest as the fire crackled, whooshing coming from all directions. “Did you call for backup?”

  “Hell, yes I did!” Antonio snapped then shook his head. “We don’t have any choices. The other smokejumping team is on the other side of the mountain. Too dangerous for the firefighters to get in here.”

  “Then what do we do?” Zane managed after the others remained quiet.

  Sawyer walked around the perimeter. “The fire is headed in this direction. There’s little we can do. We can’t outrun it.”

  “Shit. Shit!” Landen yelled.

  Whoosh! Crack!

  “The fire blankets. That’s our only chance,” Boone said as he dropped his bag. He knew the reaction of the others, but they had no other choice. He studied the horizon, the morning light clouded by the intense smoke.

  “Damn things got jumpers killed a few years ago,” Steel hissed.

  “Different type. We can do this. Only way to try and protect our lives.” Moose could barely speak. “We can’t get out of here. We have to do this.”

  Riker walked back to the group, his eyes full of anger, rage. “Antonio. This is your call.”

  Antonio breathed out and studied the area. “Let me call in our position. Then we’re going to do this. Right here. The fire will roll over us in a matter of minutes.”

  “Then we might all die,” Landen stuttered.

  “No, we won’t. We can do this. We will survive.” Antonio’s voice was breaking, and he looked away before pressing his communication’s button. “If anyone can here this, this is the Jackal team about two thousand feet from Quigg Peak, approximately…”

  Boone couldn’t listen. He didn’t want to even know what the man was saying or if there was anyone out there to hear their desperate cry of help. What he did know is he could die on this mountain on this morning. His thoughts began to drift to Stasha, his family and his beautiful ranch, his friends and t
he life he’d led. He was more shaken than he would have imagined at this moment.

  “Come on, buddy. We can do this.” Sawyer gripped his shoulder, moving in front. “We’ll be protected.”

  “Are you certain? I mean really?” Boone asked, choking back the tears.

  “I don’t know if they heard us but if they did, the rescue team will be here soon after the fire has moved on. We can survive this, men. We can.” Moose had a look of horror on his face.

  A moment of silence settled in as the team looked from one to the other.

  “Prevent. Protect. Preserve.”

  Boone was unsure who said the words, but he knew this was a defining moment for all of them. “Been a pleasure, gentlemen.” Grabbing the fire blanket, his fingers were numb as he tried to unfold it.

  An eerie quiet settled in as the men unraveled the blankets, moving them in a distinct formation. The fire would roll over them at a minimum of 2400 degrees, annihilating anything in its path. What would be left was charred remains, an uncivilized earth that would take generations to come back.

  “We’ll make it through,” Riker said without any emotion then moved into his blanket.

  Boone took one last look at the sky, the fiery orange that engulfed the entire path of light, yet he knew the sun would come out, the sky would once again be blue and there would be life.

  Just not for them.

  As he slid into his blanket, he gave Sawyer one last look before zipping the outer edge and folding his arms under his body. Everything was muffled and as he closed his eyes, flashes of his life rushed by, images so vivid in color that he was taken aback.

  His first horse.

  His mother’s face.

  His father’s smile.

  His ranch in Texas.

  His ranch in Missoula.

  His beautiful horses.

  Stasha…

  Tears rushed to his eyes and for the first time in his life, he was terrified. This was the end. This was his life. Please God, forgive me for my sins…

  Then he heard the sound of Riker’s voice.

  “Oh, Danny boy, the pipes the pipes are calling. From glen to glen—”

  Whoosh!

  Chapter 8

  Are you all right, Dr. Parker?” Megan asked as she stood outside Stasha’s doorway.

  “What?” Stasha jerked her head up, her eyes unfocused.

  “You don’t look well. Maybe you should take the day off.”

  “I’m okay. Just fine.” She was shivering, her stomach in knots and she hadn’t heard a word from Boone. There’d been nothing on the television except for wretched reports about the fire consuming thousands of acres. She hadn’t been able to finish her coffee. Now, her stomach was churning.

  “Okay. If you say so. Your first appointment arrives in thirty minutes.”

  Stasha rubbed both hands through her hair. “You mean I have more than one?” The note remained on her screen and for two hours, she hadn’t been able to take her eyes off the ugly words. Who were they? How did the fucker get in?

  “You have three and several for tomorrow,” Megan said as she smiled and walked further inside. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  She thought about the question. “Yes. You can. Call a locksmith. I need to get all the locks changed.”

  “What? Why?”

  “We had a break in last night. I want to make certain we’re safe. Can you do that for me?”

  “Uh, sure. I can. Why would they break in here?” Megan’s face held fear.

  “That is the question of the hour.”

  Ting. Ting.

  The old-fashioned bell echoed. “Must be our first appointment.” Stasha was in no mood but maybe the work would keep her sane to some degree.

  “I’ll put them in examination room one.”

  “Good. I’ll be right there.” Stasha tried to stand and when she did, she almost slumped over the desk. Her legs were weak and her mind full of vicious thoughts. Someone was purposely fucking with her. Damn them. Damn all the shit. She was ready to live her life.

  “Dr. Parker?” Megan’s eyes were wide, her face pinched.

  “Something else wrong?”

  “The sheriff is here to see you?” The inquisitive look on Megan’s ashen face was palpable.

  The concept was one she knew would happen sooner versus later. Boone didn’t have to tell her anything to allow her to realize he was out of sorts. What did he need to tell her? “Okay, send him back.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Stasha attempted to smooth down her hair as she walked around the desk. This meeting she would remain standing.

  “Dr. Parker?” The sheriff held out his hand, giving her a respectful nod. “Sheriff James. Good to finally meet you.”

  “You can call me Stasha.” After shaking hands, she folded her arms, the chill remaining. “What can I do for you?”

  “Well, I’m following up on the incident from yesterday.”

  “The horse. Yes. Tragedy.”

  He looked over his shoulder then closed her office door. “Yes, as well as some information that Boone Martin brought to my attention yesterday.”

  “Boone?”

  “You do know him?”

  “Of course,” she only half whispered. “What did he tell you?”

  “That you’d been shot at the night before after entering an abandoned house.”

  Cringing, she was unable to determine his mood. The overweight man had a pleasant enough face, but she had a feeling he was all business. “I got a tip that there were some abandoned puppies.”

  “You do realize that breaking and entering is a crime? You were also trespassing on private property. You should have called our office.”

  “I…” What was she going to do, deny the blatant disregard for law? “Yes, sir. I knew but I felt the lives of the puppies were in danger. So, I went in without thinking. I had no idea I’d get shot at.”

  “Who told you?”

  “Penny Johnson.” As soon as she said the woman’s name, the sheriff had a twitch on the side of his mouth. “A problem?”

  “Not at all,” he said as he wrote down some notes.

  “What else did Boone tell you?”

  Hesitating, he gave her a hard look. “I had you checked out. You have some excellent credentials.”

  She could tell he was holding back. “Thank you. I love animals.”

  “Which is why you gave the head of the rodeo a rash of shit.”

  “Gerald told you. The man is an asshole and has no regard for animals.”

  He shook his head. “You’re a spitfire just like Boone said you were. What can you tell me about the shot?”

  “Nothing really. It was dark and caught me off guard. A single shot that I think ricocheted off the house. After that, I jumped into the truck and took off.”

  “Mmm… Okay.”

  “What do you know, Sheriff?” Stasha asked, standing her ground.

  “Boone suddenly fashions himself to be an amateur detective, against my better judgement. However, you are correct about the ricochet. Boone found the bullet and we had it analyzed.”

  “And?”

  “The bullet is from a recent shot, corroborating with your story.”

  “Do you have any idea who did this?”

  “That’s what I’m here to ask you,” he said with no inflection in his voice.

  Stasha exhaled and shook her head. “I have no idea.”

  “And you know that’s not true.” Sheriff James walked closer. “I’m aware of the threats you received. We take them very seriously as you should, Dr. Parker. There are certain people in this town who refuse to tolerate anyone defying them.”

  “So, I’ve been told more than once, Sheriff. Yes, I gave Mr. Tucker a tongue lashing for his attitude with regard to the animals, but nothing I said was anything that any normal human being wouldn’t have said. You have to be aware of the various actions.”

  “What I know is that the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Associa
tion has certain criteria and rules that must be followed, or the chapter could be shut down. I highly doubt they’d go against those regulations, especially given they are required to have a licensed veterinarian there at all times.”

  Snorting, she realized she’d rolled her eyes. “That makes you a part of the problem. All due respect, Sheriff. You can’t look the other way. I understand there was a fire at a ranch just outside of town. It’s my understanding these are prized horses, some meant for the rodeo circuit, others for prize-winning races and still others meant for studding. That makes them extremely valuable and my guess, a target. Many have been stolen from their owners and trainers, meant for another purpose and I’m guessing large sums of money is involved. Am I right?” She knew she was taking a shot in the dark but given the slight inflection in his eyes, she could tell she was right.

  Some monster was purposely destroying certain animals while others were being collected, sent off to an unknown bidder. For a collection? Maybe. For other more nefarious purposes? No doubt.

  The sheriff hesitated before giving her a slight smile. “I appreciate your candor, Dr. Parker, but I assure you, there is no criminal mastermind at work here. My guess is that you ruffled feathers, pushing certain buttons. However, I need to know every detail of the incident and I need to see the email you were sent.”

  Tap. Tap!

  The knock had urgency.

  “Yes?” She continued to stare at the sheriff.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt but there’s a Shannon Miller in the waiting room?” Megan struggled to say.

  “Shannon? Oh, yes. Tell her I’ll be right there,” Stasha said casually.

  “No. She said it’s urgent and about Boone Martin? She said you would want me to interrupt you.”

  She studied Megan’s face and could tell the girl was concerned. “Okay. Sheriff, I’ll be happy to tell you anything you’d like to know, which is very little, but let me see what’s going on.”

  “The fire,” the sheriff said. “I didn’t know you were close.”

  “Yeah.” She moved around the sheriff, hesitating for only a moment before heading into the waiting room. The man held such sadness in his voice. When she entered the room, she was taken aback, able to tell that Shannon had been crying. “Shannon. What’s wrong?”