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“Yeah, and they didn’t take any of their dried hay – or not much,” Shayne says, pointing over her shoulder at the full hayloft. “So, they’re going to need a lot of pasture land, wherever they went now, if they want the calves to survive. And considering this terrain, that’s going to narrow their choices, right?” She shrugs. “Or, they might just eat the cows. Who knows.”

“Damn, Shayne,” Cole says, smiling proudly at her. “Well sleuthed!”

“Thank you,” she says, beaming at him and dropping into a little mock curtsy, pretending to hold up the edges of a non-existent skirt. “A cowgirl does what she can.”

Tommy laughs as Cole and I smile at her. “Come on, milkmaid,” Tommy says, grinning and holding out a hand. “Let’s get out of this stinky barn –“

“It smells nice!” she protests, moving quickly to Tommy’s side and slipping her hand in his.

“You are…incorrect,” Tommy says, smiling down at her, their joined hands swinging as they head out into the night.

I sigh as I fall into step with Cole because, even if I hate to admit it, they are…cute.

Cole glances down at me as we head back into the night.

I glance up. “Don’t get any ideas.”

He smirks. “I wouldn’t dare.”

But suddenly his head snaps to the left, his arm reaching out in front of me and smacking me against the chest as he snarls, rough and low.

I gasp, likewise turning in the direction of his fierce gaze, my eyes locked on a dusty and creaky bush behind the barn that rustles and shakes.

Tommy snaps his head to Cole, Shayne tucked behind him, as Rose moves close to his side, her own teeth bared and snarling.

“Sir?” Tommy’s word is tense, clipped.

Cole sniffs the air, watching carefully as the bush continues to rustle and then goes still. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Is it – is it a person?” I whisper. “Is it one of them, come back?”

Cole frowns, undecided, narrowing his eyes at the bush like he can see right through it. “Stay back, Nadia.”

Chapter 29 - Humans

Nadia

We all stand very still, staring at the bush as it continues to tremble for a moment. After a few seconds, it goes still.

We all wait, our eyes trained on the leaves.

“Oh, it’s nothing!” Rose’s voice rings out in the silence, making me jump. “It’s an animal! It’s probably a little bunny!”

“I can’t tell and I’m not taking risks,” Cole says, turning to her. “We’re out of here.”

Rose rolls her eyes at him. “You just want to go because the nurse got scared.”

“I’m calling it,” Cole says, quite tense, turning back towards the jeep and ushering me along at his side with a hand flat on my back. “It’s not worth –“

“I still have more work to do!” Rose shouts after us, angry.

“Fall in, Rose!” Cole barks back, not bothering to look at her. Behind us, I hear Rose sigh as her footsteps follow.

We’re all silent as we walk back to the jeep, but I keep my eyes on Cole. “I’m fine, you know,” I say. “We can stay if –“

He shakes his head, looking down at me. “It’s not worth it, Nadia. This whole place is bigger than I thought it would be – stragglers could be anywhere. It was foolish to come at night, though it was the only time –“

I stop about five feet from the jeep, frowning up at him. “Youarejust ending this for me –“