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“I know. M-move over so we can g-get her out.”
That got through. Mac shifted enough for Ben to get both hands on the door while Virgil dropped beside them and shoved the end of his fencing tool beneath the warped edge. Hank came around the wall behind them, breathing hard from the run.
“On three,” Virgil said. “One, two, three.”
They heaved.
The door groaned. Something scraped underneath it, then gave suddenly enough that all three men nearly went backward. Ash and pieces of burned wood fell into the opening and landed on the stone stairs. Mac didn’t wait for them to clear the rest. As soon as the gap was wide enough, he grabbed a flashlight from his belt and squeezed through. The stone steps disappeared into darkness beneath him. The air was smoky and felt stuffy.
“Jodie?”
Silence below.
He went down fast, one hand against the wall, the flashlight beam jumping across old stone, dirt, a support post—
Then the light found her.
She was curled on her side against the far wall with her knees pulled toward her chest.
Her eyes were closed and she wasn’t moving.
“No.”
He crossed the cellar in three strides and dropped beside her. Blood had dried along her temple and into her hair. Her face was smeared with ash, her lips dry and cracked.
“Jodie.”
Nothing. Mac stopped breathing.
His hand shook as he touched the side of her neck.
There.
A strong, steady pulse beat under his fingertips.
Mac bent close enough to feel her breath against his cheek.
Alive. She’s alive.
His lungs worked again.
“Ranch Girl.” He slid one hand beneath her head. “Hey, come on. Open your eyes for me.”
Goblin barreled down the steps behind him, nails skittering on stone. The dog pushed against Jodie’s legs, whining so loudly it echoed off the walls.
Her face tightened.
Mac leaned closer. “Jodie. It’s me. Me and Goblin.”
Her eyelids fluttered. She blinked once, stared through him, then slowly focused on his face.
“Mac?”
“I’m right here.”
“It was Harold.” Her fingers caught weakly in the front of his shirt. Her other hand touched her bloody head and she hissed.
“Harold North did this.”
