Chapter 17
The boys had run off.
Jameson’s chest tightened.
Even as Lottie jogged toward him, he knew with certainty that that was what had happened. They weren’t just playing or hiding or avoiding Lottie.
No, they’d left the ranch altogether.
Mimmi was still standing in the doorway of the house, and Enrique had stepped out of the barn. Both wore worried creases in their faces.
“We checked the barn.” Jameson and Enrique had done a quick sweep while Lottie had been down at the creek. “They’re not anywhere inside.”
Jameson hadn’t really expected them to be. Not when he, Lottie, and Enrique had all been working in the barn for the past hour. But Jameson had wanted to make sure the boys hadn’t somehow sneaked in past them.
Lottie veered toward the slope that led away from the ranch to the east. “We need to check the ridge and some of the other areas around the ranch.” Her voice held a note of urgency.
With the sun dropping even lower, Jameson guessed they had another hour before darkness fell. Only an hour to locate the boys.
At least the two were on foot, so they couldn’t have gone too far. Even so, Jameson didn’t know which direction the boys had gone. It was possible the boys didn’t even know. And that was the problem. They might have headed toward the spring or the cattle, which would be dangerous for them.
Jameson didn’t want to think about the other threats out there to three- and four-year-old boys, but his mind was filled with images of the predators he’d killed over the years—not just snakes but coyotes, panthers, foxes, and more.
Hopefully, Kace would know enough to stay quiet and not draw attention. But they also had the puppy, which would make the situation more unpredictable.
He and Enrique joined Lottie in scouring the perimeter of the ranch yard. Jameson wasn’t surprised when the boys were nowhere in sight.
As he returned to the ranch yard, Lottie was standing in the middle, hugging her chest and staring into the distance. With the sun dipping low, the brim of her hat cast a shadow over her face.
No doubt she was trying to figure out where the boys had gone, and the best thing to do now was saddle up the horses and broaden their search. They needed to do so right away and take advantage of the light that was left.
He started toward the barn.
Her shoulders shuddered. Was she crying?
His heart pinched. She was always such a strong woman, never complained, and worked hard. But she shouldn’t have to manage everything alone.
He wanted to be the one to stand by her side and help shoulder the heavy load. And if that meant he was done with his drifting, then so be it. He was ready to stop running from his past and embrace a new future with Lottie.
When he’d left Colorado, he’d never thought he’d find himself in this kind of situation, where he was actually considering a permanent relationship with a woman. He’d never contemplated the possibility when he’d left the Double T back in May.
What had happened to him to change his mind? To make him ready for marriage?
His footsteps carried him toward Lottie, so beautiful and yet so broken.
Was that why he was ready? Because of her and the affinity he felt with her?
Because she’d been despised and hurt as he had?
Because she hadn’t let those hardships make her bitter, had instead become compassionate and kind and determined to make a good life for herself and the boys?
She was an inspiration and made him want to do better and be better.
Whatever the case, he wanted to be there for her now during this new hardship she was facing.
As he halted in front of her, he almost reached for her and drew her into an embrace, but he hesitated.
Her jaw was taut and her lips pursed.
“Hey,” he said softly. “We’ll find them.” He’d move heaven and earth for her if he had to.
Blinking hard, she swallowed, then nodded.
“Let’s each take a direction and ride out.”
“Okay.” She still didn’t move except to shudder again.
This time, he didn’t stop himself. He wrapped his arms around her.
For an instant, she remained rigid, but as he rested his chin on top of her head and hugged her closer, she melted against him. She slipped her arms around him too and buried her face in his chest.
He held her tightly.
She dragged in a breath, then released it.
“You don’t have to handle this alone,” he whispered. “I’m here with you, and we’ll do this together. All right?”
She nodded.
He squeezed her and kissed the top of her head before resting his chin there again.
“Thank you, Jameson.” She clung to him another moment before pulling back. “I’m ready to go.” Her face was pale, but her eyes were filled with new resolve.
He released her but grasped her hand and began walking toward the barn.
She didn’t try to wiggle free, but let him hold her hand as she fell into step beside him.
It felt natural and right to connect with her in this way, to show her he was there for her and hopefully convey that he would be by her side through whatever might come their way.
He only reluctantly let go of her hand when they reached the horse stalls. They hastily saddled their mounts, as did Enrique. Then they set out in three different directions, agreeing to fire a gunshot if one of them located the boys.
Jameson kicked Cougar into a gallop toward the east. He used a zigzag pattern to cover as much terrain as possible. As he rode, he called out the boys’ names. “Kace? Bo? Where are you?”
He scanned the barren grassland, but the only life he saw was a roadrunner. The slender brown bird with its distinctive crest and long legs darted out of the brush in front of Cougar, causing the horse to startle and rear up.
Jameson’s quick reflexes kept him from falling backward and toppling off. “Whoa now, boy.” He reared the horse to a halt and drew in a steadying breath.
The sun behind him was fading away, leaving only a rosy glow and darkness in its wake. They were running out of time.
He surveyed the brush ahead. He was about half a mile away from the ranch, maybe a mile. The boys with their little legs couldn’t have traveled much farther than that.
Where had they gone? And where should he search next?
His gut churned with a fresh worry. He couldn’t return home without them and disappoint Lottie.
Cougar lifted his head and sniffed at the slight evening breeze. Then his ears perked in alertness.
Jameson shifted and peered in the direction Cougar was looking. Did the horse sense something out there? “What is it, boy?”
Maybe it was another roadrunner. Hopefully it wasn’t a predator.
Cougar lifted his head higher, then took a step forward. The horse wouldn’t move in the direction of a predator. Maybe Cougar was offering to help him find the boys.
“Can you take me to them?” Jameson leaned into Cougar and released his reins, giving the horse the freedom to go wherever he wanted.
Cougar started forward slowly.
Jameson wasn’t sure if the horse understood the mission. But in the past, Cougar had done other things that had surprised him—like delivering him to Lottie’s door when he’d been injured and almost unconscious.
As Cougar plodded ahead, Jameson resisted the urge to rein him in, especially when he began to backtrack.
If they didn’t find the boys soon, he would have to return to the ranch at the fall of darkness and meet up with Lottie and Enrique as they’d arranged.
Of course, they weren’t planning on stopping the search.
But they would need lanterns and a new plan before heading out again.
Upon reaching a cluster of overgrown anaqua trees, Cougar halted, his ears flickering back and forth again as though trying to determine where to go next.
Jameson had already passed the trees and had called out and scanned the area thoroughly. The boys hadn’t been here before. He doubted they were here now. Even so, he waited quietly for Cougar.
After several long minutes, Jameson began to gather up the reins.
At a soft whimper among the gnarled branches and trunks, he froze. Had that been the puppy whining?
No doubt Rascal was hungry after missing her scraps from the evening meal.
“Me tired,” came a loud whisper that was rapidly cut off.
A wave of relief hit Jameson so forcefully that heat pricked the backs of his eyes. The boys were there, and they were safe. Thank the Almighty Lord above.
The strength of the emotion rolling through Jameson was unexpected. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried, maybe not since childhood. But he could feel the pressure in his chest for the need to weep.
And the love . . .
Yes, he loved the boys. And he loved Lottie.
He wasn’t sure how or when the love had developed.
But it was pulsing through him with a force he’d never felt before.
Not even with Sue Ellen. This love was different, stronger, and more mature.
Probably because he was different, stronger, and more mature.
He knew the answer to his dilemma over staying at the ranch.
He would assure the boys that he didn’t plan to leave.
Whether Lottie agreed to marry him eventually or not, he would remain with them and continue working.
Maybe, over time, she would learn to trust him and would fall in love with him too.
Until then, he’d wait for her patiently, even if it took forever.
As stealthily as possible, Jameson slid down from Cougar.
He gave the horse a pat of gratitude, then crept around to the opposite side of the trees.
If the boys had seen him on his horse and ducked down, hopefully they wouldn’t know he was sneaking around behind them until it was too late for them to hide someplace new.
The shadows made it difficult for him to see where he was going. But as he rounded the trees, he finally caught sight of Kace’s blond head where he was crouched behind one of the largest trunks. He’d poked his head out and was straining to search the landscape.