Page 23 of Chasing Sarah

Ronny clears the fence in one leap just as the rooster closes in on him. The rooster continues to crow loudly at Ronny before finally giving up.

The mud beneath our feet makes Colson and I slide to a halt when we see it spin toward us.

“Pucaaak!” it shrieks just before racing at us with wings spread wide, feathers flying.

We scramble and take off in opposite directions. Our laughs fill the night sky. My shoes dig into the wet soil with each step I take. I don’t bother checking if the crazy bird is even following me. I just run.

I hurdle my body over an area of the fence that is slightly bowed and land with a loud thump. The wind is knocked out of me when I meet the ground and I groan from the impact.

A bright light blinds me, and I squint up at whoever towers over me.

“Evening, Miss Wilkson.”

Ah, shit.

“Hi, Officer Richards,” I croak.

“Eventful night?” There is a slight amusement in his tone but I’m too busy trying to catch my breath to even comment on it.

When he moves the blinding light from my vision, I blink away the spots. My head drops, landing on the wet grass when I see an angry Xander standing with his arms folded across his chest and a deep scowl marred on his face.

Behind him stands a panting Colson and Ronny. Mr. James stands to the left of Officer Richards with the hen in his arms.

Once I’ve regained the breath in my lungs, I push to a stand and brush off my arms and legs.

I glance at each person in front of me and smile sheepishly.

“Oops?” I say with a small wince when the movement of my shoulders sends a sharp pain down my arm.

With a shake of his head, Xander turns and apologizes to both Mr. James and Officer Richards before dragging the three of us to his truck.

We sit silently as we drive toward our house. Xander hasn’t uttered a word since we climbed in and drove off Mr. James’s property.

“When are you morons going to stop following whatever Sarah says?” he finally asks.

“How do you know it was even my idea?” I sneer, crossing my arms and leaning against the back seat.

His eyes meet mine through the rearview mirror. He gives me a pointed look before returning his gaze to the road.

Neither Colson nor Ronny utters a word.

“Nothing to say?” he asks, then glances at the pair.

He rolls his eyes and then shakes his head again.

“You guys could have at least avoided getting caught.”

My heads whips to Colson and Ronny who both look at dumbfounded as I am.

“Come again?” Ronny says, his voice filled with confusion.

Xander chuckles lightly. “I said, you guys could have at least avoided getting caught.”

“That fucking rooster was huge man! My life was flashing before my eyes.”

The remainder of the drive is overflowing with laughter as we recount the entire quest of ‘steal Mr. James’ chicken’.

“Are you sure you don’t want to me find someone who can make you a fake-ID?” I ask, hopping onto the edge of Paige’s bed.

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