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His mouth went dry despite the water.

“I can manage it,” he added. “But you need to know.”

Kyle studied him for maybe two seconds.

“Ben drives.”

Mac nodded.

“You navigate. Keep drinking. If it changes, you tell me before I have to ask.”

“I will.”

That was it. The relief hurt almost as much as the fear.

Mac took another drink and forced himself to swallow.

Good. Stay useful.

Kyle raised his radio. “Harold, Kyle. Come back.”

Static crackled, then Harold’s voice came through rough with distance and smoke. “Go ahead.”

Finally.

“You hear anything from Jodie? She went out toward Virgil’s north fence about fifty minutes ago.”

“She raised me before she went out. Asked about Virgil. I hadn’t seen him. I told her I’d swing north once I got clear down here.” He paused. “Nothing since.”

Dammit. Dammit! Mac looked at the new smoke column.

Kyle keyed the radio. “If you do hear from her, call it in immediately.”

“Will do. Over.”

The channel went quiet.

Mac checked his watch again. Fifty-one minutes.

Ranch Girl, enough. Come back now. And while we’re at it, you better have Goblin with you.

He looked down at the map while Virgil traced the road with one dirty finger.

“Show me where we start.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

Jodie came awake coughing through her bandana.

Something rough and wet scraped across her cheek. She tried to turn her face away and pain exploded through the side of her head so hard her stomach rolled.

Oh, God.

Goblin whined and licked her again. Then he coughed as hard as she did.

She opened her eyes. Dirt and cheatgrass filled most of her vision, close enough that for a second she couldn’t understand why it was there. Smoke drifted low over the ground, thicker than before, making her eyes burn. She coughed again. Goblin shoved his nose beneath her chin and whined louder.

“I’m awake, buddy, thank you.” Her voice came out wrong. It was thin and scratchy.