When the large shed came into view, my stomach dropped. I could already hear the animals in the barn next door growing frantic. And I couldn’t blame them. Animals weren’t dumb; they knew the smell of fire meant danger.
Flames crawled up the dry boards of the old wooden structure like they’d just been waiting for the chance. Black smoke was pouring out the open door. The fire wasn’t big yet, but it was intentional. It was set low and smart. It was set to spread.
Moose swore under his breath. “Someone wanted this place gone.” He turned to the prospects. “Get some water on this, now.”
They moved into action swiftly.
“No,” I said, voice low and cold. “Someone wanted her scared.”
Bear pointed to the ground near the shed. “Tracks are fresh.”
I followed his gaze, noting the tire marks and boot prints. There was more than one set. They circled the shed, then headed back toward the road. Whoever it was wanted us to know that they had been here because they’d made no show of even trying to cover their tracks.
My jaw clenched so hard it hurt. “They were here, while she was alone.”
Ridge looked at me. “You think they took her?”
“No. I don’t know…maybe.” I forced myself to breathe as I swung my gaze around. “Her truck’s gone. I think maybe she left on her own. There was a shotgun on the kitchen counter.”
“She wasn’t messing around,” Ridge said.
The flames crackled louder, snapping my attention back. If the shed went up, the dry grass around it would catch next. Then the pasture. Then the barn. Her home, animals, land.She’d lose everything.
Rowan’s whole world could burn in under an hour, especially with the wind that swept through the ranch.
“Moose, Confessor,” I said, “get the extinguishers from the barn while the Assholes start throwing water over this mess. Bear and Ridge, help me clear a break line.”
Everyone moved without question.
I grabbed a shovel that was leaning against the fence and started carving a trench around the shed, dirt flying, muscles burning. Bear worked beside me, sweat already dripping down his temples despite the cold.
Moose and Confessor returned with two extinguishers, spraying the base of the flames. The fire hissed, fought back, and began licking itself across the ground and away from the barn. Bear, Ridge and I dug deep enough that when the flames hit the break line they had nowhere to go. Slowly, as everyone worked with what they had, the flames began to die out.
But even as the smoke thinned, the anger in my chest didn’t.
Someone had come onto Rowan’s land and someone had set a fire, but worse, someone had called me to make sure I knew that she was alone and in danger.
When the last of the flames sputtered out, I stood there breathing hard, staring at the charred wood, the blackened dirt, and the tracks leading away.
Asshole 1 jogged over, a small contraption in the palm of his large hand.
“What’s that?” Moose asked, taking it from him.
“Looks like a timer. There’s accelerants too and a whole heap of shit inside the barn. It’s pretty much burnt to a crisp, but it’s obvious what does and doesn’t belong.” Asshole 1 rubbed his hands down his jeans, creating two smears of dark soot stains down them.
“See what else you can find,” Moose ordered, and he nodded and jogged back over to the barn. Moose held the timer out to me, and I took it from him. “Tex, this was too well organized.”
Bear nodded. “And bold as shit. They’re not scared of bein’ seen.”
“They should be,” I said, turning the crude device over in my hands. “And if they aren’t yet, they will be soon.”
My voice didn’t sound like mine. It sounded darker, older. Like the part of me I’d buried years ago was clawing its way back up.
I turned toward the road, scanning the horizon.
“Rowan’s out there,” I said.
“Do you think she went after them?” Moose asked.
