Page 36 of Deadly Attraction
“What do you want me to do?” Will said. Panic laced his voice. “I keep urging her to her feet, but she never stays long, and she’s completely off her feed. I have no idea what’s wrong.”
Post-foaling problems ran the gambit. Hopefully, it was nothing serious. If it was, they were in trouble with no vet to help them out. “We’ll be back in a little bit. We can’t get out of the area anyway. Try to keep her up and moving if you can.”
“I’ll do my best.”
They disconnected. Emma continued to eavesdrop on Mitch’s conversation. He’d brought his boss up to date on the stranger who’d paid them a visit. “…couldn’t pick up any tracks. No idea how the guy got there or got away. Maybe he didn’t. Gordon’s a survivalist. He and this guy both may still be hanging around in the forest. The fires traveled west and north. It’s burned a lot of acres so far, but there are still thousands untouched.”
Tension coiled low in her stomach. The best way in and out of the valley at a time like this was on a horse. Did Chris know how to ride?
“I’m shooting for a hotel that’s not far from the ranch,” Mitch said. “That’s my only choice.”
Think about Second Chance, not yourself.
Emma leaned toward the open window. It was easier to focus on Second Chance than herself. “We’re going back to the ranch. My new mother is having problems and our vet can’t get out to see her. I need to check her out.”
Mitch covered the end of the phone with his hand. “We’re not going back to the ranch.” He removed his hand and spoke to the man on the phone again. “Yeah, I took a look at the maps Dupé sent and the video footage from the park. Our pyro probably had someone inside who helped him.”
“Agent Holden, this is serious,” Emma spoke over him. “We need to get back to the ranch. Second Chance could die.”
This time he ignored her as he spoke into the phone. “I need to see the ignition site, but evidence will be hard to come by since the fire probably burned up any that the arsonist left behind.”
People in the cars across from them stared at her and watched Mitch as he paced beside the truck door. The tension in her stomach pulled tighter, a wire about to break. What if Chris and Linda were in one of the cars out here, watching them?
“Please get back in the truck,” Emma said to Mitch.
He must have heard the trepidation in her voice. He leaned down, cocked a brow at her.
“Please,” she said again. “We need to go.”
“You’re kidding.” But he wasn’t talking to her. He was responding to something his boss had said. “Dammit. Should have figured that. Is there any way you can get a helo out to the ranch? Lots of National Guard in the area. Take her out that way?”
He listened, sliding into the truck seat and shifting into drive. Emma’s rapid pulse slowed a fraction. Her stomach was still tied in knots.
The truck shot forward. Mitch blew out a disappointed sigh. “Yeah, I know, I waited too goddamn late. We’ll hunker down at the ranch until Dupé can scare up transportation. Hell, I’d take an army transport at this point… Yeah, I’ll handle it. Trust me…” He glanced over at her. “The good doctor here is one tough lady. She can handle a gun, a horse, and herself. Chris Goodsman tries anything, he’ll have to get through me. If he manages that, Dr. Collins will still kick his ass.”
The compliment made her flush. She looked away, studied the weeds and wildflowers lining the frontage road. The valley lay just ahead, gray clouds of smoke lingering on the horizon.
Mitch disconnected after a few more comments. “Hotel’s booked, according to Coop, so we’re out of options.”
“No matter. I need to get back to my horses.”
“What’s wrong with Second Chance?”
“I don’t know. Will said, all of a sudden, she’s gone off her feed and keeps sitting on the ground. Could be something serious.”
“You sure you’re alright staying at the ranch?”
The toy version of Tom Monahan sat in its plastic evidence bag between them in the cup holder. A part of her wanted to toss it out the window. The other wanted to make Chris Goodsman eat it.
“I’m fine.”
Mitch said nothing more until they were back in front of her house. It took longer to get back, since they had to go against the flow of traffic, but they made it, Will waving to them from the pasture where he was attempting to lead Second Chance around. She balked at the harness, trying to back away from him.
The dogs jumped out of the back and went to greet Lady. Emma left her overnight bag for later and started to follow.
“Okay.” Mitch scanned the area, seeming satisfied there were no strangers. Still, he pulled his gun from its holster and flipped off the safety. “Let’s go see about this horse.”
They started across the yard toward Will. “I hope it’s nothing serious or we’re in for a long, sad night,” Emma said. “If Second Chance didn’t expel all of the placenta or has a uterine tear, there’s nothing I can do for her. We’ll probably lose her.”
