Nathaniel stood near the western paddocks, helping Samuel move several horses into sheltered barns. Thunder rolled across the countryside.
"That one looks ugly," Samuel muttered, glancing toward the horizon.
Nathaniel followed his gaze: a wall of rain advanced across distant fields. "How long before it reaches us?"
"Ten minutes," Samuel frowned. "Maybe less."
The first heavy drops began falling before either man could continue the conversation. Within moments, rain hammered the rooftops. Horses shifted nervously inside their stalls. Wind howled through gaps in the stable walls; workers retreated toward shelter.
Nathaniel was securing the final gate when he noticed something that immediately felt wrong: one horse was missing. Midnight, Genevieve's black stallion.
His attention sharpened instantly. "Samuel!"
The older man looked up. "What?"
"Midnight is not here."
Samuel swore under his breath. "Miss Carter took him out an hour ago."
Nathaniel stared into the rain. "She has not returned?"
For a brief moment, both men remained silent. Then another flash of lightning illuminated the fields beyond the estate. Samuel's expression darkened. "Damn."
Nathaniel was already moving. "Where would she go?"
"Northern Ridge." Samuel pointed toward the distant hills. "She inspects the drainage trenches after heavy rain."
"In weather like this?"
"Miss Carter does a lot of things in weather like this."
Nathaniel grabbed a waterproof coat hanging near the stable entrance. "I will find her."
"Take a lantern."
"The wind will kill it."
Samuel hesitated, then nodded. "Fair point."
Rain soaked Nathaniel within seconds of leaving the stable. Water streamed across the muddy roads; thunder cracked overhead; visibility dropped dramatically. Most sensible people would have remained indoors; Genevieve Carter rarely behaved like most people.
Nathaniel headed toward the northern ridge. The journey took longer than expected: mud slowed every step; gusts of wind pushed against him constantly; twice he nearly lost his footing. Yet he continued forward. Something deep inside him refused to turn back.
Half an hour later, he finally spotted movement through the rain: a horse, then another. Relief hit immediately. Genevieve sat atop Midnight near a damaged section of drainage trench. She appeared completely focused on the flooded terrain. Nathaniel almost laughed: only Genevieve would inspect infrastructure during a storm.