Reese was in the office, working on the payroll, when she reached him by phone. “I’m terrified she’ll do something rash,” Lauren said after recounting her conversation with Julie. “I’ve rarely seen her so upset. I’m going after her now, but I thought you should know if you see her first.
“I’m going down to the stable now,” she added.
“I think a better person is Sally,” he said. “She’s been working with your daughter’s leg as well as an instructor. I think Julie trusts her. I’ll call her and explain.”
“I didn’t say anything other than what we talked about, that I would be business manager and she and I would have a cottage on the property,” Lauren explained. “At first, she was excited about living here, but then she leaped to conclusions about our relationship. I think the loss of her father hit all over again.” She knew her voice had a note of panic in it.
“She was so happy last night that her leg was better and she could walk without the brace,” Lauren continued. “I really thought she would be excited about living here.”
“I’m so damn sorry,” he said. “It was probably way too soon to even propose it. It just seemed so right at the time. The last thing I wanted to do was create problems between mother and daughter.”
“I shouldn’t have mentioned the possibility yet. I should have waited but I really thought she would love the idea of living on the ranch.”
Lauren broke off the conversation so he could call Sally, then went to the kitchen. Sally was in there already on the phone with Reese. She hung up. “I’ll go down to the stable. Julie’s probably with Snowflake. Our kids get really attached to their horses while they’re here and confide all kinds of secrets and hurts to them.”
“Shouldn’t I go with you?” Lauren asked anxiously.
“I don’t think so,” Sally said softly. “Not if she’s as angry as you think. A friend is probably more likely to get her to talk.” She hesitated, then added, “I’m a hundred percent behind Reese’s offer.” Then she was off to the stable, leaving Lauren in a panic.
Lauren stayed at the window as Sally disappeared into the stables. A few minutes later, her phone rang. “She’s gone,” Sally said, “and Snowflake with her. Heath was there and said she just threw a saddle on Snowflake without the blanket and galloped out.”
“She’s still learning to ride,” Lauren said. “If she acted that quickly, she probably didn’t check the cinch.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. I called Reese just before you. He’s on his way. One of the hands is saddling Max for him and a horse for me, and another hand is rounding up other riders.”
“I want to help search,” Lauren said.
“And you may go in an entirely different direction than Julie and get yourself lost,” Sally said gently. “The best thing you can do is stay at the stables and organize things. You’re really good at that. Keep track of where our people are going. And call our county emergency services. Tell them we’ve lost one of our Junior Ranchers.”
“All right,” she said reluctantly.
“My horse is saddled, and Reese and other riders are on the way. Any idea where she might go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Okay, don’t worry. We’ll find her.” The phone clicked off.
Lauren called emergency services and told them her daughter, a Junior Rancher, had taken off on a horse and may be in trouble. The responder said they were on the way with an ambulance.
As Lauren headed for the stables, the yard was filling up with more ranch hands headed into the building. She saw Reese give them each an assignment, then stride over to her.
He gave her a sheet of paper. “These are riders and the trails or directions they’re taking,” he said. “I’m going toward the Roost. As more join us, have them scan the list and find an empty spot. Okay?”
She nodded, trying to keep tears at bay.
“We’ll find her,” he said as he mounted Max.
Her heart hammered. Being unable to do more to help was an agony she’d known too well during the months her daughter was in the hospital. Why hadn’t she concentrated on Julie?
An ambulance roared up and Jeff Henley, Chet’s assistant, went out to meet it. She went running toward it, as well.
Jeff turned to her. “They’re asking for medical information.”
“Has she been found?”
“No, ma’am,” the paramedic said, “We’re just being cautious. You’re Mrs. MacInnes?”
She nodded.
“Can you give us information about your daughter? Blood type?”
She could barely answer. All the images of the first time she saw Julie in the hospital sixteen months ago flashed through her head.
She tried to remember everything. Blood type of course and all the injuries Julie had incurred.
Betty came out of the kitchen and sat with her, holding her hand. Lauren was barely aware of it. Tears blinded her eyes.
An hour went by. She knew because she was clutching her cell phone in her hand. Jeff’s phone went off. He talked for a moment, then reported.
“They found Snowflake. Her saddle had slipped. She’s acting peculiar, doesn’t want to leave. Reese thinks Julie must be close. They’re searching that area now. He’s asking for a stretcher on the trail to the Roost.”
Fifteen minutes later, Lauren’s cell rang and she heard Reese’s voice. “We found her. We’re bringing her in on the stretcher. I don’t think there’s any major injuries.”
Fifteen minutes later four men rolling a stretcher trotted toward the ambulance. Reese rode behind them on Max and leading Snowflake.
Lauren ran over to the stretcher and leaned down. Julie’s face was scratched and there were bruises and cuts. She reached out and grabbed Lauren’s hand. The brace wasn’t on her leg, but the paramedics said she’d known how to fall to protect it when the saddle came loose.
They said she would probably be in pain for a few days but there didn’t seem to be major injuries. She would be x-rayed, though, at the county hospital.
“I’m sorry, Mom. Snowflake wanted to go back to the barn. I...think she knew something was wrong. Then the saddle slipped and I tumbled into some bushes. She wouldn’t leave. I told her to go home. But she wouldn’t.
“Then I heard some horses and my name called. I tried to yell, but it didn’t sound very loud. It was Snowflake who brought them to me.”
“We’re going to the hospital now for X-rays,” the driver interrupted.
Jeff stepped up. “I’ll drive you, ma’am.”
Lauren and Julie stayed at the hospital overnight. The X-rays didn’t show any broken bones but she had some nasty bruises and several deep cuts from broken branches.
Jeff, Chet, Betty and Sally all came by late that day. Betty brought some soup, of course. Sally brought some wildflowers. Chet brought some candy.
When they were alone, Lauren took Julie’s hand. “Until you have a child,” she said, “you will never know how terrified I was for you. Please don’t ever do that again.”
“I’m sorry. Really sorry. I don’t even know why I did what I did. I could have injured Snowflake and killed myself. You never would have gotten over it.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” Lauren said. “I haven’t gotten over Dane’s death. I never will. He’ll always be one of the best parts of my life and he’s why I’m who I am today. Just as I hope he would feel the same way if I’d died and he’d lived.
“He loved you so much,” she added. “He’s probably up there in the sky wondering why you took so little care with your own life.”
Julie bit her lip and tears appeared in her eyes.
“I love you with all my heart, Julie. It would have broken again if anything happened to you and I was, in some way, responsible.” She paused. She knew what she wanted to say but the words came hard. “I’m falling in love with Reese, but I’m not going to rush into anything.
“What I feel for him doesn’t dismiss or demean Dane. It honors him because he showed me what love meant and how important it is. He always told me that he would be in the cheering section if I married again. He would know then he did a good job.”
Tears flowed down both their cheeks and they held hands.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I was afraid his memories would disappear.” Tears hovered in her eyes.
“They could never do that, baby. He’s engraved in our hearts. Nothing will take those memories away.”
“I really do like Reese. I knew he would find me.” Julie swallowed hard. “And I would like to stay here.”
“Will you tell him that?”
“I will.”
“Well, he’s outside with a friend.”
Lauren went over and opened the door. Reese came in, holding a vase full of columbines, the state flower of Colorado.
Leo galloped in ahead, put his two feet up on the bed and licked her.
Reese took one look at the two of them smiling and he grinned, as well. “I think Leo is trying to tell you what we all feel at Eagles’ Roost. ‘Welcome to our Colorado ranch.’”