Kitabı oku: «Holiday Hideout», sayfa 3

“The apartment is lovely. Everything is. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you letting me stay here.”

A knock on the door sounded. Fiona excused herself and walked over to open it.

“Hi, Aunt Fiona.” Abby heard Tiffany’s high-pitched little girl voice.

“Hey, there, darling. Hi, Mom.”

Abby followed, watching as Fiona helped the little girl off with her coat. Mrs. McIvers said, “We decided to take a walk in the snow and stop in to check on you.”

“We’re fine. I was just showing Abby around the house.”

Fiona’s mother held up a bulging bag. “Jesse went into town to stock up on some groceries and ran into Mrs. Paula. He dropped these off and said he gave him this for us to share.”

Fiona laughed. “Fruit or veggies this time?”

“A little of both, I think.”

Fiona took the bag while her mother hung her coat on the rack next to the door. “That’s so kind of her.” She looked at Abby. “Paula is in Mom’s Bible study at church. She owns the fresh market in town and is always providing us with fresh fruit and vegetables.”

“Nice.” Abby’s heart did something strange at that moment. And she realized what it was. A longing to belong to something like this. A community. A group of people who cared about one another, took care of each other—shared something as simple as a bag of fruit.

She loved her patients and the babies she delivered, but in the end, they were in and out of her life after about a year. She had a few “repeat customers,” and that was nice, but … bottom line, Abby wanted more.

She had few friends because of her work schedule and because she’d quit going to church after Keira died. In the face of this family’s love and caring for one another, her own loneliness was like a slap in the face.

Swallowing hard, Abby pushed aside the lump in her throat and decided she’d have to postpone the pity party. Fiona walked over to the sink and placed the food in it. She looked at her mother and little Tiffany. “You guys want to help me cut up and cook some fresh veggies?”

“I do!” Tiffany cried.

Fiona said, “Great. You’re in charge of putting them in the steamer after I cut them. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Abby asked Fiona, “Do you have a computer I could use? I don’t need the internet. I just need to look at something on a flash drive.”

Fiona nodded. “Sure. You can use my laptop. We have wireless internet throughout the house if you want to check your email.”

“No,” Abby said quickly. “That’s okay.”

Not only was she afraid to use her cell phone, but she was afraid her brother-in-law—or one of his friends—might be monitoring her email account. He would be able to tell when she logged on and then trace her back to Fiona’s. And that couldn’t happen. Unless he’d already followed her, knew she was there and her caution was useless. The attack on her said that might just be the case.

Then again, maybe the person who attacked her was just some random trespasser and she’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time. On a ranch, in the mountains, several miles from the nearest town.

Right.

Possible? Maybe. Did she believe it? Not really.

Abby flashed back to the train station. Had she been hallucinating when she thought she’d seen Reese’s face? Or had he truly been there?

There was no way to know at this point and she sure wasn’t going to ask Deputy Sheriff Cal McIvers to find out for her.

Fiona emerged from a bedroom down the hall and gave Abby the laptop. She said, “You’re welcome to stay up here. While I have some good help—” she looked at Tiffany and grinned “—I’m going to start working on supper.”

Abby placed the laptop on the kitchen table.

Laughing, Fiona and Tiffany got to work while Abby stared out the window. Had she seen something? A glint from the sun off something metal? She waited to see if it would happen again. For several minutes, she listened to the others in the background and kept her eyes on the area where she’d seen the flash.

When nothing else happened, she shivered.

If it was Reese out there, she felt sure he would make another move soon.

She would just have to sleep with both eyes open and pray she could get away before he could fulfill his terrifying threat.

In the bunkhouse living area, Cal looked at the men in his employ and gave a silent thanks for their expertise and loyalty to his family. It was one of the leading reasons he’d hired them.

“I don’t know who that guy was, but we need to make sure he doesn’t come back. Who’s willing to lose a little sleep at night? Maybe split the night shift? I’ll pay you overtime, of course.”

Donny nodded. “I’m in.” Donny’s family lived on the edge of Cal’s property. “If he’s causing trouble on your land, he might bring it over onto mine.”

Mike shifted. “If he’s out there, I’ll spot him.” Mike had been a homeless man his father had caught sleeping in the barn sixteen years ago. He’d offered him a job and a bed in the bunkhouse. Mike had been there ever since. And he’d adopted the McIvers family as his own.

Jesse crossed his arms across his ample waist and gave a nod. “We’ll work out a schedule and have the ranch covered as much as possible. But with this many acres, you know we won’t be able to be everywhere all the time.”

Zane said nothing, but his eyes and ears didn’t miss a detail, Cal knew.

Cal looked at Jesse. “I know. Like you said, we’ll do what we can. I’ll ask Eli if he’ll let Joel and a couple of the other deputies patrol the roads bordering the ranch a little more heavily.” Sheriff Eli Brody, a good sheriff and a great friend. He’d be willing to help as much as he could. Cal slapped his thighs. “Anything else?”

“Nope.” Zane stood and jammed his hat onto his head. “I’m going to check out the area along the fence that was cut.” He looked at Jesse. “Y’all let me know what the schedule is. I’ll do whatever’s needed.”

Jesse nodded and Cal cleared his throat. Grateful didn’t begin to describe how he felt about these men.

“I’m going to check on the girls.”

By girls, he really meant Abby, he supposed, as he found himself outside her apartment door. He wiped his boots on the mat and knocked. When he didn’t get an answer, he turned the knob. Unlocked.

He frowned and made a mental note to be sure to advise her to keep the door locked. Usually they didn’t worry about that out here in the middle of almost nowhere, but after the incident with Abby being attacked, he’d feel better knowing she was locking the doors.

Cracking the door, he called, “Abby? You in here?”

No answer.

Pushing the door open a little farther, he scanned the inside are of the small apartment and confirmed Abby wasn’t there. His gaze landed on her cell phone on the end table. The battery lay on top of it. The pile of cash next to the phone made his brows lift and his brain start clicking with various reasons she’d have that kind of money.

He stopped and stood there for about three seconds before making a decision. Picking up the battery, he slid it into the phone and powered up the device.

Was she having trouble with the phone?

The welcome screen came up, then her home screen.

Seemed to be working fine.

Then again, what if that guy at the bus station was after her? The one she’d asked for protection from. Cal hesitated. Took a deep breath.

Then made sure the GPS tracking option was turned off. Not that the call couldn’t be traced, but it would be a little harder and take a little longer for someone to get a location without the GPS feature.

Quickly, he scrolled through her contacts feeling only slightly guilty for doing so. But they’d—he’d—brought a stranger home and she was now living in his sister’s house. No one would blame him for the precaution.

You could just ask her.

No, he’d already read her body language. She was hiding something. His mind went to Fiona and the baby she carried. She and Joseph trusted his judgment and were willing to open their home to Abby because Cal asked them to.

He continued to scroll.

Mom.

So she did have someone who might be worried about her.

Before he could consider the consequences of his actions, he dialed the number.

It rang twice.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is this Abby Harris’s mother?”

“Harris? No. I know an Abigail O’Sullivan, though, and this is her cell phone number. Who are you and why are you calling from her phone?” The starched tone pushed his wary button.

“I’m a friend of Abby’s.” O’Sullivan? So, she’d used a fake name. “She’s been very sick. I thought someone might have missed her by now.”

Silence. Then the woman said, “She’s on vacation. At least that’s what her note said. As for being sick, I’m sure she can take care of herself. Now, if that’s all, I have an appointment in twenty minutes.”

Incredulous at the coldhearted response, Cal asked, “Ma’am, don’t you want to know where your daughter is?”

A pause. “I no longer have any daughters thanks to Abigail. So no, I’m not interested in her whereabouts.”

Click.

Cal shivered and it wasn’t because the room was cold. Whew. That woman sounded like she could spit icicles. If that was Abby’s mother, Abby definitely had his sympathies.

He went back to the contacts. A few names and numbers that meant nothing to him.

Thinking about the revealing conversation with Abby’s mother made him frown. He removed the battery once again and replaced the phone just like he’d found it.

Abby O’Sullivan.

Estranged from her family, followed and attacked by an unknown assailant. His eyes landed on the end table again. And a large amount of cash.

Just who had he brought into his family’s home?

FIVE

Abby scrolled through the medical pages in front of her. After her sister’s and niece’s deaths, she’d thrown herself into work. Staying late, entering information usually left to the administrative staff. Doing anything to keep from going home to be alone.

The other doctors had thought she was crazy. They’d seen her fatigue and grief. Offered unwanted and unhelpful advice about taking time off. They didn’t understand work was the only thing keeping her sane.

Long days of seeing patients and staying late at the office morphed into endless nights of crying and wondering what she could have done to save Keira and the baby.

Nothing, she reminded herself forcefully. Nothing. It wasn’t her fault. She’d yet to see an autopsy report, didn’t know if she’d be able to handle reading it when it came out. And so the guilt remained.

You did nothing wrong, she argued with herself.

“Yeah, well, tell that to Reese,” she muttered out loud.

“Talking to yourself?” Cal asked.

Abby shrieked and spun, hand over the heart that threatened to rupture in her chest. “Oh, my, you scared me to death.”

The dimple in his left cheek appeared, and she stared at it. At him. Mesmerized by his presence. A strong compassionate man with eyes that made her melt and arms that could offer strength if she wanted to lean into them. Oh, she wanted to, she just wouldn’t.

Couldn’t.

He said, “I just came over to see if you were feeling any better.”

“Much, thanks.” She admired his handsome face. A face that said he was glad to see her. “Did you find anything about the man who tried to hurt me?”

His dimpled smile disappeared into a frown. “No. Sorry. He got away pretty fast.” He rubbed his chin and looked thoughtful. “I don’t think this was random, Abby. I think this guy has scoped the property, that he’s been watching things going on around here.”

Abby gulped. “Why do you say that?”

“Because he had it all planned out. He knew which house you were staying in and where to find you. He had the chloroform ready and he had his escape route down. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment attack.”

Fear speared her. Cal was right. It sounded like something Reese could do. Just not something he would do. Disbelief warred within her. But she knew Reese was an avid outdoorsman and he would have the equipment needed to stay out in the freezing weather. To watch, wait and make his move. She shivered and pressed a hand to her stomach that suddenly hurt.

And she couldn’t think of anyone else she’d made mad enough to want to hurt her.

“So what do I do?” She stood and started to pace. “I have to leave. I can’t let him come back here. If he does, he might decide to get really ugly and hurt anyone who crosses his path.”

Hysteria was welling up and threatening to burst through.

Then she felt his hands on her shoulders, pulling her to him. She froze and then let herself lean on him, taking in his scent, a mixture of outdoors and spicy cologne.

For a moment, she allowed herself to feel safe. When she lifted her eyes to his, she gulped to find her lips only a fraction from his.

Her heart thudded, her stomach flipped.

And then he gently set her from him and looked over her shoulder toward the computer. “What are you working on?”

Abby licked her lips, surprised at the disappointment racing through her. She’d wanted him to kiss her.

Focusing on his question, she seriously thought about dumping the whole mess on him. And then forced herself to keep those words buried deep. He was a cop. And she wasn’t fond of cops right now. Even one she wanted to kiss. She liked Cal, trusted him to keep her safe. For now. But if he found out she was running from a cop … where would his loyalties fall, then?

Instead of spilling her troubles, she said, “I was going on vacation, but I’m not one to leave work completely behind. I’m just working on some files that need updating.”

She clicked the screen closed, her tongue burning with the lie. But it wasn’t completely a lie. They were files from work and some of them did need updating. But for some reason, she didn’t want to tell him exactly what she did for a living. That information might lead him to ask more questions, to dig deeper. And she wasn’t ready to venture into that territory right now.

“Well, don’t let me interrupt.” His clean scent invaded her senses once again as he leaned in closer.

Looking up at him, she felt dwarfed by his towering height. As though sensing her feelings, he backed up a step.

“I have an extra laptop at home you can use if you need one throughout the day.”

His generous offer surprised her. “That would be wonderful.” She paused and bit her lip.

“What?” he asked reaching out his forefinger to release her bottom lip from her teeth.

The zing up her spine held her motionless for a moment. Her lip burned from his touch. Swallowing, she asked, “Why are you doing this?”

“Why not?”

Abby gave a small laugh. “Come on, Cal, in this day and age, people just don’t help each other anymore. Not like this. Taking in a sick woman, letting me stay here, offering the use of a spare computer.” She frowned, truly puzzled. “How do you know I won’t rob you blind? Or worse?”

Those cinnamon-colored eyes crinkled at the corners. “I don’t, which is why I’m keeping an eye on you.” The smile softened his words, but she could tell he was serious, too.

And he should be, but Abby didn’t know whether to laugh or be mad. “So why not take me to the nearest hotel and be done with me?”

He took his sweet time answering as he studied her. She shifted, uncomfortable with his probing stare. Then he smiled again, this time causing that dimple to wink at her. “Look, you were in bad shape and needed help. God seems to lead Mom to those people—or those people to Mom, however you want to look at it.” Pain took over the smile in his eyes. Grief flashed and she wondered at it. But instead of explaining his sorrow, he said, “The way I figure it, if God wants you here, who am I to turn you away?”

“God?” She sighed. “What’s He got to do with anything?”

Cal’s brows tightened over the bridge of his nose. “You don’t believe in God?”

“Oh, I believe in Him. I just don’t know that I trust Him anymore.” She couldn’t keep the bitter words from spewing out. But she regretted them the moment they hit his ears. “I’m sorry. I guess God and I have some unresolved issues.”

“Sounds like it.”

In his eyes, she saw compassion, a warmth that floored her. No judgment, just concern. Who was this man? What made him tick? Why did she thrill at his nearness even as she threw up the barriers to keep him at arm’s length?

Mainly because he was a cop, yes. But also because she felt almost guilty being attracted to him, which made no sense.

But it didn’t matter.

The bottom line was that she couldn’t confide in him. Cops protected each other—even when one of their own was in the wrong. At least that had been her experience. Realistically, she knew that not all cops were like the ones she’d had to deal with, but how could you tell the difference?

And she didn’t like learning things the hard way. With a sigh, she rose and walked to the window to stare out at the snow. “How many inches are you supposed to get?”

“Just a couple today. More later.” He let her distract him from the intense conversation, but his eyes said they’d revisit it at a later time. “But it’s supposed to freeze tonight. So until it warms up later in the afternoon, we’ll be kind of stuck in the morning.”

She whirled. “What about Fiona? What if the baby decides to come early?” Panic clawed at her throat in spite of Fiona’s earlier reassurances.

“Hey.” His hands came up to rest on her shoulders. “It’s okay. We’ll get her to the hospital one way or another. She’ll be fine.” He shrugged. “Or if she has to have the baby here, Mom’s all prepared for that happening.”

“But you just said we’d be stuck. Exactly how would she get to the hospital?” She ignored the comment about Fiona having the baby here. That just couldn’t be an option.

“Stuck as in not taking any unnecessary chances. If Fiona needs to get to the hospital, we’ll get her there. As to the how–” he shrugged “—we’ll figure something out.”

Abby swallowed hard. No, no, no. That wasn’t good enough. She needed him to have a plan, to be ready to put it into action if the baby came early.

But he was saying, “Besides, Mom was a nurse. She can deliver the baby if push comes to shove.” He paused, then grinned as his words registered. “Pun intended.”

Abby groaned. Not at the pun, but at the thought of Fiona having a home birth.

“Seriously, Fiona will be fine.”

His calm confidence caused the overwhelming dread to subside. “Okay, if you say so.”

“Why the panic?”

She swallowed, the weight of his hands burning into her shoulders. And feeling right. Good. “That obvious, huh?”

He nodded.

Abby shuddered. “My sister died in childbirth, a home birth,” she whispered. “She refused to go to a hospital. When she was seventeen, she was in a horrible car wreck and spent months in the hospital. She’s had a crazy fear of them ever since. And she … died. In childbirth. While all I could do was stand there and watch.”

A low sound came from him and then his arms were around her pulling her close into his strong embrace. She inhaled the scent that she’d decided belonged exclusively to him and let him offer her comfort. Tried to soak in the peace that exuded from him.

For a moment neither of them moved. Then Abby felt the guilt stab her for taking comfort from Cal when her sister was dead.

Who was holding Reese? Who was offering him solace?

She pulled away and from the corner of her eye caught sight of a flash. She blinked and looked out the window again.

Another flash. Her stomach twisted. “Did you see that?”

Cal looked. “What?”

“There was a flash of something, like the sun reflecting off a metal object. I’ve noticed it a couple of times today.”

He followed her gaze and frowned. “I didn’t see anything. You sure?”

She shrugged. “It’s probably nothing.”

Then they both saw it and Cal jerked her away from the window. Then reached over and closed the blinds.

“What is it?” she asked, alarm spreading through her at his obvious concern.

“I may be overreacting, but I think after your attack, you need to stay away from windows.”

“Why?”

“Because until I discover differently, I want you to assume the man who came after you will be back.”

Abby gulped as Cal pulled his cell phone from his pocket and pressed a speed dial number. From off to the side, phone pressed to his ear, he used a finger to lift one of the blinds. His eyes intense, he stared out the window. “Zane, check the north pasture up by the ridge where the trees are. See if you find anything—and be careful. I think someone was up there watching the house—either with binoculars or a high-powered rifle scope.”

The next morning, when he wanted to be sitting in church worshipping, Cal stared down at the pile of fresh snow covering the tracks that led from trees shading the area in the north pasture. He could see no evidence of it now, but Zane had reported that by the time he got here yesterday, horse tracks had led from the area.

Cal’s stomach tightened as he looked toward Fiona’s house. Squatting, he had a perfect view of the kitchen window. With the blinds open and a pair of binoculars, he’d have no trouble seeing straight inside.

Foreboding filled him. He had a feeling whoever had been up here watching had more on his mind than spying.

Just like before, he was scoping, watching, learning the routine.

Cal rubbed his jaw as he considered how to best defend his family, his land—and Abby.

He’d had his fair share of trouble in the past. He’d arrested would-be horse thieves once. Run off a few harmless vagrants looking for a place to set up camp for a while. But for the most part, his ranch was a peaceful place.

And he intended to keep it that way.

After Abby’s incident yesterday, Cal had called in to request some time off. Fortunately, the sheriff’s department was fully staffed right now and taking this personal time wouldn’t be a hardship on the other deputies who would cover his shift.

Eli Brody, sheriff of Rose Mountain and a good friend to Cal and his family, promised to keep an eye out for someone who didn’t fit in. Although he’d given a snort of disgust and said, “Of course you know how it is this time of year. So many strangers in town I might not spot the guy you’re after.”

“I know. He might not even be in town. He could be camping out somewhere on my property and I’d never know it unless I stumbled over him by accident. Three-thousand acres is a lot of ground to cover, but I’ve got the guys out there, watching. It’s all we can do right now.”

“Well, just be careful. Let me know if you need any backup.”

“Will do.”

Armed with the knowledge that Eli was keeping his eyes open in town, Cal hung up only to have his phone buzz once more.

Zane.

“What is it?”

“The horses are out of the fence.” His foreman’s tight voice cut into Cal’s musing over who had been on his property.

“How?” he asked even as he swung back into Snickers’s saddle.

“I was on my way up to check on that mare that’s ready to foal and found the fence cut—again—and the horses scattering.”

A cold feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Some of those horses didn’t belong to him. He boarded some of those animals for the extra income. If any of them got hurt or lost … He shuddered to think of the cost. Not just to his pocket, but to his reputation. The ranch would go under.

“Gather Donny, Mike and Jesse and start rounding them up. I’m on my way.”

Abby looked up from the computer to see Fiona looking through the cabinet for something. The woman had wanted to go to church this morning, but had been voted down by her mother and Cal. They were too worried about her making an unnecessary trip through the snow and ice. She’d argued that the ice would be melted by the time the late service started, but had finally agreed to stay put.

Frankly, Abby silently agreed with them and been relieved when Fiona caved. “Why don’t you move closer to the hospital until the baby comes?” Abby couldn’t help asking.

Fiona turned to look at her. “Because this is my home. People have babies all the time. If I were a high risk, I’d do it, but I’m not. My blood pressure’s fine, the baby is fine.” She shrugged. “There’s no reason.”

“But it’s just a precaution,” Abby argued.

“I know—”

Fiona broke off when the phone rang.

Abby turned back to the computer until Fiona gasped. Spinning around, Abby took in the tight, frantic look on the woman’s face. Abby’s heart skipped a beat and she asked, “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is it the baby?”

Fiona grabbed her coat from the rack. “No, the horses are loose. We’ve got to get them back in the fence or they could end up who knows where.”

Alarmed, Abby bolted to her feet. She’d been working on the files again at the kitchen table using the laptop Cal had given her last night. “You can’t go out there. I’ll help.”

Fiona gripped the coat in her fist. “I have to.”

“No. Think of the baby.”

That stopped her. She pulled in a deep breath even as she bowed her head in defeat. “I know I can’t,” she whispered, “but the horses … we can’t lose any of them. They’re not all ours. Our clients depend on us to keep their animals safe.”

Abby didn’t hesitate. She hurried down the steps to her small apartment and snatched the heavy down coat, hat and gloves from the chair. Bless Fiona’s heart in loaning them to her. She raced back up the stairs to find Fiona still in the kitchen, looking out the window, her face reflecting her anxiety. Abby told her, “I can round up horses as well as the next person. I’ve done it before.”

Surprise took the place of some of Fiona’s worry. “Really?”

“Yep.”

Then the frown returned. “But you’re still recovering.”

Abby tugged on the coat, then the gloves. “I’m fine. Not a hundred percent, maybe, but definitely okay to go hunt some horses.”

Gratitude flared in Fiona’s eyes. “I’ll call the barn and have Jesse saddle you a mount—if Jesse’s still there.”

“If not, I can do it myself.”

Abby opened the door and stepped out into the cold. The temperatures hovered in the low forties, melting the ice that had formed the night before. Still, a strong wind blew and she shivered as she trudged toward the barn.

At least it had stopped snowing, although the sky threatened more.

Entering the barn, she paused, taking in the smell of hay and horses. She saw Jesse slipping the bridal on a beautiful quarter horse.

Another fully tacked horse had been tied to the post about ten feet away. Jesse looked at her. “Here ya go. Ms. Fiona caught me just as I was heading out. This little darlin’ is Pretty Mama. She’s got a good temperament. You won’t have any problems outta her.” Several harnesses were hooked to the saddle. She knew she’d use those to lead whatever horses she was able to snag back to the pasture.

“Thanks, Jesse.” Abby took the reins from him and introduced herself to the horse by slipping her a couple of sugar cubes she’d snitched from the kitchen.

Jessed watched her with a twinkle in his eye. “Know yer way around horses, eh?”

“A bit.” Abby smiled and hauled herself into the saddle. It felt good. And right. She shifted and got comfortable on the creaking leather, thankful she no longer had a headache or dizziness. “Where should we look first?”

“I’d say around the river, but honestly, they could be anywhere by now. Cal said he was heading back this way to check the creek line.” He shook his head. “That river’s high right now with all the rain and snow we’ve had. Temperatures are melting the ice, but the river’s edge will still be frozen and slick. Be careful around it.”

“I will.” She adjusted the stirrups as she mentally pictured the direction she’d go from the barn.

Jesse said, “I’m hoping those horses will stick together. Fortunately, it’s not like they’re wild. You should be able to ride right up to ‘em and slip a harness over their heads.”

Clicking to the horse, Abby guided her from the barn. Together, she and Jesse headed toward the river. Unfamiliar with the land, she visualized the layout of the ranch in her mind using the map she’d seen on the wall in the den.

They rode slow and easy for the next few minutes.

“I see one,” Jesse said. “I’m heading that way.” He pointed to the black horse in the distance. Abby nodded and watched him gallop away.

She turned back toward the river and felt a shiver ride up her spine. Feeling exposed, she hurried toward the tree line telling herself she was being silly and yet unable to squelch the desire to be behind some kind of cover. With the attack still fresh in her mind, she suddenly didn’t want to be alone.

Then she spotted movement down near the river through a grove of trees. If the trees had had leaves on them, she never would have seen it. Then the brown and white horse walked to the edge of the river, then a little farther to get past the ice. He stuck his nose in the water to have a drink.

Nudging the horse with her heels, she said, “Come on, Pretty Mama, let’s go see if we can get a lead on your friend there.”

Pretty Mama responded and they headed down the small hill. In the distance she could see a man leading three other horses in her direction. Zane? It looked like him.

At the edge of the trees, Abby stopped, the hair on the back of her neck standing up. A spot between her shoulders itched.

She glanced around.

Nothing there to give her any reason to feel like she had a target on her back. On this side of the ranch, about a mile from Fiona’s house, she knew she wasn’t far from the main road that led into the town of Rose Mountain.

Another horse came into sight, stretching its silky brown neck to lap at the water. The river was lazy, not a rushing fast-paced body of water and Abby knew for Cal and his family, it was a priceless commodity to have.