“Let’s go get ’em.” Trey gunned the engine.
He tore down the street, and then turned down one lane after another till he’d driven out of town. He headed across open pasture, knowing the owners and knowing the fence gates that’d let him come in the back way to his own property. It’d give him a chance to surprise anybody watching the main roads.
He bounced the ATV across dry grass, startling sleeping cattle, driving cottontail rabbits out of hiding places, and sending birds flying from low perches in trees. He was glad the full moon illuminated the countryside. He had the ATV’s headlights on, but those provided limited coverage.
Trey braked in front of a gate in a barbwire fence. He stepped out of his four-wheeler, opened the gate, got back in his ATV, drove to the other side, got out, and closed the gate.
When he sat down again, he glanced at Misty. “Rough ride?”
She smiled as she shook her head. “All in a day’s work. Maybe you ought to let me open and shut gates from now on.”
“It’d sure save time.”
He took off across the pasture, bumping over clumps of grass and weaving around bushes as he watched the land and skies for anything that didn’t fit. He dreaded to see the telltale sign of smoke over his ranch, but so far the night appeared normal.
Misty helped at the next gate, opening and closing it like an old hand. He hit a little-used dirt road that skirted the back side of his ranch. He didn’t want to spook his own hands by tearing across pastures. He knew the sound of the ATV would carry on the night air, so he could only drive in so close without alerting others. He pulled up under the low-hanging branches of a live oak tree. He cut the lights and engine.
He stepped out and transferred his phone to the back pocket of his jeans. He listened intently as he gave his eyes a chance to adapt to the moonlight. No sounds of vehicles or folks talking. He didn’t hear anything that was cause for alarm, but he still had an uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. He glanced back at the sky. As far as he could tell, there was still no sign of smoke in the bright full moon’s light.
Misty got out and walked around to him. “What now?”
“Let’s go in on foot to the road between the ranch and tree farm. See what we can see.” He held a fingertip up to his mouth to indicate quiet.
She nodded in acknowledgment.
Trey set off at a jog and she kept right up with him. He was glad the dirt road muffled their footsteps so they could make good time. When they got close to the asphalt road, he slowed and held up his hand. She dropped down to a walk with him.
He crept up to a corner of the ranch’s barbwire fence. Misty moved quietly like his shadow in the silver moonlight. Finally, he got a good view of the road. A Wildcat Bluff police car was parked on the shoulder up from the entrance to Wildcat Road. The front door was open. Trey felt a chill run up his spine. Misty squeezed his hand, so he knew she was concerned at the sight, too.
Where was Jeremy? He was a professional. He’d never abandon his vehicle and leave the door open. Now Trey was truly worried about the young policeman.
Trey glanced around the area again, but he didn’t see any sign of the Gladstones’ van. Maybe they’d come and gone or Jeremy might’ve spooked them to run for cover. Still, he doubted it.
He leaned down to whisper in Misty’s ear. “Got to check on Jeremy. Stay off the road and in the shadow of the fence line.”
She nodded in agreement.
He stepped onto the dry grass in front of the fence and started toward the police car. He kept his ears open and his eyes wide for any disturbance. One thing for sure, it was too quiet. Animals had gone to cover. That couldn’t bode well.
They hadn’t gone far when he heard the muted crackle of fire and caught a whiff of smoke. He looked in the direction beyond the burned area of the tree farm, but couldn’t see anything. Still, he trusted his instincts.
When Misty clutched his hand, he glanced down at her. She pointed toward an area on the tree farm. She’d affirmed his suspicions. He glanced back at the police car. He was torn between going after Jeremy or seeing about the fire. Misty didn’t give him a choice. She tugged hard on his hand, pulling him back toward the ATV. She was right. Jeremy was safer if they stopped the fire.
But where did that leave the Gladstones? Maybe they’d set the fire and used a back road to get out of there or maybe they were still lurking on the other side of the tree farm. Trey tugged his phone out of his pocket and tried to reach Hedy at the station. He hadn’t expected coverage and he didn’t get it. Even if he had gotten through, everybody was already out on calls. Bottom line, no backup. Whatever happened now, it was up to Misty and him.