Patricia Thayer - Rocky Mountain Brides - Raising the Rancher's Family

“Stop here,” she called and dismounted before he could offer to help. She took off up the slight grade of the slope, feeling Holt behind her. She heard him slide in his leather sole boots, but wasn’t about to help him. He didn’t care about any lost kids. Let him keep up with her. She finally made it to the ledge, and kept going around the rock formation. Years disappeared recalling it had probably been since high school that she’d scaled this rocky terrain.

“Hey, wait up,” Holt called to her.

Leah stopped and waited as he came up beside her. For a city guy, he handled the climb like a local. Four months of ranch life had benefited Holt Rawlins in other ways, too. She couldn’t help but admire his developed shoulders and chest. Suddenly her breathing became a little rough and she quickly blamed it on the altitude.

“You can wait here if you’re claustrophobic,” she told him. “The space is kind of narrow.”

She couldn’t ignore the intensity in his green eyes. “Just lead the way.”

She walked around another group of rocks, made it to the other side where there was an entrance to a deep cave. She leaned down to make it through the opening. It was empty and there weren’t any traces of it recently being inhabited by a human.

“He’s not here,” she said disappointed.

Holt sighed and tipped his hat back. “So what’s next? Are you ready to give up?”

“No, I’m not giving up,” she insisted.

Leah marched out with Holt close behind her, too close. She continued her trek along the wide ledge for about thirty yards. She had hiked this area during her teenage years when she’d first taken up photography.

“How do you know about these caves?” Holt asked.

“I used to come here to take pictures. John told me as long as I stayed away from the old silver mines, he’d let me have the run of the place.” She paused and a breeze whipped at her hair as she looked around.

They were surrounded by the brilliant colors of the mountains. Above, a rich blue sky topped each peak, and below, a lush green meadow was spotted with cattle.

“Why did you stop?”

She glanced back at the man. “Just enjoying the view. Your view.”

“I don’t have time to stand around.”

She sighed. Save me from New Yorkers . “We’re almost there.” She went around another group of rocks to the entrance of another cave and she ducked inside the cool space. That’s where she saw several empty water bottles. Holt came around her and took his own inventory of empty food wrappers. “It looks like the kid is also a thief.”

Leah placed her hand on his arm. “Please, Holt. Your thief, as you call him, is only a boy.” She glanced around. “Look how he’s had to live.”

“He shouldn’t be living here.”

“Maybe he has nowhere else to go,” she insisted. “Have you ever thought about that? He’s a child and he’s living in a cave.” She blinked back sudden tears. “Looks like he has moved on anyway.”

For a split second she saw something in his eyes that gave her hope. Holt relented. “I won’t have a thief around.”

“You won’t. I’ll come back and find him.” She reached into her vest pocket and pulled out two energy bars and placed them on the log. “In case he returns here.” She walked out and Holt followed her.

They made their way down to the horse. “What did you mean you’ll be back?” he asked.

“The boy isn’t going to survive out here for long. The weather could change, and it could freeze. I can’t stop looking for him.”

“Okay, then come by the ranch and you can have your own mount.”

“So, you’ve changed your mind about the boy?”

“I’ve only decided it would be safer if he’s found.”

Well, Leah decided. This man might have a heart after all.

IN THE bedroom, later that evening, Leah sat on the bed with Morgan, reliving memories of their childhood.

“You’d still be stuck in that tree if I hadn’t found you and got you down,” her older sister told her.

“It would have been okay if I hadn’t got my jeans caught on the branch,” Leah recalled. “Mom wasn’t happy that I destroyed my new pants.”

“That wasn’t all she was worried about. It was your lack of fear. And now, you’re out there traveling from continent to continent.”

“I can take care of myself.” At least physically, Leah thought as pictures of forgotten kids flashed into her head. She shook them away. “Mom doesn’t need to worry.”

“As if she would ever stop,” Morgan said. “You’re her baby.”

Leah had felt secure in the arms of her family. Unlike her sisters, she couldn’t remember any life before coming to live in Destiny. She considered the Keenans as her parents. She hadn’t been as inquisitive as Morgan and Paige about her biological parents, or why their mother had given up her three young daughters. This was home and now, that meant more to her than she could explain.

“Please tell me you’re staying for a while.”

“I told you I would be here to help with the town’s celebration, and Mom and Dad’s anniversary. I don’t have to report for my next assignment for six weeks.” For the first time since she started photographing third world countries, Leah wasn’t eager to return. The constant sight of famine and war had taken its toll on her. Suddenly another picture came to mind. That of the young, thin boy she’d seen at the waterfall.

“What’s wrong?” Morgan asked.

“I’m sorry, I’m just worried about the lost boy.”

“I can understand,” Morgan conceded. “But the sheriff is looking into any reported runaways. Reed Larkin is an ex-FBI agent, and he’s good at his job.”

Leah wasn’t worried about the sheriff. It was Holt Rawlins’s attitude that troubled her. “What do you know about Holt Rawlins?”

“Just what Mom and Dad told you.” Her sister’s green gaze showed concern. “A few months ago he took over the running of the Silver R. He’s come into town a few times, but pretty much keeps to himself. Speculation is that he’s waiting until after the roundup, then he’s going to sell the place.”

“Why would a New Yorker spend so much time here?”

Morgan shrugged. “A lot of people want lifestyle changes. Just because you’re a globetrotter doesn’t mean some of us don’t like life in a small town.”

“Well, whether he goes or stays, he isn’t going to keep me away. I’m headed out there in the morning to continue my search.”

“It seems to me you’re keeping a pretty close eye on the guy.”

Leah stiffened. “Only because Mr. Rawlins seems to have a chip on his shoulder. I don’t think he’s going to look for the boy.”

“So it’s Leah to the rescue.” Her sister smiled.

Leah only nodded, but knew her track record wasn’t that good.

The following morning, Holt came out of the barn to find a compact car pull up at the house. Leah Keenan climbed out and walked toward him. She was dressed in a white blouse, a pullover red sweater and a pair of jeans that molded to that curvy little body of hers. How could someone no bigger than a minute have such long legs?

His gaze moved to her face. Her shiny, wheat-colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail, exposing flawless skin void of any makeup. She walked toward him and her rich brown eyes slowly widened and her full mouth creased in a big smile. Something in his chest tightened when she took off running then he realized her attention wasn’t directed at him.

“Zach,” she cried as she flew into the arms of the old man standing in the doorway of the barn.

The ranch foreman, Zach Shaw, took her into his arms and hugged her. “Leah,” he said. “I heard you came home.” He stood back to look at her. “Well, if you aren’t still the prettiest girl in town. It’s about time you came to see me.”