Wildfire Omens (Wildwood #1)

Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

Rhett

The look on Cheyenne’s face when Claire had told her Diablo was missing played over and over again in my mind as we rushed back to the ranch. We ran into the barn and found Travis pacing, waiting for us.

Cheyenne turned white when she saw the empty stall. The wood railing held fresh dents and fractures from Diablo’s hooves, and bright-red blood was smeared on the wall. More blood was on the ground, marking a trail toward the pastures.

“How did this happen?” Cheyenne cried out, devastation all over her face.

Travis shook his head. “I’m sorry, Cheyenne. You know the gate stays open for guests. I never thought he’d be brazen enough to come here and steal his horse back.”

“It’s not his horse anymore,” Sheriff McGrath said angrily. “He lost that right when he abused it. This will add more to his charges.” He put a hand on his gun belt. “Claire, we need to follow that blood trail, see if we can catch up to him.”

“We should go on horseback,” she said, moving toward a stall. “We’ll make better time. Travis, who’s still saddled up?”

“Shadow and Juniper,” he said, springing into action. “I’ll help you get them.”

“Wait,” I said.

Travis turned around, impatient. “What?”

“Where’s Jimmy? Wasn’t he supposed to be bringing the horses in tonight?”

He blinked twice, then realization dawned. “Shit. I haven’t seen him since before dinner.”

“I’ll check the loft,” Cheyenne said, turning to head toward it.

“Not alone, you won’t,” I muttered, catching up to her.

She climbed the stairs to the loft apartment and knocked.

No answer.

She knocked again, casting nervous eyes my way. “You really think he was involved in this?” She kept her voice low.

“I hate to think it of him,” I said slowly. “But it wouldn’t be his first mistake, would it?”

She knocked again, harder this time. We waited. But when three full minutes had passed, she turned toward me with sorrowful eyes. “I think he’s gone.”

I cursed, kicking his door.

After a thorough search of the stables, the barn, and the pastures, we headed back to the main house to wait for news from Claire. Travis was already in the kitchen with Mom. Her face was white and pinched, and as soon as we walked in, she grabbed us both in a fierce hug.

“I can’t believe any of this is happening,” she said. She turned toward Travis. “And I suppose I owe you an apology for hiring Jimmy back when you were so against it.”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “You were doing what you always do. Giving someone a chance. And you were right. I was drowning. It’s not your fault this turned out badly.”

“Maybe we’re wrong,” Cheyenne said, though her voice was marked with doubt. “Maybe he went out for the night and he’s going to come back soon and be as surprised as we were at Diablo’s disappearance.”

Travis grimaced. “I don’t think so. His car is in the parking lot and he’s not much of a walker.”

“What if Thomas hurt him? If Jimmy was in the barn when Thomas came to take Diablo…” Cheyenne looked sick.

Travis and I looked at each other. His face mirrored the anxiety I felt.

“I didn’t even think of that,” Travis admitted. He ran his hands over his face. “Oh man. If he’s innocent, I hope Jimmy is okay.”

“Breaks my heart,” Mom said. “Whether he was involved or is a victim, it’s a tragedy either way. All we can do now is wait for news.”

We waited an hour. Then Claire and Sheriff McGrath came to the house, looking weary and disappointed.

“We lost him,” Claire said. “The blood trail stopped about a thousand yards from the barn. We tried to keep following the horse tracks, but, well, this is a horse farm. There’s countless tracks out there.”

Sheriff McGrath popped in. “Looks like he was heading toward the forest, which makes sense. He’d want to get undercover as quickly as possible. We did a quick search in the tree line, but we need more manpower and better light. I hate to tell you this, but we might be at a crossroads until tomorrow.”

Mom flattened her lips, angry and worried. “I understand. Chey, Rhett, I think you’re going to have to stay here tonight. He has his horse back. I hope to God he doesn’t hurt Diablo—or Jimmy, if Jimmy is innocent in all of this. But I don’t think he’ll come back here.”

Cheyenne straightened. “I can’t stay here. What if he goes after Wildfire or Ash? He wants to hurt me, and he knows hurting my animals is an easy way to do it.” She rose from her chair. “I didn’t even think about it until now, but I bet that’s where he went. I’ve got to get back to my property and make sure they’re okay.”

“Where Chey goes, I go,” I said, standing. I gave Mom a look to let her know that it wasn’t up for discussion.

“I’ll go with you,” Sheriff McGrath said, flicking his eyes toward Mom with a nod. “Make sure everything’s okay over there so they aren’t walking into anything alone. Claire, can I count on you to stay on guard here?”

“Of course,” she agreed.

Travis came up to me, keeping his voice low. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Now?” I gave him a blank look.

He nodded.

“Just a minute,” I told Cheyenne, squeezing her elbow. “I’ll be right back.”

I followed Travis to Jonathan’s room, where he closed the door and pulled the pistol from the holster on his hip.

“Here,” he said, flipping it and handing it to me. “Wasn’t sure you had a gun with you. If Thomas is out looking for revenge, I want you to have one.”

I took the pistol and gave him a dark nod. “Thanks.”

“Wish you guys would stay here.”

“We can’t.”

“I know.” He nodded. “I get it. You can’t leave her property free for the taking. I’d come with you, but—”

“But he’s angry at you guys, too, and Dad isn’t in any shape to defend this place.”

“Exactly.”

I clasped his arm. “Take care of Mom and the rest.”

“I will. And Rhett?”

“Yeah?”

“If Thomas Smith sets foot on Cheyenne’s property…”

I looked him dead in the eye. “I’ll shoot to kill.”