Colton Cowboy Jeopardy (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“Sort of.” Jarvis sighed. “There’s a lot going on out here today. I’m sending you some information. If you want me to come in after you read it, I will.”

“You’re making me nervous.”

“Not intentionally.” He was nervous as a cat after bumping into Regina in town. “I’d rather not come to the station. Read what I’m sending and then give me a call about how you want to handle it.”

“What kind of trouble are you in?”

The worst kind, he thought. He was in over his head over a woman, ready to do anything to make sure Mia and Silas came out of this on top. “Read the info. I’ve gotta get back to work.”

Outside, he scratched Duke behind the ears and gave him a carrot before swinging up into the saddle. They headed out to the fence line on the to-do list, passing the various pastures and buildings. Other than the Colton mansion near the front gate and the necessary updates, he didn’t think the ranch had changed much since Herman was burying the box that was probably long gone.

The voices of his siblings echoed in his head, scolding him for taking such a wild detour from his business career. He couldn’t explain his faith in Isaiah’s tales to himself; how was he supposed to explain it to them?

Besides, he expected them to accept and understand him, especially during times like this one, when he didn’t fully understand himself. That was the perk of sharing a womb. Or it should’ve been. Had been in the past. Since losing their parents, the triplets had dealt with life as a team, supporting each other always and reflecting insights back at one another when needed.

He was probably overdue for a sounding board or reflection session. But it would only help if he bothered to listen. They’d tried to corner him on his motives when he’d taken the Triple R job. He’d dumped his original career to become a cowboy, dealing with animals, sunburn, cuts and calluses, and Selina, just for a chance to prove their granddad was

more than an aging, confused drunk.

Maybe Spencer and Bella didn’t remember Isaiah the same way Jarvis did. His siblings had been aggravated when they’d been moved abruptly from Isaiah’s house to Aunt Amelia’s place in town. Deep down, it had been easy to keep Isaiah’s secret when he knew his siblings wouldn’t give any credence to the tales. Arguably, the man had done his best and come up short. Even back then, as a kid, Jarvis had understood that they needed something their grandfather couldn’t give, especially not while grieving his son and daughter-in-law. Not that Amelia had managed much better, but the court had seen her as the stable option.

Admittedly, his case of hero worship for their granddad had only intensified with his work on the ranch. Not so much due to the search as the work itself. Was it weird to hit his thirties before having the epiphany that he was born to be a cowboy?

Weird or not, it was his life. Checking the app for the precise location, he found it was not far from Mia’s current hideout, and it took serious willpower to veer away from the bunkhouse. He would visit later, hopefully after following up with Spencer. Just the thought of seeing her sent a surge of happiness through his veins. He really needed to get this infatuation under control.

Turning, his gaze caught on something out of place closer to the road. Most likely a trick of the light, but he knew every inch of this ranch and, from visiting Mia every day, this section specifically. He walked the horse over to where the dirt had been kicked up and rutted out around the scrubby growth between the ranch and the road.

The herds hadn’t been in this area. Good news was if they’d been pushed up this way, the fence was still intact. He slid down from the saddle and walked Duke forward slowly. Even from several paces away, he could see snapped twigs and the brush pressed back, not unlike the damage he’d seen when Mia had hidden her car near the warming hut.

His blood went cold when he spotted a clear boot print in the soil. The tread was thick cut, more like a military or tactical boot than the gear worn by the crew. He held his foot near the mark and judged it of a similar size. He followed the trail of those distinct footprints where they joined the tire tracks.

It was possible someone had been drunk, driven off the road and had ambled about until they came to their senses. He’d believe it if the trail meandered or had been muddled. It didn’t. One set of boot prints led toward the fence, took a brief stroll along the fence line and then turned back to the tire tracks.

He didn’t like it, not this close to Mia’s hiding place. Not right on top of his run-in with Regina and Mia’s uncomfortable call with her father. Had someone been looking for her? He took pictures with his cell phone of the boot prints and the tire tracks and the damaged vegetation.

Questions and options raced through his mind. Call in his brother, notify his boss, ask Selina to invite Regina over for a chat so he could get his hands around that devious woman’s throat.

He started with the most crucial piece and sent Mia a text message to confirm she was all right. He waited for a reply, and his heart pounded as he pulled himself back into the saddle. Duke sidestepped, sensing his distress. He took a deep breath, willing himself to calm down for the horse. For the next calls he’d have to make to Spencer and Asher.

He was about to blow up Mia’s secret, force her to hide elsewhere, all because Regina was a greedy, dangerous person who would go to any lengths to keep her power, money and status.

Impatient and increasingly unsettled, he called Mia, riding toward the bunkhouse while the call went through.

“Jarvis?”

Her voice hit him like a ray of morning sunlight, and the sharpest of his worry evaporated like dew. “Yes.” He forced a smile onto his face, into his voice. “I was close and wanted to check in.”

“That’s thoughtful. I—I’m good.”

The catch in her voice sent him right back into worry mode. “You’ve had trouble today? Where are you?”

“No trouble,” she replied. He didn’t quite believe her. “We’re at the bunkhouse. I’ve got my hands full with Silas,” she said. “Did you meet with your brother?”

“I spoke with him and he’s going over your information now.” He didn’t mention his side trip to Selina’s house. “I just needed to hear your voice.”

“Oh, good.” She sounded delighted by that admission. “Wait. Did something happen?”

“Not really.” He wanted to tell her everything and press her for what was on her mind, too. But he didn’t have facts and he wouldn’t upset her without reason. “I’ll be at today’s dig site soon. Do you need me to bring anything along with dinner tonight?”