Page 46 of A Mile of Ocean

An hour into their shift, the storm hit with full force, thunder rumbling and lightning illuminating the sky. Savannah sat astride Giselle, trying to keep the mare from bolting. She kept a vigilant watch, her confidence unwavering despite the treacherous conditions.

The stormy weather tested their resolve, but they held their ground, combing through the dense woods, their eyes sharp, searching for any movement. Savannah proved her worth, her eyes scanning the terrain with the precision of a seasoned scout.

The NVGs enabled them to see in the pouring rain, displaying the landscape in a green hue, sharpening the contrast, and providing a higher resolution so that images were crystal clear. But the conditions were far from ideal. For one thing, the rain was nonstop, and the temperature dropped to a chilly forty-five degrees, making her toes feel like little frozen popsicle nuggets.

At one point, she started to complain, but when she turned to face Trent, sitting tall and lean in the saddle, she saw water dripping off the brim of his hat, his eyes on alert but looking exhausted from lack of sleep. After that, she didn’t have the heart to let out a single, whiny phrase. Instead, she went with an upbeat tone. “How do I get a pair of these night vision goggles? They’d come in handy spying on my neighbors. Why is everything so green?”

“Doesn’t have to be green. You can adjust the amplification tube to any color. However, research shows green is the least taxing on the eyes. The military found that the human eye is more sensitive to shades of green.”

“Aren’t you smart?”

“My info came straight from Birk, who’s more savvy about those things. I asked the same question about the color. Are you warm enough?”

Her fingers and toes were freezing even with gloves on her hands and thick socks tucked into her boots. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose had turned bright red. “I’m warm and toasty, thanks.”

“Liar.”

Savannah snickered into her gloved hands for warmth. “If you’re worried about your grandmother, I saw her ride today. She’s a very good horsewoman. But you probably already knew that.”

“Funny, she said the same thing about you.”

“Now, who’s lying?”

“I’m not. You impressed her with your level of skill. You have a way with Giselle.”

In a loving embrace, she laid a hand on Giselle’s neck. “She’s an absolute delight to ride, a real sweetheart. How many horses do you own anyway? I walked past at least twenty stabled in the barn.”

“Including the mares Tate’s rescued inside the corral at Painted Heart? I’d say an accurate count is over a hundred.”

“That’s a lot of hay, oats, and corn.”

“You have no idea. However, four of our Quarter Horses have already been sold to a riding school in Colorado. They’ll leave within ten days or so.”

“Do you ever get attached? I bet Tate does.”

“She falls in love with every horse she meets.” He narrowed his eyes, remembering her reaction to Taco and Trilby’s puppies. “Something tells me you’re much the same way when it comes to animals.”

“I adore animals. If I raised a horse from a yearling, I’d never be able to let it go.”

That got a smile out of Trent. “It’s time to check in with Base Camp. You wanna work the radio. It’s good practice.”

She beamed. “Absolutely. Why do they call it Base Camp?”

“Military and cop lingo. Most of the Pelican Pointe PD are former military—everyone except Trish. I heard Theo and Colt use that phrase to communicate with the team.”

“So I need a down-and-dirty lesson in the right lingo,” she muttered as she radioed Base Camp to check in. “Got it.”

The storm gradually subsided as the long night wore on, leaving the landscape an eerie quiet. What had once been obscured by sheets of rain now lay still and silent under the night sky. Clouds had moved eastward, parting to show off a starry wonderland above.

They continued their patrol, every rustle in the brush or snapping of a twig magnified. Savannah felt the fatigue setting in, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand, her eyes scanning the terrain in short bursts of energy and boredom. Her thoughts briefly drifted to Trent. She admired his resilience and his unwavering focus despite the bleak situation. It was a reminder that she had to stay strong, not just for herself but for the entire team. The last thing she wanted was to let anyone down.

She took a deep breath, letting the chilly night air fill her lungs. The storm’s aftermath had left the world around them in a false state of calm. She glanced at Trent, whose eyes were focused ahead, sharp and vigilant.

“I must admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect tonight. I wasn’t even convinced we’d make it this long,” she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

Trent turned to her, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Neither was I, but you held up well. Better than most.”

A flush of pride moved through her at his words. “I guess it’s no secret that I was petrified when we started out tonight.”

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