Cut and Run 6 - Stars and Stripes

with it.”
    “Oh.”
    Annie drew closer to look at the dart. She left the horses, their reins draped over scrub brush to keep them from wandering. “When the dart hits, there’s a steel ball that pushes forward and injects the medication. It’s collared to keep it from falling out. The barbs on that dart haven’t been replaced properly, meaning it was either yanked out or it fell out.”
    “Why would that happen?” Zane asked. Ty twirled the dart between his thumb and forefinger.
    “They could have hit bone with it instead of muscle. That means that the animal they were trying to sedate didn’t get nearly enough of the medication to be out.”
    “I hope he eats them,” Ty growled.
    Zane patted his partner’s shoulder, torn between amusement at Ty’s vehemence and worry for the animals.
    Ty got up and began wandering north along the fence, away from the tracks.
    “We’ve got tire tracks, clear as day. I say we follow them,” Mark called out as he examined the tracks that led south, toward the nearest roads. The poachers had obviously found a more direct path to the fence this time.
    Zane nodded. He headed over to peer down at the tracks. They were so clear that even he could have followed them. They’d had a rare summer rain several days ago, making the earth just moist enough to retain the heavy impressions. He glanced up, seeking either his father or Ty for their opinions. Harrison was nodding, but Ty had wandered away from them. Annie had managed to wrangle in the other horses, but Ty’s horse was following behind him, unbeknownst to Ty, of course, or he would have been throwing a shit fit about it obscuring evidence.
    Zane almost laughed as he watched the animal plod along. What was it that made Ty a target for such undying loyalty? He seemed to inspire it in everyone he dealt with, including animals he hated.
    Ty was studying the ground, good hand at his mouth, the casted one stuffed into his pocket.
    “Ty!” Zane called out.
    Ty glanced up and turned, saw the horse standing right there behind him, and stumbled back with a surprised shout. He almost tripped over a cactus behind him, but he caught himself and bent over, holding his hand to his chest.
    “Don’t do that!” he yelled at the horse. The animal whinnied happily and butted its nose against his shoulder.
    The rest of them laughed, not even trying to spare Ty’s pride.
    When Ty finally pushed the horse’s head away, he looked over at Zane, but then returned his attention to the ground. “I think I have cat tracks here.”
    “Tiger tracks?” Annie asked.
    “It sure as hell ain’t Tom and Jerry.” Ty knelt to touch the dust near his feet. “I’ve never tracked a tiger before, but this is definitely feline and not canine. Can somebody come get this stupid horse!”
    “We thinking one of the tigers got away?” Harrison asked, clearly concerned. He had thousands of acres of horses, sheep, cattle, and other livestock out here, not to mention the daily busloads of greenhorns who came to ride the trails. The last thing they wanted was a large predator on the loose.
    “He definitely got away. These are running strides.”
    Zane smiled as he watched his partner. The confidence with which he could say that was indescribably sexy, and Zane wasn’t ashamed to admit that he was proud of Ty.
    Ty’s aviators glinted in the sunlight, and his jeans and thin white Henley were soaked through with dirt and sweat. Zane wanted to tackle him to the ground and lick him all over.
    “I think we follow the truck,” Mark said. “Finding the tiger doesn’t get us any closer to catching these guys.”
    “Agreed,” Ty said immediately. Zane looked over in surprise. “But if the tiger’s hurt he won’t last long. There’s also the possibility he’ll be attracted to the main house and barns. To the livestock, or even one of your trail rides.”
    “Ty’s right. We at least need to notify the authorities, let them know there may be an exotic on the loose,” Harrison said.
    “I think we should follow the tiger,” Annie said, tossing a pleading look at Zane and Mark. “He might be hurt. You know he’s scared.”
    “Annie. Honey. He’s a tiger . He’s top of the food chain.”
    “We could split up,” Jamie suggested. “We’ll follow the tire tracks and see where it’s getting access to the property. Ty and Zane can track the tiger, and Annie can head back to the house and alert the animal control people.”
    “Or hell, walk into