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Blaze falls in beside me.

Ace circles wide toward the pasture.

Buddy bolts ahead.

The barn door creaks slightly in the wind.

Then—

A shadow moves.

“Stop!” I bark.

The figure runs.

Boots pounding through dirt.

Blaze takes off after him.

Ace cuts across the field like a linebacker.

The man reaches the fence—

And Buddy slams into him.

The dog hits like a furry missile.

The stranger crashes to the ground with a curse.

Blaze tackles him a second later.

Ace arrives and flips the man onto his stomach.

I stand beside him.

Black hoodie.

Gloves.

Cheap mask.

Professional enough to try.

Not professional enough to succeed.

“What are you doing on this property?” I ask.

The man laughs.

“You think this is your land?”

Wrong answer.

Buddy growls louder.

Blaze tightens his grip.

“Talk,” Ace says calmly.