Page 109 of Doing Life

He found the first emergency blanket and started folding it up. He assumed the second one had gone with either Chris or Boone.

Abby was stuck fast to his leg as if she was saying, no dad, you left me once, you’re not doing it again.

On the other hand, Maynard was there sort of bebopping around and splashing. “I think he’s in the creek.”

“He’s in the creek.” Sloan came over, pouring the water over the remains of his baby fire. “He’s very happy. He hadtwo finds in a row. He is the king of the ranch right this second.”

“Do you have a search and rescue dog in him?”

“You know, I might just at that, babe. Are you ready to go?”

God, was he. “Did I get everything cleaned up?”

“Yeah,” Sloan put a hand on his wrist. “Take my arm, and we’ll hit the trail.”

“Yeah.” He was cold and thirsty, exhausted, and he wanted to go home. “Did someone find Brick? Brick’s arm?”

“The arm was still attached to the horse. Then Maynard used it to find Brick. And that’s how we found you.” He could hear the strain in Sloan’s voice as he climbed onto the ATV with Addy. Maynard hopped up and breathed right in his ear.

“Such a good boy, Maynard. Did you use your nose like a hound dog? You guys are so good.” And he was so glad to be off the wet ground.

“Hang on, honey.” Sloan took off after Matt, and he leaned his head back against the seat. closing his eyes.

The situation had sucked. Giant donkey balls.

But it could have been so much worse.

Chapter Thirty-One

Sloan closed the kitchen door behind them and leaned on it a moment while Lance walked into the mudroom with Abby, then started stripping off his clothes.

Jesus Christ on a sparkly pony, he was?—

Shit, Sloan didn’t know what he was.

He put down the bag of hamburgers, fries, onion rings, and shakes from the Dairy Dart, then stripped off his muddy uniform along with his boots.

“What time is it?” Lance asked.

“Eight-fifteen.” His voice was shaking, and so were his hands.

“Let me get you a towel. You sound cold.” Lance found the pile of folded towels on top of the dryer. “I’ll dry off the dogs, and you get the laundry. Then we can eat and take a shower and head to bed.”

He couldn’t believe how calm Lance was being, how focused he still was.

It was a little maddening, really.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He looked Lance over andcaught his breath when he saw bruises all along that lean ribcage. “Damn, honey. You’re beat to hell.”

“Medical cleared me,” Lance said with a shrug.

“How the hell are you so calm?” he snapped.

Lance’s eyes went wide, and his face went pale. “What the fuck do you want me to be? In hysterics? Crying? I did my fucking job.”

“You scared the ever-loving fuck out of me. You could have been hurt badly. You could have died.” He just couldn’t stop… shouting.

“Okay. And?” Lance bent over to towel Abby off.

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