Either they were all where they were supposed to be, or they were somewhere else. Biting back an oath, I jogged to the barn and grabbed a quad bike. A quick trip with the headlights running found absolutely no deer anywhere they shouldn’t be. By the time I returned to the big house, most of the ranch hands were heading back to the bunk house for the night.
I grabbed Joe’s shoulder. “The damn gate was left open. Know anything about it?”
He turned to me, his smile lazy. “No idea. Anything else other than your little friend get out?’
“No that I can see. That herd is Eve's pride and joy. If I find out?—”
“I didn’t hurt your girlfriend’s toys, Ranger Rick,” Joe said softly. “But if I see a pretty thing I’ll be sure to call. Merry Christmas.”
I let the man’s shoulder go, all too ready to kick him off the land, but to be fair apart from being an asshole, he hadn’t done a damn thing wrong.
I parked the quad bike in the barn, locking up for the night and headed back into the house. Exhaustion slammed me along with a decadent dose of heat from the overstuffed fireplace as I shrugged my jacket off.
“All done?” Jude called from the sofa where he sat with Natalie curled around him.
“Yeah, all locked up.” I clenched my teeth, unwilling to worry him, glancing around. “Where’s Eve?”
“Upstairs.” Jude yawned, setting us all off.
I grinned. “Cheers. I’m done. Merry Christmas.”
“No, she’s not.” Travis walked slowly down stairs, his limp visible as he leaned on the banister. “Eve. She’s not up here. I just checked her room. She might be in the study.”
My grin dissipated. “I’ll check.” I circuited the house, my unease growing with every step. “Eve?” I called, opening the back door. “Did she follow me outside?” I asked Jude, returning to the living area.
His tired eyes blazing with a shot of adrenaline. “No.”
“Fuck.”
“She’ll be upstairs. Or somewhere,” Natalie offered from her space on the sofa. “What?”
I looked at Jude. “Have you told her?”
He shook his head. “We haven’t really gone into it.”
I nodded. “Now might be a good time. After we check the house again.”
Which we did, but I knew it would yield the same results. I walked straight into the study and pulled the bookcase out.
“The hell are you doing?” Trav asked from behind me as I grabbed Eve’s rifle.
The one she gifted me was stunning. It was also a historical gift and an emotional piece.
Hers was useful. I'd handed in my ranger issue handgun back when I left Texas.
“It’s not a coincidence.” I didn’t say anything else as I loaded the gun with sure fingers. “I’m going to check the cabin. Anywhere you can think of?”
Trav made a feral sound. “The cellar.”
I froze. “You’re fucking kidding me. I thought?—”
“Yeah, well. We changed a few things.”
“Make it count. Take Jude.”
“He’s drunk.” Desperation coated my girl’s twin’s voice.
Not again.
