Chet snatched his hat off a hook. “I better get back to work.”
“Same here.” With Hunter on the loose, Zeke needed to do damage control. “Do you know where Hunter was going when he left here?”
“He’s not gone. He and the boy went for a ride.”
“Who’s with them?” Guests weren’t allowed to ride alone for safety reasons.
“No one.”
Zeke stopped in his tracks. “Chet—”
“I know, boss. It’s against policy. But Ms. Travers called me herself and said it was all right.”
Zeke bristled at the arrogance from both Hunter and Ginger, but especially Ginger. She knew the rules and the reasoning behind them. The policies protected guests from harm and the resort from liability. But what alarmed him even more was the lack of concern for Max. He was only four years old. The minimum age for riders was six with a parent or guardian.
Zeke recalled Julia’s story about the speedboat. Someone needed to check on Hunter and Max right now. “Which horses did they take?”
“Jed and Sugar Pie.”
Max would be riding Sugar Pie, a sweet old mare reserved for children. Jed was a brown gelding, seasoned and reliable. Both horses could find their way to the barn blindfolded. “When are they due back?”
“Mr. Adams wouldn’t say at first. I told him I needed to know, so he said maybe three o’clock.”
Zeke glanced at his watch. “It’s almost four. Did he leave a cell number?”
“I’ll try it now.” Chet stepped to his desk, made the call, but shook his head when Hunter didn’t pick up. “Do you want me to go after ’em?”
“Yes. And I’m going to call Julia.”
Julia was Skyping with Chelsea from Hot Pink Photography when Zeke called her cell phone instead of the office like he usually did. She let it go to voice mail but glanced down to read the text that immediately followed.
Call ASAP re: Hunter & Max.
With her imagination running amok, she finished quickly with Chelsea and called Zeke.
In a tone as cryptic as his text, he told her about the trail ride. “It’s probably nothing, but Chet’s riding out on the Gator to check on them.”
Julia was already out the door. “I’m on my way.”
“I’ll meet you at my SUV.”
Driving as fast as she dared, she sped past Golden Point and veered to the stable just around the hill. When she pulled into the driveway, she saw Zeke waiting. She leapt out of the car and ran to him but stopped herself from hugging him. They were in full view of anyone who passed by, and she didn’t trust herself to let go.
Her voice came out shaky. “Have you heard from them?”
“Not yet.”
With his arm around her waist, they hurried down the path that led to the corral used to stage trail rides. When they reached the trailhead, she strained her ears for the clop of horses, Max’s laughter, or the whine of the Gator. Fighting panic, she forgot all about being strong and reached for Zeke’s hand.
Instead of clasping her fingers, he pulled her deep into his arms. “We’ll find them, Jules.”
“I’m scared.”
“You’re human. And a mom.”
Lord, be with my son. Protect him. Please. She longed to hear Zeke pray the way he had in Berkeley, but all he did was hold her.
When his radio crackled with Chet’s voice, he kept an arm around her waist while he answered. “I’m here, Chet. So is Julia.”
“Her boy is fine.”
A heavy breath whooshed out of her lungs. Her whole body sagged, but Zeke’s arm held her steady. Nothing mattered as much as Max’s safety, but Chet’s tone hinted at trouble.
“Adams is okay too, but we have an emergency out here. Jed was bitten by a rattlesnake.”
“What?”
“You heard me, boss. I found them at the rock pile.”
Julia gasped. The rock pile was a hill littered with boulders. A half-mile from the main trail, the area was clearly marked as off-limits and unofficially called Rattlesnake Ranch. Only a total fool—or an arrogant one—would ride past the signs. The rock pile offered a beautiful view of the resort, but it posed significant danger to horses, riders, and hikers.
Zeke’s fingers tightened on the radio. “We’re going to need Doc Cahill. I’ll call her.”
“Ricky already did. She’s on her way.”
With Max safe, Julia focused on Zeke. His expression turned murderous as Chet relayed details over the two-way radio. Ricky was already headed out to assist. When the young stable hand arrived, Chet would bring Max and Hunter back on the Gator, and Ricky would walk back with the horses.
“It’s bad,” Chet said in a low voice. “Judging by the fang marks, the snake was big and it bit Jed twice. I hope he makes it, boss. Because that horse deserves a lot better than the treatment he got today.”
Zeke was used to problems like a broken freezer or an A/C unit on the fritz, but there was a big difference between a freezer and a horse. The freezer was just equipment. Jed was a four-legged member of the CS family.
“How’s he doing right now?” Zeke said into the radio.
“He’s on his feet, but judging by the swelling around the pastern, the snake injected its venom. It’s better than a bite on the nose, but Jed needs treatment fast or we could lose him.”
Zeke stifled an oath. This was Hunter’s fault. And Ginger’s. As soon as Max was safe, Zeke intended to go to war. But right now, Julia needed him. Turning, he pulled her back into his arms, and though he doubted God would listen, he breathed a prayer. Thank you, God, for keeping Max safe. That was all he could manage before his jaw clenched again.
The Gator hummed in the distance. Julia broke away and stared down the trail. Zeke stayed at her side as Chet steered the utility vehicle into the corral. Hunter sat on the passenger side with Max huddled on his lap, his dusty cheeks streaked with dried tears. The instant Chet cut the engine, Julia swept her son away from Hunter and into her arms.
Hunter eased off the seat, slapped dust off his pants, and glowered at Zeke. “I don’t know what happened out there, but something spooked that horse. It nearly threw me.”
Chet’s hands fisted on his hips. “Now you just wait—”
Max, still clinging to Julia, swiveled his head toward Zeke. “There was a s-s-snake. It m-m-made that s-s-sound. The horse stopped, and then—then—” He buried his face against Julia’s shoulder and sobbed.
Hunter’s mouth pinched into a line. “Come on, Max. It wasn’t that bad.”
Not that bad? What planet was this guy on? Zeke opened his mouth to inject some reason, but Julia stepped in front of Hunter with Max tight on her hip.
“How dare you take my son on a ride like that!”
“Now wait a minute—”
“No. You wait.” In spite of Max’s weight, she stood ramrod straight. “What were you thinking? Didn’t you see the sign? You can read, can’t you?”
Splotches of red erupted on Hunter’s lean cheeks. A tic pulsed in his clenched jaw, and his eyes narrowed to a squint. Zeke positioned himself next to Julia, and Chet circled around to his side.
Keeping an eye on Hunter, Zeke spoke to Julia. “Max has had enough distress for today. Why don’t you take him to the bench under the tree?”
As she left, Hunter tracked her with his eyes. If he went after her, Zeke would cut him off. Both men stood with the sun beating down on them and Chet slowly tapping his boot in the dust.
After a glance to be sure Julia was settled, Zeke focused back on Hunter. “That hill is plainly marked as dangerous. I’m curious. Why did you disregard the sign?”
Hunter’s mouth curled into a sneer. “What sign?”
Chet muttered under his breath. “It’s there, boss. I saw it.”
So Hunter was going to flat-out lie. Zeke knew this particular game. They had played it at St. John’s.
After a long pause, Hunter skimmed his eyes over the empty corral and the run-down buildings behind it. “I don’
t think much of your facilities or your rental horses. They’re skittish.”
“Jed’s been with us for five years,” Zeke replied. “He’s one of the most reliable horses in the stable.”
“Not today. He nearly got me killed.”
Chet jabbed a finger in Hunter’s direction. “You stop right there, Mr. Adams. I told you myself to stay on the main trail. There’s a reason those boulders are off-limits. Rattlers hang out there. We keep the main trail wide and clear, so riders can see what’s ahead, like a rattler sunning itself.”
Arms crossed, Hunter rocked back on his heels. “The trail to the rocks looked fine to me. Besides, I had a good reason to go up there. My uncle asked me to send him pictures of this place. That hill has the best view of the entire resort. I see a lot of unused potential here. He’ll want to make some changes, I’m sure.”
No wonder rumors were flying. Chet shot Zeke a look that said I told you so, then excused himself to go meet Doc Cahill.
As badly as Zeke wanted to rip into Hunter and his lies, he needed to take the higher ground to protect Julia from the man’s vindictiveness. And to protect Caliente Springs. Who knew what lawsuit Hunter might cook up?
Professional and experienced, Zeke kept his voice neutral. “Whatever your reasons were for going to the rock pile, you disregarded instructions that were given for your safety. I’ll need to file an incident report.”
“Forget it.” Hunter turned and strode toward Julia.
When Zeke saw the fight in her eyes, he held himself back. Regardless of his feelings for her, Max was her son and Hunter was Max’s father. Julia was the expert here, but he took a few steps closer in case she needed him.
She spoke loudly enough for Zeke to hear. “Hunter, this kind of thing needs to stop. You had no business taking Max to those boulders, especially on a horse.”
“Come on, Julia. Quit babying him—”
“I’m not!”
Smirking, Hunter clamped his hand on Max’s shoulder and looked down at him. “Come on, son. Tell Mommy the truth. You weren’t really scared, were you?”
Not scared of a hissing snake? Not afraid of a bucking horse trying to stomp it? Unable and unwilling to hold himself back, Zeke strode forward. Max’s eyes, so like Julia’s, brimmed with tears.
Julia shoved Hunter’s hand away from her son’s shoulder. “Hunter, stop it.”
Ignoring her, he bent down and clasped Max’s chin instead. “You’re brave like Daddy, aren’t you?”
Max’s lip trembled, but he mustered the courage for a nod.
Hunter thumped him on the back. “Good. I’m proud of you, son.”
How many times had Zeke heard his own dad say, “I’m proud of you, son,” when his feelings had been as messy as the ones inside Max? Too many. And he felt as helpless now as he had then. As general manager he had authority over this situation, but any reaction on his part would trigger an attack from Hunter. And that attack might not be directed at Zeke. Julia and Max were weaker targets.
Paralyzed, Zeke stood with his feet planted in the dirt, anger boiling in his belly and his temper ready to snap. He couldn’t fix this situation. He couldn’t help Julia. All he could do was breathe in choking heat and dust.
But then Max turned and looked into Zeke’s face. “Is Jed going to be all right?”
When a boy asked a tough question, he deserved an honest answer. “I hope so. The vet is coming with medicine, but we’ll have to wait and see.” Like everything else about this situation, Jed’s fate was beyond Zeke’s control.
Max nodded solemnly and snuggled deeper in Julia’s arms. Pale and drawn, she thanked him with a smile more in her eyes than on her lips. The urge to protect her pounded at him, but right now he couldn’t even hold her hand or offer a word of support.
With his hands jammed in his pockets, Zeke cleared his throat. “Julia, why don’t you take Max home? I’ll finish up the report with Hunter.”
She nodded and stood, wrapping her arm protectively around Max.
Hunter rested a hand on the small of her back, leaving it even when she bristled. He stared pointedly at Zeke. “I have other things to do. The report can wait.”
“No,” Zeke said. “It can’t.” And get your hand off her. “You’re an attorney. You understand liability. I need a statement from you now.”
Hunter shrugged. “It’s over. Forget it.”
“I can’t. This situation is too serious to ignore.” If Zeke needed to use words like child endangerment, he would.
A long moment passed. Finally Hunter shrugged. “Fine. Let’s get it over with.” He let go of Julia, sauntered past Zeke, then waited for them all to follow.
When Julia reached her car, she lifted Max into the booster seat. As she worked the buckle, he sniffed away the last of his tears. “Mommy?”
“Yes, honey?”
“I liked riding the white horse, but I didn’t want to go to the big rocks.”
“Kind of scary, huh?”
“I told Daddy, but he made me.”
Her hands stilled on the seat belt. She wanted to strangle Hunter. Max couldn’t tell the truth because Hunter would belittle him, and Max wanted his daddy to be proud of him. But Julia knew, when she confronted Hunter, he’d blame her for Max’s fear. The only person who emerged from the tangle unscathed was Hunter, who didn’t have to take responsibility for anything he didn’t like. The destructive pattern needed to stop now, before Max really did turn into Hunter’s mini-me.
She reached up and smoothed his hair. “The situation would be scary for anyone. That’s a good time to remember that God looks out for us.”
“Is He looking out for Jed?”
“Yes.”
Please, God. Let Jed be all right. Julia didn’t know why there were rattlesnakes in the world, or cancer or heart attacks. All she could do was trust that God knew best. Like the Bible said, now she saw through a glass darkly. Someday she’d see through that glass with perfect clarity. There would be no smoke and mirrors like the ones Hunter arranged to his own advantage.
Max gave a big yawn. “I want to go home.”
“Me too.”
Relieved to avoid another tough question, Julia drove to the cottage. By the time she pulled into the driveway, Max was asleep. She lugged him out of the booster seat, staggered to the door with her back breaking, and somehow managed to set him on the couch without waking him up.
Without Hunter in the picture, Zeke would have followed her home, carried Max, and listened to her vent about the terrible afternoon. Missing him, she fetched the bag of Milky Ways. There were only a few left, a reminder that her stay at Caliente Springs was more than half over. With the candy melting on her tongue, she hoped God knew what He was doing, because she couldn’t imagine a future without Zeke.
Nor could she imagine a future without Hunter, constant interference, and perpetual strife, all with Max caught in the middle.
twenty-five
As soon as the interview was over, Hunter sped off, and Zeke headed for the stable to check on Jed. When he reached the horse’s stall, he saw Dr. Jennifer Cahill administering an injection while Chet cold-washed the gelding’s leg with a hose.
“How does it look?” Zeke asked.
Dr. Cahill withdrew the syringe. “I gave him an anti-venom injection and started antibiotics. His overall condition is stable, but there’s a great deal of swelling. I think he’ll make it, but he could still go lame.”
Zeke knew what lameness meant. At best, Jed would be retired as a trail horse. At worst, he’d be unable to walk and would have to be put down. All because of Hunter Adams and his arrogance. That man deserved a one-way trip to Rattlesnake Ranch.
Dr. Cahill ran her hand along the horse’s foreleg. “I’ve done all I can. Jed’s in good hands with Chet here.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Zeke said.
She packed up her bag, told them to call if Jed needed her, and left the stable.
Zeke turned his attention to Chet. The lines around his
mouth were deeper than usual, and though he was humming “Streets of Laredo,” fury still burned in his eyes. When he rounded on Zeke, his voice came out hoarse.
“I have a mind to pound Hunter Adams into the ground. He almost killed one of our best horses, and then he tried to blame the horse.”
“It’s all in the report.”
“Stupid fool,” Chet muttered. “And he’s a liar. He deliberately ignored what I told him. That’s just not right, especially with two horses and a boy in his care.” Chet cranked off the hose and scratched Jed’s neck. “If Jed balked, it was because of the snake. You heard what the boy said. He heard the snake before Jed saw it.”
The interview with Hunter played through Zeke’s head. Twisted facts aside, there was no denying Hunter’s responsibility. He could lie and deny all day long, but the evidence stood and Hunter knew it.
“I doubt he’ll make trouble, and if he does, I have enough on him to protect us from a lawsuit.”
Chet let out a snort. “We should sue him for endangering Jed.”
As much as Zeke wanted to agree, a good boss didn’t complain to the employees below him. He took his concerns up the ladder, which he intended to do as soon as he returned to his office. Ginger was about to get a very serious phone call.
Zeke gave Jed a pat on the neck. “Anything else before I leave?”
“Nope.” Chet turned the hose back on. “I’ll spend the night out here on a cot. Just don’t let Adams or his uncle buy this place.”
“I won’t.”
The promise weighed heavily on Zeke’s shoulders, because he knew good and well he might not be able to keep it. The shackles of helplessness tightened even more as he walked out of the barn and took in the run-down buildings and thirsty hills. Everywhere he looked, he saw the ravages of drought.
He drove past Golden Point, worried the asphalt wouldn’t be laid in time, and raked his hand through his hair. Once he was back in his office, he shut the door and called Ginger. “We had a problem at the stable this afternoon.”
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