Lawson ground his teeth together and tried to keep his voice level.“Bibi ran off that way.I don’t think we were too far behind the asshole.”He hadn’t kept running because he hadn’t wanted to leave Dani.
Dani leaned into him.“Bibi returned with Fox.I hope they got in a bite before they lost the person.”
Marcus laughed.“Me too.”
From Dani’s side, Bibi turned to the same forest area and barked again.No growl, though.
Lawson looked at the other dogs.Boomer was the most highly trained.The big German shepherd stood alert, his attention trained on the same area as Bibi.His tail wagged, and Lawson relaxed, although he would have enjoyed taking on whoever had tried to hurt Dani.
A woman Lawson hadn’t met yet walked through the woods with a half-dozen dogs around her.Boxers and Bernese Mountain dogs.This had to be Lorraine, who lived on the property next door.
Sure enough, the woman marched right to them and studied Dani.“Are you okay?”
At Dani’s nod, she hugged her.“My troop alerted me that someone was on the property.Half of them took off into the woods.”
Lawson held out his hand.“Hi.You must be Lorraine.I’m Lawson Malssum.”
The woman smiled.“I would have guessed you were a Malssum.Nice to meet you.”
He nodded.“Same.Someone tried to set a fire near Dani’s apiaries.”
Outrage filled Lorraine’s face, and she brushed her hand over Dani’s arm as she looked around.“You got it out?Any damage to your bees?”
Dani nodded.“They’re safe.We were returning from the apple farm, and Bibi spotted the fire before it took hold.”
Lorraine nodded and then turned toward her property.“With the reaction of Bibi and my dogs, I’m guessing the jerk took off that way.Probably had a car parked on the side road.With yours being the only drive, they probably figured no one would notice a vehicle.”
Lawson grinned.Lorraine was proving to be a great ally.“Any chance you have any security cameras out that way?”
She shook her head.“No.After the incidents last year, I have some on the house, but the land is too big to bother.Plus, the troop won’t let anyone near.”
Lawson imagined that was true.They appeared to be almost as well trained as Boomer.
As if Marcus was thinking the same thing, he nodded.“It’s dark now, but I’d like to do a pass through your property if that’s all right, Lorraine.Which of the dogs would be best to lead a search?”
“Boomer.”At least six voices spoke, making them all smile.
Marcus nodded.“Boomer, it is.Is that okay, Amber?You can come with us, so he doesn’t get stressed.”
Lawson’s quiet sister nodded with a smile, and Gray’s arm landed on her shoulders.He’d go too.
Lawson agreed.“Bibi might help, too.She followed the asshole for a while.”
So, he, Dani, Amber, Gray, Marcus and the dogs headed into the woods with large flashlights from Marcus’s squad car.
Bella and Mitch stayed at the scene with a few others, while the rest ensured Dani’s cottage and garage were safe.
Dani tried several times to send everyone home to bed, but they refused, causing her eyes to mist again.When they were walking, he leaned down to whisper in her ear.“You’ll get used to it, eventually.”
She raised an eyebrow.“Get used to what?”
“Being surrounded by people who care.Having a family at your back.”
She squeezed his hand and nodded.
He kept her hand in his as they followed Bibi and Boomer into the forest.Hopefully, they’d find something to identify the jerk who’d tried to burn the field.
Then they could put this shit behind them and get on with their future.
