Hunter (Stud Ranch 2)

“Ha. Ha,” Mack said, completely straight faced, muscled arms crossed over his chest.

Liam laughed and pointed at Mack. “What, me get on with this tatted up bastard? You off your nut?”

“What are you guys doing over here in the corner hogging the birthday girl?” Reece came up and took Isobel’s hand, then bowed over it and brought it to his lips. “May I have this dance, oh ye fair maiden?”

Isobel put a hand to her chest. “Why I would be honored, sir.”

“I call dibs next,” Liam said as Reece pulled her toward the area in the middle of the bar where people had gathered and started dancing to the music—country, naturally. But like Liam had said earlier today, when in Rome.

She spent the next half hour laughing, dancing, and mingling. She could really get used to this taking-life-as-it-came thing. Why did she spend so much of her life so damn worried all the time?

She took a break from dancing as the twanging notes of steel guitar faded. Her, actual enjoying country music. It was definitely a night of firsts.

She fanned herself as she headed toward the bar where Jeremiah and Nicholas were sitting together. She dropped to an empty barstool beside them.

“It’s hot in here. Do you guys feel hot? God, I’m so hot.”

“Well I could have told you that, love,” Liam said, coming over and handing Isobel a tall mug of beer. She took it gratefully and pressed it against her heated cheek. Then she took a deep swallow. But she only felt more thirsty and hot afterward. She set the mug down on the table, sloshing beer over the sides. She barely noticed though, she was so busy fanning herself again.

She looked around the busy bar. “Where’s Hunter? He said he’d hurry back.”

“He’s not coming back.”

“What?” Isobel swung around. The voice had come from behind her, she was sure, but when she looked, no one was there.

“Isobel?” Nicholas asked. “You okay?”

“Huh?” Isobel turned around and looked at Nicholas and the others who were watching her. She swiped at the sweat on her brow but then blinked. Her hand felt weird. Swollen. Too large for her arm, like she had a giant lobster claw for a hand. What the—

She jerked her hand in front of her face and shook her head.

Okay. It was normal. Not swollen.

“Aw, is poor little Isobel finally going crazy? Cracking like crackers?”

“Who said that?” Isobel turned so fast her head felt like it moved more quickly than the rest of her body.

“Whoa,” Nicholas said, reaching out and steadying her. “Honey, who are you talking to?”

“Hearing voices is how it starts, you know.”

Isobel jerked away from Nicholas, looking all around her, trying to figure out who was talking. “Do you hear that?” she asked the guys who were all staring at her like… like she was crazy.

“Crazy. Just like me, baby girl.”

Isobel spun around and then she screamed.

Because there, dangling from the neck by a rope, was her mother, her toes barely scraping the bar top.

Chapter 24

ISOBEL

Isobel tried to run forward to help her mom down, but her legs wouldn’t work. They were distorted like in one of those carnival mirrors.

“Mom!” she cried out, reaching out. If she could just get to her in time, if she could cut her down before—

“Why didn’t you save me?” her mom gasped, her hands going to the rope around her n