Page 29 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

He nodded but his face had paled.

“I will bring Emmie, but you go directly to your truck. Do not stop. Turn it on. I will be right there with Emmie. Please do it now. I do not want to scare Emmie. Got it?”

“Got it,” he said, and he went towards the house without a backward glance.

“Emmie,” Jesse called out softly to the girl, “your papa Joe is not feeling well. I think we need to get him back to the ranch and let your dad talk him into staying out of the heat and maybe going in to the doctor. Can you hurry along to help?”

Emmie didn’t hesitate. She left her pole lying where it fell. Soon she was moving in a quick step beside Jessie. When they reached the top of the path, the truck was waiting. She motioned for Uncle Joe to move to the passenger side, and she would slide behind the wheel. Emmie jumped into the back seat without hesitation. So far so good.

“Are you okay, Papa?”

“I explained it was just probably heat and we were heading to the main house for Cole’s opinion,” Jessie added smoothly. Her training had taken over and she was thinking clearly as she should.

“I’ll be fine, sweet girl,” Uncle Joe said to Emmie, patting the hand she had placed on his shoulder. “We’ll listen to Jesse here and get some cool air. You sit back and get that seat belt buckled tight.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jesse flashed the man a smile of thanks and then she noted what lay at his feet within reach if needed. His trusty shotgun. So, he had made one quick stop to retrieve it from wherever he had it stowed. She liked him even more than before.

They flew the miles to the main house and Jesse caught note of a couple of drones in the distance and she also noted a feed truck had been backed into the side of the second barn a distance from the house. They didn’t store much in there Randy had told her when they were taking inventory of possible places to add people if necessary. Well, it looked like it was necessary now.

Cole’s truck came moving quickly up the drive and pulled in next to his uncle’s truck as Jesse exited. She was still in agent mode.

“Emmie, would you please go inside and have Marcella make some lemonade for your papa? He is a bit thirsty, and we will talk to Dad. We’ll come right in.” Emmie nodded and ran to the house.

Randy came out of the barn, and she noted the look on his face that told her things were moving along. They worked well together as a team and could read each other’s thoughts after so much time.

“All is well. Madeleine is in her room where she ordered her late brunch to be served. Philippe had some paperwork to do and is using your office, Cole, and it is being monitored. Surveillance is moving on and above the river. Cowboys are working at the three major entrances and exits with regular vaccination as good cover. And yes, our people do know how to vaccinate like your hands.” Randy shot the last over to Cole in reassurance but to also break the tense moment.

“You will both walk into the house,” Jesse instructed, “go to the kitchen and enjoy the lemonade. Uncle Joe will have a visit with the doctor in town and so you, Uncle Joe, and Emmie will drive to the main gate and turn towards town in your truck. You will be intercepted and transferred to another vehicle and then you follow their instructions. The people with you have been handpicked and are good. Listen to them. Is that clear?”

“What about you both?” That was Cole looking from Jesse to Randy and back.

“This is our job, and you can help by being out of our way. Now we need to move…all is well, and this is just another day.” She led the way to the house. Philippe had joined the kitchen crew and was pouring himself a glass of lemonade from the pitcher. He acted like nothing unusual was happening in his day. Jesse took a sip from her glass. She told Marcella that she could begin the setting up of lunch outside on the south patio. That would enable the agent waiting there to remove Marcella to safety.

“Forgive me, but this looked so good and refreshing.” Philippe smiled as he took a couple sips.

Emmie had already poured a glass for her papa Joe.

“That is a mighty nice, sweet girl. Thank you. Really this is a lot of fuss for nothing. But let’s get into town so Emmie and I can get back to those fish. Well, hurry up, Cole, you wanted me to go see old Doc Anders. So, let’s go.” Uncle Joe opened the door with Emmie being his pint-sized nurse’s aide. Jesse said another thank you in silence for the man being such a trouper. She looked at Cole and sat down her glass on the table. She walked over and went on tiptoe, her lips touching his cheek. “Get moving and do as told.”

“I’m coming,” Cole said aloud after Emmie’s departing back out the door, and threw an arm around Jesse’s shoulders and gave a tight squeeze. “Don’t know if we’ll be back by lunch but you all go ahead without us if we aren’t here.”

“Let us know if plans change and what Doc says,” Jesse said. “Be careful on the road…don’t speed.”

“Yes, dear.” Cole smiled then and she felt her heart melt. That was something she didn’t need.

“Get moving.” She fairly pushed him out the door. His hand caught hers for a moment and there was a squeeze, and Cole’s gaze said it all. Then he was gone.

“I do hope his uncle will be okay,” Philippe said, helping himself to another glass. “Let us know if we can help with anything. In the meantime, I need to send some emails.” He left them alone.

Jesse and Randy stepped out onto the porch. “Are you sure it was him?”

Jesse produced the phone with the video and a couple of still photos. Randy watched and then rewatched. He looked at her with a strange expression.

“You kept your cool and did the right thing. Getting the others away and secured. Do you realize where this man has been staying?”

“Of course I do. He has been staying close by on…” He stopped her with a finger pointed to one of the photos.

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