“You’ve done everything you could.”
Pat sighed. “It doesn’t make me feel any better. I want to ask you something. What did you have planned for the next thirty years?”
“Is that a trick question?”
“I wish it were,” Pat said quietly. “I never thought I’d leave the ranch, but it’s time I joined Ida at the village. I miss her too much to let another month go by without being with her.”
Brett glanced across the cab. “I know you’ve been thinking about moving into Bozeman, but I didn’t realize you wanted to do it so soon.”
“I should have told you before now, but I had to be sure it was the right thing to do. So, what do you think?”
“About moving into the retirement village?”
“No. About running the ranch on your own. You already do most of the work. If you have any questions, you could give me a call or come and see me.”
Brett gripped the steering wheel. “I don’t know what to say. Are you sure you don’t want to sell the ranch? The money would give you and Ida the kind of life you’ve never had.”
“We don’t need fancy cars and expensive clothes. All we need is each other. Besides, the ranch has been in my family for three generations. I’m not selling it to a stranger.”
“What if it weren’t a stranger?”
Pat frowned. “Our neighbors would probably be interested, but I’ve never wanted to add our ranch to someone else’s.”
“I didn’t mean our neighbors. I meant me. I can’t afford to buy the ranch outright, but we could work out some kind of payment plan.”
“Owning a ranch is a big commitment.”
Brett looked at the man who was closer to him than his own father. “I’m ready, Pat.”
“I know you are. But I don’t want to sell.”
“Will you let me know if you change your mind?”
“Of course I will.” Pat looked at his hands. “I don’t know what I’ll do in Bozeman, but I’ll find something to keep me busy.”
The phone in Brett’s truck rang. He glanced at Pat before answering the call. “Brett Forster.”
“It’s Nathan. How far away are you from the ranch?”
“Ten minutes. Why?”
“Dave was sent an email. It included photos of his family. Someone’s threatening to hurt his mom and brothers if they don’t pay his father’s gambling debts.”
“Have you called the police?”
“Already done. They’re about fifteen minutes away. The police are sending a patrol car to Dave’s family’s home, too. Mary-Beth arrived half an hour ago. She’s with us in the main homestead.”
“Tell Mrs. Bennett to activate the security system that Fletcher Security installed. As long as everyone stays inside the house, you won’t trigger the alarm. Has anyone called Thomas’ family and Hannah and her sister? They’re coming out to the ranch for lunch.”
“Hang on. I’ll check.”
Brett could hear Nathan asking Mrs. Bennett if she’d contacted them.
“Thomas’ family have just arrived at the ranch. She couldn’t get hold of Hannah,” Nathan said. “She isn’t answering her home number or cell phone. Do you want me to let the police know?”
“Tell them she was supposed to come out to the ranch. She wouldn’t have left Bozeman yet.” Brett didn’t think anyone would harm Hannah, but he couldn’t risk her getting hurt. “Let me know if anything else happens.”
“Okay. I’ll see you when you get here.”
