Page 65 of Lasso Lovebirds

It also gave me plenty of time to wonder what the hell I was doing.

I was so sure Rainbow Ranch was the place for me. I knew it was. But it still suddenly felt scary to think about being here.

I rushed down the hall and through the living room, quietly stepping out onto the front porch. The barn lights cut through the darkness, but in the distance I could see the bands of lightning dancing in a wall of clouds.

“There you are,” I whispered.

The rush of exhilaration hit me and all my other worries disappeared. I jogged down the steps and headed to the garage, pulling the massive door open. I hopped in my van, tossed my backpack in the passenger seat, and cranked on the engine.

The van rumbled to life. I flipped on the headlights and sat still for a moment.

I should have left a note that I was going to chase a storm. But, I’d be back before they woke up, especially since it was so close.

I pulled out of the garage, the tires crunching over the gravel as I soared down the road past the arena and toward the front of the property.

Within a few minutes, I pulled up to the gate and hopped out, pushing it open so I could drive through. I realized this was the first time I’d left the ranch since arriving, and I paused, looking back at it.

A sense of calm settled over me and I smiled to myself.

This was meant to be. I was supposed to be here. I knew that so deeply, that my eyes watered up.

“See you again soon,” I whispered.

Getting back in the van, I peeled out onto the road, took a right, and floored it straight toward the storm.

The van was my pride and joy. The console had the primary computer, a touchscreen monitor, power equipment, radar, and GPS that allowed me route plan efficiently. The radar helped me keep up to date with the storm and allowed me to make educated guesses on which way it may turn.

Without an assistant, it was a little tough, but I could do this. I’d done it a thousand times before. I’d been hunting storms for years.

I rushed through a curtain of rain, and the downpour started. I kicked up my wipers to the highest setting as lightning shot across the sky, the visibility on the road less than ideal. I glanced over at the radar, my eyes widening.

This one was heating up fast.

I slowed as the rain turned harsher, rolling down the empty country road. The storm was moving southeast, which meant I needed to find another road that could pull me closer.

“Come on, come on,” I murmured. “Thereit is.”

I spotted a smaller offshoot of a road and took the turn, hydroplaning for a split second before the van righted itself. I barreled down the road, hitting a few spots of mud.

The downside of being out in the middle of nowhere was the rough roads, but that wasn’t going to stop me. This van was built to handle a lot.

Way off in the distance, a break in the clouds gave way to a patch of emerging sun, the sky a hazy purple. If I got lucky, there’d be just enough light to get some good photos.

“Come on, come on,” I said.

My heart was racing. I sped down the road, glancing out the window, back to the radar, then to the GPS.

I was going off instinct at this point. My gut twisted as I took a left down another small road, barreling past fields of corn.

This was going to be a good spot. I slowed and pulled off the side of the road as the rain slowed, the sky rumbling above. Lightning danced, streaking through dark clouds.

I pulled out into the field. The moment I stopped, I got out and opened the side door, rummaging through my bags. I pulled on a bright yellow rain poncho and yanked the hood up, then got out my camera.

When I glanced over my shoulder, I could see the clouds swirling in the distance.

I was going to get lucky.

My veins buzzed with excitement and a bit of fear. There was always danger in this job, but I knew when I needed to get the hell out of dodge.

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