Rancher Rescue

“You did good.” His words were like a warm blanket around her frayed nerves.

“Thank you. Think it’s safe to call the ranch?”

He nodded, stopping the car at the edge of the lot. The phone was to his ear a second later. He said a few uh-huhs into the receiver before ending the call and getting on the road. “Everyone’s fine. Two men showed up, asking questions.”

“What did they want?”

“They flashed badges. Said they were government investigators following a lead on a corporate fraud scheme.”

A half laugh, half cough slipped out. “Leann? She didn’t even have a normal job. She worked at a coffee shop.”

“They didn’t ask for your sister. They asked if someone matching your description had been seen in the area.”

Fear pounded her chest. “Me? Corporate fraud? I don’t have the first idea what they’re talking about. I’m a scheduler for a software company. That’s a far cry from a spy.”

“Coleman took their information and plans to follow up through proper channels. Maybe the trail will lead somewhere.”

“I hope so. Where do we go in the meantime?”

“Your sister’s place. What’s the address?”

Katherine scrolled through her contacts and read the details while he programmed the GPS in her car.

“We can check her computer and talk to her friends. Maybe we’ll find answers there.”

“Or just more questions. I told you. Knowing my sister, this won’t be easy. I’m not sure who she hung around with let alone what she might’ve gotten herself into that could lead to this.”

“Maybe the sheriff will come up with something. Good thing he was there. Might make these men think twice before they do anything else.”

“Or...” She could’ve said it might make them kill Noah but didn’t. No police. They’d been clear as day about it. Had she just crossed a line and put her nephew in more danger? Damn.

“They won’t hurt him,” Caleb said as though he read her thoughts.

“How can you be so sure?”

His grip tightened on the steering wheel. His jaw clenched. His gaze remained steady on the road in front of them. “We can’t afford to think that way. First things first, let’s get to Austin. We’ll take the rest as it comes. Send Coleman the photos you took of Noah earlier.”

“I almost forgot I had these.” She scrolled through the pictures from the pumpkin patch. Noah smiled as he climbed on top of a huge orange gourd and exclaimed himself “king.” Tremors vibrated from her chest to her neck. A stab of guilt pierced her. She scrutinized other details in the picture. Nothing but yellow-green grass and brown trees. A frustrated sigh escaped. “No good. I can’t make anything out on the small screen except him and a couple of large pumpkins.”

“Look up the last number I dialed, and send Coleman every shot you took today. He can blow them up and get a better view.”

Her heart lurched as she shared the pictures one by one. When she was finished, she shut her eyes.

Caleb took her hand and squeezed. Warmth filled her, comforting her. When was the last time a man’s touch did that?

She searched her memory but found nothing. No one, aside from Caleb, had ever had that effect on her.

“Think you can get a little shut-eye?”

Katherine was afraid to close her eyes. Feared she’d relive the horror of seeing a screaming Noah being ripped from her arms over and over again. “Probably not.”

“Lean your seat back a little.”

She did as she watched out the window instead. Interstate 35 stretched on forever. Every minute that ticked by was a reminder Noah was slipping away. Waco came and went, as did a few other smaller towns. The exhaustion of the day wore her nerves thin. Sleep would come about as fast as Christmas to June, but she closed her eyes anyway, praying a little rest would rejuvenate her and help her think clearly. Maybe there was something obvious she was overlooking that could help her put the pieces together.

Had Leann said anything recently? Dropped any hints? Given any clue that might foreshadow what was to come?

Nothing popped into Katherine’s thoughts. Besides, if she knew one thing about her sister, Leann could keep a secret.

Sadness pressed against her chest, tightening her muscles. Leann must’ve known something was up. Why hadn’t she said anything? Had she been in trouble? Maybe Katherine could’ve helped.

Katherine tried to remember the exact words her sister had used when she’d asked if Noah could come to Dallas for a week. Katherine could scarcely remember their conversation let alone expect perfect recall. How sad was that?

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