“Hey, is that one of the Daddy Guard vans parked out there?” John jerked his head back to indicate the street behind him.
Trevon shut the gate, turned, and leaned against the white stucco fencing that ringed the property. “Yep. We have a new Little here tonight. She’s in some trouble, so she came into town to get some help.”
“Where is she from?”
“Vegas,” Trevon answered.
“The exploits of the Daddy Guard are being told far and near, it seems,” John said. “Who’s helping her?”
“Jack and Ace right now.”
“Glad they’re here. I’ll tell ‘em hi and see if they need some help.”
John was halfway up the walkway that split the perfectly manicured, lush, green lawn when Trevon called out.
“Going to help someone, huh? Just remember I like my steak rare. Of course, I’ll do the bone-in ribeye. And I’ll have to add a baked potato. Can’t just have a steak with no side.” His grin widened. “You going to spring for an appetizer, too? Their marinated herring is to die for.”
John laughed. “I’m buying all this on a firefighter’s salary. Remember? No appetizer. And you’re drinking water.”
Trevon held up his hands in a sign of surrender. “Steak and potato, it is.”
“You haven’t won yet, pal.”
Trevon just chuckled.
Before either one of them could say anything else, a scream split the still early evening air.
“That came from the roof!” Trevon observed. He looked up at the mansion’s red tile roof. “I don’t see anything. Must be in the back.”
He was already running toward the side of the house when John caught up to him. Another scream rang out. Both men increased their pace.
“Damnit,” John said, never breaking stride.
“What?” Trevon asked.
“I think I’m about to already lose that bet.”
Chapter Seven
Trixie instantly regretted getting onto the roof of the big old mansion.
It had all started innocently enough—as most of her trouble did.
She was on the trampoline with some of the other Littles, throwing a big foam ball around while they bounced. Only the ball went too high, cleared the trampoline’s net, and then got caught on the gentle breeze that was sweeping off the mountains. A few seconds later, the ball came to rest on the roof.
“I can get it!” Trixie had yelled.
Then, without really considering everything, she’d sprung into action. She’d shimmied up one of the poles of the trampoline—it looked sturdy enough—and then onto a nearby tree. From the tree she’d hopped right onto the roof. It was so simple! And she’d always been flexible and agile. A great climber.
But when she got up on the roof and realized how high the mansion actually towered, well… that was a different story.
She’d almost slipped and tumbled right off to the hard ground below.
Several of her new friends had screamed. Others were shouting for her to be careful.
Trixie had let out a little yell, too.
All the commotion must have grabbed the attention of folks around, because two men suddenly came into view in the backyard.
