A Family for the Rancher

by Allison B. Collins

  Nash had already pulled his phone out of his pocket and pushed a button. “Dad, is Maddy up at the house?” He paused, listening, then shook his head. “We can’t find her. Kelsey said she was upset earlier because she wanted to see the kittens. Yeah, I’ll call Kade.”

  “She isn’t there?”

  Nash shook his head. “He hasn’t seen her, and he asked Mrs. Green, too.” He dialed the phone again. “Kade, have you seen Maddy?”

  Her hands itched to yank the phone from him and find out if her baby was safe and sound.

  “Okay, yeah. Call the others. We’ll start from this end.” He shoved his phone back in his pocket. “They haven’t seen her, either. Kade’s calling my brothers and the ranch hands, and we’re forming a search party. I’ll work my way from here toward the lodge, and they’ll fan out.”

  Her mother wailed, and Kelsey turned to see her pitch forward.

  Nash got to her first, and helped her sit. “Mrs. Randolph... Bunny. Don’t worry. There are a lot of people who are going to help find her.” He stepped back and pulled his keys out. “Keep your phones by you, and I’ll call you with updates.”

  Kelsey grabbed her coat. “I’m going with you. Mom, you stay here and call me if she comes home, okay?” She headed toward the front door, then stopped. “Oh! Wait a minute.” Running back to the closet door, she yanked it open and searched. “Her pink rain boots and umbrella are gone.”

  “That’ll make it easier to spot her.”

  The rain continued beating down, and sharp pellets stung her face. Glancing at the hood of the truck as she got in, she realized the rain was fast turning to sleet. She shut the door and clenched her hands together, trying to still the tremors. Her baby was outside in this awful weather. It’s my fault if something happens to her. We should never have come here.

  A warm hand touched hers, and she jumped. Nash’s strong fingers closed around hers, and for a moment she felt safe.

  “Does Maddy know how to get up to the lodge by herself?”

  “I doubt it. We’ve always driven there.” Her voice cracked, and she bit her lip, scanning one side of the road, then the other.

  “She’s a smart little girl. I’ll bet she paid attention on the way.” He squeezed her hand, and she wanted more than anything to lean on him.

  But he’d said it himself—they’d be moving on before too long. Besides, she didn’t want to ever have to lean on anyone again. Her heart couldn’t take it.

  Thomp thomp. Thomp thomp. Her heart seemed to beat in time to the wipers as they swished back and forth at a frantic pace, trying to keep the windows clear. Ice had formed on the edges not reached by the wipers.

  “Does it usually get so cold in late August?”

  “Not always. But it can snow any time of the year in higher elevations.”

  Great. One more thing to worry about.

  She went back to peering out the windows, desperately searching for a bright spot of pink in the dreary gray.

  Headlights flashed in front of them, and a truck pulled up beside Nash’s window. She held her breath as he rolled his window down, and Kade did the same with his.

  “Anything?” Kade asked.

  Nash shook his head.

  “Don’t worry, Miss Kelsey, we’ll find her!” Toby piped up from the seat next to Kade.

  “Thanks, Toby,” she said with a wobbly smile. She had no doubt Nash’s family would do all they could to find her daughter. Tuning them out, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer that Maddy would be found, and soon.

  The movement of the truck turning around brought her back. “What are you doing? We have to keep going, don’t we?”

  “My dad stationed hands along the main route to his house and the lodge. I want to go back and start from your place, try another route. Has she said anything at all about wanting to see other areas of the ranch?”

  “Not really. Other than the picnic last month, we haven’t ventured out much.”

  He sat, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. For the first time she realized his fingers were long, strong and sturdy. Without seeing them, she knew they had calluses on them, knew how they felt against her skin. Reliable hands, hands that could take care of anything. Or anyone.

  “The caves!” He suddenly gunned the gas. The truck leaped forward down the road, then he wheeled onto a side road through a thick stand of trees.

  “What is it? What did you think of?” she asked, her heart about pounding out of her chest.

  “When I was a little older than Maddy, I ran away from home to these caves. Stayed there so long I fell asleep. Dad was livid when they found me.”

  “But she’s never seen them. How would she know about them?”

  “She wouldn’t have to. If she took this road, she’d run right into them.”

  The headlights cut through the darkness of the trees, illuminating the rough trail ahead of them. Tree branches scraped the sides, and she winced.

  Nash parked the truck and turned the engine off. He reached in the backseat for a lockbox and put it on the seat between them. “You ever shot a gun?” he asked, pulling one out of the box.

  “No, why?”

  “I’m leaving this one with you. Just hold it like—”

  “I’m going with you!”

  “No. I don’t know what kinds of wildlife could be around, and I want to concentrate on finding her, not worry about you, too.”

  “But—”

  “I may have to crawl through some caves, and no telling if bears will already be staking them out.” He pulled two cans of bear spray out of the toolbox, and her nerves shredded. “You need to be where you can watch the road in case she appears.”

  Why did we come to Montana, of all places? She clutched the can, but wouldn’t touch the gun unless she had to.

  He showed her the basics for using the gun, then laid it on the seat next to her. Opening the door, he paused, and she met his eyes. “I’ll find her. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  “Be safe,” she whispered, almost choking on her fear.

  Nodding once, he shut the door. She watched him walk down the path, with only a flashlight guiding his way.

  Her stomach roiled, and she swallowed several times. But it didn’t help, and she barely got the door open before she tossed up everything she’d eaten that day into the bushes. Gulping big breaths of air didn’t help, and she got sick again.

  Climbing back into the truck, she caught a hint of Nash’s scent, and it comforted her. She rooted around the backseat until she found a bottle of water and rinsed her mouth out, then stuck a wad of gum in her mouth. A litany of prayers ran through her head, over and over, as she settled down to wait for Nash’s return.

  You come back to me safe, Nash. And bring me my baby.

  Why hadn’t she told him she cared—cared as more than just his therapist? Did she even have the right to say it?

  * * *

  THE LIGHT SHONE steady leading the way, but shadows jumped all around him. It was eerily quiet, the wet leaves he walked on not making anything more than a squishing sound. The rocks rose in front of him, looming high. He hadn’t been out here in years, since long before he left for the Army.

  He shone the flashlight over the rocky hillside, scanning every crevice and dark shadow. Just as he was about to give up, he spotted the entrance to the cave about ten feet off the ground.

  A branch snapped behind him, and he shifted around, flashing the light.

  The trees crowded close, pressing in on him, and he tried to see through the shadows.

  Something big panted to his left.

  He stopped in his tracks, flashing the light toward the sound. Tried to see what was lurking in the trees, watching him.

  He held still, muscles straining, ears alert for any movement.

  Seconds ticked by,
and he waited.

  Waited to be attacked.

  Waited to be ripped apart.

  Waited to die.

  Waited for the constant pain to end.

  But now, when it mattered most, he didn’t want to die.

  Kelsey’s face flashed through his mind—laughing, encouraging, full of life. The ecstasy on her face when she came.

  Damned if I’ll stand here and let her down.

  Slowly backing toward the rocks, he made as much noise as he could, hoping to scare whatever it was away. His foot kicked something, and he aimed the flashlight toward it.

  A pink umbrella.

  Footsteps padded through the leaves. A darker shadow crossed the path just beyond the glow of light, chuffing at him.

  He inhaled and smelled wet fur.

  A bear.

  He hoped to God her cubs were nowhere near Maddy.

  He stepped back once again, and something sharp jabbed his butt. Feeling behind him, he huffed a breath of relief when he touched the rock outcropping.

  The flashlight illuminated the trail up the rocks, but also outlined a rockslide. It looked fresh, and he hoped Maddy had been the one to cause it. His gut told him she was up there, and he had to get to her.

  It was slow going since he could only feel his way with one good leg. Loose rocks and pebbles shifted constantly beneath his feet, slowing him even further. Anger simmered beneath despair at what he’d become, all because of a damned bomb.

  “Don’t think about it. Concentrate on Maddy,” he muttered beneath his breath.

  The path opened onto a wider ledge, and he stopped at the entrance to the cave. “Maddy?” he called softly, hoping against hope she was inside, safe. He waited, heard soft breathing.

  “Maddy, honey? You in here?”

  “Daddy?”

  His good leg went wobbly, and he struggled to speak. “It’s Nash, baby girl. I’m here to take you to your mom.” He dropped to his knees and crawled forward, flashing the light through a small tunnel.

  He caught a flash of pink ahead of him, and the tunnel opened into a bigger space. “Hey, Maddy.”

  Maddy rubbed her eyes, and he crawled to her, dragging his left leg, his thigh burning. She flung herself forward, and he caught her, holding her close.

  “You okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

  She shook her head against his shoulder and burst into tears. Sobs ricocheted off the cave walls, and her tears soaked through his already-wet shirt.

  And damned if he didn’t want to cry, too, he was so relieved to find her.

  “Shh, it’s okay, baby girl. You’re safe. I’m going to take you home, okay?”

  Her head moved against him, and he assumed she was nodding.

  “I can’t carry you. You’ll have to follow behind me, okay? Can you stand up?”

  “Ye-e-es,” she whispered, sniffling.

  He set her on her feet and turned the light back toward the tunnel. “You follow right behind me.” He shuffled forward and felt her hand grab his shirt.

  It was slow going, but the tunnel finally opened to fresh air heavy with ozone from the rain. Crawling out of the entrance, he stood and picked Maddy up, hugging her tight. His legs shook, and he hoped he could make it down the path.

  She tightened her arms around his neck, and it was the most precious thing he’d ever experienced.

  “We need to get down the hill. I know your mom is really anxious to see you. You ready?”

  She nodded against him, and he set her on the ground, her little hand clutched tight in his. They started down the path. He slid on loose rocks, falling several feet down the slope before catching hold of a small birch tree.

  Maddy burst into tears. “I’m s-s-s-scared!”

  “It’s okay,” he said, pulling himself up against the hillside. “Let’s try it again.”

  She shook her head, her curls flying.

  “How about if you ride piggyback? Think that would work?”

  “Okay.”

  He picked her up and shifted her around to his back. “Now you hold on tight.” Picking his way more slowly, feeling with his good foot every step of the way, they continued down the hill.

  Maddy’s hands clung to his neck, her legs tight around his waist. He wanted to hurry but didn’t dare for fear he’d fall with her on his back.

  Ten feet had never seemed very high when he’d had two good legs. Now climbing down seemed as much out of range as the idea of him ever leading a normal life.

  Now more than ever he hated his circumstances. Now when it mattered the most. Now that he had someone else’s life in his hands.

  They finally reached the ground, and he flashed his light around to make sure no wildlife lingered nearby. Keeping the light trained on the ground, he set a quick pace on the wet trail.

  The trees thinned and the night became lighter. He headed toward the truck, and the headlights flashed on, blinding him. Stopping, he flung his arm up to shield his eyes.

  “Maddy!” Kelsey cried.

  He heard the truck door slam.

  “My baby!”

  “Mommy!” Maddy cried, and loosened her hold on him as Kelsey took her.

  In the light from the truck, he saw the tears pouring down her face as she hugged Maddy tight.

  She looked up at him, her lips trembling. “Thank you for saving my baby.” She pulled him close and hugged him with one arm, and Maddy reached out to hug him, too.

  They stood that way for long moments.

  Like a family.

  That shook him more than being caught in a firefight, trapped and helpless as a bomb ripped his world apart.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The whole way back to her cabin, Kelsey wavered between wanting to lock Maddy away for life, or to throw a party. Horrible images had flashed through her mind while she waited for Nash in the woods, and they made her sick twice more. She was ready to pack them up and move her family back to Florida, but then she’d look at Nash sitting in the driver’s seat, holding Maddy’s hand, and she wanted more than anything to stay.

  In Montana.

  With him.

  You can’t think that way. He doesn’t want anyone in his life.

  She’d grown attached to the rough, wounded cowboy, and she was heading toward dangerous territory. It would not be good to fall for him.

  Unless it’s too late...her heart whispered to her.

  As they neared the cabin, she counted five trucks parked in front. Nash had radioed Kade, who must have spread the word they’d found Maddy. Guilt pricked her conscience at having dragged them all out on a cold, rainy day. But they’d banded together to help search for her daughter, and she’d be eternally grateful to all of them.

  Nash parked and walked around to open the passenger door.

  “Oh thank God! You found her!”

  As soon as they reached the porch, Bunny flung her arms around Maddy. Angus had followed her outside, and gathered her mother and Maddy into his arms.

  “Come on inside out of the cold. I’ve got hot cocoa on the stove,” her mother said.

  They trooped inside, and all of Nash’s brothers were spread around the room, along with Toby. Angus took Maddy, wrapped her in a blanket, and sat down with her on his lap by the fire. “So you’ve had quite an adventure, haven’t you? Where did you go?”

  “I wanted to see the kitties, but I got losted on the way. Something growled at me, and I got scareded.” Maddy’s lower lip jutted out, and her face crumpled.

  “Nash said you found a cave to hide in?”

  Maddy nodded. “I remembered what Uncle Hunter told me about staying away from bears and mooses. And I saw a cave, so I climbeded and climbeded and hid.”

  “She was in the same cave I had run away to. Can’t believe she made it all the way up there.”


  “Good job, son. I knew you’d step up when it counted,” Angus said.

  Kelsey glanced at Nash, and his face closed off. A muscle ticked in his jaw, and she knew he had to be gritting his teeth to not engage with his dad in front of everyone.

  No one said a word, and it took everything within her not to jump to his defense. Somehow she didn’t think he’d appreciate it.

  “Nash saved me!” Maddy cried out, melodramatically. “He’s my hee-wo!”

  The tension broke, and they all laughed.

  “But he falled down and got hurted on the rocks.” She pointed to Nash, and Kelsey glanced at his left leg. Somehow in all the excitement, she’d missed the blood on his thigh.

  “Come with me. We don’t want your leg to get infected. Hopefully you won’t need stitches.”

  “But, Mommy, isn’t that his fa—”

  “Mother! Didn’t you say something about cocoa for everyone?” Kelsey jumped in, knowing her daughter was about to spill the beans. “Angus, would you please help Mom while I tend to Nash’s leg?”

  Angus looked at her like she’d suddenly turned purple. “Sure thing. Come on, Bunny. I’ll give you a hand.” They headed out to the kitchen, hand in hand.

  She grabbed Nash’s arm and all but dragged him to her bedroom and shut the door. “First things first,” she said, and pushed him against the door.

  She kissed him, hard and fast, desperate to convey how much she appreciated him finding her daughter.

  He pushed her shoulders back. “What’s that for?”

  “Thank you for finding my baby. You risked your life to do it, and I don’t know how to thank you.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “No thanks necessary. But you can keep kissing me anyway.”

  She stepped back and changed the subject.

  “I understand you’re not ready to tell your family, but they’re going to have to find out one of these days. Maybe your dad would be more underst—”

  “You don’t get it, do you? He’ll never understand. We’ll never have a warm and cozy relationship, so just butt out.” He turned toward the door.