Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
There were a couple of small buildings in the far fields that offered food and water and protection from the weather. There were cots he’d spent some time on when he got caught out there way after dark.
“I wouldn’t call them dorms.” Noah gave him a smile. “They’re more like basic shelters, but with halfway decent snacks. Hope makes sure those get changed out every now and then. She didn’t like the fact that some of them had cans of beans from the last century. Sorry. I need to grab some towels, and Trev’s place is closer.”
He disappeared down the hall.
“Who is that?” Billy asked.
“One of the owners, though he doesn’t do a ton of actual ranch work. He’s a vet,” Shane explained. “Normally Noah works at his office in town, but it’s nice to have him around.”
“Why isn’t he there now?” Ned asked. “I thought we met everyone.”
It was such an odd thing to say. Why did he care that Noah was hanging around? “Like you said, it takes a lot of people to run a ranch this size. Why don’t you two take a seat and I’ll be right with you. I’m going to grab a water.”
He moved to the kitchen where Beth kept two things eternally available. A pot of coffee was always on, and she had a case of water waiting for anyone who needed it. Shane pulled his cell as he entered the kitchen.
No bars.
Damn it. He was going to call Bay and see when he could get his ass home. Brooke needed some cuddle time and some rub her feet and prove she’s a goddess time.
But he’d heard the newbies on their phones. They’d definitely made at least one call, and Ned had seemed to be actively texting someone.
That was when he heard it.
A loud bang crashed through the air.
Gunshot. There was no way to mistake it. Pistol. Not rifle, and it came from inside the house.
He had to get to Brooke.
He started to push out of the door when Billy stood there, a gun pointed directly at Shane’s head. “Why don’t you sit down and we’ll have a talk. My boss should be here any minute.”
He could guess exactly who was coming. Kale Kingman. And they were all in trouble now.
Chapter Fifteen
Brooke slipped inside the big barn and heard a low groan.
“Baby?” Henry stood beside Noah, holding a small goat in his arms.
Noah was carefully inspecting another goat’s hooves. They were set up with Noah’s veterinary kit, and it looked like someone had been taking notes on the care of hooves, specifically in horses, goats, and cattle.
“It’s Braxton-Hicks.” Nell wore a long skirt and a matching shirt, her brown hair up in a ponytail that was only slightly messy. Her hands were on the small of her back as she turned to her husband. “It’s nothing to worry about. I still have a couple of weeks.”
“I’m not sure. Caleb says the baby is getting big.” Lucy occupied one of the camp chairs they’d set up around the barn. She glanced down at her watch. Nell and Henry weren’t the only ones learning new talents. “I think we should start timing them.”
Oh, she was walking in on some serious drama. “Everything okay? Can I get you anything, Nell?”
She’d been around her sister-in-law enough to know this was a delicate stage of pregnancy. Nell was huge and having trouble moving, and everything could feel like a train was coming to hit her. At least that was how Rachel described it. There was a lot of worry and anxiety surrounding the last couple of weeks.
Nell glanced over and gave her a smile. “I’m fine. Henry’s being a worrywart.”
Lucy held up a hand. “I am, too. Not the fine part. The worrywart part.”
Brooke gave her friend a smile. “I thought you were moving into management at the inn. Why are you suddenly studying midwifery?”
Lucy stood and moved closer to her. “You know everyone in Bliss has a couple of jobs. Like Gemma’s a lawyer but she works most of the time running the sheriff’s office. Which could be a serious conflict of interest anywhere else. Callie works at Trio, but she also teaches part time with the nursery school kids. The Farley brothers have like ten jobs.”
“You do not need another job. You literally have three incomes,” Brooke pointed out. Her guys had good jobs. Ty was an EMT, and Michael worked for the US Marshals.
“I think it’s wonderful that Lucy wants to help out.” Nell’s smile was bright but slightly strained.
“I want to get to know a little of what Ty does,” Lucy admitted. “Let’s face facts. If I’m going to help one of my guys out at his job, it’s going to be Ty. I’m done fighting criminals. Also, everyone’s worried that Naomi isn’t coming back from Dallas. That Dawson guy kind of stole her. I don’t know if she’ll fall for him or just take the big wad of cash he offered and enjoy the rest of her life when the job is done. That means a new nurse, and finding one who’s willing to work with Doc might be harder than we think. With all the pregnancies around the town, I want to be able to pitch in. We had a woman give birth out at the lodge, and I helped Ty. It made an impression on me, and I want to know more.”