Page 60 of Rauf: Minotaur Mates

“You know, I do have other patients.”

I gave him one last scratch and moved along the aisle before I spent the entire morning telling a goat my problems.

The others were less impressed by my arrival. Two were eating, and a third glanced up from its bedding before going back to sleep. I paused at each pen, watching them move and checking the food and water. One came over to see whether I had anything better than what was already in its trough, then wandered away when it discovered I didn’t.

When I came out of the barn, I finally spotted Julia hanging out near the open gate.

Given Rauf’s insistence that I stay on the property, I was a bit surprised to find the gate open. I wanted to take a walk outside the boundary of the farm on principle, but that felt a little reckless given the fugitive out there.

Was that Maisie’s buggy?

It was Maisie’s. And Maisie wasn’t driving it.

A man sat behind the wheel.

My stomach dropped.

“Julia, get back!” I yelled. But either I was too far away for her to hear or she ignored me.

She was talking to the man in the buggy.

Julia turned her head toward me. I waved both arms. She was too far off for me to read her expression.

Then she turned back and climbed into the passenger seat.

“Julia!” I ran towards the fence. Where were the men? Why was no one here to help?

I could see the driver’s face now. Jason. He looked past Julia at me as she settled into the seat, then reached down beside his leg.

For a second I thought he was putting the buggy into gear.

He brought up a blaster.

Julia screamed. The weapon swung toward me, and I stumbled sideways, trying to stop running straight at it. Light flashed. The shot struck the dirt several feet to my left, throwing up a spray of earth.

I dropped into a crouch with my hands over my head. He’d shot at me. He’d actually shot at me.

I looked up in time to see Julia grab his arm. She had both hands on him, pulling at his wrist, trying to force the blaster down. His mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear what he said. He jerked his arm away, and she caught at it again.

“Help!” I screamed. “Somebody!”

The buggy surged forward. Julia lurched back against the seat, one hand still clutching Jason’s sleeve. He gripped the wheel with his free hand, the blaster disappearing below the side of the vehicle as she struggled with him.

I scrambled to my feet. They were already moving away from the gate.

I had to do something.

I turned and ran for the truck beside the machinery shed. My boots slipped in the loose dirt, and I caught myself against the door before wrenching it open. The step was high. I grabbed the handle inside and hauled myself into the driver’s seat.

The key was still in the ignition. Thank you.

I reached beneath the seat and found the adjustment lever. The seat slid forward with a jolt, bringing the pedals within reach. My hands were shaking so hard I missed the key the first time I tried to turn it. I caught it on the second try, and the engine started.

I pressed the brake, shoved the gearshift into drive, and gripped the wheel. Then I moved my foot to the accelerator, and the truck lurched forward.

20

RAUF