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“We can all agree there,” Buster interjected.
“We know that we want to circle back and explore the property,” Darren said. “But doing it safely is the issue.”
“Hell, I forgot all about that drone thing I got for Christmas last year,” Buster said. “My wife thought it would be a good way to check on the cattle near Dangling Creek. You know how one ends up there stuck in the mud every spring.”
“I do,” Darren said, liking the sound of this idea. “I’m guessing it has some kind of light for a night feature.”
Buster nodded. “We can go back and study the property using those internet maps.”
“That would help us figure out where we could best enter,” Darren agreed, starting to gain a little more momentum with the idea.
“It could also save one of us from getting shot,” Reese added.
“And give us a bird’s-eye view of who might be patrolling around,” Darren said.
“I would bet money the family will be setting up patrol at least over the next couple of hours,” Buster said.
“A couple of hours gives us enough time to go home, collect the drone and figure out the landscape,” Darren said. “The actual ranch land will be blurred online, but we’ll get a sense of the periphery.”
A plan was taking shape. It was still risky, but doable with minimal collateral damage, he hoped. The thought of something bad happening to Buster or Reese sat hard on his chest. He was a single father. His girls needed him. He needed to come home in one piece.
Would voluntarily stepping into a life-threatening situation be enough for him to lose custody if his in-laws had a good lawyer?
He couldn’t ignore the possibility. Or the developing feelings he had for Reese. They went beyond ensuring her well-being. He could be honest with himself about it. The thought she might not make it off the Archer property alive nearly gutted him. As much as he was ready to make sure justice was served, the idea of going back to his old routine—a routine that didn’t involve Reese—sat heavy, too.
But could he open his heart to her a second time?
Chapter Twenty-One
The drive back to the farmhouse was spent in quiet contemplation. Reese leaned her head on Darren’s shoulder and closed her eyes for most of the ride.
Buster pulled up beside the farmhouse.
“I’ll grab the drone and meet you at the house,” he said, then headed toward the barn and bunkhouse, where he and his wife lived.
Reese followed Darren inside and straight to the laptop on the counter. She claimed one of the bar stools and Darren took the open one next to her. He turned on the computer and then pulled up the map. As expected, the actual property was a blur. However, since it butted up against roads, they could move that way to get a sense of the periphery.
“It would be nice if we could bring this with us,” she said.
“I could create a hot spot with my cell...”
He shook his head.
“Not sure about this throwaway,” he said. Then he got up and retrieved a pad of paper and pen from the office. “Then again, nothing like going about this the old-fashioned way.”
Darren drew a rough map of the Archer Bee Farm.
“We should probably be ready to call the law at any moment while we’re there,” Reese pointed out.
“Do you want to be in charge of that?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Good,” he said. “When we get there, I’ll hand over the phone.”
“I imagine Buster will man the drone,” she said.
“I have some night-vision goggles that we can bring,” Darren added. “They’ll come in handy if we need to go on property.”
