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“Sadie,” Trigger said through the phone. “Talk to me.”
“I’m scared.”
The words came out before I could stop them.
Honest.
Small.
I hated them.
But Trigger’s voice softened.
“I know. But you are not alone.”
Dad came to stand beside me.
His hand settled on my shoulder.
Strong.
Steady.
“You hear that?” he said. “You got all of us.”
I nodded.
Tried to breathe.
Then the dog started barking.
Not one bark.
Not two.
A deep, wild sound that ripped through the ranch.
Everyone froze.
Dad moved toward the window.
I caught his arm.
“Don’t.”
The barking got louder.
Closer.
My blood turned to ice.
Outside, something moved near the tree line.
A shadow.
Tall.
Still.
