Chapter Twenty-Five – Mallory
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Mallory
“I’m sorry, Boss, not sure what is wrong with it,” Josh stated as we stood off to the side while a mechanic looked at his helicopter.
A warning had gone off as Josh was firing it up and getting ready to take me, Liam, and Randy up to search the area where we thought I might have been held.
We had gotten up early and headed to Josh’s place.
He also had a small runway, as well as a pad to land his helicopter.
Turns out, Josh was a buddy of Bubba’s and they had met in the military.
He was from Billings, and when he met Liam, he instantly liked him.
He taught flying lessons when he wasn’t flying Liam, or a few of his other clients, around.
The mechanic walked up to us. “Found the problem. The line to the gas was cut.”
My heart dropped. “Cut?”
The mechanic nodded.
Josh blinked a few times, then asked, “Cut maliciously?”
The mechanic shrugged. “The line isn’t old, did an inspection on everything not that long ago. The cut is pretty clean, but I can’t say for sure someone cut it.”
Liam and Randy looked at each other.
“I’ve got security cameras all over this place, there is no way someone could have broken into the hangar and tampered with the gas line.”
“You’re sure?” Randy asked.
“I’m positive. It was simply a mechanical failure and that’s all.”
Liam rubbed the back of his neck. “How fast until you can fix it?”
Josh looked at his mechanic, who said, “Give me a couple of hours and I’ll have a new line run.”
“Well,” Randy stated, “we might as well head on back to your place. I’ve got some work I brought with me I can do.”
“I need to check on a few things for the ranch as well,” Liam stated.
When all eyes looked at me, I laughed. “I have homemade cinnamon rolls to make.”
Josh grinned. “I’ll give you a call when we’re up and ready to go.”
Twenty minutes later, we were back on the ranch. Randy had gotten a call that he was needed back at the station and had told Liam to see if Josh could take us up later this afternoon. When Josh said that wouldn’t be a problem, Randy took off for the station.
“I’m going to grab my quilting stuff and head up to your place,” MaryAnne stated. “Do you want to ride with me?”
I looked back at Liam who was frowning as he spoke with Larson. Apparently, one of the horses was having a hard labor and they were worried about the foal.
“Yes, let me tell Liam I’m heading up to the house with you.”
“Sounds good, I’ll go grab my stuff.”
MaryAnne had a rolling storage bag that contained her sewing machine, as well as everything she needed for quilting.
As I made my way into the main barn, I drew in a deep breath. I was really beginning to love the smell of hay mixed with horse manure and leather. I made my way down to the stall where Liam, Larson, and Bubba were all standing.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as I looked in and saw a mare lying on the floor.
“She’s had a pretty tough time of it. I’m going to stay here and make sure everything goes okay. Larson can give you a ride back up to the house.”
“It’s okay, MaryAnne and I are going to head on up to the house to do some quilting, so it’s fine.”
Liam was clearly preoccupied with the mare. He turned to me, and it took a few moments for what I said to sink in.
“Oh, okay, that’s good. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
Waving off his apology, I said, “It’s totally okay. You’ll let me know what happens here and if Josh calls.”
Liam kissed me and said, “I will. Have fun quilting.”
“I will. Love you,” I said, giving him another kiss and trying to ignore the strange feeling I had. Glancing at the horse once more, I prayed she and the little one would be okay.
After making my way out of the barn, I saw MaryAnne waiting for me by her car.
It felt strange to just go on with life, knowing that the person who had taken me was still out there.
Did he know we were getting close to him?
Would it spook him? Maybe after I ran, he left.
I could only hope that the latter was the truth.
“Ready to get our quilting on?”
“I am!”
Two hours later, I had made six squares for my quilt, and MaryAnne had made seven.
We talked and laughed, and it was so wonderful to just be happy and not worried.
Liam had sent a text about thirty minutes ago saying the mare had finally given birth to a filly.
They had another mare that would be giving birth any day now, and three more in the barn waiting to pop.
“I cannot wait to meet the foals,” I said as I looked up from sewing. Liam had let me use his mother’s old sewing machine and I loved it.
“They’re so adorable,” MaryAnne stated. “I think this is my favorite time of year. Well, spring into early summer. Everything is being born and the flowers are all coming out. There is nothing more beautiful than this time of year in Montana.”
Smiling, I leaned back in the chair. “I can’t wait for winter. I hated winter in Arcola, but something tells me winter here will be magical.”
She laughed. “Wait until that first storm rolls in and you’re stuck in the house for days. It may be pretty, but it gets old fast.”
“I do remember shoveling the sidewalk and driveway of my grandmother’s house. I hated it so much.”
MaryAnne leaned forward. “Good news, we have snowblowers here and ranch hands to operate them!”
My phone rang and I reached for it. The only two people who called me on it were MaryAnne and Liam.
“Hey!”
“Hey, sweetheart. I’m sending you a picture of the baby. Once you meet her in person you can name her.”
I gasped. “I can name her? Are you serious right now?”
MaryAnne chuckled and went on with her sewing.
“Yeah, everyone has gotten the chance to name a new foal. You’re up next.”
“I can’t wait to meet her!”
Liam laughed. “I’ve got to take care of some things, then I’ll be heading up to the house.”
“Take your time, MaryAnne and I are just sewing.”
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.
Smiling, I replied, “I am. We’re going to take a break, though, and head into your office, if that’s okay with you. She wants to show me some of the programs you use so I can start getting up to speed on things.”
“Of course, it’s okay. I’ll send you a text when I’m heading home.”
Home. I loved that word so much.
“’Kay, see you soon!”
“See ya soon,” Liam said, then lowered his voice. “I love you, Mal.”
My entire body warmed. “I love you too.”
MaryAnne’s head snapped up and her mouth fell open. Then she covered her little scream with her hand, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I hit End and set the phone down.
“Shut up! You’ve said the four-letter word to each other?”
Giggling, I nodded.
MaryAnne stood. “Okay, let’s find something to toast with. This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time!”
She grabbed my hand and nearly pulled me out of the seat and into the kitchen. “Where does he keep the booze?”
I opened the hidden pantry, and we walked in. MaryAnne scanned the bottles, then shook her head. “He keeps the good stuff in his office I bet. Let’s go.”
Sure enough, MaryAnne found a bottle of scotch and I grabbed us two glasses. We sat down and decided to start working on teaching me the ins and outs of the ranch business. After about an hour, we found ourselves on the floor, the bottle of scotch between us, and in a fit of laughter.
“Do you think…” MaryAnne asked between giggles. “Liam is going to be mad we drank so much of his scotch?”
I hiccupped and covered my mouth, falling over and laughing. I wasn’t even sure what was so funny.
“You two look like you’re having a good time.”
The sound of Liam’s voice caused me to sit up quickly, and the entire room spun.
“Whoa! The room is spinning!”
MaryAnne laughed, then suddenly said, “I think I feel a little sick.”
“Okay, ladies,” Liam said as he walked up to us. He leaned down and helped MaryAnne up. “Let’s get you to the bathroom before you hurl.”
She nodded and attempted to walk straight and failed.
“Stay right there, Mal, I’ll be right back.”
I brought my hand up to salute him and ended up hitting my nose with my hand. “Ouch!”
Lying down on the floor, I felt my body relax, and was nearly asleep when strong arms lifted me.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you to bed.”
“I’m not tired!” I said as my head fell against his chest. The sound of Liam’s rumbled laughter in his chest caused me to snuggle deeper into him.
I instantly knew when he had laid me down on the bed. My body grew a bit colder, at least until he covered me up with the quilt that was on his bed. He reached down and kissed my forehead. “Do you feel sick?”
“No,” I said. “But you might want to put a trash can next to the bed, just in case.”
Hearing him chuckle made me smile as I drifted off to sleep.