The Redesigned Ranch by Liz Isaacson

Author:Liz Isaacson [Isaacson, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AEJ Creative Works

Jace’s phone buzzed from somewhere inside his cabin. He’d worked well into the night to ensure everything would be ready to move the herd on Monday morning—including taking care of ranch responsibilities for the few cowboys remaining behind, shoeing the horses for their trek, and checking the lower pastures to make sure the snow had melted enough to put livestock out to graze.

He rolled over, thinking only one of two people would call him. Tom or Belle. Okay, maybe three—his mother. He only wanted to talk to one of them, and as the buzzing stopped, he wondered if Belle had been on the other end of the line.

Several moments later, right when he’d started to doze again, his phone emitted a shrill beep. He’d gotten a message. Tom or his mother then. Belle would just call back.

Sleep claimed Jace again—at least until someone with very large hands practically knocked down his front door. He shot to a sitting position as Landon called, “Jace! You in there?”

The doorknob rattled as Jace stumbled to his feet and wiped his eyes. He made it to the front door without ramming into anything too dangerous, and whipped open the door, fully awake. “Landon?”

“My sister called. I couldn’t make out a lot, but I got enough to know she called you and couldn’t get ahold of you.”

The buzzing phone. Jace cursed himself for not checking it. “What does she need?”

“I don’t know. She wanted me to come get you.”

“Where is—?” Jace’s blood ran cold. “She went to Flathead Lake yesterday.” He reached for his boots, which he’d kicked off by the front door when he’d finally made it home in the middle of the night.

“You think somethin’s wrong?”

“I’ll call her.” If he could find his phone. He finally located it on the dresser, plugged in as usual. Sure enough, Belle had called twenty minutes ago. He rang her back.

“Hey,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

“H—” Her voice broke through the bad connection. “…on the side of the road.”

“I can’t hear you, sunshine. Can you hear me?”

“Barely,” she said. “I’m in Flathead Lake, right? Well, my car—”

Frustration pooled in Jace’s ears. “Can you text me where you are?” With the pieces he’d gotten, she had to be on the side of the road near Flathead Lake. But that place wasn’t exactly small, with at least half a dozen touristy towns and miles and miles of shoreline. But there was only one way in and out.

Nothing came through the line, and Jace checked the call. Still connected. As he contemplated what to do, the line went dead. “Okay, she’s stranded in Flathead Lake. Something’s wrong with her car. She’s gonna text me her location.” He hoped. “I need you to stay here and make sure Ty gets the saddles ready for Monday. And Nelson should be packing food for two dozen men for a week. And—”

“I know what they need to get done, Jace. You go.” Landon’s bright green eyes reminded Jace so much of Belle, especially when he worried about something.

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