Page 24 of Coral Rustling

Patting his shoulder, Hunter smiled.“It’s fine.”

Reminding himself that they could have saidno, after all, Trey nodded.“Okay.”

Ulkna pointed toward the trail behind them.“Looks like they’re about done with Glen.Why don’t you head a bit farther away and shift?”

Trey nodded.Knowing they didn’t want to draw attention with the noise of his change, he crept away.When he felt he was far enough, he quickly shifted.After shaking out his mane and tail, Trey moved closer, peering between the rocks.

Catching sight of him, Ulkna skulked to his side.He quickly fitted him with the halter and lead rope.“For appearances’ sake,” he whispered.Then...they waited.

It didn’t take long.

As soon as Mark disappeared back into the tent, Perry on his heels, a scratching noise filled the air.

The silhouettes of the men froze.

After a few heartbeats, Perry hissed, “What’s that?”

With the quiet only broken by the scuffle of hooves on stone, the creak of harnesses, and the rustle of tarps, neither man moved.Finally, Mark grumbled, “Who gives a shit.”His form reached out and smacked Perry’s.“We need to clean up and wipe down any metallic surfaces we could’ve touched.No fingerprints or hoof prints.”Mark started moving.“Hurry.”

Before Mark had taken two steps, the sound of scratching sounded once more, louder that time.They both froze again.

That time, the noise was followed up by a low hissing voice that Trey barely recognized as Reuben.“I know what you boys are doing in there.”He chuckled—soft, low, and mean-sounding.“I got pictures, thieves.”

“Shit,” Mark snarled.“Get him.”

Mark charged out of the tent, Perry on his heels.

To Trey’s shock, he spotted a gun in Mark’s hand.The sound of feet scrambling over rocks, accompanied by laughter, filled the air.The wrangler sprinted around the tent and out of sight, his conspirator following.

“Come on,” Ulkna urged, jumping over the rock they’d been hiding behind.He rushed past where Hunter was hiding, and the human swiftly followed.Seeing the pair rushing toward the horses jerked Trey out of his shock, and he darted around a rock and trotted after them.

The noise drew the horses’ attention.They lifted their heads and looked at them.Shirley nickered at him, and after a second, Pixie whinnied her own greeting.

“At least they’re happy to see us,” Hunter muttered as he began untying Shirley.

“I think they’re greeting Trey.”Ulkna crossed to Pixie.

Trey stopped next to Glen, hoping his presence would keep the still-unsettled gelding calm.It seemed to work a little too well.His fellow mount neighed loudly before bumping his nose into Trey’s side.

“Hey, that asshole’s a distraction,” Mark hollered.A second later, his voice rang out again.“Back to the horses.”

“Shit,” Hunter hissed, tossing Shirley’s lead rope over her back, copying what Ulkna had done to Pixie.Eyeing Trey’s mate, who was untying Glen, he asked, “What do we do?”

Ulkna handed Glen’s rope to Hunter.“Just stay calm.We’ll be fine.”

Then...Ulkna’s body appeared to sink on himself.His clothes tumbled to the ground.A few seconds later, a long, slender coral snake slithered from amidst the fabric and disappeared into the rocks.

“Hold it right there, asshole,” Mark shouted, stalking toward them.“Tie them back up, or you’re a dead man.”

Trey eased a step forward, doing his best to shield Hunter.

Even as Hunter reached up as if to retie Glen, Mark screamed and jumped into the air, kicking his leg wildly.

“What are you doing?”Perry cried, finally appearing from around the tent.

“Snake,” Mark cried, aiming the gun at the ground and firing.“Snake bit me.”

A loud shot rang out, and dirt puffed from the ground at Perry’s feet.“Drop the gun,” Ryan ordered loudly.

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