Retribution at the Ranch by Lenora Worth

Author:Lenora Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-10-04T22:52:20+00:00

THIRTEEN

Amelia and Marco decided to wait on going into Siri’s studio. It was getting late, but they got on their way to ride the river, and kept their excursion slow and easy, talking quietly in case anyone was following them. Amelia had always loved riding her horse around the ranch. She and Daniel would meet up in the back forty and have picnics, talk about the future and enjoy the stark beauty of the land around them.

Those memories held steady as the sun beamed down on them and dragonflies buzzed around, fluttering through the bluebonnets and red poppies. Spring in the Hill Country was always surprising. A lone oak tree could be standing by an aged tractor. A wagon wheel could show up along a crooked, broken fence line, sunflowers blooming all around.

Right now, the wind picked up and lifted the wildflowers, making the fields and pastures look like a giant floating quilt.

The river gurgled and changed as they moved higher through the hills, ever changing and always on the move, tiny waterfalls following a path to forever.

“I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here in the spring,” Amelia said, acutely alert that they could be shot at.

“It is pretty,” Marco said, keeping his roan close to her rambunctious Buster. “But be aware.” He shifted on the saddle and did a scan. “This might not be the best idea. We’re inviting trouble.”

“Do you think someone is following us?”

“Not yet, but I should be keeping you under lock and key, not taking a ride out in the wide open.”

“I needed this,” she said. “And Alan put two new men on us, remember?”

“Yeah, they’re being discreet but I’m glad they’re back there.”

“Okay, so we’re being extra careful, and we’ve got a plan, so pretend we’re just out for a ride.”

While her heart bumped and beat warnings left and right. Warnings about her tormentors, and warnings about the man who rode beside her. She shouldn’t ignore those warnings, but here she was.

They moved over a few hills and then went down toward the river, an old trail leading the way. “This is where Leo and Siri loved to come and spend the day. I guess his ashes are out here while he’s now with her up there in those puffy clouds.”

“They had a good life together,” Marco stated. “A once-in-a-lifetime kind of life from what I’ve heard.”

“I never saw them fight,” she replied. “Always smiling and together. She loved art and he loved to take pictures. He did change after she passed away. His heart was broken, but he was still a kind, loving man.”

“I’m sorry I never met him,” Marco said. “We should still check out her studio, too. Never know what a picture or a painting can tell you.”

“Well, we’ve tried everything else,” she said. “Let’s pull up by that big oak near the river.”

He did as she said, leading the way to the huge live oak that served like a massive umbrella hanging over the shallow waters and chunky rocks. She stopped here and there, taking random shots, remembering how much she loved her work.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.