Page 22 of Rangers Mountain Rescue
9
Havoc
By the time I reach the farmhouse, the whole place feels wrong.
Too quiet.
Too tense.
Aspen is standing in the yard, arms wrapped around herself like she’s trying to hold the world together.
Dylan is beside her, gripping Buddy’s collar.
The dog isn’t wagging.
He’s staring toward the mountain.
I step out of the truck.
“What happened?”
Aspen turns toward me, and for a second, I see the fear she’s trying so hard to hide.
“He’s gone,” she says. “The back door was open. The pasture gate too.”
My brain shifts gears instantly.
Search mode.
“How long?”
“Maybe twenty minutes.”
That’s good.
That’s very good.
Still close.
Still findable.
Wolf pulls up behind me in his truck.
Saint, Trigger, and Rylie roll in seconds later.
Aspen’s eyes widen slightly as the vehicles arrive one after another.
Men stepping out.
Moving with purpose.
Quiet.
Efficient.
Like they’ve done this a thousand times.
Because we have.
