Raising The Rancher's Family. Patricia Thayer
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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