And neither did half of Eagle River.
Because once Gerald got bond…
He got stupid.
So we got prepared.
Wolf took midnight to four.
Trigger took four to eight.
The ranch hands covered the back road and north fence through the day.
Every gate stayed locked.
Every window got checked twice.
Every vehicle key came inside at night.
And Mrs. Jenkins had somehow organized the Magnolia Ladies into a neighborhood watch.
She called it Operation Protect Our Girl.
Nobody laughed.
Not even Trigger.
Mrs. Jenkins had printed flyers.
Actual flyers.
If you see anything, say something.
Eagle River was ready.
And so was I.
I told Sadie everything except how worried I really was.
She didn’t need that kind of weight on her shoulders.
Not when she had already spent too long looking over them.
So I walked the perimeter myself.
Checked every lock.
Every fence line.
Every dark corner around the barn.
Then I went inside.
Into her room.
And I waited.
Sadie sat cross-legged on her bed, watching me from beneath her blanket.
