Page 125 of After the Burn

“What?” she asked.

“Stay.”

Her eyebrows rose. “I’m not a dog.”

He pointed toward Rory, and Wren looked at the girl standing beside Max.

Her expression softened. “Fine. But if you die, I’m not going to feel the slightest bit of guilt about eating the rabbits without you.”

Colson nodded briefly and moved toward the barn. Adrian and Lucas followed, and all three stopped at the slightly open door.

Colson leaned on it with one hand and glanced at Adrian.

Adrian raised three fingers, dropping them one at a time.

Three.

Two.

One.

Colson ripped the door open.

Something shrieked inside, and Rory buried her face against Wren.

Lucas and Adrian disappeared through the opening, and a crash followed.

Then a heavy thud.

Silence.

“Can you lay Harper down?” Finley dropped his pack and began rummaging through it.

Beck lowered Harper carefully into the grass while Finley knelt beside her.

“Hold this.” Finley handed me the fluid bag.

I raised it above Harper’s body. My arm immediately began to tremble. I really needed rest and something to eat before I collapsed.

Beck took it from me without comment. Placing a quick, hard kiss on my lips.

Finley pressed his stethoscope against Harper’s chest, and Rory moved closer. “Can she hear us?”

“Maybe,” Finley said, distracted by what he was doing.

Rory dropped to her knees beside her mother. “Mom, we found a barn.” Her voice cracked. “It’s ugly, but Wren says ugly things are more interesting.”

“They are.” Wren glanced around at us as if we were about to argue the point.

Rory touched Harper’s hand. “And Max is okay.” She glanced at Wren. “Mojo is okay, too.”

Harper’s fingers moved slightly.

Rory gasped. “Momma heard me!”

Finley leaned closer. “Harper?”

Her eyelids fluttered. She didn’t wake, but a faint sound escaped her throat.