Running to the Farmer (The Runaway Brides of Darling Creek #2)

Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Ellis

Louisa calls me on her way back from town, saying something urgent is happening and I am to meet everyone at Sterling Ranch.

When I arrive, I find Wylie in the kitchen, seemingly in a rush, helping Curly wrap burritos for the ranch hands' lunches to take out into the field.

“What’s going on?” I ask when I see Wylie.

“Don’t know,” he says. “All I know is the ladies came back with no roast for tonight and looking really shaken up."

Wylie gestures with his chin toward the great room, where I find Louisa seated on the sofa with Olivia next to her.

“We have a situation,” Olivia says.

“I saw my mom,” says Louisa.

Instantly, I’m at her side.

“Where is she now?” I ask. “Did she come home with you?”

Louisa shakes her head. “She didn’t have the kids with her. It's a rule when they go into town now."

I put two and two together. “So they won’t want to run off and leave their kids behind.”

“Bingo,” Olivia says.

Louisa adds, “And now we've got a situation, and we'll have to celebrate another time. My mom wants to leave tonight. With all of her kids.”

Wylie strides over, having overheard the conversation. Ennis, Jake and Curly are soon in on the discussion, too.

“Is the safe house even ready?” Wylie asks.

Dani, one of the ranch hands, chimes in. “We can make it ready for tonight. Just say the word.”

“Wait. How do we even get that many people out without causing suspicion?” I ask.

“We don’t,” Olivia says. “We just have to go and get them and then fly like a bat out of hell.”

Wylie scrubs his face in frustration. “Does it have to be tonight? We don’t have a plan.”

Louisa is fighting back tears when she explains the situation. “They finally decided on the redistribution of my dad’s wives. Now, my mom is supposed to be going to the elder who’s next in line to be the prophet. Probably to get back at me. It’s happening tomorrow. And the worst part is, they’ll move her kids around to other sister wives’ houses, to even out the numbers.”

“As if that makes any sense,” Olivia seethes.

“How fast can you drive a horse trailer, Jake?” Ennis asks.

“Pretty fuckin’ fast if I have to.”

“Don’t be an idiot. We’re not using the horse trailer,” Wylie grumbles.

All eyes land on Wylie, and nobody else says a word.