Free Wild Rescue by Jerry B. Jenkins, Chris Fabry Page B

farmhouse. He picked up but didn’t even whisper. “Call when you can talk,” I said.
    “When you can talk,” Lewis said.
    “Shut up, bird.”
    “Shut up, bird!” Lewis squawked.
    While I was making myself a sandwich, Bryce finally called and told me what he’d heard.
    “How do they get the keys?” I said.
    “I’m not sure yet, but I know they’re planning a big heist tomorrow night.”
    “Where?”
    “I don’t know that either, but—”
    “Bryce, remember we saw Mr. Morris there, talking to the owner about going out of town. Could the big heist be here?”
    I heard clanging in the background, like someone had dropped a tool. Finally Bryce whispered, “Could be. We have to catch them.”
    I told Bryce about Buck. He couldn’t believe it. “I guess animal control can’t take any chances,” he said, “but how are we going to protect the herd in the meantime?”
    “We have no choice. We’ll have to do it ourselves and stay here overnight. When are you coming back?”
    “That’s up in the air right now—literally.”
    “I’ll come and get you,” I said.
    “No, go home and wait. I’ll meet you there. If I’m not there by dinner, call me.”

Chapter 62

    Ashley and I couldn’t leave the alpacas alone— especially at night—as long as Buck was away.
    What if we did save their lives? Would Mr. Morris pay more? What if he gave us $5 an alpaca each day? I did the math on my watch calculator. Ashley and I would both get $700!
    I knew it was wrong to think that way. I had to do a good job whether or not we were paid at all.
    The longer I lay in the pickup, the more cramped my legs felt. I wanted to sleep, but I had to stay alert. I wondered what Ashley would tell Mom when she showed up at home without me.

Chapter 63

    When I got home I went straight to Sam’s office above the barn. I didn’t want to face Mom because I knew she’d ask me where Bryce was, and I wasn’t going to lie.
    Sam’s office is really cool. There’s a weight/exercise room on one end, where Bryce and I work out and play video games. On the other end is Sam’s office with a desk, file cabinets, and pictures of planes. Sometimes I go there just to think. Maybe the smell of coffee gets my mind going—it smells like one of those big bookstores we go to in Colorado Springs.
    I couldn’t find anything that would scare off bears, mountain lions, or coyotes. Maybe something that made noise would work. A fire would keep them away—we had done that while camping.
    Suddenly the intercom crackled to life. “Ashley, Bryce, are you over there?”
    “I’m here, Mom.”
    “Would you and Bryce get in here, please?”
    Of course, as soon as I got inside, she said, “Where’s Bryce?”
    “Around,” I said, sticking my head in the fridge. “What’s for dinner?”
    Mom had a hand on her hip when I turned around. “What’s going on? I haven’t seen you two all day.”
    I wanted to tell her all about Buck and Bryce, but I just shrugged and gave her my best laid-back answer. “Mom, it’s an alpaca thing.”
    I could tell she wasn’t buying it. When she found out about everything, we’d have a lot of explaining to do, but that could wait.
    I spotted Leigh’s key chain on the counter. She’d just gotten her driver’s license, and Sam had bought her a fancy chain with something attached.
    “What’s this?” I said, holding it up.
    “It’s spray Mace. Don’t ever touch that. It can blind people temporarily, and it’s only to be used if Leigh is attacked.”
    “How close do you have to be?”
    “It sprays something like 15 feet, but don’t—”
    “I know. I know. I won’t use it on Dylan. Though I could have used it with Denise and Liz.”
    She smiled. I could tell she wanted to talk. I ran for the front door.
    “Where are you going now?”
    “To check on Mrs. Watson.”

Chapter 64

    I woke up as the truck shook and realized it had been lowered. Someone got in and started the engine.
    I couldn’t believe I had