I drag the hose toward the truck, coiling it with more force than necessary. “I’ll run you back to the house. No sense in staying in this heat.”
He fixes me with a look. “Cut the shit.”
I exhale deeply. “Grandpa—”
“This is still my land. I deserve to know the shit you’re dealing with.”
I resign, knowing he’s right. I fire up the truck and haul ass to the south pasture.
“What do we have?” I ask, even though the cut in the fence is obvious. Precise, clean cuts line the right side of the fence post.
Daniel’s face is pale as he stands off to the side. Ron, my foreman, claps him on the back as he strides over to Grandpa and me.
Grandpa crouches, fingers brushing the severed metal, his mouth in a thin line. I can feel the anger seeping from his weathered skin. He studies the cuts, even though we both know the truth.
Ron stands off to the side as Grandpa works his jaw. Muscles jump beneath his creased skin as he grinds histeeth—the tell-tale sign he’s stressed. I flinch, worried he’s going to crack a molar.
“This isn’t the first time,” he states, not a question.
“No,” I supply, no sense in lying.
He looks at me, watching for any cracks in my truth. “How long?”
I shift on my feet. “Since someone started hassling Wren.”
“Dammit, Jett.”
I pace with my hands on my hips. “I know.”
Ron clears his throat, as if we forgot he was standing there. How could we with the dark cloud hanging over his head?
“There’s more, boss…” He glances between us. “Bosses.”
I huff a curse as I stare at my foreman, gaze landing on my farmhand who looks like he’s seen a goddamn ghost. I don’t have time for ghosts. Not with a monster on the loose.
“Do you see that?” Grandpa’s voice slices through the air, sharp and troublesome. Ron flinches at the question as I squint in the distance, past Daniel.
This field should be full of black hides gleaming in the sunlight, tails flicking lazily, keeping the flies at bay.
My pulse kicks at the missing Angus herd. I squint past Daniel and spot her.
Down on her side in the grass, a massive body still except for the shallow rise and fall of her ribcage. I spot the rest farther back, giving her space.
“Jesus Christ,” I breathe.
I’m moving before the words finish leaving my mouth.
“That’s why we called,” Ron wheezes beside me.
“Damn, man. Have you heard of cardio?”
He grunts beside me as I try to lighten the mood. I know what I’m going to find is going to make me sick. I need a moment to gather myself.
Footsteps sound behind me, and I glance over my shoulder. I nearly trip over my footing as I watch Grandpa jog after us.
I slow my pace and wait for him.
“Easy,” I mutter, but he’s right behind me.
