Page 62 of A Cowboy's Claim
Declan pushed into the back bedroom section of the house, knocking on the door before pushing it open. “Mr. Nagy? You okay?”
The bed was unmade but empty. A quick check into the other room showed an office space that was also unoccupied.
Sydney shrugged. “Must be in the barn.”
They both pulled up their collars and headed into the storm. The wind snapped at their clothing, blasting them with moisture as the rain lashed sideways, stinging like slaps.
The barn was empty, the shed was empty. The dogs following at their heels seemed not the least bit concerned about where their master was.
“His truck is here,” Sydney said, worry colouring her voice. “Did he go wandering in the trees?”
A loud crack of thunder shook the barn, and Declan pulled Sydney to his side. “If he is out there, we’re not looking for him. Not now in the dark and the rain.”
“I know.”
He crouched to pet the dogs. “Where’s the boss? Hey, boys. Where’s the boss? Go find him.”
One took off like a shot, and Declan headed to the door to watch as the dog went straight to the truck and sniffed before coming back and whining.
“He’s not in there,” Declan assured the dog. He looked at Sydney. “See if we’ve got any reception.”
She pulled out her phone and made a small noise. “I have no bars, but there’s a message from Lexie. Must’ve come in while we were bouncing on the road.” She read it, her eyes widening. “Well,shit.”
“What’s up?”
Sydney made a face. “The hospital called the clinic because we’re the physicians on file. Nagy was checked in half an hour ago. A friend dropped him off.”
“Well, that’s good.” Declan breathed a sigh of relief that the man wasn’t lying out there under some bush in the storm.
She nodded. “I’m glad he’s there. But…”
She stared at the rain soaked landscape. At the puddles that had turned into streams that were now flowing down the road.
From the doorway of the barn they clearly saw the lightning strike hit a tree to the side of the road. Electricity crackled on the air, and the hair on Declan’s arms stood on end as the deafeningcrackboomed.
The wind howled in his ears, but even at a distance, the creaking and rumble of the tree falling was louder. It leaned to the side, pulling part of the embankment with it.
A swirl of mud rushed down the side of the mountain and across the road.
Sydney gasped. “What?—”
From farther up the mountain, another deep rumble started, and the ground underfoot wavered.
Declan caught her by the waist and pulled her into the middle of the open arena. Far enough away there was nothing within striking distance.
Far enough from the barn so that if it collapsed they’d be safe.
The rain let up only enough to let them see the hazy outline of the steep mountainside to the west. Between one breath and the next, the side of the mountain seemed to have been sliced off like a hot knife into butter. Trees remained vertical but began to flow down the hillside, like a surfer riding a wave. The surreal sight ended abruptly when the shifting tree line hit the horizontal level of the road, and with a great crash and thunder, tall spruce tipped and tumbled like bowling pins, leaving massive roots jutting skyward.
The slide felt endless, though it likely lasted less than a minute.
Sydney leaned into him, and Declan tightened his grip around her soaking wet body as the full damage finally registered.
Behind them, the barn was intact, and the house was fine. But the road down the mountain simply didn’t exist anymore.
14
The dogs disappeared into a shelter tucked into the corner of the porch. Declan ushered Sydney through the door, their soaked and mud-coated shoes abandoned outside.
