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"Fuck! What happened?" I shouted, pushing through the gathering crowd of ranch hands.
"She got spooked and ran into the old fence," one of the ranch hands explained, his face pale. "We can't get close enough to help her; she's too scared."
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. "Move back," I ordered, stepping closer to Jasmine. "Give her some space. She's not going to calm down with all this shouting."
The men backed off, their worried eyes on me as I approached Jasmine slowly. My hands shook, but I steadied them, keeping my voice low and soothing. "Hey, girl, it's okay. I'm here. We're gonna get you out of this, I promise."
Jasmine's wild eyes locked onto mine, and she snorted, pawing at the ground in fear. I kept talking to her, my voice a steady murmur, inching closer with each word. My mind raced, trying to come up with a way to free her without causing more damage.
"Get me some bolt cutters and a first aid kit," I called over my shoulder. "And a blanket. We're going to need to cover her eyes."
One of the ranch hands ran off to fetch the supplies while I continued to inch closer. Jasmine was trembling, her breaths coming in harsh, ragged bursts. I extended my hand, letting her catch my scent, hoping to reassure her.
"Easy, girl. Easy. You're okay," I whispered. Her ears flicked, and she took a tentative step towards me, the wire clinking against her legs.
The ranch hand returned with the tools, and I carefully covered Jasmine's eyes with the blanket, cutting off her view of the wire and the men standing around. She started to calm down, her breathing evening out just a bit.
"Okay, let's get to work," I said, taking the bolt cutters. "Hold her steady."
With the blanket over her eyes, Jasmine was less panicked, and I managed to cut through the barbed wire, working quickly but carefully. Each snip felt like an eternity, the sharp tang of blood and sweat filling the air.
Finally, the last piece of wire fell away, and Jasmine stood there, trembling but free. I stepped back, my body aching from the tension. "Get her to the stable and clean her up. Make sure she gets some rest," I instructed the ranch hands.
As they led Jasmine away, I noticed something glinting on her halter. A small piece of paper tied with a thin piece of twine. My stomach dropped as I reached for it, my fingers numb.
Unfolding the note, my blood ran cold. "This is your final warning. Stop digging, or next time, it won't be a horse."
I crumpled the note in my hand, my heart pounding. Whoever was behind this knew exactly how to get to me. The threat was clear, and it was terrifying. I was putting everyone at the ranch in danger by continuing to investigate.
I leaned against the stable door, trying to steady my breathing. The sound of tires crunching on gravel caught my attention, and I looked up to see Danny's truck pulling in. I stuffed the note into my pocket and pushed off the door, ready to fill him in on everything that had happened.
Danny stepped out of the truck, his eyes scanning the scene. "What the hell happened?" he asked.
"Jasmine got tangled in some barbed wire," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "But there's more. Look at this." I handed him the crumpled note, watching as his face darkened with anger.
"Goddammit," he muttered, crushing the note in his fist. "They're getting bolder. This is serious, Heather. We need to be careful."
"I know," I said. "But we can't stop now. We're too close."
Danny looked at me, his eyes hard. "I get that, but your safety is my priority. We need to be smarter about this. No more running off on your own, okay?"
I nodded, feeling a mix of frustration and fear. "Okay. But we need to keep pushing. Whoever did this isn't going to stop unless we make them."
Chapter Thirty-Three
Danny
Heather’s words echoed in my mind as I drove back to the station. The road ahead was a blur of asphalt and trees, but my thoughts were razor-sharp, focused on the threat hanging over us. Whoever was behind this was getting bolder, and we were running out of time.
The station was quiet when I arrived, the kind of stillness that only comes late at night. I walked in, nodding at the deputy on duty, and headed straight for my office. I needed to go over the evidence again and find the missing piece that would make everything click.
The sheriff's words played on a loop in my head. One week. Seven days to deliver justice and protect the innocent. I glanced at the calendar on the wall. Five days left. Time was slipping through my fingers like sand.
I heard a noise outside, something that didn't fit with the usual hum of the station. My body tensed, instincts kicking in. I stood up, moving quietly to the window. The parking lot was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the pavement. My truck was there, alone.
I scanned the area, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. Nothing seemed out of place. Just nerves, I told myself. But as I turned away, I caught a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye.
A car. Idling with its lights off.
