Page 17 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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6

Havoc

Ididn’t plan to go to their place.

But Buddy had other ideas.

The mutt bolts the second Dylan opens the door.

Straight down the dirt road.

Straight toward the old farmhouse on the hill.

Dylan groans.

“Mom’s gonna think we lost him again.”

“We didn’t,” I say. “I’ll walk you home.”

We follow the dog up the driveway.

The house is older than I expected.

Wood siding.

Wide porch.

A barn sitting off to the side.

Buddy runs inside like he’s returning from war.

Aspen appears in the doorway.

Her hair is loose today, falling over one shoulder.

She looks surprised to see me.

Then embarrassed.

“I’m so sorry,” she says quickly. “He slipped out again.”

“It’s fine. He was with Dylan; he didn’t run away.”

The words come out easier than they should.

She sighs.

“Everything is just… chaos lately.”

Dylan runs inside after Buddy.

Aspen gestures toward the porch.

“Thank you for walking him home.”

“No problem.”

I lean against the railing while she pushes hair out of her eyes.

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