Jason leaned closer, spoke for Winona’s ears alone. “Can we still be friends if I say I have no clue what they’re talking about?”
Winona laughed. “Sure. Thanks, by the way. You helped find these poor creatures. Now we can put them in a good home where they can run free.”
“Just doing my part.” His lips curved in a smile that stole Winona’s breath.
They reached the parking lot, where Jack and Nate were loading the UTV into their trailer. Under Winona’s direction, Team members lifted the wolfdog, settled her inside Shota’s old crate, and placed the pups beside her.
“Thanks for your help, everyone.” Winona locked the crate, eager to get the mother back to the clinic as soon as possible so she wouldn’t have to sedate her again. She handed her radio to Megs. “Everyone did a great job.”
“You’re the wolf whisperer. We just do what we’re told.” Megs and the others began packing away their gear. “We’ll do a quick debriefing at The Cave in an hour and then hit the pub.”
“I’m heading back to the ranch.” Nate shook Jason’s hand and hugged Winona. “I hope to see both of you at the Cimarron again soon. My old man and I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“I’m obliged to both of you.” Jack closed the tailgate, checked it, ensuring that the crate and its precious cargo was safe. “Let’s hit the road.”
Winona was just climbing into the cab of Jack’s truck when a US Marshal Service vehicle entered the parking lot. Several marshals got out, including Zach, who was wearing body armor and carrying a rifle.
He spotted them and walked over, a big grin on his face. “Jack, Nate, good to see you two. Looks like you’ve got your hands full, Winona. Hey, Chiago. I heard that bastard fired off a few shots. I’m glad you still have your head. Are those nicks from bullet fragments?”
Jason shot Zach a look. “Tree bark. The round hit a tree, and the bark splintered.”
Winona gaped at him. “He almostshotyou?”
Jack crossed his arms over his chest. “I hadn’t heard this either. Anyone care to elaborate?”
Jason filled them in. “He fired off a few rounds to hold us off so he could get away. We took cover, and he hopped on that four-wheeler. No big deal.”
“No big deal?” It seemed like a big deal to Winona, but then she wasn’t in law enforcement. “You let me think you’d had a run-in with a tree trunk.”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
Zach frowned, held a finger to his earpiece, and turned away, listening. Then he spoke into his hand mic. “Copy that. We’re on our way up.”
Just then, a dozen pagers went off, including Winona’s. She drew it out of her pocket, read through the message. “They found him. The four-wheeler flipped, and he’s pinned beneath it and injured.”
“Listen up! Grab your gear. We’re heading back up the mountain.” Megs walked over to Zach. “McBride, are my people in danger? What about the other wolf?”
Zach zipped his parka, adjusted his hand mic. “I just heard from Incident Command. The wolf ran off, and the fugitive has been disarmed. I’ll be right beside you.”
“That’s good enough for me.” Megs set off. “Let’s move, people! And remember to watch for traps!”
Zach turned to Jason. “You coming, Chiago?”
“I’m sticking with Winona.”
Zach’s eyebrows rose. “Got it. See you later.”
As Winona and Jason got into Jack’s truck for the drive to Scarlet Springs, the Team headed back up the mountain, Zach and his men beside them.
* * *
Jason,Jack, and a group of volunteers helped unload the crate from the back of Jack’s pickup and carry the sedated wolf inside, her pups scampering along behind them.
“I’m heading back up to the ranch.” Jack shook first Winona’s hand and then Jason’s. “Thanks for solving this mystery. You are welcome under our roof anytime.”
“Thanks for the hospitality.” Jason had never imagined he’d enjoy hanging with a family of white millionaires. The West family and their ranch were far beyond anything in his experience. “The Cimarron is a special place.”
“Then I’ll see you again. Take care.” With that, Jack left the clinic.