Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Yes, ma’am,” Adam said dryly as Mrs. Hudson ushered Bianca out into the rainy spring day. His low tone followed her, sliding right beneath her skin like the brush of a kiss.
CHAPTER 2
Adam walked into the city council meeting and said hello to several people as he made his way toward the front. City Hall sat in the middle of Mineral Lake, a modest brick building that had seen more than its share of winters and town disputes. The meeting room hummed with low conversation and the scrape of folding chairs being nudged into place. The walls held faded photos of past councils and long-gone mayors, and the American flag stood slightly crooked in the corner. A coffee station was tucked to one side, complete with mismatched mugs and a lingering smell of burnt brew. During spring harvest season, showing up mattered. If nothing else, a council meeting was a chance to get out and discover what was happening in town.
He paused when he reached Hawk Rain, who leaned against a pillar toward the front, his arm in a cast secured by a black sling. The sight hit Adam harder than he expected.
“What the hell happened to you?” Adam asked.
Hawk looked down at the cast. “Steer caught me.”
“How bad?”
Dawn Freeze, Hawk’s fiancé, strolled over with two cups of coffee and handed one to Hawk. “Hey, Adam.” She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. “Did you just ask how bad?”
“I did.” Adam smiled at the petite woman. She was the youngest of the four Lodge-Freeze kids and one of his favorite people. She had long black hair, aquamarine eyes, and more spunk than Adam had ever seen in one person.
“He broke it in two places,” Dawn said.
Hawk stood as tall as Adam, well over six feet, with long black hair, sharp green eyes, and angled Native American features that rarely gave much away. He took a sip of the coffee, then another, and glanced down at Dawn. “Damn steer was cranky.”
“That sucks.” Adam looked around for the rest of Dawn’s family, automatically cataloging who was missing. The crew usually filled half a room when they showed up together. “Where is everybody?”
Dawn winced. “Believe it or not, it’s a rough go right now.”
Adam stiffened, the easy comfort slipping just a notch. “What do you mean?”
“Jake, Sophie, and both little boys have the flu. Like the real flu with fevers,” she said. “Leila is staying with us because she hasn’t caught it yet.”
Hawk nodded. “It’s been fun having her around. She’s a lot of help on the ranch.”
Adam grinned. Jake, the eldest sibling, had a daughter who’d be running the ranches someday if she wanted. The nine-year-old was brilliant and seemed to love having two younger brothers. “I’m glad she isn’t sick.”
Dawn nodded. “And somehow Colton, Melanie, and their baby twins caught it too.” Colton was the youngest brother.
Adam hadn’t even known the flu was going around, much less that the Lodge-Freeze clan had been hit. The place didn’t feel right without Dawn’s older brothers around. “Seriously? How bad?”
“Bad,” Hawk growled. “You don’t want to go anywhere near either house. We keep dropping off soup and goodies, but we’re not going inside.”
Adam shook his head. In a town this size, sickness rippled fast. “Your mom and dad don’t have it, do they?”
“Oh no.” Dawn looked over her shoulder. “In fact, there they are.”
Adam glanced over to see Tom and Loni Freeze walk in, greeting several people as they went. They looked steady, upright, and still strong. Relief loosened the worry in his chest.
“What about Quinn?” Adam asked about the one remaining brother.
“So far, he and Juliet haven’t gotten sick,” Dawn said, “but he’s been really busy lately.”
Yeah, Quinn served as the county sheriff and seemed to be getting more calls every month. Besides having outside jobs, the family ranched thousands of acres. “Well, shit.” Adam exhaled and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Hawk, I can help you out there while Jake and Colt recoup. I didn’t know you needed an extra hand.”
Hawk studied him thoughtfully and drank his coffee, the steam curling briefly near his face. “If you wouldn’t mind. I’ve got several ranch hands, but I’m pretty much working all four ranches myself right now with my crew. Quinn comes out when he can, but the sheriff position is eating up his time. I really could use the help.”
“I’ll be there tomorrow morning. Four a.m.?”
“Absolutely,” Hawk said. “You’re the best.” He shifted his weight, easing his shoulder carefully. “I didn’t even see the agenda. Did you?”
“Oh yeah,” Dawn said. “They want to make a movie in town. Isn’t that awesome?”
Adam frowned along with Hawk, the reaction instinctive.
Hawk’s expression hardened. “I don’t want a bunch of Hollywood people running all over town. It’s spring season, and we have enough going on.”