Kendra’s own check of the yard had located Joel’s truck parked up near the barns. But Britt’s SUV was gone, so they must’ve all gone to the afternoon matinee Joel had suggested. Colton’s car was nowhere to be seen. Relief and disappointment registered equally. Sh
e refused to dwell on the emotions and opened her mouth to accept Michael’s offer so she wouldn’t be completely alone on the ranch. Robert had still not been located.
Movement in the Quarter Horse barn caught her attention and she saw a tall figure cross the aisle to the office. Joel must’ve decided to stay behind. Michael had been great, but with her big brother nearby for protection, she could take some much needed time to herself to prepare for facing Colton later. So much had happened between them in the past twenty-four hours.
She turned back to Michael. “Thanks, but Joel’s here. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re sure?”
Kendra nodded and offered the best smile she could.
“Okay.” He blew out a breath. “I guess this is where I say goodbye. Oh, and don’t forget to let me know how things go with Kevin.”
Back at the office, he had given her a slip of paper with the phone number for his friend, Kevin Serling, a family court lawyer in New York who would handle the details of making Kendra’s legal guardianship of Noah official. “I will.”
He leaned over and gave her a brief hug. “Call me if you need anything, and don’t be a stranger once you’re settled back in the big city.”
“I’ll keep in touch,” she promised past the small lump in her throat. “I appreciate all you’ve done to help me.”
“It wasn’t that much.”
“It was more than enough.” Her sadness eased and her smile widened. Despite the turmoil with Colton, a weight suddenly lifted from her shoulders. “We did it. And now that I’ve met all the provisions of the Will, it’s finally over.”
Chapter Nineteen
Colton noted the deserted ranch yard with relief. Joel and Britt had taken the boys to a matinee movie, and Kendra was most likely with her lawyer, securing her money.
A bitter taste in his mouth made him wish for a sugar cube. Last thing he wanted to do right now was face anyone—most especially his new wife.
Wife. Not a term he ever expected to use in connection to himself.
He twisted the ring on his finger, pulled it half way off, up to his knuckle, then stared at it for a long, indecisive moment. In the end, he couldn’t quite bring himself to remove the plain gold band.
Disgusted with himself, he stepped from the car and slammed the door before heading straight inside to change. He wanted out of these wedding clothes. Should’ve come home right away, but instead, found himself driving the roads that led to the care facility where his father resided. His mother had no clue what he’d done today; his father now knew the whole story.
At one point, he thought he’d seen a flicker of awareness in his father’s green eyes—right when he admitted his foolish feelings for the woman he’d married. An answering flare in his chest brought the stunning realization that he craved his father’s blessing. Kendra didn’t want him, but he needed approval from the man who’d lost everything because of his selfish act.
Not that he’d ever get it. The spark of life in his father’s eyes was more likely from a shift of dappled sunshine through the leaves of the Aspen tree they sat beneath.
Colton fisted his hands and strode through the back door into the kitchen. He paused when he saw one of the dining table chairs overturned, blocking the doorway to the hall. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. With a frown, he picked up the chair and set it straight. Complete silence reigned in the house. As it should, with everyone gone.
He shook off his anxiety and started for his room. A glance into the living room stopped him dead in his tracks. The front door hung open about three inches. His unease doubled on his way across the room to close it. A muted crunch beneath his foot brought him up short. Crushed into the carpet was a gold chain. He bent to scoop it up, recognizing the necklace and diamond pendant Kendra had worn that night at Beniton’s.
In the same instant he realized the chain had been broken, another glitter caught his eye on the floor. His heart gave a sickening lurch when he picked up the wedding ring he’d given her only a couple hours earlier. Instant fear overshadowed all else.
“Kendra?”
More silence. He called again and hurried to check her room, the bathroom and then rushed back into the living room. On his way through the kitchen he grabbed the phone and dialed Joel’s cell while checking Noah’s room and his own.
No Kendra.
Joel’s cell went to voicemail and Colton swore under his breath before leaving a message to verify if Kendra had returned home in time to accompany them to the movie.
Back in the kitchen, he frantically flipped through the phone book to locate the lawyer’s number. The receptionist politely informed him Mr. Kabara was out and refused to give a cell number, no matter how much he argued. He was just about to hang up on her when suddenly a stern male voice stated, “This is Michael Kabara, may I help you?”
“Is Kendra with you?”
“Colton?” The man’s voice changed from authoritative to confused.