Page 55 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

“Drive careful.”

“Always do,” Hudson said before pulling away after a goodbye wave.

Half an hour away from the ranch, it was almost pitch black outside.

Out of nowhere, the truck pulled hard to one side.It felt like the truck wanted to leave the road.Hudson struggled to maintain control of the wheel.Shit.

He swerved as he put more pressure on the brakes.Not without effort and skill, he managed to pull to the side of the road with the trailer intact.Best was spooked and the tire was blown.Shit.Shit.Shit.

There were two options.Replace the tire himself or call for help.

Hudson cut the ignition after shifting the gear to park.He needed to settle Best first.Then, he could make the call about fixing the damn tire himself.He refused to see this as a bad omen.Instead, he filed it under inconvenient and moved on.

Lightning flashed as he exited the truck.

Best snort-whistled as he shifted his weight from side to side.

“You’re all right,” Hudson soothed.For a split-second, he considered fixing the tire and turning back.He fished his cell out of his pocket and checked the weather again.The front had shifted but should roll through in a matter of minutes, not hours.The decision to stay the course was made.

A forceful exhalation through Best’s nostrils as they flared sent a wave of fear rippling through Hudson.Best’s gaze fixed on something or someone behind Hudson.

He turned in time to see a mountain lion bounding toward him, in the air, not five feet from slamming into Hudson’s torso.

Shit.