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“Butterscotch!” Londyn yelled and then shook her head. “I can’t hear anything. The other engines are echoing off the hill.”
“I’ll take care of that.” Nash ran toward the other two men who sat on their ATVs, looking up at the tree-covered hillside. “Hey!” he yelled, waving his arms.
When Mitchell finally turned toward him, Nash stopped and sliced his hand across his throat. “Cut the engines!” he yelled, knowing they couldn’t possibly hear him. He made a slicing motion across his throat again.
Mitchell turned off his ATV.
The ranch hand followed suit.
Lightning flashed overhead.
Londyn counted in her head.
One thousand and one... One thousand and two... One thousand and three... One thousand and four... One thousand and?—
Thunder cracked the sky and rumbled on for several long moments. The lightning had struck almost a mile away. They were definitely in the danger zone of being struck by lightning.
Nash hurried back to her. “We need to get out of here.”
“You’re right,” she said. “You should go and take the other two with you. It’s too dangerous to be out in a lightning storm.”
He frowned. “What about you?”
She shook her head, her gaze combing through the shadows beneath the trees. “She’s in there. I’m not leaving without her. But there’s no reason for you three to stay.”
“The hell there isn’t,” Nash said. “If you’re staying, I’m staying.”
“Just stand away from me,” she said. “You’re taller than I am. Lightning is drawn to taller targets.”
Nash snorted and chuckled. “You’re a piece of work, Miss Tyler-Lovejoy.”
“And this is news to you?” she said with a cocked eyebrow. “I’m surprised my mother didn’t tell you what to expect.”
“Oh, she did,” he said. “Your horse’s name is Butterscotch?”
She nodded.
“Butterscotch!” he yelled and paused to listen.
Londyn heard nothing.
“Maybe she’ll come to your voice,” he suggested.
She nodded and yelled, “Butterscotch!”
Again, nothing moved in the shadows.
Lightning flashed.
Londyn counted. Four seconds.
When Nash drew a deep breath to yell again, Londyn laid a hand on his arm and shook her head.
“Let me try something that works when she’s out in the pasture.” She raised her fingers to her lips and emitted a long, piercing whistle.
They stood for a long moment, listening for the thunder of horse’s hooves.
The only thunder Londyn heard was from the sky.
