Barb Han - Rancher Rescue

As soon as Caleb walked inside, Katherine hit him with the first question.

“What did the sheriff say?” She stroked the little yellow tabby who had made herself at home in her lap.

“How’d you manage that?” He inclined his chin toward the kitty.

She shrugged. “She hopped on the couch and curled up. She’s a sweet girl. Why?”

“Claws has been afraid of people ever since I brought her into the house.”

“How’d she lose her leg?”

“Found her like that when I was riding fences one day. She was in pretty bad shape. Vet fixed her up, and she’s been my little shadow ever since. Scratched the heck out of Matt the first time he picked her up. Usually hides when I have company.”

Claws purred as Katherine scratched under her chin. “Can’t imagine who would hurt such a sweet girl.” She paused, and then locked gazes. “You were going to tell me what the sheriff said.”

“That he’d contact me if they found anything. Do you remember what else you were doing before the men showed up?”

“We’d bought a jar of local honey. We were picking out pumpkins to take home with us.”

“Anything else?”

“That’s it. That’s all I remember.”

Caleb moved to the side table and picked up the empty soup bowl. “You drink coffee?”

“Yes.”

“Give me five minutes. In the meantime, sheriff wants a list of names. Anyone who might’ve been out to hurt your sister. Or you.”

He put down the bowl, took a pen and paper from a side table drawer and placed it next to her before moving into the kitchen.

She was making scribbles on the sheet of paper when he returned and handed her a cup. “Wasn’t sure how you took yours.”

“Black is fine.” She gripped the mug. “What’s next? How long does the sheriff expect me to sit here and do nothing?”

“Waiting’s hard. Believe me, everything that can be done is happening. The authorities have all their resources on this. My men are filling the gaps. It’s best to stay put until the sheriff calls. Give yourself a chance to heal. How’s your leg?”

“Better. Thank you.”

His bandage job looked to be holding. “What was the last thing you remembered before Noah was...” Damn. He hated saying the word taken out loud.

“I don’t know. After the pumpkins, we were going on a hayride. I’d gone over to tell him. He was playing with the really big ones on the edge of the patch. Near the woods. I took pictures of him climbing on them. If we can find my phone, I can supply the sheriff with a recent photo.”

“Think you might have captured the guys on your camera?”

“It’s possible.”

“I’ll notify the sheriff.”

Caleb phoned Coleman and provided an update. The hunt for her belongings intensified. They might find answers. At the very least, Matt would believe her if she could produce a picture of her nephew. Why did that seem so important?

“Think they saw you snapping shots?”

She shrugged. “Don’t know.”

“Did Noah scream?”

“They covered his mouth at the same time they grabbed him around the waist. Didn’t bother once we got out of range.” Sadness, desperation, fear played out across her features. “Please tell me we’ll find him. I don’t know what they want. If I can’t produce a file, I’m afraid they’ll take it out on him.”

Caleb moved from his spot on the love seat to the couch and draped an arm around her. “We won’t allow it. We’ll figure it out.”

“I wish I’d been thinking more clearly. I panicked. Dropped everything. If I had those pics now, we might have a direction.”

Five raps on the door—Matt’s signature knock—came before the door sprang open. His foreman rushed in holding a black purse.

Claws darted under the sofa.

Katherine strained to push off the couch. “You found it.”

“The boys did.” Matt’s gaze moved from Caleb to Katherine. His brow furrowed and a muscle along his jaw twitched.

“Any luck with my phone?”

“This is all we got before we ran out of daylight. All the men in the county are involved. A few want to keep going. The rest will pick up the search tomorrow.”

Matt handed the bag to Katherine. She immediately dumped out the contents, palming Noah’s pill bottle and inhaler.

“Did you let Coleman know?” Caleb asked.

Matt nodded. “Sure did. There’s something else you should know. Thanks to that little bit of rain we got the other day, one of the boys located four-wheeler tracks on the McGrath farm on the other side of the fence near where you said you found her.”

Matt couldn’t deny she’d told the truth now.

Katherine was already digging around the large tote, tossing snack bags and juice boxes onto the sofa. “It all happened so fast. I can’t even remember where I put my phone. I just remember taking photographs one minute, then the world spinning out of control the next. I wouldn’t even believe any of this myself if it hadn’t happened to me. I keep feeling like all of this is some kind of bad dream, and I’ll wake up any second to find everything back to normal. Noah will be here with me. My sister will be alive.”

As if shaking off the heavy thoughts, Katherine jammed her hand back inside her bag. Blood soaked through one section of the gauze on her leg.

“If you won’t let me take you to the hospital, you’ll have to listen to what I say. We have to keep this elevated.” Caleb curled his fingers around her calf and lifted, watching for any signs he hurt her. Based on her grimace, her darkening eyes, she was winning the fight against the pain. When the shock and adrenaline wore off later, she’d be in for it. He didn’t like the idea of her being home alone in Dallas when it happened.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m not thinking clearly. This whole ordeal has me scattered. Waiting it out will drive me insane.”

Caleb didn’t even want to think about the possibility of not finding her nephew.

Big violet eyes stared at him. “It’s gone. I must’ve still been holding it. They have no way to contact me. What if they’ve called already? What if they’ve...”

“Sleep here tonight.” Caleb ignored Matt’s sharp intake of breath. He hadn’t planned to make the offer. It just came out.

* * *

“I’DGETIN your way. Besides, you have plenty to do to keep busy without me underfoot,” Katherine argued without conviction.

“If you stay here, I’ll be able to keep an eye on your leg and get some work done.”

Going back to her one-bedroom apartment was about as appealing as sleeping alone in a cave. Her keys were in her purse, but she doubted she could drive. Even though Noah had only been there a week, she couldn’t face going home without him. Staying at the ranch, being this near Caleb, provided a measure of strength and comfort.

His warm brown eyes darkened. “I can have Margaret turn down the bed in the guest room. Doesn’t make sense for you to go anywhere.”

“I don’t want to be rude. I just...”

Frustration, exhaustion was taking hold. It had been three long hours since the ordeal began.

“No reason to leave. This is best place to be for now.”

Caleb seemed the type of guy who took care of anyone and everyone he came across. Cowboy code or something. Still, she didn’t want to abuse his goodwill. “Thank you for everything you’ve done so far, but—”

“It’s no trouble.”

Matt ran the toe of his boot along the floor. “Think they’ll call her house?”

“I saw no need for a landline.”

The cowboy sat on the edge of the coffee table. “Then it’s settled. You stay. Agreed?”

“For tonight.”

Matt quickly excused himself and disappeared down the hall. What was that all about?