David Dun Official Website - Chapter 1

Welcome to the website of David Dun, thriller author

CHAPTER 1, Part 4
The Beginning | Part 2 | Part 3 Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

"A cougar attacked Dawn. She's bleeding and won't let anyone near her. She's crazy with fear and dilated like she's going to foal."

Nothing about this day would be easy. At the Donahue ranch, Claudie was waiting for them in front of the house in a full blizzard.

She glanced from Jessie to Kier, seemingly unconcerned about the fender on her Volvo. Even in an emergency, she had those mother's-bliss eyes, now slick with tears.

"Where is she?" Kier asked.

"We put her in the paddock near the woods where she wouldn't be bothered. Ever since that new law where nobody can shoot the cougars, they've come around. But usually they stay away from the big animals." Claudie drew a breath, visibly shaken. "I'll bet she's up the pasture a long ways."

"Just let me get a few things."

Kier pulled a big nylon bag from his truck. In seconds, they were in the old barn, Jessie following. They passed eight stalls that opened onto the paddocks, and walked out into the storm. In the far corner of the paddock, the soil was broken and the electric fence ripped apart.

"Normally, I'd chase her on another horse and rope her, but she's about to foal," Claudie said. "I didn't know what to do."

Kier walked quickly to where the mare had tussled with the cat, trying to read what had happened.

"Swollen and slow," he said. "She looked wounded to the cat...easy prey." Kier shook his head." In her condition, she won't run far. You two can use the truck." He looked at Jessie. "I assume you don't ride horses."

"Just have that look about me, huh?"

It took Kier a few minutes to saddle a horse in the barn. He then took a second horse and clipped a lead rope onto its halter.

"Why are you bringing Shaman too?" Claudie asked, referring to the haltered horse.

"You'll see."

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The Beginning | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Part 5 | Part 6