He tensed. “I’m the wrong person to ask that question.” He finally turned his green-eyed gaze on her. “I’m sure you or anyone in Destiny knew more about John Rawlins than I did. I haven’t seen the man since I was four.”
Although Holt Rawlins worked hard to hide it, she caught a flash of sadness in his eyes. And as much as she tried to fight it, his vulnerability got to her. “But John was your father.”
“Says you,” he said, then guided the horse through a group of trees. “Maybe it would be safer if we concentrated on the task at hand, which seems to be protecting this kid you’re so worried about.” Even through his gruffness, there was also an undertone of softness in his voice.
“All children need protecting,” she said.
“Then, let’s find him,” he said. “Since he’s run off from the cave do you have any idea where he’d go?”
“My biggest fear is that he’s holed up in one of the abandoned mines.” She pointed upward toward the foothills.
Holt knew this was a mistake. He should have let the sheriff handle the search for the boy, and then he wouldn’t have to deal with Ms. Keenan.
He knew her type. She was out to save the world. Everyone was her friend, and everyone liked her. What wasn’t to like? She was beautiful. With her engaging smile that drew you in, it was impossible not to react to her. Those tawny-brown eyes of hers seemed to look too deep…too far inside to see what you didn’t want anyone to see.
Yes, he needed to stay far away from the woman. Too bad he hadn’t taken his own advice. This morning he’d been up early, waiting and willing to do her bidding.
Holt made a clicking sound with his tongue and the gelding picked up the pace. The sooner they found the kid, the sooner the tempting Leah Keenan would be off his land and out of his life.
About thirty minutes later they reached their destination. Holt followed Leah’s lead as she climbed off her mount and tied the bay mare to the tree branch. “The Sunny Days Mine is up there.”
Armed with flashlights, she started up the rocky grade with Holt close behind her. To his surprise, she managed to climb with ease. They reached the landing, then another twenty feet they located the mine. The entrance was boarded up and a Keep Out sign nailed across the front. A closer look showed that the barricade had been loosened, making entry easier.
“This is a popular place for teenagers,” Leah explained. “It’s kind of a rite of passage. They come here to drink and…be with their girlfriends.”
Holt pushed back his hat, and rubbed his hand over his unshaven jaw. “This gives Lover’s Lane a whole different meaning,” he said.
“And it’s a whole bunch more dangerous.”
He pulled off two loose boards to allow them better access. With flashlights on they ducked into the dark mine. The temperature was a good ten degrees cooler inside and a musty smell assaulted their noses.
Holt directed his light toward the floor, showing dusty evidence of past parties.
“Typical teenagers, they never pick up after themselves,” he said.
“We should report this to the sheriff so he can notify the owner to seal the entrance.”
“Do you really think that will keep out curious kids?”
Leah ignored Holt’s sarcasm. While he examined the main room, she started off toward one of the tunnels, praying she wouldn’t find any traces of the boy living here. She ducked through the entry to the tunnel framed by huge wooden support beams. There were old mining tools and stacks of rotten lumber. Just as she walked around the beams, a rat scurried across her path. She gasped and jumped backward tripping over the rotting wood. Unable to regain her balance, she hit the dirt floor as the stack began shifting.
Dust stirred the air and Holt rushed to her side. He swept her up in his arms and carried her out into the main room. Setting her down against the entrance, his large body shielded her from any falling debris. Finally silence filled the air, but he didn’t release her. She was trembling, feeling Holt’s breath against her ear, his large body against hers.
He looked down at her. “Are you all right?”
She managed to nod.
“Then let’s get the hell out of here.” He took her hand and drew her outside.
Once in the bright sunlight, he held her at arm’s length and did a closer examination. “Do you realize what could have happened to you?”
She was still trembling. “Yes, but I’m okay. Thank you.”
That seemed to make him angry. “I don’t want your thanks. You could have been seriously hurt or…or…” He turned away, jerked his hat off and combed his hand through his hair. “Dammit, Leah.”
Now she was angry with herself. “I know. I shouldn’t have gone into the tunnel. I guess I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to find the boy.”
“Are you this reckless as a photographer?”
He didn’t know the half of it. “They hire me to do my job,” she insisted. She started down the slope when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. They stood inches apart.
“I’m not taking another step until you promise me not to do anything that crazy again.”
The last thing she wanted to do was kowtow to this man, but after he’d rescued her, she owed him one. “Okay, but you need to accept that I mean to find that boy.” She glanced up at the sky as the sun suddenly was shadowed by threatening clouds. “We should hurry because we’re running out of time.” She started down to the horses.
“We’re finished for today.”
She stopped to argue, but decided it wasn’t worth it. “Then I’ll go myself.”
He gave her an incredulous look. “After what happened in the mine shaft, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
Twenty minutes later they rode back to the ranch, but not before the sky opened up and soaked them before they got into the barn.
The rain pounded against the roof as Leah took Daisy to her stall and began removing her tack. She placed the mare’s saddle on the railing, then started wiping down the animal. Once her horse was settled, Leah went to put the saddle away.
“Let me get that,” Holt said as he came up behind her.
“I can manage.” She glanced at him. He removed his hat and for the first time she got a good look at his handsome face. His sandy-colored hair was wavy and fell against his forehead, and his startling green eyes were framed by long dark lashes. “I…I know where everything goes.”
“As do I.” He took the saddle from her and continued down the aisle. She went back for the bridle and blanket and hurried to catch up with him in the tack room.
Leah hung it on the wall. “Well…I guess that’s it.” She turned around to discover Holt watching her. The direction of his heated
