“Not sure,” I say, pulling out my phone. “I have it on video.”
Everett and Gabe look at the video, then exchange a look I can only describe as predatory, which makes my hair stand on end at the back of my neck, my omega senses on high alert.
“We need to go now,” Everett says. “They’ll be packing up if they know they’ve been spotted.”
Gabe nods. “I’ll get the snowmobiles.”
“Melody, stay here where it’s safe.” Everett turns to Finn. “Call the sheriff. Tell him we’ve got evidence of the tree thieves and we’re in pursuit. Stay with Melody.”
“Be careful. They looked dangerous.”
Everett turns to Finn. “Call Sheriff. Tell him we’ve found the tree thieves and we’re in pursuit.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Stay with Melody. Don’t leave her side.”
“As if I would,” Finn says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
“We’ll be fine,” Gabe says, already moving toward the shed where they keep the snowmobiles. “We’ve dealt with worse.”
Everett kisses me quickly, then follows Gabe. Within minutes, the roar of engines fills the air as they speed away, heading toward the north section of the property.
Finn pulls out his phone and dials the sheriff. It’s then that I notice the entire Christmas tree lot is staring at us—families with children, elderly couples, Charlie with her phone out, definitely recording this whole scene.
I wave.
What else am I supposed to do?
Oxford trots up to us, looking remarkably composed for an animal who saved me then almost killed me.
“You,” I tell him, “are the most terrifying hero I’ve ever met.”
Charlie walks over. “OMG. That was. I have no words.”
“Same.” I say, “Although I think I broke my vagina.”
Charlie laughs, “I can’t believe you rode Oxford!”
“Not willingly,” I admit. “He just scooped me up.” I turn to Oxford, scratching behind his ear. “You saved me, you magnificent, ridiculous creature.”
“What exactly happened?” she asks, guiding me toward a bench near the bonfire.
“One minute we’re having a nice winter walk, and the next I’m flying through the air on Oxford.”
I sink onto the bench gratefully. “Oxford saved me. I fell in the snow, and those men were coming, and he just…” I shake my head, not wanting to relive it.” I reach out to stroke Oxford’s neck. “I don’t know how I stayed on. Pure terror, probably.”
31
Melody
Finn shoves his phone back in his pocket as he walks towards us. “Bad news. The sheriff is out of town. Apparently, there’s some emergency in the next county over.”
“What? Right now?” I stare at him in disbelief. “When there are literal ax-wielding tree thieves in the woods?”
“Small town charm at its finest, I guess,” Finn says with a grimace. “There’s a junior deputy on duty, but he’s at the Christmas concert in town. They’re trying to reach him, but no luck so far.”
“He probably turned his radio off for the performance, but that’s where everyone will be. It starts in 5 minutes,” Charlie says.
I push myself to my feet, ignoring the protest from my thighs. “Then that’s where we need to go. We can find the deputy ourselves.”
“Are you sure you’re up for more adventure?” Finn asks. “You did just survive a death-defying llama rodeo.”
