Peril on the Ranch Read online

  But just ahead, she caught sight of Mac’s truck barreling toward her.

  A hard hand reached through the broken window and clamped onto her ponytail. Another scream ripped from her throat and she slammed on the brake. The van’s abrupt halt sent the man crashing into the door. His hand fell from her hair, and she swung the ball bat toward the window only to find him gone. In the rearview mirror, she could see him running full out back to his motorcycle.

  “Isabelle!”

  Mac reached the van. Isabelle shot a quick glance at the baby. Lilly’s eyes were wide, but she had the bottle still clamped between her lips. She was fine. They were both fine and still alive. Isabelle flung the door open. Without thought, she threw herself into Mac’s arms, only halfway believing he was really there. When she realized what she was doing, she jerked back. “I’m sorry. I’m just really glad to see you. Yet again, you have impeccable timing. Thank you.”

  “Of course. Are you all right?” He lifted a hand to touch the wound and she leaned back. He dropped his hand.

  “Sorry, I’ll be fine. Head wounds bleed a lot, right?”

  “So I’ve heard. Looks like it grazed you, but you still need to see the doctor.”

  Her head pounded harder at the thought, but she nodded. “I’ll call Katherine when I get home.”

  “Katherine?”

  “One of the town’s doctors and a friend to me and the children. Actually, I’ll send her a heads-up text. She may need me to come by her office back in town.”

  “I don’t hear any noise coming from the van. I take it Lilly’s all right?”

  “Yes.”

  She punched the message into her phone only to get an automated reply that her friend was out of town at a conference for the next two days.

  She grimaced and slid the van’s side door open to discover Lilly had finished her bottle and drifted off to sleep. “She had a big morning. I guess a hammer through the window and a scary motorcycle rider weren’t on her list of things to worry about today.”

  “Let’s be thankful for the little things.” He shook his phone at her. “I think I can hang up now?”

  She let out a short laugh. “I think so. Katherine’s not in the office, so I’ll just take some ibuprofen when I get home.”

  He pursed his lips as he hung up and dialed the sheriff’s number. Isabelle listened as he reported the incident. Then, while he worked on transferring the groceries and Lilly to the back seat of his king cab, Isabelle snagged her phone and looked up the number for her roadside assistance. After arranging for the tow truck to pick up her van and take it to the shop for repair of her almost new tires and a window, she climbed in the passenger seat and buckled up.

  Once they were finally on the road, she closed her eyes, only to have the images of her attack hit her full force. Her eyes popped open. “I don’t understand what this guy wants and why he keeps coming after me. It’s got to be the baby.”

  “I don’t know, either, but it’s definitely not random. And since your doctor friend’s not around, I’m taking you to the hospital to get that head looked at.”

  “What?” He’d managed to turn around and head back toward town without her realizing it. “No. I really don’t think I need a doctor. It’s just a graze.”

  “It’s still bleeding.”

  “Head wounds bleed.”

  He handed her a package of tissues from the pocket in the door. “Isabelle, if you wind up with a concussion or something, who’s going to take care of the children?”

  She fell silent. He was right. She was the children’s designated caretaker, and if something happened to her, Child Protection would step in and take away the kids. Everyone that worked for her had to have a background check, but she was the only one certified to foster. “Okay, fine. But I need to call Cody Ray and let him know.”

  She placed the call, and after assuring the worried man she was okay and that this was just a checkup, she hung up and eyed Mac. “Happy?”

  “On that subject, yes. Next question. Is there anyone in your life that you’ve recently made mad?”

  She groaned. She stopped dabbing the head wound and just pressed the tissues to it. “No, not that I can think of, anyway. The parents of the kids who’ve been removed from their homes probably aren’t very happy with me, but they don’t know who I am. At least I don’t think they do. They’re not supposed to.”

  He cut his gaze to her and then back to the road as he navigated the twists and turns. “Do you know how easy it would be for someone to find out where their kid went?”

  Isabelle grimaced. “Yes. I know. I’ve never really worried about it before, but now I’m wondering if one of them managed to track me down.” She frowned. “But why come after me? Why not just grab your kid and hit the road? I mean, it would be horrible if that actually happened, but...why not?” She paused. “Unless that’s what the guy was trying to do. Grab Lilly.”

  “Because he left her and had second thoughts?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s one theory. Could also be a revenge thing.”

  “Revenge? Maybe.” But she didn’t think so. She called Regina and asked her to meet her at the emergency room entrance so she could make the report.

  Mac pulled into the hospital’s parking lot and she bit her lip, trying to think of what she might have done to set someone on the path of revenge. Raising their kid when they couldn’t? Yes, that could spark a deep anger.

  By the time he parked, she was no closer to figuring it out than when she’d started. A police cruiser sat in the police parking space at the entrance, and when Isabelle stepped out of Mac’s truck, Regina opened the door of the vehicle. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I have a monster headache that may or may not have anything to do with the hammer and everything to do with how my day has been going. But I’m not complaining. It would have been so much worse if Mac hadn’t—once again—come to the rescue.” She lowered the soiled tissues and frowned when Regina’s eyes went wide.

  “Let’s get you seen,” her friend said. “Quickly.”

  Lilly was still asleep when Mac lifted her carrier out of the back of the cab. “I’ve got her and the bag.”

  “I’ll need a statement from you, too,” Regina said.

  “Of course.” He led the way into the hospital waiting room. Regina’s presence seemed to speed things up a bit, and Isabelle soon found herself seated on an exam table having her vitals taken. Mac sat in the chair across from her, the carrier on the floor between his feet. She couldn’t help noticing the shadows that darkened his eyes whenever he looked at the baby. And yet, his features also held a tenderness that tugged at her heart.

  Regina pulled out the same little black notebook from that morning. “All right. Tell me the details.”

  Isabelle let out another groan and talked until the doctor entered the room and pronounced her fine—except for the three stitches his nurse would be putting in.

  Regina patted her hand. “I’ll be outside to give you an escort home when you’re done.”

  * * *

  Mac carried the baby into the house and set her carrier on the floor next to the sofa. The little girl from the morning—Katie—came running from the kitchen, still clutching her doll, and launched herself at Isabelle just inside the door. Isabelle went to her knees to catch the mini missile.

  “Izzy-belle,” Katie said, “are you okay? Mr. Cody said you had to go see the doctor.” She touched Isabelle’s head with the gentleness of a butterfly. “You hurted your head.”

  Isabelle hugged the child, and Mac had to look away thanks to the lump that grew in his throat. He honestly didn’t know if he had the strength to stay and do this job. Not if he had to be around the children for any length of time and being constantly reminded of everything he’d lost. But today had been weird. During a typical day, he could probably avoid
them and the pain they triggered. He cleared his throat. “I think I’ll go get that crib put together then get started on the fence.”

  Isabelle kissed Katie on the cheek, then rose. “Just in case you want to know the evening schedule around here, we always eat dinner at six.” She tilted her head. “That’s Ms. Sybil you hear banging around in the kitchen. Then I’ll get Katie ready for bed while the older kids work on their homework and have an hour of downtime before they do showers and bed. You’re welcome to join us for dinner or do your own thing—which you can do since I purchased a few groceries for you.”

  He blinked. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Just a few staples to say welcome. It was the least I could do—especially after you’ve come to my rescue twice in one day. I’ll put the groceries in your kitchen if you’d like, or I can keep them in my fridge until you’re ready to get them.”

  He didn’t know what to say. “That’s...really kind. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. So...your kitchen or mine?”

  He laughed. “Mine works. Thanks.”

  “Who’s this?” A new voice asked from the doorway of the kitchen. And older woman in her early sixties stood there, trying her hands on a towel.

  “This is Mac,” Isabelle said. “Mac, this is Sybil.”

  “Ms. Sybil,” Katie corrected.

  Mac smiled. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Sybil.” He emphasized her name exactly as Katie had done. The child beamed at him. “I’m headed to work on that crib now. If I’m late, don’t wait dinner for me.”

  “Of course,” Isabelle said. The smile didn’t quite reach her eyes and he had a feeling she was barely holding it together. But it wasn’t his business. She’d hired him to put the crib together and fix her fence. So that was what he’d do. He walked out the door and headed for the barn to grab a few tools. He refused to turn around to ask her one more time if she was all right.

  But he had to admit he was bothered. By the pretty foster mom and the fact that someone had come after her twice now. That thought raised his blood pressure more than a fraction. He hesitated, sighed and walked back to the house, up the steps and knocked on the front door. Katie answered it. “Hiya, Mr. Mac. Whatcha doing? Thought you were gonna to fix Lily’s crib.”

  His heart tumbled all over itself at the innocence shining in those bright gray eyes. “I am. Soon. I just wanted to ask Isabelle a quick question.” For a brief moment, he wondered what Katie’s story was and how she’d come to live with Isabelle, but he pushed the thought aside. If he got to know the people here, he’d start to care. And he couldn’t afford to do that, since he’d be leaving as soon as he had some money saved up. He was so close to his goal—enough money for the down payment on some land he’d picked out. He couldn’t get sidetracked now.

  “She went out the kitchen door. I think she was going to the barn for a minute. Sometimes she likes to visit Maverick.”

  “Who’s Maverick?”

  Katie giggled. “Her horse, silly.”

  “Oh, right. Of course.” He patted her on the head. “Thanks, kiddo.”

  “You’re welcome. You going to find her?”

  Nosy little thing, wasn’t she? “Yes, like I said, I want to ask her a question.”

  “Okay. Isabelle likes horses.”

  Chatty, too. “I do, too.”

  “Are you a good rider?”

  “I am. Are you?”

  “No, I’m learning, though. I like roping better.”

  She was quite the conversationalist. “Well, I guess I’d better—”

  “Do you know how to rope?”

  “I do.”

  “Did you see Duke?”

  “Duke?” Why was he supposed to know that name? “Oh, the bull?”

  “Yes. He’s mean.” She scrunched up her face and blew air out of her nose. Then pawed the ground with her right foot like she was going to charge him at any moment. It was all Mac could do to hold it together and not burst out laughing. “That’s what he does if you get close to him,” Katie said. “I stay far-r-r-r-r away. You should, too.”

  “Thank you. I’ll do that.”

  “Katie?” Ms. Sybil’s voice came from the kitchen.

  “I’m coming! Bye, Mr. Mac.” She shut the door before Mac could respond. He allowed himself a quick smile that morphed into a chuckle. The sound was rusty and surprised him, but his steps were lighter than they’d been in a long time. He hurried to round the house and head for the barn. Cody Ray was nowhere to be seen when Mac stepped into the chilly interior. He stood still for a moment and let his eyes adjust. Fluorescent lights burned overhead and he caught sight of Isabelle at the end of the row of stalls.

  Horses nickered at him as he passed, but he didn’t stop to introduce himself. Isabelle’s forehead was pressed against the neck of the horse, and her shoulders shook, but no sound reached him.

  Mac stopped, realizing he was intruding on an extremely private moment. He paused, wondering if he should leave before she noticed him, or offer what little comfort he could.

  He’d just opted to leave when she raised her head, her eyes colliding with his. “Oh. Mac. I didn’t... I’m sorry.” She scrubbed the tears from her cheeks, leaving her skin red and splotchy.

  “No, no. I should apologize. I was just getting ready to leave you alone when you looked up.”

  A weary sigh slipped from her. “It’s okay. I come here sometimes when I need to have a little breakdown. Then I get myself together and can be around people once more.”

  “I would say after a day like today, you’re entitled to a breakdown.”

  She laughed. A watery one that ended on a hiccup. “Maybe so, but I’m done now. I need to get myself cleaned up and feed the baby. I also have to make a few phone calls before I can mark this day done.”

  “Anything I can do to help?” The words left his lips of their own volition. What was it about Isabelle that had him throwing eighteen months of emotional-wall building to the wayside?

  “No, but thank you. The phone calls are about the Day at the Ranch event coming up. I think everything is basically set up, but there are always last-minute fires to put out.” She headed for the door then turned back. “Oh, did you need something?”

  “No. Not really. You looked upset and I thought I’d just make sure you were okay.”

  Her eyes softened, and she gave him a slight nod. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

  “Sure. Well... I’ll leave you to it, then. Go put out your fires.”

  The smile she shot him seemed to come easier and her features a little more relaxed. When she passed him, the fruity scent of her shampoo lingered behind her and he couldn’t help drawing in a deep breath.

  He watched her go, thinking she was too young to have all this responsibility heaped on her slender shoulders. She shouldn’t have to do all of this alone. “Don’t do it, Mac,” he muttered. “Don’t get involved. Her problems are not yours. And besides, she’s not really alone. She’s got Cody Ray and Ms. Sybil.”

  Vocalizing the words didn’t change a thing. Especially not his desire to help the pretty widow. With a sigh, he headed for the fence, glad he’d be able to see the house from where he’d be working.

  But while his head might order him to stay uninvolved, he was pretty sure his heart wasn’t listening.

  FIVE

  Four days had passed with no more intruders or scary people throwing hammers through her van’s window. In fact, the van had been fixed and now sat in the driveway in front of the house. She had a new windowpane in her kitchen, a new security system that she was scared to death she’d forget how to work, and all seemed to have returned to normal.

  But Isabelle couldn’t relax—or sleep. In spite of her exhaustion, she sat in the swing on the front porch in the early-morning chill, coffee cup in hand, while she watched the sun rise. She loved
this time of day and took advantage of the quiet as often as possible to spend time praying, asking God for strength and wisdom.

  This morning, she also kept an eye on the tree line for the man who’d attacked her. She kept waiting for him to come back and try again, but so far, no one had. A shiver skated up her spine and a surge of anger tightened her jaw. She refused to let the attacks steal these moments.

  The door at the end of the porch opened and boots hit the wooden planks. Immediately, her pulse slowed and her heart lightened.

  “Morning,” Mac said.

  “Good morning.”

  His first morning at the ranch he’d found her in her spot and had joined her every morning since before heading out to ride the property, looking for fences that needed repairing, or helping Cody Ray in the barn. This morning, she knew he planned to move the cattle in the lower pasture to the upper, where there was more grass. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks for Mac’s arrival. He was the help she’d prayed for after her mother’s fall and her father’s necessary absence.

  He sat in the white wooden rocker and sipped the steaming brew from the blue mug. “It’s going to be a pretty day.”

  “My favorite kind.” Isabelle would admit that the more she was around Mac, the more she wanted to know him. But he was a hard one to figure out. She sensed pain in his past and wondered about it.

  He rocked for a moment, then leaned forward. “You ever hear anything from your cop friend, Regina, about the evidence she sent off?”

  “That piece of material?” She shook her head. “She said they were checking for DNA, I don’t think the results have come back from the lab yet.”

  “Not surprising. It can take a while.” The sun peeked over the horizon and the normal peaceful feeling Isabelle gleaned from the majestic sight was missing today. It was hard to find peace when nightmares stalked her rest.

  “How’s Lilly sleeping?”

  “Better the last two nights. I hope she’s not keeping you awake.” The baby was a restless sleeper and had yet to make it through the night without waking up crying.