Chapter 1 #2
“Take cover!” Wyatt dropped to the ground.
He was right. The forest was silent for a reason.
Hunters had invaded and demanded the territory for their own.
* * *
Bile rose at the back of Constable Taylor Grant’s throat, her heartbeat thundering.
She sank to one knee and brought out her Glock.
Shadow continued to bark. Taylor had to not only protect Wyatt but her K-9.
She wouldn’t let anything happen to this dog.
Images of a similar situation from years ago rose, but she shoved them away. Don’t go there. Not here, not now.
“Do you see the hunter?” Wyatt’s elevated tone revealed his frantic emotional state.
Taylor aimed her weapon in different directions as she studied the trees. But the forest had silenced. “No, I think the archer is gone. Shadow must have scared him away.”
Wyatt’s gaze shifted to the arrow lodged in the tree. “Good thing because I would have been a goner.” He rubbed the dog’s back. “Thank you, Shadow.”
The dog leaned into Wyatt’s touch.
Taylor flinched at the all-too-familiar gesture. Wyatt and Shadow had been best friends before—
Don’t go there either, Taylor. Her heart couldn’t take it and seeing Wyatt only brought back the hurt—tenfold. Focus. “Tell me what happened.” Taylor straightened from her crouched position, readjusted her backpack and checked the path to ensure their safety.
Wyatt explained how he’d been patrolling the area because of reports of illegal hunters when he found his sister-in-law’s body floating in the river.
“Why would Denise come here? Did you suggest she go to a different park?”
His eyes clouded. “Of course I did. But if I know my son, he probably had a tantrum and convinced her to come here. He loves this park. It’s his favorite place to explore. You know how he loves nature…just like his grandfather.” Wyatt’s voice quivered.
Taylor placed her hand on his arm. “We’ll find him. Shadow is the best at what he does.”
“I’m counting on that. I can’t lose Levi, too.”
Taylor knew exactly what Wyatt was referring to. His wife, Lisa, had died in a car accident when Levi was only one. Wyatt took her death hard and confessed he struggled to date even after two years had passed. But he took a risk with Taylor, and she ended up breaking his heart all over again.
But it couldn’t be helped. He deserved someone better than her. Someone who could give him what he wanted.
Lots of children.
But she couldn’t, thanks to her cancer. The chemo and hysterectomy had taken everything from her, including her dream of becoming a mother.
Get your head in the game. She stood quickly and brushed the dirt from her uniform with her right hand, keeping the weapon in her left raised in case of any danger.
Shouts along the path drew her attention. “That’s probably the medical examiner. I have to give a situation report to the others.”
After being assured the threat had passed, Taylor holstered her weapon and gestured toward the branch. “Then we’ll use Levi’s hat and Shadow will find him.” At least, she prayed that would happen.
Wyatt’s contorted expression told her he may crumble at any moment and she would do anything to prevent him from being separated from his son.
“Thank you.” He smiled. “It’s truly good to see you again.”
“You, too.” Taylor pressed her radio button and gave an update to her team, describing the attack. “Going to get Shadow searching.”
“Keep us updated, Constable Grant,” Sergeant Mitchell said. “Be safe. We’re hearing rumblings of a weapon smuggling ring across the province.”
Wyatt drew in a sharp breath. “Could that be why someone killed Denise? She came across them?”
“Possibly, but let’s not go there.” She pressed her radio button again. “Sergeant, any details on that ring?”
“Nothing. New information as of thirty minutes ago. Take all precautions.”
“Copy.”
A lanky man bounded around the corner. “Hoyt, you catch the hunter? Why aren’t you searching, Cowboy?” The man’s tone conveyed sarcasm, as if implying incompetence.
Taylor didn’t miss Wyatt’s scowl. Heat flushed her cheeks as anger bubbled to the surface. One thing Taylor hated was a bully.
And this man appeared to fit that description.
Beside her, Shadow growled.
Seemed her dog agreed with Taylor’s assessment.
“Who are you?” she asked.
The man’s eyes traveled across her uniform, settling on the police patch on her coat. “Conservation Officer Cam Field. You are?”
“Constable Taylor Grant from the West Newfoundland Constabulary.” She gathered her dog’s leash. “And this is Shadow. We’re here to assist Officer Hoyt in finding his son.”
Wyatt cleared his throat and pointed to the arrow. “We were about to get started when we were attacked, so I’d appreciate it if you give us a break.”
Shadow barked.
Taylor’s hand flew to her mouth, attempting to hide the emerging grin. Her dog agreed with Wyatt’s statement.
The conservation officer crossed his arms, but remained silent.
Good idea, you don’t want to see the wrath of Shadow.
Dr. Julia Oke and her assistant approached the group. “Can one of you direct me to the female’s body?”
Officer Field uncrossed his arms and leaned close. “Cowboy, you don’t have to be so touchy,” he whispered before addressing the medical examiner. “Dr. Oke, I’ll take you to the shoreline.” He waved to the right. “This way.”
Dr. Oke and her employee proceeded down the path.
Field glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll take over from here, Cowboy. You continue with your search. The park warden and constables have others coming to help.” He sauntered toward the river.
“He’s interesting.” Taylor lifted the ball cap from the branch with her gloved hand.
“You don’t know the half of it. He’s a brownnoser and likes to make me look bad.” Wyatt dug his boot into the dirt. “I’m surprised he got here so fast. He was searching for the hunters farther south.”
“I’m sorry you have to work with someone like that. I have a few of those in our station, too.” She squatted in front of Shadow, holding out the hat. “Let’s forget about him and get my dog searching.”
The K-9 sniffed.
“Shadow, seek!” She unclipped his leash and tucked it into her pocket.
The German shepherd raised his head, nostrils flaring in the breeze as he locked onto a scent, and sniffed methodically along the tree line’s edge, paws silent on the damp earth.
With a sudden surge of purpose, he veered onto the path, barreling in a northerly direction, his tail high and ears alert, tracking with needlelike focus.
“He’s caught a whiff of something. Follow him.” Taylor dashed after her dog while keeping her senses on alert for the archer and any other intruders.
Behind her, galloping hooves echoed along the forest’s trail. She turned at Wyatt’s approach.
He slowed his horse and reached his hand down. “Get on. We’ll be faster keeping up with Shadow on Ember.”
She grabbed his hand, and he hoisted her upward onto his horse. Taylor wrapped her arms around his back. She’d forgotten the strength of this cowboy turned conservation officer.
Seconds later, they came to a fork in the path.
Wyatt tugged on the reins. “Which way did he go? Shadow is fast.”
Taylor looked left, then right. A flash of russet combined with black and tan leaped into the woods some distance down the trail. She pointed right. “There he is. Go!”
Wyatt clucked and Ember lurched forward, following the dog.
Seconds later, the horse halted, rearing backward.
Taylor lost her hold and slipped, her breath catching in her throat.
Wyatt seized her hand as she teetered on the edge, steadying her back onto the saddle with a firm grip.
Ember dropped her front hooves and settled.
Wyatt turned to Taylor. “You okay?”
“Yes, that was close. What spooked your horse?” Taylor wiggled out of his hold and swung her leg over the horse’s rump, dismounting.
“No idea. She’s been skittish today.” Wyatt rubbed Ember’s back. “What’s gotten into you, girl?”
A bark sounded to their right.
“Shadow’s found something.” Taylor scanned the trees, searching for her dog. “There!” She pointed. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t wait for Wyatt, but ducked under a cluster of low-lying branches and stepped into the woods.
Movement behind her revealed Wyatt had followed.
Taylor had lost sight of her dog. Where are you, boy? “Shadow, speak,” Taylor yelled.
The shepherd’s bark was deeper into the forest than Taylor first thought.
“Where did he go?” Wyatt asked.
Another bark answered his question, followed by a series of intense, high-pitched barks.
Something was wrong.
Again, a flash of fur caught Taylor’s attention. “There.” She pointed and headed left.
The duo caught up to Shadow, and the cause of his distressed barking.
Taylor’s jaw dropped, her heart racing.
A man lay on the ground beside a fallen tree with a gunshot wound to his chest, a knife still clutched in his hand—and a message carved into the log.
Run!
Taylor’s heart thundered, shoving her panic levels into overdrive.
Shadow growled.
Flashes of camouflage skulked in the trees seconds before a gunshot echoed throughout the woods.
The archer had brought reinforcements into their forest, elevating the danger.
Copyright ? 2026 by Darlene L. Turner