Storm Chaser Read Free Page B

they’d do if they were living wild back on reservation land.”
    â€œThe cattle are in the outer fields,” Mrs. Warner said. “Will they be okay there if the storm hits?”
    Mr. Warner nodded. “They’ll be safe enough. I’m glad they’re not out on the range, or they could spook and scatter all over the mountain. The last time that happened, it took us a month of searching to gather them all up, and we lost a few of them. We can’t afford to lose a single head this year.”
    The meal ended with the din of shutters banging in the high wind and more flickering from the lights. A few drops of rain hit the window, but for the most part, this was a dry storm full of wind, thunder, and lightning.
    When the lights finally went out for good at about nine o’clock, Jessica decided she might as well go to bed early. Her parents weren’t doing a lot of talking after their argument over the guest ranch, and Duncan never was much of a conversationalist.
    â€œI’m going to check the horses before bed,” she called as she lifted her jacket from the peg in the hallway and pulled on her boots.
    â€œBe careful,” her mother cautioned. “Would you like your brother to go with you?”
    Jessica shook her head. “I’ll take Shep.” She signaled the Border collie to follow and stepped into the dark, stormy night. Standing on the back porch, she lifted her nose to sniff the air. The wind whipped through her hair, blowing it into a tangle. Jessica loved the pungent smell of the high desert after a light rainfall. It smelled of earth and growing things. She hugged her jacket close to her and ran to the barn.
    When Jessica attempted to open the heavy barn door, she wished she’d brought Duncan instead of the collie. The door screeched on its hinges as the wind caught it, almost dislodging it from its mooring.
    Jessica stepped inside and quickly pulled the door closed. She paused for a moment, listening to the creaks and groans of the old barn as it stood firm in the wind and breathing in the sweet smell of the newly cut hay. She grabbed for the flashlight her father stored near the door and clicked on the light, pointing the thin beam around the enclosure.
    Rusty trotted into the stall from his connected paddock, his eyes rolling wildly in his head. Duncan and her father had locked their saddle horses in, but Jessica had left Rusty a choice, knowing the old gelding became nervous when the wind was high. After a calming word to the horses inside, she stepped out into the storm to check the new stock. Just as her father had predicted, they were all huddled under the overhang of the tree. She couldn’t see the little paint filly at first, but she finally spotted her near the center of the herd.
    When she was sure all of the horses were okay, Jessica secured the barn doors, pushing with all her might as they flopped wildly in the wind. Drops of rain pelted her face and she ran for the house, Shep close at her heels. As she sprinted across the yard, several bolts of lightning flashed across the sky, temporarily turning the night into day. Jessica let out a frightened squeak and flew up the back porch steps and into the house.
    Duncan sat at the table with a lit candle in front of him. He raised a brow and hid a grin as she slammed the door shut behind her. Jessica felt her cheeks color, knowing that her brother must have heard her cry of fright. She punched him good-naturedly on the shoulder, then went to kiss her parents goodnight before going upstairs.
    Between flashes of lightning, she quickly changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up around her neck. She loved Nevada storms, the way the thunder and lightning crackled and rolled, but they scared her too.
    She snuggled deeper into the blankets and worried about the horses. She hoped Rusty decided to sleep in his stall instead of crowding up against the outside barn wall like he usually