“Sam’s truck keys are at the back door.I told him that the first day he was here,” Jenna said as she closed and locked the kitchen windows.
“Said he couldn’t find them, which makes me wonder if someone took them.”
“Oh, gosh.It’s a good thing Daisy is with him.She’ll bark if she senses someone around.Funny that she didn’t hear anyone maybe tampering with the tires?”
A cold prickle ran along his spine.Daisy missing something wasn’t impossible, but it wasn’t comforting either.But Nick seemed confident she was a good watchdog.
“She might have been busy exploring and didn’t notice.When she’s inside the house, she will be alert.Don’t worry.Oh, and Nick said there’s a storm on the way.Lightning up north.We better get the horses inside before it gets wild out there,” he added, changing the subject.
There was no way she was going out there alone tonight.
But afterwards, what then?How could he possibly stay under the same roof as Jenna or even sleep just down the hall from her.
Would she even allow him to stay in the house?
“I’ll get the bedroom window where you sleep, you check the others,” Axel commanded.
Jenna nodded and rushed off.
A couple of minutes later, they met in the hallway.Their eyes met for a heartbeat too long.The air became charged, uncertain, and threaded with everything they weren’t saying.
“Let’s move,” Jenna said.
“Right behind you,” Axel replied, following her toward the back door.
Stepping outside, Axel immediately sensed a shift in the air.The wind hit him like a warning.It was coming out of the north, sharp and cool and it carried the metallic scent of coming rain.Lightning flickered in that direction.He waited as Jenna quickly locked the back door behind them.
He could tell by her tense shoulders that she was on edge.She was locking the door and taking no chances tonight after Nick’s unsettling phone call about the tire incident.
“Remember, don’t approach the horses head-on or from behind,” Jenna instructed, her voice firm and authoritative as they hurried across the yard toward the looming barn.Her voice steadied as she spoke.She was confident and capable.This was the Jenna he remembered and the one he’d missed.
“They’re gentle, but they need to see you, especially if the storm’s got them on edge.”
“After all those years hearing Nick’s ranch stories, I think I’ve got a fair idea of what not to do.”
“Good.I’m glad you were an attentive pupil,” she replied coolly, rushing off ahead.
Axel grinned at her remark.
The moment they entered the barn, Jenna pulled up short and he almost crashed into her.
“I forgot the raincoats in the house.It’ll be raining by the time we’re finished.”
“I can run back and get them,” Axel offered, though he doubted the rain would start that quickly.
Jenna shook her head as she grabbed the halters and lead ropes from nearby hooks.
“No time.I’ll put these on the horses, and we’ll lead the horses into the barn and tie them off in here.We can bring them to their stalls afterwards.We have to move fast.If you listen close, you can practically hear the rain coming.”
Her urgency sent them back outside into the quickly forming night.
Axel strained his ears but heard only the steady chorus of crickets.The tension in the air, however, was unmistakable.The wind was rising; every shadow and distant sound set his nerves on edge as the lightning flashed brighter and thunder rumbled quietly in the distance.
The downpour came fast and hard, like the sky had been holding its breath and finally let go.By the time they had all the horses inside the barn, they were both soaked to the skin.The rain hit as they Jenna was haltering the last horse and they both led the nervous animal inside.
Quickly Jenna felt chilled.A protective instinct flared and she wrapped her arms around herself, not for warmth, but for the tiny life she carried.Her teeth began to chatter and Axel noticed right away.
“Why don’t you go up to the hayloft.The lantern is on a hook right at the bottom of the stairs to your right.There’s a clean towel folded on one of the chairs and a nice warm flannel shirt and socks in my duffel bag for you.My duffel is the one on the right of the bed.I’ll start bringing the horses into their stalls.”
