Chapter 21
chapter
twenty-one
As soon as the sound of barking hit Caleb, his feet were in his boots and his arms in his jacket.
He rushed outside and paused when he saw the commotion.
Dogs were scattered across the driveway and all over the open space beyond the kennels. Their forms were dark shapes streaking through deep shadows.
Some ran in tight circles, panicked. Others bolted straight for the tree line, noses down, freedom overriding training.
Caleb stopped short, dread slamming into his chest. “You’ve got to be kidding me . . .”
Max burst out the door beside him, breath fogging hard. “What in the world . . . ?”
“I have no idea what happened,” Caleb said. “We’ll figure that out later. For now, you take the west side. I’ll work toward the drive.”
“Got it.”
Caleb rushed forward. Too many dogs were loose and running in too many directions. Rounding them all up felt like an impossible task.
This wasn’t a mistake—someone had done this.
Caleb took off toward the nearest pair of dogs—two golden retrievers. He dropped to a crouch, his hands out, and his voice low and steady. “Hey. Hey. Easy.”
One skidded to a stop, recognizing him. The other kept running.
The second dog decided to run after him also.
Caleb straightened and sighed, his heart pounding harder now.
Someone had opened every kennel, he realized.
Not to steal.
Not to hurt the dogs.
To send a message.
Caleb’s gaze lifted, and he swept the edges of the property—the trees, the slope beyond the lights.
Was the person who’d done this still lingering close?
Caleb turned back to the dogs, forcing his focus narrow and precise. One problem at a time, he reminded himself. One animal at a time. Panic helped no one.
Millie nearly collided with Naomi at the bottom of the stairs.
“What’s going on?” she rushed.
“Dogs got out,” Naomi said. “They’re running all over the property.”
At the thought, Millie started to hurry toward the door.
Naomi grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. “You should stay inside.”
Millie forced herself to stop. “But you’re going to need help.”
“Not from you.” Naomi shook her head. “You’re safer inside.”
“You need all the help you can get. Please, just let me do this. I’ll be careful.”
Naomi hesitated.
Then the barking surged again, the sound complete chaos.
“Fine. You can help.” Naomi held her gaze for a beat, then released her arm with a sharp nod. “But stay close.”
“I will.”
They pulled on their coats as they broke into a jog toward the door.
Cold air slammed into Millie as they burst outside. Lights blazed across the yard, throwing long shadows over the grass.
Dogs ran everywhere—some circling back toward the house, others racing toward the dark like they’d been waiting for the opportunity since they’d arrived.
Millie saw Caleb standing near the drive, a leash in one hand.
His head snapped up when he saw her. “What are you doing out here?”
“I’m helping.”
“It isn’t safe.”
As a schnauzer darted past, she grabbed the dog’s collar and murmured soothing words to him. Then she gave Caleb a “told-you-so” look.
Caleb stared back, something tight and conflicted flashing across his face. “If you’re out here, you’re staying with me.”
“Fine.”
They took the schnauzer back into the kennel.
Then they took off together toward the far fence where something brown and white flashed.
“What happened?” Millie asked as they ran.
“I don’t know yet. Someone let all the dogs out. I just hope the fence is still secure.”
“Me too.” The thought of searching for these dogs in the vast woods surrounding the property was a task that felt nearly impossible.
Another dog streaked past them, low and fast.
“There,” Caleb said. “That’s Poppy.”
The Australian shepherd skidded, doubled back, then bolted again, operating on pure instinct and adrenaline. The animal was smart, wired, and loving every second of freedom.
Millie slowed, raising her hands slightly. “Poppy! Hey, buddy.”
The dog glanced back but didn’t stop.
Caleb circled wide, blocking the dog’s path. Millie adjusted, herding instead of chasing, keeping her voice light and steady.
“Good boy,” she called. “That’s it. Easy.”
Poppy hesitated then darted toward her instead of past. Millie dropped into a crouch just as she reached her, fingers closing around her collar.
“Got you,” she breathed.
Caleb appeared a second later and clipped the leash on, relief cutting through the tension in his shoulders.
A sense of victory flashed through her.
They walked Poppy back into the kennel and placed her in her run.
Then they went outside and continued to catch the rest of the dogs.
It took over an hour until they were all caught. Thankfully, the fence around the property was intact, which had trapped the dogs within the enclosed space.
When the last dog was captured, Millie and Caleb walked back into the kennel.
They stood there a beat, the situation contained. Dogs barked from inside the kennels now—they were all safe but still hyper from their midnight escape.
Together, she and Caleb walked the length of the kennels. Caleb checked each latch, each hinge, and each lock.
“Someone did this on purpose,” Millie muttered.
“Yes, they did.” Caleb’s jaw hardened. “I need to find out who’s behind this. We’re running out of time, and next time we might not be so lucky.”