It turned out to be her area code, but a different number.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Brenner? This is Jake Halsey.”
“I appreciate your phoning me, Mr. Halsey.”
“The name’s Jake. Kathryn told me about the frightening incident with your daughter. I’m glad she’s back home safe with you.”
“Your sister-in-law had everything to do with a quick resolution and reunion. I’m indebted to her.”
“I’m married to a McFarland. They’re the most remarkable people I’ve ever known. To be honest, I’m still in awe of my wife, Maggie.”
Jake had just described Colt’s sentiments about Kathryn. Colt liked him for his frank speaking and gripped the phone tighter. “I’m assuming Kathryn explained I’d like to hire you to track down the children’s mother, but only if you have the time and inclination.”
“I’d do anything for Kathryn.”
Jake Halsey appeared to be a remarkable man, too. “Thank you for your willingness to help. The last thing Natalie would want is to be found, but Allie’s need to know more about her is so great, she went to Salt Lake without telling me. It’s anyone’s guess what happens if or when Natalie is located, but my daughter’s in crisis.”
“I agree,” Jake murmured. “Tell you what. Since you’re anxious to get going on this, Kathryn and I will make arrangements to take Monday off. Maggie will fly us to Bozeman and we’ll brainstorm with you, but only if it’s convenient.”
As Colt’s eyes closed tightly, he could hear Allie coming down the hall. His pulse shouldn’t be racing at the thought of Kathryn coming with Jake. “It’s an ideal time. Your wife’s a pilot?”
“She’s a brilliant attorney, too, and has access to resources we’ll need.” The sisters were superwomen. “Between the four of us, we’ll come up with a game plan.”
“Only after we settle on a fee first.”
“I wouldn’t take your money. Maggie and I want to help.”
“What about your son?”
“My stepmother will tend him while we’re gone.”
When you dealt with the McFarland family, every impediment was removed. “You have no idea how grateful I am. What time do you think you’ll fly in? I’ll meet your plane.”
“Eight-thirty? It’ll give us the better part of the day to strategize before we have to head back.”
“Perfect.” The kids would already have left for school.
“We’ll see you on Monday then. If it looks like bad weather will delay our flight, Kathryn will keep you informed. I’m going to ask her to stay on in Bozeman for a few days to do some legwork for me. She has uncanny instincts. Any clue she picks up could be crucial to the case.”
He ground his teeth unconsciously. The twins would be ecstatic. As for himself … “I look forward to meeting you, Jake.”
“The feeling’s mutual, Mr. Brenner.”
“Call me Colt. See you Monday morning.”
He hung up. Judging by all the noisy excitement coming from his kids in the other room, the Utes had won the game. But it couldn’t compare to the conflicted emotions building inside Colt. To see her another time was only asking for trouble, the kind he couldn’t afford.
Hell. He already felt like he did the time he’d picked the wrong bull at the Calgary Stampede. The legendary Genghis Kahn had taken him for the ride of his life. The rush had been beyond exhilarating until he found himself hurtling through space. When he woke up in the hospital, he realized a worse concussion would have cost him his life. It had taught him an important lesson.
Some rides you knew in advance to stay away from—like a ride with Kathryn McFarland—because you knew it couldn’t last. Another world champion gold buckle was more attainable.
IT WASN’T UNTIL Sunday morning after Kathryn had gotten off the phone with Jake that she remembered Monday was Colt’s birthday. She knew his children had to be planning something special for him. Kathryn didn’t want to arrive at the ranch empty-handed, yet the wrong gift from her could send out the wrong signal to the elusive rancher.
Since the birth of the twins, he’d been guarding his space jealously against foolish, starry-eyed females. There had to have been an endless line of them over the years, but none had managed to break through the walls of defense he’d set up around his heart.
Maybe she could find something on the internet to do with the rodeo that would suggest a gift idea he wouldn’t reject the moment she was out of sight. Ever since he’d told her about the children’s mother stealing his gold buckle, she hadn’t been able to get it off her mind.
After a half hour of searching, she found a sports memorabilia shop at one of the hotels in Las Vegas. They were auctioning off an officially authenticated, framed poster celebrating thirty-five years of world champion bull riding from the executive’s private collection.
Represented were the sketches of four champions in their cowboy hats with their signatures to the side. To her delight she saw a younger Colt’s likeness among the grouping, complete with his bold handwriting. It sent her heartbeat skittering off the charts. Beneath the four sketches was an enlarged picture of the gold buckle prize.
This twenty-four-by-thirty-two-inch poster was an absolute treasure.
Rather than go through the online bidding, she made several phone calls until she reached customer service and asked to speak to the manager. After offering him a price he couldn’t refuse, he told her the framed poster was hers. She made the transaction with her credit card and told him she’d be in later to claim it.
After she’d clicked off, she called the airport and chartered a plane to Las Vegas. A few hours later, she flew in and picked up her precious purchase. The artist hadn’t only caught Colt’s chiseled profile, he’d captured his commanding presence and aura of focused energy requisite of a true champion.
While there, she made more enquiries about what other memorabilia she might find on Colt. The manager directed her to a poster shop along the Strip where she found four priceless posters of Colt, all the same picture.
Except for his chaps, he wore black from his Stetson to his boots. He’d been caught in motion on a bull during a championship ride. Poetry in motion, in her opinion. It was a spectacular photo.
Kathryn bought all four. One for each twin, one for Noreen and Ed, and one for herself. She would hang it on the library wall next to the bookcase that housed her Louis L’Amour collection.
Almost sick to her stomach with excitement, she flew back to Salt Lake with her secret stash, then drove over to her parents’ home to have dinner. While they ate she told them her plans for the next few days. They ended up talking about Whitney’s family, who were still waiting to hear something definitive from the police.
Kathryn left their house for the condo feeling guilty that so much pain for the
