Wild Rescue (22 page)

Chapter 90

It’s hard trying to sleep
when you know someone’s going to die. Buck was just a dog, but he felt like a friend. I tossed and turned the whole night, looking at the clock.

At five Monday morning I went downstairs for breakfast. Ashley came down a few minutes after I did. Then Sam joined us. That was nice. He could have slept the whole day because of his late flight, and we wouldn’t have blamed him.

“Mind if I come along to the farm and see you guys in action?” he said.

He drove us there and we checked the alpacas. Sam went to look at the house—cut phone cord and all—while we got the animals’ water and food.

“What time is it?” Ashley said, as if she didn’t really want to know.

“Almost seven.”

“Two more hours,” she said. “You suppose they give a dog a last meal like they do real criminals?”

I shrugged. “Maybe they let them chase a cat or something.” I was trying to be funny, but neither of us laughed.

Sam helped us clear the alpaca poop, which was the most disgusting part of the job, and we got back in his truck.

My cell phone rang.

“Bryce, it’s Toby. My dad thinks he knows where those alpacas are.”

Chapter 91

Sam drove while Bryce gave directions.
Mr. Krenshaw had noticed something funny in a remote section off Dead Man’s Pass, a winding road up the side of Memorial Mountain. An old hunting cabin that belonged to a friend of his sat on the road where he delivered papers. Normally a chain hooked to two timbers blocked anyone from coming onto the property, but the chain had been cut and deep tire marks marred the road.

Mr. Krenshaw had seen a long trailer parked in front of the cabin and called Toby on his CB radio before continuing his route.

As Bryce explained what had happened, Sam sped up. We made it to Dead Man’s Pass, turned left, and went straight up the mountain. It felt like we were entering another world.

“Why do they call this Dead Man’s Pass?” I said.

“Wagon trains used to come through here,” Sam said. “A few got snowed in and never made it out. Some of the old wagon parts are in a museum.”

The road went from blacktop to gravel to dirt. I imagined Whitney riding over this and wondered if she had given birth.

When Bryce hung up with Toby, he dialed the sheriff’s office and brought them up to speed.

“Should be around one more curve,” Sam said.

I held my breath as the sun cast shadows through the pine trees, giving the whole area an eerie look.

“There!” Bryce said.

Sam pulled over and we got out. The chain had definitely been cut, and I saw the tracks in the dirt road.

We heard voices. Someone yelling. Glass crashing.

And the hum of alpacas.

Chapter 92

Sam put a finger to his lips
as we walked up the hill. I saw movement in the trailer, which had been unhitched from the truck. The alpacas fidgeted and hummed inside—they probably hadn’t eaten for a whole day. When we moved around back we saw the truck parked among some bushes.

“You jerk, Eddie!” a female screamed inside the cabin. “You said you had this all worked out!”

“I did,” Eddie said, “but things happen. I coulda let the guy take ’em yesterday, but not without the money. I’m not trustin’ anybody to owe me that much.”

“I can’t stay here!” the girl shouted.

We hunkered low as we passed a window. I sneaked a peek inside and saw black hair on the girl’s shoulder.

“Come on, honey. Calm down. If we can’t sell them, you know the owners will offer a reward. Either way we’re out of here.”

“And how are we going to convince them we didn’t steal them?”

“Trust me, Jan. They’ll be so glad to get ’em back, there’ll be no questions asked.”

“I have trusted you, and look where it got me. I just want to go home.”

Sam motioned us close and whispered, “Stay here. I’ll head to the road and flag down the sheriff.” He pulled a multi-tool gadget from his pocket. “If you get a chance and know you can do this without being seen or heard, pop the hood on that truck and unhook one of the battery cables.”

Sam slipped into the brush like an animal stalking prey and was gone.

Ashley gasped. “Bryce, there’s something wrong with Whitney.”

Whitney was at the back of the trailer, away from the others, and they seemed to be nervously staying as far from her as possible too. When Whitney turned I saw blood on her hind legs.

“Give me your phone,” Ashley whispered.

Just as I handed it to her, it rang. I hit the Off button as fast as I could, but Eddie and Janice stopped talking. “Did you hear that?” he said.

Chapter 93

I said a bad word
I’d have to get forgiveness for later, and I could only hope the two inside didn’t hear that too.

“What?” Janice said.

“I heard a phone.”

“You’re imagining—”

“Shut up! I heard a phone!”

“Then somebody’s found us!” she said.

“Whoever it is,” Eddie said, “they have no idea who we are. Stay here.”

“Eddie!” Janice whined.

“I’m just gonna look around. I’ll be right back.”

The back door opened and slammed. Then the truck engine revved. Tires spun and Eddie tore off down the hill. We heard the front door and slipped to the other side of the trailer, spooking the alpacas even more.

“Eddie!” Janice yelled, running out and down the driveway. She fell to her knees and cried, gushing swearwords as she balled her hands into fists and screamed.

“I know her!” Bryce whispered. “That’s Jan from Instant Oil!”

I heard another engine and wondered if Sam was chasing Eddie. Why hadn’t Bryce sabotaged that battery when he had the chance?

I jumped up and tore open the back door of the trailer. The other four alpacas gingerly stepped past Whitney and bounded out, probably starving.

“Give me the phone, Bryce!”

I didn’t have the vet’s number, so I called information and was connected in seconds. My hands shook as I crept closer to Whitney. “It’s okay, girl. We’re going to get you help.”

When the vet answered I whispered desperately, “This is Ashley Timberline, and we found the alpacas.”

“Okay, good.” She sounded groggy. “Late night last night with a foal in Castle Rock.”

“Sorry, but this is an emergency. Whitney’s really agitated, and there’s blood on her hind legs.”

“Okay, look closely at her rear end and tell me what else you see.”

While Bryce kept an eye on Janice, I tried to get behind Whitney, but she kept bumping against the trailer. “It’s all right, girl,” I said. “Just trying to help you.” But suddenly she spat at me, thick, gooey liquid splashing my hair. I yelped, fearing that would have to get Janice’s attention.

“What do you see, Ashley?”

Whitney turned for a second. “Oh no!” I said. “There’s something black sticking out of her!”

“Ashley, listen. Do you see any hair on what’s coming out of her?”

I ducked as Janice stomped back into the cabin and slammed the door. I don’t think she saw us.

I looked as close as I could, wary of another spit. “No! Just black!”

“Those are the cria’s feet, Ashley. And that’s a problem. You’re going to have to help her. Is there anyone with you?”

“My brother.”

“Give him the phone. You’re going to need both hands.”