I was counting down the seconds until Tate and the family would be back. Yes, things were to that point already. I was missing Tate like crazy. And not only that, I was going stir crazy around here alone with nobody to talk to other than that Rooster dude. But let me be honest, I didn’t talk to him much. He creeped me out. Like, skin crawling kind of creeping me out. The way he watched me made my stomach flip. Maybe I was going crazy. Maybe not. I wasn’t good when left to my own devices. My imagination tended to run rapidly towards all things negative. It had been like that since I was a kid.

I sighed at my own musings as I made my way over to the barn. I carefully balanced the tray in my hands so I didn't spill anything. I had made up a nice little spread for the baby animals and the two dogs that had been dropped off this morning. Abe’s assistant - Callie, I think it was - had called from the clinic to say she was sending someone over. The family was having troubles and the dogs would be staying with us for a few days. Apparently Abe’s clinic boarded animals when needed. I was okay with that. Better than the poor things just being left out in the wild. Or worse. They were big - like kinda huge - but very friendly dogs. They were also puppies still. They were about seven months old. Lord, I'd hate to see them when they were grown. Even Tango seemed to approve of them. Which I wasn’t so sure about when the man dropped them off. He’d acted a bit standoffish, but seeing as they were both female, we had no issues once he got a good sniff or fifty.

I jostled the handle of the barn and got the door open. I made my way into the barn and whistled. There was no sense in putting the dogs in a stall - well, not to me anyway - when there were no other animals here other than the babies and they were behind bars.

“Come on, pretties. Din Din time,” I smiled as the words fell from my lips. They sauntered out of a stall, their heads tilted to the side - ears flicking. I clicked my teeth as I went down to my knees. “That’s it, come on. I got you some yummy rice and meat.” I sat the bowls on the floor and started digging in the bowl of cut up fruits I brought for the baby donkeys. I had spent a couple of hours today while Abbie napped making a list of things they could eat. And what not to feed them. I’d get tired of eating that barley straw and hay Abe had brought in. I mean, really. They needed a little variety in their lives. I carefully got to my feet so I didn’t scare the dogs and moved over to were Bert and Ernie were. Grinning like the dork I was, I flipped the latch and pushed the door open.

“Hey, my little fur butts. Come here. I have a snack for you. The place I found on the web said this would be good for you,” I bent over and held my hands out. A few slices of apple, a banana half and carrots filled them. “That’s it, you can have them.” Once my hands were empty of food, and covered in donkey slobber, I got up, scratched their heads and then made my way out. I locked the door to the stall behind me and gathered up the bowls the dogs had licked clean.

“Good girls. You did good. Now, you go night night and I will be back in a few hours okay?” I said, scratching their heads. I got a couple of licks of thanks for my ear scratching. I moved back from them and gathered up everything and headed back across the yard to the house.

When I walked passed the main barn I heard a noise. It's a ranch, so there are always noises, but this was kind of weird. A grunting, thumping sound. There was no one here, so I knew it couldn't be anyone playing hide the snake or something. I moved to the door and sat the tray down on the ground out of the way and slowly opened the door. I made my way in quickly. My hand automatically moved to the left wall to flip the main switch. The barn lit up a moment later. Everything looked to be in order. I heard the noise again and it startled me. Following the noise, I made my way down the row. The walkway was clear and with my tennis shoes on I was moving soundlessly. Maybe it was one of the horses whacking the feed bucket with its nose. Was that weird dude feeding them? Ugh, if he wasn't, his balls were gonna get a kiss from my size eight sneaker. Huffing, I walked back to the stall where the noise was coming from. I pushed the door open and gasped.

“Oh. My. God!” I whispered the words as I moved into the stall. My knees hit the hay covered floor as my hands moved to push the cloth covering the man's mouth to the side.

“Where-” he swallowed and tried again as I tugged at the ropes holding his hands together, “Where is he?”

“Who? Who did this?” I should have asked who he was first, but that wasn't important now.

“Some man. I've not seen him before,” he said, rolling his neck. I saw him wince once. “I came in, looking for you. Or I'm guessing it would be you. You Tate’s girl, Georgie?”

I nodded, my eyes widening slightly. He knew me? It was apparent I was missing something here. I just needed these ropes to come off. I growled at the rope and hurried to my feet.

“Don't leave me here like this!” he called out and I shook my head. There was no time for words I ran to the tack room, pulled the string for the light and grabbed a box cutter. They used them to slice the feed bags open so I knew it was sharp. I ran back to the stall, once again falling to my knees and started sawing at the rope. As soon as it was pulled apart we were on our feet.

“Are you hurt? We need to call the Sheriff,” I said in a rush.

“No, I'm fine. But when I find that fucker he won't be,” he growled out his words.

“Who…” I swallowed hard when he grabbed my arm. When he got to his feet he was a lot taller and wider than I was.

“Name’s Rooster. I'm afraid you have someone on this ranch pretending to be me. Don't know why or how yet.”

“I-” My head shook as I pulled back from him and made my way out of the stall. “I'm callin’ the Sheriff. Right. The. Fuck. Now.”

I ran then, straight for the door. This was not happening to me. No, this had to be some sick, twisted joke. I heard steps behind me and my heart skipped a few beats. As the barn door came open before me I shrieked. My footfalls slid to a stop as I stared down the man calling himself Rooster. I took a step back.

“Well, this is unfortunate,” he said stalking towards me. I was pulled back and pushed behind the real Rooster. That name needed work, but now wasn't the time to worry about that. I peered around him to see the man before us.

“Who are you? What do you want?” I asked. My voice wavered slightly as I saw the look in his eyes.

“Let's not worry about that yet, princess,” the real Rooster said. In the blink of an eye he was launching himself at the other man. They slammed into the barn door and started to grapple. I took off out the door. There was nothing for me to do right now but call the Sheriff. I stumbled and fell against the porch as I ran up the stairs. I could hear cursing behind me as the sounds of flesh on flesh increased.

I flung the door open and stumbled my way to where my cell phone was plugged in. I could hear Tango upstairs barking and snarling. Shit. I dialed the Sheriff’s office as fast as my fingers would allow.

“Sheriff’s office. How may I direct your call,” the older woman’s voice filled my ears. I held back a sob as relief flooded me.

“Need help at the Cannon ranch. A man has been attacked.” I heard a shot, Tango’s barking increased, and then I heard a “thud” from upstairs.

“Ma’am, can you tell me the address?”

I rattled it off as fast as I could and tiptoed to the stairs. Someone was upstairs. Tango’s claws were scrambling against a door and then I heard someone shriek. I ran up the stairs as I yelled into the phone.

“Please! Someone's in the house. Someone is shooting!” I hung up and slid my phone in my back pocket as I got to the landing. I peeked around the corner to see Tango latched onto someone's hand. Oh, hell no! “TABITHA!” I sneered.

“Get him off me!” She shrieked and kicked my dog. I saw red. Tango whined as I pushed him back. I gave him a command to release, and kicked the bitch as she reached for the gun she dropped. With a woosh of air she curled into herself.

“You made a mistake coming here, lady,” I said, grabbing Tango’s collar and pulling him with me to Abbie’s nursery. I scooped her up and pulled her blankets from the bed.

“She’s mine!”

“No, she’s not!” I said as I ran out of the room. I held a wailing Abbie pressed against my chest. Tango was on my heels as I ran down the back staircase and out the back door. I had to hide Abbie. God, of all times for that crazy ass woman to show up. I slipped around the house, checking around corners before I bolted across the darkest side of the yard. I made it to the small barn Abe used for his clinic animals and we slipped inside. I hurried to the back of the barn and sat Abbie in an empty crate. I tucked her blankets around her.

“Shh, baby, it's okay. I won't let that bitch get you. You stay with the babies, okay? I'll be right back. Ma Ma has to go check on uh, Rooster,” I said in a whisper before kissing her head. “Be right back.”

I got up and all three dogs were staring at me. I made a face and pointed to Tango, giving him the command to guard. No one but me would get back in there. Of that there was no doubt. I slipped back up the dark corridor and stopped at the door. It was getting to be super dark already. Good thing I knew this yard like the back of my hand now. I slipped out the door and ran towards the prone body on the ground. Skidding to a stop I knelt down and sighed when I felt a pulse. The smell of blood made me wrinkle my nose. Damn.

“Help’s on the way. Stay with me, Rooster,” I whispered while looking around. I stood slowly. My eyes adjusting to the darkness was making me see things in the dark. Right? Or was that someone coming towards me? I ran towards the other barn, drawing the shadow further away from Abbie. I had to tug on the door a couple of times before it registered that the latch was down.

Jesus, Georgie, focus.

With a shaking hand I flipped the latch, pulled the doors open and ran for the back of the barn. I'd run this joker all over this ranch if need be. The Sheriff wouldn't take that long to get here… right? No. I wasn't going there. I pushed the bar across the door and flung it open. I took three steps and someone grabbed me. I screamed and flung my head back. There was a crunch and the arms around me loosened. I ran back into the barn. I was making my way to the front when there were steps behind me and I was slammed into the floor by a brick wall.

I could feel the slow fire burning through me as I shoved at the floor. I had to get him off of me. I was failing miserably to catch my breath more and more with each attempt I made to get free.