Page 28 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

“Well, you might be right about that. But I did happen to see your fiancée along the way. She was headed along the Crescent Ridge line and then planned to meander back along the river. Is there a problem?”

“No, I just didn’t see her before she left, and her phone isn’t on. But since you saw her all is well then. Just checking.”

“Don’t worry too much about Jessie,” Rowdy said, his attention on tightening the cinch strap on his horse. “She’s smart and she’s one of the best at her job. Besides, there are always eyes on the watch that you never see. You and your family are always a concern.”

“I appreciate that but there’s a lot of land out there and she doesn’t know most of it. But I will trust you guys have each other’s backs. But I’ll still worry. It goes with the job I have. Tough habit to break.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Because she deserves someone like that.” He turned away from the horse long enough to give a quick wink at Cole. Then he was back in the saddle again. “Best go earn my keep.” He left the corral.

Twenty minutes later Cole was dropping Emmie off. He gave a wave to his uncle waiting on the porch with two fishing poles in hand. “Have fun today,” he tossed in Emmie’s direction as she scrambled out of the truck with a huge grin and wave in his direction.

“I will and we’ll bring home dinner this evening.”

Cole nodded and had to smile. It was a good thing Marcella was making a roast for backup…just in case the fish outsmarted the humans.

*

Jesse looked ather watch and then checked the sun already rising in what would be another hot one if present indications were correct. She couldn’t get the conversation earlier that morning with Madeleine to stay in the back of her mind. It kept pushing into the forefront. There was something there. That was why she wanted to push her buttons and anger her because she was the type that her mouth could get her into trouble without much provocation. Jesse could read people, and she was a fairly easy one. There was something going on, she could feel it. She coaxed the sides of her horse to move into the tree line to find better shade as they made their way to a path along and above the meandering Destiny River.

She knew that it began with the springs on the Lockwood Ranch. The ranch where her sister met her husband, and they now resided. She had managed to avoid contact with her but not so much with her brother who lived in Destiny’s River and was the town sheriff. But all was well so far in keeping her siblings separate from the job at hand.

As she rode, she had to admit that her sister had found a beautiful spot when she stepped off the bus a few years ago and decided to settle in the country town. It was the kind of place that felt like a hometown should feel. Maybe one day she might find such a place in the area and not be separated from her family again. But that was the future, and the present was at hand and needed her undivided attention.

She heard a splash from down below her. Could it be Uncle Joe and Emmie enjoying their fishing day? Cole had been wise to get Emmie out of the house and give some respite from Madeleine and her nefarious band of followers. She urged her horse downward and would get a closer look at the pair before moving on. But she pulled the reins to a hard stop. It wasn’t the pair she expected to see. She slid from the saddle as easy as she could and moved the animal back up the path to a more secluded spot, hoping he would stay intent on the green grass in the shaded spot and be quiet.

Then she bent down and ended up crawling closer to the outcropping a few feet away and where she might have a better view. What she saw through the binoculars she had carried in her saddlebag was interesting. There was a canoe and an unknown man gently rowing into the shoreline…careful to not make a lot of noise. There was a fishing pole in the boat, but he wasn’t using it. Then from the shadows came a man sans shirt with his back to Jesse. He stood in ankle-deep water waiting to grab the front of the canoe. Neither of them spoke and she doubted she could hear them if they did.

It might be nothing but again, this stretch of river ran for a couple of miles along Cole’s ranch. Perhaps ranch hands with time off? She doubted that. As she zoomed into the canoe, she noticed that the man didn’t look dressed for a fishing trip. There was something about him that didn’t seem to fit. The one with his back to her caught her attention and she noted the massive tattoo on his back. It looked familiar but…then her breath caught in her throat.Could it happen like this?She took a steadying breath and gazed through the lenses once more.

A large ornate cross was centered on his back in black but drops of bright red blood dripped from it and ran down to the tip which looked like a sword almost. She had seen it drawn on numerous occasions and even saw a very grainy photo of it once, but it was even more dramatic in living color.

The person who wore it was the mastermind behind the cartel whose moneyman they sought in centering on Philippe.

Little did she and her bosses realize the biggest catch was among them close enough to reach out and touch. But what was the game their guests were playing now? El PaPa rarely came out of deep Mexico, only his associates did that for him.

Then another thought froze her.Emmie.Emmie was too close to the worst possible danger.

Somewhere along this same bank was the little girl she had promised to protect.

And here within yards was the man responsible for so much death and destruction of lives. For the loss of her own fiancé. Her fingers itched to withdraw the small firearm she carried inside her boot.

The struggle raged within her. But she had duty and she had made a promise to Cole to keep his daughter safe.

She made a decision. Reaching carefully for her cell, she turned it from silent and hoped no noise would burst forth and alert them to her presence. She found Randy’s number and typed in the code that would put many things into action but hopefully not scare off the biggest catch of all. Then she switched off the ringer again and began taking a video. It was sent. Only then did she inch her way back from the edge. Quietly she gathered the horse and walked him slowly back along the path until she felt safe enough to slide up into the saddle and once she gained the space of another bend in the path, she urged him forward and then into a full-blown run with one objective, the home of Uncle Joe. She needed to get them both away as fast as she could.

She rode up to the porch, her eyes searching the river in front. And then she heard voices from just below the set of small rapids to the left. There were deeper pools there and that must be where they were. She moved the horse out of sight into a nearby shed and ran to the path to the pools.

Her heart began to beat fast again as she saw the pair grinning over a fish that Uncle Joe was taking off a hook. She took a deep breath and moved to join them without alarming as best she could.

Uncle Joe saw her approach. He held up the fish. “You’re just in time to celebrate with us…largest one so far this summer. Emmie did it.”

“That is awesome! Good job. Could I speak to you, Uncle Joe? I need to enlist your help for dinner tonight.” That was all she could come up with, but Emmie was too busy baiting her hook again. He moved to stand beside her, and she moved them farther from earshot.

“I’m going to keep smiling and you just nod your head now and then if you understand what I am saying. Okay?”

He hesitated but then nodded.

“Good. Can’t explain now, but I am here undercover with some colleagues of mine. Cole is aware of this but few others. The man…the very bad man…we are here to protect Emmie from is just up the river and I need to get her and you out of here now. You must do exactly as I say… understand?”

---