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“Sorry about the hour.”

“What’s happening?”

“Nothing yet, but there’s certainly potential. We’ve got a fire west of us.” Mac glanced that direction.

“Horseshoe Draw, yeah. Arden’s been tracking it.” Mac heard Arden’s muffled voice in the background. No wonder they were still up. “She’s asking if it’s shifted.”

“No, and no evacuation order either, but the smoke shifted hard overnight. They’ve already rounded up just shy of a hundred horses, we’ve got sheep and cattle, Hank’s got his animals, and as far as I can tell, we don’t have near enough manpower or vehicles.”

Kyle was silent for maybe half a second. “What do you need, brother?”

Mac’s shoulders eased as he heard Arden echo the sentiment in the background. Kyle gave him no argument about whether he was overreacting. No demand that he prove the fire would reach them.

Just his full trust and what do you need?

“Trucks and people who know how to pull livestock trailers. Stock trailers especially. Rear swing gates. Anything with dividers that pin out or fold back. Bring regular horse trailers too—we can use those here for Hank’s horses—but the mustangs, cattle, and sheep need stock trailers. Whatever we can’t herd to safer locations.”

“How many animals?”

Mac looked at Jodie and repeated Kyle’s question.

She had already opened her tablet.

“Ninety-three horses in temporary holding,” she said. “Virgil has about three hundred sheep and I don’t know his plans. Hank has ten horses.” She looked over at Hank. “Cattle?”

“A hundred head. I’ve got two trailers for my horses but only one me.”

Mac grinned. “Hank’s got a hundred head of cattle and needs a second driver for his horses, which he has with me.”

Hank gave Mac one of his rare smiles.

“Well, shit,” Kyle swore softly.

“Yeah,” Mac said.

“How many trailers do you already have?”

“Not enough of the right kind. I’m going to check everything here and at Virgil’s before daylight.”

“All right. I’ll start waking people up. Lemme talk to Jodie if she’s handy.”

Mac held the phone out to Jodie, who looked at it like it might be a snake about to strike her. “He needs to talk to you.” He gave her the most reassuring look he could as he nodded.

Eyes wide, she took his phone. Her fingers brushing his felt cold.

“Boss?”

Mac watched her face while she answered his questions. Horses. Sheep. Hank’s animals. People onsite. Possible destinations if they had to move, and the possibility that the BLM would gather more horses tomorrow. Jodie’s voice steadied as soon as she had facts to give him. Then she paused.

“You…said you wanted to talk to me about something? When I get back?”

Another pause.

“Okay. Sure, yeah. Okay. Bye.”

She ended the call and handed Mac his phone.

“He said it can wait,” she told him before he could ask. “He’s gotta rally the troops ASAP.” She pressed her lips together.