soon. I was helping my pappy brand steer when I was only six. Itâs my God-given right to show my son these things. My right, damn it.â
He was bitter, anxious and a little bit obsessive. Though Fiona thought Nate was a good parent, Jesse saw a darker side to this possessiveness. He wondered how far Nate would go to be with his son.
He tucked that concern into the ever-expanding puzzle surrounding Nicoleâs kidnapping. âI suppose youâve heard about the missing ransom.â
âYou bet I have. Thatâs one of the reasons I moved back to the Circle M as soon as the sheriffâs men gave the okay.â
âHave you been searching?â
He gave a sly nod. âA million dollars would change my life.â
âYouâd have to return the money,â Jesse said.
âFinders, keepers. The Carlisles already have too much damn cash. Dylan wouldnât miss a million. Thatâs chump change to him.â
That wasnât the way the law saw it, but Jesse didnât bother pointing that out. He wanted Nateâs cooperation. âIâd like to take a look around at the Circle M.â
Nateâs jaw tightened. Offering hospitality didnât come naturally to him. âI suppose it would be all right. Just donât bring any of those damn Carlisles with you.â
Fiona rejoined them. âBelinda says thanks but no, thanks. Sheâs a little concerned that Mickey might be getting an ear infection so she wanted him to stay inside.â
âSheâs coddling the boy. Turning him into a sissy.â
âHold on, Nate.â When Fiona touched his arm, he barely kept himself from flinching. âBelinda said sheâd stop by the Circle M with Mickey when her shift is over.â
âFine. Iâll be waiting.â
He turned on his boot heel and went back to his truck. Jesse watched as he drove away. âThatâs one angry man.â
âBut you see what I mean? Heâs crazy about his son.â
Crazy being the relevent word , thought Jesse.
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A FTER N ATEâS SURPRISE VISIT , Fiona wanted to check in with Wentworth and the kids before they did any further searching. If Mickey had noticed his fatherâs truck, he might have questions.
On the phone, Belinda had been adamant about refusing to let Nate take the kids. Sheâd argued with her ex-husband about the weekend visit to her parents, which had actuallybeen a chance for her mom and dad to meet her new boyfriend. He and Belinda had been living together for six months, and marriage was in their future. Another bone of contention with Nate.
Wentworth opened the door, wearing a tinfoil crown.
âNice hat,â Jesse commented as he entered.
âIâm the king,â Wentworth said. âKing of the Wild Prairie. And these are my two ponies.â
Abby and Mickey trotted toward them, bobbing their heads and making whinnying noises.
Fiona chuckled. âWhat wonderful steeds!â
Mickey bared his teeth and snapped at her fingers. Apparently, he was a carnivorous breed of horse.
âHereâs the magic part,â Wentworth said. âI pat them on the head. Poof. They turn into kids.â
Playing the game, Abby immediately dropped the horse act and gave Fiona a hug. âWhere were you, Mommy?â
âJesse and I were out back, looking around.â
âLooking for what?â
Fiona squatted so she was eye level with her daughter. No way would she frighten Abby with stories of kidnapping and ransom. Neither would she lie. Picking her words carefully, she said, âThere might be something hidden on our property. Itâs about as big as that coffee table.â
A frown puckered Abbyâs forehead. âIs it in a secret hiding place?â
Fiona realized that she might be encouraging her daughter to go on a treasure hunt. That was the last thing she wanted. âThis is a grown-up problem. Jesse and I will take care of it.â
Abby
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