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Leah touched his rough hand. “Dad, I want to know about what’s been going on here. That Morgan was elected mayor is so cool. I bet that ruffled good old Hutchinson’s feathers.”
The Hutchinsons had always been the wealthiest family in town. It was their great-grandfather, Will, who first struck it rich with the “Silver Destiny Mine,” and had helped found the town.
Claire looked sad. “I think Lyle is more concerned about his father. Billy Hutchinson is failing badly. It’s a shame he had to be put in the nursing home.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Billy Hutchinson had to be well over eighty.
Her father stiffened. “Well that didn’t stop his son, Lyle, from trying to undermine the election, by strong-arming his employees to vote for him. Lyle wants what’s good for himself.” Tim nodded. “Morgan will do what’s good for the town.”
Claire carried a big tureen of potato soup to the table, then filled bowls for everyone. She handed the first one to Leah.
“I have to say, Mom, I’ve missed your cooking,” Leah said.
Claire beamed. “Well, I hope that convinces you to stay longer. Both you and your hotshot lawyer sister.”
Leah didn’t want to talk about leaving again. She just wanted to think about pleasant things. Like home, and family. “How is Paige? I haven’t been able to e-mail her in months.”
“She works too hard,” her mother said, “but we’re hoping to get her home for the celebration.”
The familiar voice called out from the hall. “Hey, where is everyone?”
“We’re in here.” Leah jumped up and went to the doorway as tall, willowy Morgan came in.
Her auburn hair was long and curled around her shoulders. A perfect frame for her green eyes. Morgan and Leah were as opposite as two sisters could be.
“Leah, come here, squirt.” Morgan hugged her tight in a comforting embrace. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“And I’m glad to be here.” Tears prickled Leah’s eyes as her sister held her close. So many times while she’d been far away from home, she had relied on her big sister’s love and support.
“Come eat, you two, before it gets cold,” Claire called.
They walked hand in hand to the table and sat down. After a short blessing, the family began to eat.
“I heard that John Rawlins died,” Leah said. “Is that true?”
Her father nodded. “It happened so fast. A heart attack.” His gaze met hers. “How did you find out?”
“I stopped by Hidden Falls and ran into a man who says he’s John’s son. A Holt Rawlins.” She didn’t mention that he was good-looking, but not all that friendly. “I didn’t know John had a son.”
Her father nodded and leaned back in his chair. “Years ago John met his wife, Elizabeth, when she was here on vacation. They fell in love and were married just weeks later. But she never took to being a rancher’s wife, and Elizabeth took the boy back East to her family.”
“Why didn’t Holt ever come here to visit John?”
“John tried, but Elizabeth’s family had money and she got full custody of their son. She refused to let him come back here even for a visit.”
“Well, he’s here now,” Leah said.
Her mother sighed. “John left him the Silver R Ranch.”
“Is he going to stay?”
“Not sure,” her father said. “The word is he’s a financial adviser in New York. Why so interested?”
Leah shrugged. “I guess I’m curious as to what kind of man he is,” she said honestly. “I noticed a little boy at Hidden Falls. By the looks of him, I’d say he’s a runaway. Mr. Rawlins wasn’t too eager to help me look for him.”
Morgan looked up from her soup. “I haven’t gotten a report from the sheriff about any runaways. Are you sure he’s not just a camper who strayed? John’s property borders the Mountain View Campground.”
Leah had seen too many hungry street kids not to be suspicious. “Could be, but tomorrow, I’m going back to look for him whether Rawlins likes it or not.”
Her parents exchanged a look. “Maybe you should let the sheriff handle it.”
“The sheriff can’t do anything if he can’t find the child, if he’s hiding out. But don’t worry, I can handle Holt Rawlins.” She thought about the intimidating man with the rifle and hoped that was true.
But she thought wrong.
The next morning, Leah parked her car in the same spot and followed the trail that led toward the falls, but she didn’t make it undetected. Mr. Rawlins met her on the trail.
He looked better than a man in a pair of old jeans and a Western shirt that looked like he’d been working for hours had any right to look. He wore his Stetson like a shield, low, concealing a lot of his face.
“I thought I told you I would take care of this,” he said.
She raised an eyebrow. “I decided you could use some help,” she told him.
He leaned forward, resting his arm on the saddle horn. “You’re still trespassing.”
“And there’s a young boy who could be lost.”
“Or he could be running from the law.”
“Either way, he’s just a child.” She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not leaving.”
“I could remove you, or call the sheriff.”
“I’ll still report seeing a child,” she challenged right back. “He’ll get a search party together and comb this area.”
Holt stiffened. The last thing he wanted was more people coming on the property. Curious residents of Destiny, wondering about his business here.
“Of course with a lot of people searching,” she continued, “it could drive the frightened boy into more danger.”
“I’ll give you two hours. If we don’t find anything, the search is over.” He held out his hand. “Climb on.”
Leah Keenan’s big brown eyes rounded. “You want me to ride with you?”
“Since I don’t have another mount, and I doubt you can keep up with me on foot, I’d say this is your only option.”
She squared her shoulders, bringing her height up to maybe five foot two. He’d always been attracted to tall, leggy women. Of course he couldn’t deny he’d noticed her shapely, petite body. At this stage in his celibate life any woman would spark his interest.
“Okay,” she relented. “We’ll start with the caves.”
After his reluctant nod, she marched toward the horse. He slipped his foot out of the stirrup, and she put her boot in, gripped his forearm, pulling herself up behind him. He had no doubt she was an experienced rider.
“All set?” he inquired.
“I’m set.” She grabbed the edge of the cantle on the saddle. “Head toward the hills. I know two caves there. I’m hoping he’s holed up in one of them instead of an abandoned mine.”
Holt tugged the reins to change Rusty’s direction. The transition didn’t go smoothly and Leah gasped and grabbed on to Holt to stay on the horse. He tried to ignore the feel of her hands on his waist, but her touch was like a brand burning into his skin. He found he’d missed it once they got on the trail and she released her hold.
“If you need to hold on …”
“I’ve ridden all my life, I think I can manage to stay on a horse.”
About twenty minutes later they finally reached the edge of the rocky hillside. Leah was eager to get off the horse. She was becoming far too aware of the close contact with this man.
“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.
CHAPTER TWO
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.”
