Page 104 of Doing Life

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Luke’s growl filled the air. “I’m going to find him, don’t worry.”

“I’m almost there. I have Maynard. I need a four-wheeler, and I’ll take Abby out.”

“Okay. Sure. All hands on deck. How far out are you?”

“I’m pulling in now.”

“I’ll have a hand meet you out at the yard. I’m not moving fast enough for that today. But Matt is out there.”

“So am I now.” He hung up with Luke, knowing he’d have what he needed in seconds. So he radioed in to dispatch. “Dispatch, I have four missing persons at the Rocking W. They were out on a horse therapy trail ride and their horses came back without them.”

“Dammit. All right, Sloan. I’ll get the ambulance moving.”

Abby came out with Dan, and as soon as she saw him, she started pulling and barking furiously.

In response, Maynard set up a howl.

“I know, guys. I know.” Sloan headed over to Dan.

He looked at the dogs. They both knew what Lance smelled like, but would that matter in this weather and with horse scent being the predominant odor?

Abby growled and she started tugging at the leash, trying to get to him.

“Let me have her. Drop the leash.” As soon as Dan did, she ran right to him.

“I got that four-wheeler,” one of the cowboys said. “But boss says y’all have to go two at a time with walkies or you can’t go. Do you got someone to drive a second?”

“No. But I don’t need to?—”

“I can.” Stan came over, the frown pulling on the scars, the expression closing that left eye for a second. “I know how. I want to help. It’s going to get dark soon, and Brick doesn’t have his arm.”

“Are you sure, man? I know?—”

Dan sighed. “I don’t know if you’re up to?—”

Stan’s eyes flashed, lips disappearing as they tightened. “I need to help. These are my brothers, my family. They would come for me.”

How the fuck was he supposed to argue with that? Fuck.

“Okay. Do we know which way they were headed?”

“Yeah. They were heading out for about an hour, and then they were going to have lunch and come back in.”

“Then they can’t be that far, right?”

“Nope. I mean, the ranch is pretty big, but Boone wouldn’t go for any serious rough terrain with those guys.” The cowboy sighed, shook his head. “Let me get y’all the other four-wheeler. Daylight’s burning.”

“Let me grab you both some emergency packs too.”

He didn’t know who it was that ran off, possibly Will. He grabbed his own supplies from his cruiser and shrugged on his slicker. Christ on a cracker. “Are you sure you’re good with this, man? Seriously?”

“I’m sure. Let me do this. I need to help. I need to be useful. I chickened out of going today. I won’t do it again.” Stan climbed on the four-wheeler when the other guy brought it to them, and they stared at each other. The storm was dissipating, just a light drizzle, but it would be dark soon.

Okay. The dogs needed?—

“Let me see Brick’s arm,” Sloan said. That was a tangible thing that had the horse scent as well as Brick, and even if Abby couldn’t follow it, he would bet Maynard could.

“Sure. Sure, man. It’s inside. I’ll grab it.” Dan ran for thehouse, and Stan stowed the second emergency pack under the seat in front of them.

---