A buzzing sound had her looking for her bees.They’d been out playing on the lower entries of the hives, but there shouldn’t be enough of them out yet to create so much noise.And they shouldn’t be wandering far from home yet.She’d never heard them like this.
It took a moment to realize that whatever was making the noise, it didn’t seem to be her bees.They were acting normally for this time of year.Few were outside, and those were sleepily exploring the area immediately around the hive.
Fox had disappeared into the woods while she’d been planting, but Bibi lifted her massive head from her paws to look around.“Do you see any of the bees, Bibi?”
But there weren’t any.
Then Bibi looked up, and Dani followed her gaze.
A drone hovered above their clearing.
Who the hell was watching her?Why?
Bibi barked, and Dani waved at the drone to move away.She knew nothing about them but didn’t want any near her hives.What if it messed up her bees?This was her property, and no jackass had a right to watch her through a drone.
She walked to the middle of the clearing, waving her hands in the air.“Go away.I don’t know who you are, but this is my property.You need to leave now.You’re going to scare my bees.”
Did drones have audio?She didn’t have a clue.
The little machine circled over the clearing twice more, and then the wings waggled back and forth for a few seconds.She wondered if it was going to fall.
A ripple of unease ran up her spine as she watched the machine steady itself, then rise.It circled wider and wider over the clearing before finally heading over the trees and out of sight.What did they want from her?
Whoever the idiot was running it, she hoped he never came back.
But a shiver of unease had taken the joy out of the day.
Chapter2
Droning On
What a beauty.
Lawson couldn’t believe his luck.It looked to be a 1930 Ford truck.Maybe a ’31.
It appeared to have the original red paint, but it was difficult to tell with the way it had rusted out.He could spend many happy hours buffing out that rust if it hadn’t gone all the way through.
Weeds grew all around it; some plants were even growing through the truck’s bed and the gaps around the hood.
The sweetheart had been there for decades.
Abandoned and alone.
Not for long.
It took an effort for Lawson to remember he was flying a drone and couldn’t simply run through the trees to check out the truck in person.Not until he had his bearings, at least.He needed to know how to find the beauty on foot.
Where was it?
Lawson took another sweep around the truck and then had the drone fly higher to give him some perspective.
That’s when he realized the truck wasn’t alone in the clearing.A woman in a floppy hat and a threadbare sweater over a flowery dress waved her arms at the drone.
He couldn’t see her face because of the broad hat brim but she didn’t appear to be happy to see him.Shit.
Lawson waggled the drone from side to side in greeting.The woman’s hands slammed onto her hips, and a huge, hairy dog moved to her side.
The mountain of fur leaned into her, nearly knocking her over.Her hand touched the dog’s head, and Lawson resisted the urge to fly lower to see her face.
