Rancher Rescue

Rancher Rescue by Barb Han Page A

Book: Rancher Rescue by Barb Han Read Free Book Online
Authors: Barb Han
Tags: Harlequin Intrigue
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you.”
    She couldn’t let herself be swayed. They might not have much time inside, and she wouldn’t wait out here while he did all the heavy lifting. “Either way, I’m coming.”
    Looking resigned, Caleb’s jaw tightened. “You always this stubborn?”
    “Determined. And I’ve never had this much on the line before.”
    His tense stance didn’t ease. Instead he looked poised for battle. His grip tightened on her hand. His other hand was clenched around the barrel of a gun.
    “Then let’s go,” he said.
    Katherine stayed as close behind as she could manage, ignoring the thumping pain in her leg.
    Caleb turned at the back door and mouthed, “No lights.”
    The streetlight provided enough illumination to see clearly. He turned the handle and the door opened. It should have been locked.
    Hope of finding anything useful dwindled. Of course, the men would have come here first.
    If there was anything useful around, wouldn’t they have found it already? They couldn’t have, she reminded herself. Or she and Noah would be dead.
    She moved to the dining space. The small corner desk was stacked with papers. A photo of Leann holding baby Noah brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them back, tucking the keepsake in her purse. The laptop Katherine had bought Leann for school was nowhere in sight.
    Caleb’s sure, steady movements radiated calm Katherine wanted to cling to. She dug through the pile of papers neatly stacked on the dining-room table while Caleb worked through the room, examining papers and objects.
    Luck had never smiled on Katherine. She had no idea why this capable cowboy appeared. She needed him. The feeling was foreign to her and yet it felt nice to lean on someone else for a change. He looked every bit the man who could hold her up, too.
    The realization startled her.
    She knew very little about him, and yet he’d become her lifeline in a matter of hours. She could scarcely think about doing this without him and she wasn’t sure which thought scared her the most. Katherine got through life depending on herself.
    “Find anything useful?” he asked from across the room.
    “No. It’s hard to see in the dark though. You think whoever was here got what they wanted?”
    Caleb moved to her. “Hard to say. You haven’t been here since before the funeral, right?”
    Katherine nodded. “I offered to pick up Noah, but she said no. Come to think of it, she’s the one who mentioned meeting halfway. She’d never suggested that before. She wanted to meet in Waco this time in a restaurant that was way off the interstate. I figured it was just Leann being herself. Wanting to try something new.”
    “Looking back, did she act strange or say anything else that sticks out?”
    “When we met she looked stressed. Cagey. I thought the responsibility of caring for Noah might be getting to her. Don’t get me wrong, she loved that little boy. But caring for any kid, let alone one with medical needs, is stressful. Even so, she was a better parent than I ever would be.”
    She could feel his physical presence next to her before his arm slipped around her shoulders. “You would have been fine. And you will be, once we get Noah back safely.”
    Easy for him to say. He didn’t know her. She didn’t want to dwell on her shortcomings. Not now. She’d have time enough to examine those later when this was all over and her nephew was safe. “I thought she needed a break. The responsibility was becoming a burden. And then I didn’t even think twice when I found out she’d had an accident climbing. I just assumed she’d been reckless.” A sob escaped. “What does that say about me?”
    “That you’re human.”
    “Or I’m clueless. No wonder she didn’t trust me with the truth. She must’ve known how little faith I had in her.”
    He guided her chin up until her gaze lifted to meet his.
    “When people tell you who they are, it’s best to believe them.”
    “What if they change?”
    “Only time can tell that.

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