Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“Whoa, Ace, whoa.” I bring us to a standstill, patting him on the neck. Sucks I’m not going to have time to cool him down. Usually, I’d do exactly that regardless of the time, but since something is burning, I won’t be able to. I pull my phone out, and sure enough, I’ve got more texts.
Mom: Oh no, be safe. Keep us posted.
Dad: Goddamn it, who was there last?
Lawson: Sheriff is already on his way.
JW: We weren’t.
Trey: Not us. Been too damn busy with all the animals. Maybe we’ll use it here soon as long as everything is okay.
Dean: Can’t get Tully away from work long enough. Wasn’t us, but I like Trey’s idea.
Lane: Birdie and I were out there.
My stomach drops, and I keep reading through.
Dad: Son of a bitch.
Mom: A building can be replaced, Russell Johnson. Don’t get your panties in a wad.
Lane: Two weeks ago. We were out there two weeks ago. Stupid phone didn’t let me hit the send button.
Lawson: Jesus, this is freaking wild. I’m on my way.
Mom: We are too, aren’t we, Russell?
Lane: Already on the side-by-side with Dean.
JW: In the truck with Trey.
Me: Heading to the sheriff now. I’d keep you posted, but you’ll be here soon enough to see for yourself.
I close the app, click the side of the phone to lock it, and put it back in my pocket. I’m sure it’ll go off another hundred times. Sheriff Liam is walking my way, and I need to give him my full attention. I tie Ace’s reins to the post near the trees, which gives our horses a shady spot.
“Ryland.” Liam tips his hat at me as he walks toward me.
“Sheriff, not sure what’s going on. Saw the smoke and headed out here,” I say, meeting him halfway. My eyes zero in on the house. Everything looks to be good, and when I move my gaze downward, that’s when I see the smoke. It’s slowly dying down, and all I want to say is thank fuck for small favors.
“Yeah, I got a call. Another farmer saw a few kids cut a line in your fence, so I hauled tail up here. I’ve got them down by the fire pit putting the fire out and cleaning up their mess. It’s going to be on you and your family to decide how we proceed.” Liam no sooner gets the words out of his mouth than here arrives said family.
“I guess it’s going to depend on how much of a mess they’ve caused. The fence is probably the worst of it?” I ask.
“That and the scorched ground.” I get to thinking about what we’ll have to do in order to have everything back to normal.
“Not too bad. The only problem I can see is if they do it again and get ballsy enough to break into the cabin. Shit, it’s not like we’re up here every day. They could have been here a week before we were aware.” Liam hums at my statement. He’s more than likely thought this through, too.
“I think some community service on the farm might make them learn a valuable lesson.” He probably knows the kids, another reason why I called Wild instead of him to get the information about Sutton for me. The last thing I need is for others to find out I’ve been nosing around. “The cavalry has arrived.” I turn to look in the same direction Liam is and find every last one of them. Mom, Dad, Lawson, JW, Trey, Dean, and Lane. The only people missing are their significant others, Case, and the other grandkids.
I back away, letting Liam give them the lay of the land. It’s Lawson’s voice that gets my attention. “Shit, we’ve done worse. We’re not pressing charges. These kids clean up the mess, fix the fencing, and work at the ranch for a weekend. We can call it good.”
“Sounds good to me,” Dad replies.
“Yep, hard work will make them think twice before doing something like this on private property.” Mom nods. Everyone else joins in, and the only interruption that causes my family to quiet down is Liam’s radio.
“Sheriff Dane, this is dispatch requesting backup.” The other end cuts off with a screech-like noise.
“Go for Sheriff Dane.”
“Requesting backup, Sheriff Dane, at five-four-one Fawn Lane.” My goddamn world spins on its axis. I cut my gaze from Liam’s to my mom’s. She’s got her hand over her mouth. None of us thought the law would have to get involved.
“On my way.” He holds the button down, relaying the message.
“Request for an ambulance to five-four-one Fawn Lane,” is broadcasted next. Everyone is quiet, waiting to hear if there’s any information else left to be said. What I wouldn’t give for Fletch Wild to be living here in Arrowleaf. Sure, Liam is a good sheriff, but he’s nothing like knowing Wild as well as we do.