Page 24 of A Triple C Ranch Christmas Wedding
It even caught George’s attention. “Got yourself a city gal, I see.” He shook his head. “She’s not dressed for this. Don’t let her stay out in this cold too long. You can leave her with Leah, but Leah is a hard worker, raised on a reservation, and used to being outdoors in all kinds of weather. She’ll outwork and outstay your bride.”
“Honey, why don’t you go on into the house,” Jack called out. “Tell them what’s happened and send Dan out here. Get Cecelia to find the number for the sheriff and call them.”
Lucy wavedand went back inside to get warm and to tell the others.
She was too worried about Jack, and about the horses to enjoy all the beautiful red and white flowers and the decorated Christmas tree. But the scent as she came in the door was wonderful. She closed her eyes and breathed in.
It smells like the magic of Christmas.
They needed some Christmas magic right about now. Too many bad things had started to happen. Lucy stood breathing the scent in and wishing that when she opened her eyes everything would be better and there would be nothing to do but enjoy the beautiful decorations and look forward to their wedding day.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later,Lucy went outside to the porch and called out to Jack, who was heading her way, “Come inside and get warm. Emma is going to make hot chocolate for everyone.”
Jack shook his head and headed to his truck, calling back to her, “Can’t. You stay here and enjoy that. I’m going out to the road to take a look.”
“Out where?”
“Wherever the tracks are,” he called back, and then got into his truck.
“Wait,” she yelled.
But she had no time to argue with him or to run and get into his truck, because he was already reversing and backing out of the drive and onto the dirt road.
In minutes, he was out of sight, leaving nothing but tracks in the snow.
The drone guy, Dan, came out onto the porch and stood next to her, holding his drone. “Has he got his phone on him?” he asked.
“Yes, I think so,” she said.
“I’ll call him when I get my drone in the air.”
The drone guy appeared so excited to use his drone that Lucy wondered if he cared at all about the horses or that his teammate Gunny, her Jack, was out there chasing dangerous horse thieves.
Dan worked the drone, excitement lighting his face as it took off and flew. “Finally, something to look at besides snow,” he said. “Take my phone and call your boyfriend.”
“Fiancé,” she corrected him.
“Call Gunny, so I can talk to him,” Dan said.
This guy was already getting on her nerves, but she dialed anyway. “Jack,” she said, when he answered, “please be careful.”
“Gunny, it’s Dan,” he shouted, interrupting her and taking the phone away from her with one hand as he flew the drone with his other. “I’ve got my drone in the air.”
This is all about him flying his drone.
“I’m starting where you picked up the tracks and will see where they went from there. So, go on out to the road, and I’ll direct you from there, once I figure out where they came out to load them. Had to be somewhere near the road,” he said, and then he listened for a moment.
Jack was asking him something about tracks in the snow, but she couldn’t make it all out.
“Not a problem,” Dan said. “My drone can pick up tracks in the snow, easy. I’ve been practicing with it every day. I’ll call you back once I have them. Probably be ten minutes tops.”
Lucy went back inside, leaving the men to talk and to look for the tracks. They didn’t need her, and she wanted to move away from Dan.
I just don’t like that guy, she thought.Team guy or not.
Lucy felt sick to her stomach.
The horses are gone. Now, Jack has gone racing off after the horse thieves to play detective, by himself. Tracking them. And our wedding is in two days. Jack’s brother is flying in, today. Jack is supposed to pick him up at the airport before the rehearsal. Which is tonight. We’re already cutting it close with our timeline—and Jack’s bachelor party is tomorrow night.
I was afraid something bad was going to happen before our wedding. Now it has.
