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ey spotted the dust cloud it raised It slowed before it reached the accident site, but it still left a low dust fog in its wake as it continued past the figures on the roadside and pulled up near the wrecked pickup Culley figured the puasoline that saturated the ground, aware it was a fire just waiting to happen

Soon the wail of a siren signaled the arrival of the a events, the more certain he becaet back to the Shaht Just as soon as she heard about the accident, he knew she would head straight for The Homestead That was the custoether

The idea of hanging around until the last dog had gone ho about the wreck that kept nagging at hier on exactly what it was, but if he could poke around the truck after everybody left, itinto a more comfortable position, he settled down to wait

The ranch handsthe pumper truck were the last to leave Culley waited until the vehicle was out of sight, then got to his feet and rounded up his grazing horse Back in the saddle, he rode along the fence line until he ca the road to the crash site

The wrecked pickup had been righted Now it stood drunkenly on the side of the shallow ditch, listing badly fro two coure out what it was that didn’t strike hiht

Chase stood at the den’s front , his thoughts far from the sunset that flamed the sky The instant he saw the blue pickup pull into the ranchyard, he turned from the

“Ty’s back,” he called, alerting the others

When he stepped out the front door toTara noeye over his son, noting the stiff way Ty held himself to keep the pain in his ribs at bay Chase also noticed the softness of relief in Ty’s dark eyes

The sight of it made it easier for him to ask, “How is Jessy?”

“Other than a concussion, they don’t think she suffered any internal injuries, but they are keeping her at the hospital overnight for observation”

“I’ll bet Jessy didn’t like that,” Cat guessed, s with the same relief they all felt

“As atoo much to raise much of an objection,” Ty replied

“So is Ty, but he doesn’t want anyone to know that” Tara had both hands on him in an attempt to assist him up the steps “Not only is he bruised and battered, but he has two fractured ribs”

Ty dis at the hospital that has pretty well dulled the pain How are the twins?”

“Sally and I just gave the them to bed now”