Sorrow stung my eyes.
“What kind of sick fuck does this to an animal?” I seethed hoarsely.
“I don’t know.” Georgie was visibly distressed too. “We need to call the police, though, Jar.”
Knowing he was right, I waited as Georgie called. He strode off to meet them at the gate, while I went over to make sure the rest of our flock was okay. They were nervous and frightened, and a male ran at me in warning to back off, protecting the rest of the sheep.
I called Anna to let her know what had happened and asked if she could come to move them out of the field. Considering the circumstances, she agreed to as soon as possible.
As for me, I returned to stand guard over the felled ewe, my mind racing with the possibilities. Because this was a deliberate, vindictive assault on an animal. On one ofmyanimals.
My thoughts kept returning to one person.
Dear old Dad.
I said as much to the police when they arrived and explained my father’s threats. I even forwarded on his text messages to the constables. Anna arrived to take care of the flock while Georgie and I loaded up the ewe so he could take her to the abattoir.
And all I wanted, after running away from her this morning, was to see Allegra’s face. To take comfort in her presence.
So I followed that instinct and returned to the house, grateful to find her car still parked in the driveway. We’d gone car shopping a few weeks back and I was pleasantly surprised by her taste in vehicles. She’d ended up purchasing a Wrangler. Though she’d gone for a flashy bright yellow that made me chuckle every time I saw it.
Except for today.
I was in no mood for laughs today.
Allegra wasn’t inside the house. I quickly washed up, changed my clothes, and then headed outside. I found my wife in the back garden. She’d dragged two kitchen chairs out, one to sit on and one for her legs. Her knees were bent as she sketched on a pad that rested on her thighs. A frown of concentration marred her brow, and as I grew closer, I realized she was sketching the farm. It wasn’t the type of work I was used to seeing from her.
“It looks good,” I murmured.
She jumped, startled, those big eyes wide with surprise. “What are you doing back so soon?”
Whatever she saw on my face caused her to take her feet off the other chair and offer it to me. I sat, our knees brushing we were so close. Then I told her about the ewe.
Hanging my head as worries coursed through me, I sighed at the feel of her fingers stroking over my head. I knew I shouldn’t, but I leaned into her touch.
“I’m so sorry, Jared. I’m so sorry.” Her fingernails lightly scratched over my nape and I reached for her, my hands light on the outside of her thighs as she continued to caress me. Soothe me.
Fucking comfort me.
It felt better than it should.
“I’m going to kill whoever did this,” she vowed vehemently. “And we’ll figure out together who was behind it. I promise.”
Unbelievably, a smile tugged at my mouth. I lifted my head to look at her and the urge to kiss her was so bloody overwhelming, I knew my control had slipped. I felt myself moving toward her?—
My ringtone screamed from my arse pocket. It was like a lasso around my torso, yanking me back from Allegra and into reality. Shit. I’d almost kissed her.
“Sorry. Might be the police.” I stood abruptly to pull out my phone. Sorcha’s name and photo was on the screen. Beneath it were several texts from her I hadn’t opened.
Not really in the mood to talk to anyone but seeing it as an opportunity to avoid fucking things up with Allegra, I answered.
“Oh my God, Jared, thank God,” Sorcha’s frantic voice cut down the line.
My first thought was that something had happened to Brechin again. “Everything all right?”
“No, no. I’ve just gotten back from a hair appointment and my door was ajar. The wood is splintered and Brechin won’t stop barking. I’m afraid to go inside. I think someone broke in.”
What the … could this day get any worse? “Did you call the police?”
