Page 50 of The Dire Reaction

A chime from the table jars us both. Dani stands up as she kisses me softly on the tip of my chin before retrieving her phone. Her hoodie slides back down her body, half hiding the round pale globes of her ass cheeks.

“Oh, my god!” she exclaims, furiously typing on her phone. Her heart rate spikes and mine matches, bolstering me to action.

“What’s wrong?” I jump up from my chair reflexively pulling up my jeans. I’m getting used to them being damp, so it’s easy to ignore.

She hands me her phone. Her eyes are already welling with tears.

Unknown: Dr M, this is Jenny, please help!!! I’m trapped by some sort of monster. I can’t get a hold of my mom. I tried 911 and no one answers! Please!

Dani: Where are you???

“What can we do?” Dani pleads.

“Not much until we know where she is. Do you have her mom’s number? Maybe you can try that. I’ll try the cops.”

I google the phone numbers to the local precincts and start calling. No answer. I try the next, and again no answer.

“Shit.” The next one, the call doesn’t even complete. Three more precincts, all the same.

The pale look on Dani’s face as she lowers her phone tells me she was striking out, too.

“What can we do?” she asks. “I don’t have any other contact numbers for her.”

“I don’t know,” I say softly. “We might have to just wait until she tells us where she is. Maybe ask her for GPS coordinates? Or a description of where she is?”

A thought hits me. “Is that her phone number?”

“No, it’s an unknown number.” She flicks back to the message and types another quick note.

“Maybe we can do a reverse search on the number to find out who it is?”

“That’s a good idea!” She moves to her chair and sits, but jumps back up with a small cry.

“The chair is cold with no pants on.” A soft blush hits her cheeks.

“I’m okay with the no pants.” I grin while putting on my coat. “I’m going to go feed the animals, so if you figure out where she is we can head out.”

She slides her jeans back over her slim legs. “That sounds like a good idea.” She sits back down at the table, her brow furrowing as she starts working on her phone.

Grabbing my cowboy hat and firmly pushing it onto my head, I snag the shotgun leaning against the door frame and head outside to the barn.

I’m not used to doing chores armed, but now I’m a little more wary. I worry it’s only a matter of time before the dogs start working their way out of town.

The shock of the cold hits me just as Thor jumps up from where he was snuggled against the steps. I’m glad to see he’s limber, even in the winter chill.

“You know you can sleep in the barn where it’s warmer.” I pat his heavy head as he falls in step next to me. He has snow hanging from some of his long white guard hairs and on his tail.

Misty comes prancing from the barn and nips playfully at Thor’s legs before running ahead of us. Thor loves the cooler temperatures. Misty, not so much. Lately she’s been choosing to sleep inside near the wood stove at night, but prefers to stay out all day.

The little bit of snow we’ve gotten daily is starting to accumulate in drifts near the doors. I might have to fire up the tractor to move snow before too much longer. With getting into town being so sketchy, I’ve been avoiding using it except when necessary.

Milk cows are in the big bay stall to the left. It looks like their foster calves are doing well. “Morning, girls. Calliope, it looks like you’re going to be popping soon! Good, might have to start milking you for the house.” Forking fresh hay into their feeder, I smile at the older calves trying to push in with the cows.

I’m glad Elly will be staying here. I hate leaving Dani alone in the house. And Elly is much faster at milking than I am. Maybe she won’t mind? She’s always had a love-hate attitude toward dairy, even though she used to specialize in it when we were young and in 4H.

The feed bin for the pigs is still pretty full. They don’t eat as much in the winter. I’m heading to the chickens when I hear a low rumble of a growl from Thor.

He trots over to the rear door of the barn, his hackles raised. Misty cues off of him and starts her yipping sporadic bark, pacing between Thor and the front door of the barn.

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