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CHAPTER TWO

IN THE bedroom, later that evening, Leah sat on the bed with Morgan, reliving memories of their childhood.

“You’d still be stuck in that tree if I hadn’t found you and got you down,” her older sister told her.

“It would have been okay if I hadn’t got my jeans caught on the branch,” Leah recalled. “Mom wasn’t happy that I destroyed my new pants.”

“That wasn’t all she was worried about. It was your lack of fear. And now, you’re out there traveling from continent to continent.”

“I can take care of myself.” At least physically, Leah thought as pictures of forgotten kids flashed into her head. She shook them away. “Mom doesn’t need to worry.”

“As if she would ever stop,” Morgan said. “You’re her baby.”

Leah had felt secure in the arms of her family. Unlike her sisters, she couldn’t remember any life before coming to live in Destiny. She considered the Keenans as her parents. She hadn’t been as inquisitive as Morgan and Paige about her biological parents, or why their mother had given up her three young daughters. This was home and now, that meant more to her than she could explain.

“Please tell me you’re staying for a while.”

“I told you I would be here to help with the town’s celebration, and Mom and Dad’s anniversary. I don’t have to report for my next assignment for six weeks.” For the first time since she started photographing third world countries, Leah wasn’t eager to return. The constant sight of famine and war had taken its toll on her. Suddenly another picture came to mind. That of the young, thin boy she’d seen at the waterfall.

“What’s wrong?” Morgan asked.

“I’m sorry, I’m just worried about the lost boy.”

“I can understand,” Morgan conceded. “But the sheriff is looking into any reported runaways. Reed Larkin is an ex-FBI agent, and he’s good at his job.”

Leah wasn’t worried about the sheriff. It was Holt Rawlins’s attitude that troubled her. “What do you know about Holt Rawlins?”

“Just what Mom and Dad told you.” Her sister’s green gaze showed concern. “A few months ago he took over the running of the Silver R. He’s come into town a few times, but pretty much keeps to himself. Speculation is that he’s waiting until after the roundup, then he’s going to sell the place.”

“Why would a New Yorker spend so much time here?”

Morgan shrugged. “A lot of people want lifestyle changes. Just because you’re a globetrotter doesn’t mean some of us don’t like life in a small town.”

“Well, whether he goes or stays, he isn’t going to keep me away. I’m headed out there in the morning to continue my search.”

“It seems to me you’re keeping a pretty close eye on the guy.”

Leah stiffened. “Only because Mr. Rawlins seems to have a chip on his shoulder. I don’t think he’s going to look for the boy.”

“So it’s Leah to the rescue.” Her sister smiled.

Leah only nodded, but knew her track record wasn’t that good.

The following morning, Holt came out of the barn to find a compact car pull up at the house. Leah Keenan climbed out and walked toward him. She was dressed in a white blouse, a pullover red sweater and a pair of jeans that molded to that curvy little body of hers. How could someone no bigger than a minute have such long legs?

His gaze moved to her face. Her shiny, wheat-colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail, exposing flawless skin void of any makeup. She walked toward him and her rich brown eyes slowly widened and her full mouth creased in a big smile. Something in his chest tightened when she took off running then he realized her attention wasn’t directed at him.

“Zach,” she cried as she flew into the arms of the old man standing in the doorway of the barn.

The ranch foreman, Zach Shaw, took her into his arms and hugged her. “Leah,” he said. “I heard you came home.” He stood back to look at her. “Well, if you aren’t still the prettiest girl in town. It’s about time you came to see me.”

“And if you aren’t the biggest fibber ever.” She sobered. “I’m so sorry about John. I hope he didn’t suffer.”

Zach shook his head. “No, it was his heart. He was gone in minutes.” The old guy blinked, then smiled. “John talked about you a lot. And he sure enjoyed all the postcards you sent him. He said you’d gone to places whose names he couldn’t even pronounce.”

“I couldn’t pronounce them, either.”

They both laughed as Holt watched her wipe stray tears from her eyes and he suddenly felt like the intruder. His own father had known this woman, but never had taken the time to know his own son.

He’d had enough of their friendly chatter. “If you two are finished reminiscing, we need to get started.” He walked past them into the barn.

Leah followed. “Just tell me which horse you want me to saddle,” she said.

He stopped at the stall. “It’s already done.”

Zach came up behind them. “I thought you’d do best on Daisy.”

Leah patted the mare’s neck. “You’re a pretty girl,” she crooned, then glanced back to Zach. “You didn’t have to saddle her.”

“I didn’t,” the old man said. “Holt had her ready before I got the chance.”

Holt led his mount toward the door. “I thought it would save us time.”

“I’m ready,” Leah insisted as she opened the gate, grabbed the reins and followed close behind. “Zach, you want to go with us?”

“No thanks, darlin’.” He glanced at Holt. “I’d say this is a two-person job. I’ll hold down the fort here. Besides, the little rustler might decide to come back here and steal again.”

Leah’s gaze shot toward Holt. “Are you sure it was the boy?”

Holt shrugged. “We’re short a couple of blankets, a flashlight and some food. What do you think? He came right into the house when we were out with the herd.”

“The kid is pretty careful about not being seen,” Zach said. “If he’s running from someone, that probably means he isn’t being treated right.”

“And we need to find him,” Leah said as she climbed up on Daisy.

“Just be careful, you two,” the old man told them. “Holt, you can handle a horse just fine, but there’s a lot in this country you don’t know. Leah does. She can lead you to the caves.”

Holt nodded. “We should be back in a few hours,” he said.

Zach glanced from Holt to Leah and grinned. “Well, if I was a young buck again and had such a pretty companion, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get back.”

Holt grimaced. Damn if the old man wasn’t matchmaking.

Leah hadn’t realized how much she’d missed riding along a trail in some of the prettiest scenery in the world. She was definitely a mountain girl. She loved everything about the high, jagged peaks that seemed to reach up and touch the sky. Oh, she wished she’d brought her camera.

At least she’d have something to do. She glanced at the man on horseback next to her. Although she’d tried to make polite conversation, Mr. Rawlins wasn’t the chatty type. They’d already returned to the cave where they’d found evidence of the boy living there. Everything was gone today. No signs were left of the child.

“Is it just me,” Leah began, “or are you like this with everyone?”

He seemed taken aback by her question. “Like what?”

“You haven’t said more than a dozen words to me since we left the ranch.”

“I didn’t think it was required of me to carry on a conversation.”

“No, but would it hurt to be cordial?”

He continued to stare ahead. “That all depends on what you want to talk about.”

“Well, for starters, why didn’t you ever come to visit your father?”

He tensed. “I’m the wrong person to ask that question.” He finally turned his green-eyed gaze on her. “I’m sure you or anyone in Destiny knew more about John Rawlins than I did. I haven’t seen the man since I was four.”

Although Holt Rawlins worked hard to hide it, she caught a flash of sadness in his eyes. And as much as she tried to fight it, his vulnerability got to her. “But John was your father.”

“Says you,” he said, then guided the horse through a group of trees. “Maybe it would be safer if we concentrated on the task at hand, which seems to be protecting this kid you’re so worried about.” Even through his gruffness, there was also an undertone of softness in his voice.

“All children need protecting,” she said.

“Then, let’s find him,” he said. “Since he’s run off from the cave do you have any idea where he’d go?”

“My biggest fear is that he’s holed up in one of the abandoned mines.” She pointed upward toward the foothills.

Holt knew this was a mistake. He should have let the sheriff handle the search for the boy, and then he wouldn’t have to deal with Ms. Keenan.

He knew her type. She was out to save the world. Everyone was her friend, and everyone liked her. What wasn’t to like? She was beautiful. With her engaging smile that drew you in, it was impossible not to react to her. Those tawny-brown eyes of hers seemed to look too deep…too far inside to see what you didn’t want anyone to see.

Yes, he needed to stay far away from the woman. Too bad he hadn’t taken his own advice. This morning he’d been up early, waiting and willing to do her bidding.

Holt made a clicking sound with his tongue and the gelding picked up the pace. The sooner they found the kid, the sooner the tempting Leah Keenan would be off his land and out of his life.

About thirty minutes later they reached their destination. Holt followed Leah’s lead as she climbed off her mount and tied the bay mare to the tree branch. “The Sunny Days Mine is up there.”

Armed with flashlights, she started up the rocky grade with Holt close behind her. To his surprise, she managed to climb with ease. They reached the landing, then another twenty feet they located the mine. The entrance was boarded up and a Keep Out sign nailed across the front. A closer look showed that the barricade had been loosened, making entry easier.

“This is a popular place for teenagers,” Leah explained. “It’s kind of a rite of passage. They come here to drink and…be with their girlfriends.”

Holt pushed back his hat, and rubbed his hand over his unshaven jaw. “This gives Lover’s Lane a whole different meaning,” he said.

“And it’s a whole bunch more dangerous.”

He pulled off two loose boards to allow them better access. With flashlights on they ducked into the dark mine. The temperature was a good ten degrees cooler inside and a musty smell assaulted their noses.

Holt directed his light toward the floor, showing dusty evidence of past parties.

“Typical teenagers, they never pick up after themselves,” he said.

“We should report this to the sheriff so he can notify the owner to seal the entrance.”

“Do you really think that will keep out curious kids?”

Leah ignored Holt’s sarcasm. While he examined the main room, she started off toward one of the tunnels, praying she wouldn’t find any traces of the boy living here. She ducked through the entry to the tunnel framed by huge wooden support beams. There were old mining tools and stacks of rotten lumber. Just as she walked around the beams, a rat scurried across her path. She gasped and jumped backward tripping over the rotting wood. Unable to regain her balance, she hit the dirt floor as the stack began shifting.

Dust stirred the air and Holt rushed to her side. He swept her up in his arms and carried her out into the main room. Setting her down against the entrance, his large body shielded her from any falling debris. Finally silence filled the air, but he didn’t release her. She was trembling, feeling Holt’s breath against her ear, his large body against hers.

He looked down at her. “Are you all right?”

She managed to nod.

“Then let’s get the hell out of here.” He took her hand and drew her outside.

Once in the bright sunlight, he held her at arm’s length and did a closer examination. “Do you realize what could have happened to you?”

She was still trembling. “Yes, but I’m okay. Thank you.”

That seemed to make him angry. “I don’t want your thanks. You could have been seriously hurt or…or …” He turned away, jerked his hat off and combed his hand through his hair. “Dammit, Leah.”

Now she was angry with herself. “I know. I shouldn’t have gone into the tunnel. I guess I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted to find the boy.”

“Are you this reckless as a photographer?”

He didn’t know the half of it. “They hire me to do my job,” she insisted. She started down the slope when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. They stood inches apart.

“I’m not taking another step until you promise me not to do anything that crazy again.”

The last thing she wanted to do was kowtow to this man, but after he’d rescued her, she owed him one. “Okay, but you need to accept that I mean to find that boy.” She glanced up at the sky as the sun suddenly was shadowed by threatening clouds. “We should hurry because we’re running out of time.” She started down to the horses.

“We’re finished for today.”

She stopped to argue, but decided it wasn’t worth it. “Then I’ll go myself.”

He gave her an incredulous look. “After what happened in the mine shaft, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

Twenty minutes later they rode back to the ranch, but not before the sky opened up and soaked them before they got into the barn.

The rain pounded against the roof as Leah took Daisy to her stall and began removing her tack. She placed the mare’s saddle on the railing, then started wiping down the animal. Once her horse was settled, Leah went to put the saddle away.

“Let me get that,” Holt said as he came up behind her.

“I can manage.” She glanced at him. He removed his hat and for the first time she got a good look at his handsome face. His sandy-colored hair was wavy and fell against his forehead, and his startling green eyes were framed by long dark lashes. “I…I know where everything goes.”

“As do I.” He took the saddle from her and continued down the aisle. She went back for the bridle and blanket and hurried to catch up with him in the tack room.

Leah hung it on the wall. “Well…I guess that’s it.” She turned around to discover Holt watching her. The direction of his heated gaze was on her rain-soaked blouse. At first she resisted the urge to cover herself, but then a clap of thunder shook the barn along with the pounding of the rain. She shivered and crossed her arms over her breasts.

Holt couldn’t help but stare. Even soaking wet Leah Keenan was far too appealing. His protective instincts took over and he reached for a blanket. He went to her and draped it around her shoulders. Then he made a big mistake and looked into her big brown eyes. “I think you should wait out the storm here.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll stay out of your way.”

“I have a better idea. Why don’t you come up to the house and get out of those wet clothes?”

Her eyes rounded. “I’m fine right here.”

“Don’t look so frightened, I’m not going to attack you.”

She straightened. “I never thought you were. I just didn’t want to put you out.”

“It’s a little late for that,” he said as he took her elbow and guided her toward the door. “Come on, the rain has eased up a little.”

Together they headed for the house. By the time they reached the porch, they were both soaked again. Holt pushed open the back door and let her inside the mudroom.

“We better take off our boots, or Maria will have our heads for tracking up the kitchen.”

“Maria Silva?” Leah looked up from unlacing her boots. “She still works here?”

Holt nodded. “She cleans once a week, and prepares some of the meals.”

“Lucky you. She’s a great cook.”

“I can cook, but after a long day of work, it’s been nice not to have to.” He went into the main part of the house. He grabbed a towel—and the only thing available for her to change into—one of his flannel shirts. He returned to her.

“I don’t own a robe, so this is all I have. While your wet clothes are in the dryer put this on.”

“I don’t need to change.”

“You’re shivering. Do it or Zach will kick my butt for letting you catch cold.”

“Okay.” Leah took the shirt and followed him through the kitchen and down the hall.

He pointed to a closed door. “That’s a bathroom.” “If you want you can take a hot shower.”

Holt climbed the stairs to the second floor of the large ranch house. He definitely didn’t need a hot one, he thought as he went into the master bedroom that once belonged to his father. The large sleigh bed was a dark mahogany covered in a multicolored quilt. The small print wallpaper had faded over the years. A braided rug partly covered the hardwood floor that Maria kept polished to a high gloss.

There weren’t any pictures of family and none of him, even as a boy. Holt tried to push aside the memories of a man who wanted nothing to do with his son. His only child.

There were three other bedrooms on the second floor, but Holt told himself the reason he stayed in this room was because of the connecting bath. He began stripping off his clothes and heard the water go on downstairs. Great, that was all he needed, the image of a naked Leah Keenan in his bathroom. He got in the shower and turned on the faucet to cold.

But ten minutes later, he went downstairs and found Leah in the kitchen. He swallowed hard. She was dressed only in his shirt. Her face was scrubbed clean and the blond hair pooled wet against her shoulders was beginning to curl.

“Hi,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind, I fixed some coffee.”

She’d made herself at home. “Sounds good,” he told her. “I take it you know your way around here.”

Leah sipped from her cup. “I’m sorry, it’s just that while I was in high school, I used to spend a lot of time here taking pictures.”

He tried not to look at her legs, but it was impossible not to, even for a saint and he wasn’t anywhere close to being a saint. Her smooth, shapely calves and trim thighs made his mouth water as the edge of his plaid shirt cut off any more view. He took a gulp of the hot coffee, nearly scalding his throat.

He went to the refrigerator and pulled open the door to the cool air. “How about some lunch?”

She came up beside him, too close and smelling of his soap. “Only if you’ll allow me to fix it.”

Holt stepped back. “Sure. There are cold cuts in the meat bin. I’ll get the bread.”

She touched his arm to stop him. “I can do it. Please, Holt, go and sit down.”

He nodded, went to the large oval table, pulled out a chair and sat. He couldn’t help but watch as she moved efficiently around the kitchen. She laid out the bread on the white-tiled countertop, and layered the cooked ham on top, then added lettuce and tomato. He was handling things just fine until she went to the maple cabinets and reached up for plates. That was when the shirt rose high, exposing the back of her smooth rounded thighs.

Damn. He glanced away. A man could only take so much. Suddenly the back door slammed and in seconds Zach appeared in the kitchen.

The old foreman glanced around the room. His hazel eyes sparkling as he grinned. “Well, if this doesn’t look cozy.”

CHAPTER THREE

LEAH realized what her being half naked and standing in the Rawlins’s kitchen must look like. But she pushed aside her embarrassment, put a smile on her face and went to greet Zach.

“You’re just in time for lunch,” she announced. “Do you want a ham or a turkey sandwich?”

The foreman glanced at Holt. “I don’t want to interrupt …”

“Since when has that ever stopped you?” Holt told him. “You might as well sit down. We’re just killing time until Leah’s clothes dry.”

“So you two got caught in the storm?”

“We were headed back,” Leah said. Why was she feeling guilty? “Sure you don’t want a sandwich, Zach?”

“Well…if it’s not too much trouble.” The foreman went to the table and sat down across from Holt.

Leah smiled. “Not for you.”

“I take it you didn’t have any luck finding the boy,” Zach said.

“No, but I’m not giving up,” she assured him. “He’s out there somewhere.” She turned back to her task at the counter.

“I think he’s moved on,” Holt said. “We haven’t seen any sign of him since yesterday morning.”

Leah placed the sandwiches on mismatched plates from the cupboard and carried them to the table. “That doesn’t mean he isn’t out there.” She went back and poured two glasses of milk, staying busy to keep calm. “I have some places to check tomorrow.” She sat down next to Zach, tugging her makeshift robe over her knees. “I thought I’d try the old Hutchinson mine up on the south ridge.”

“That’s a thought,” Zach said. “There’s water close by and even though the cabin is old, it’s still in good shape.” He bit into his sandwich.

“Hey, don’t I have a say in this?” Holt asked. “I can’t keep traipsing around the countryside looking for a kid who doesn’t want to be found.”

Leah tensed. “Then I’ll go by myself.”

“Not without my permission.”

She caught his determined gaze, but she wasn’t intimidated. “I’m sure the sheriff could get some volunteers together within an hour and search until nightfall.”

Holt glared. “I don’t like being threatened.”

“Not any more than I like to think about a child being left out there alone.” She got up from the table, went to the mudroom and slammed the door behind her.

“Well, you’ve done it now,” Zach said as he looked at Holt. “Maybe where you come from people don’t care about other people, but around here we take care of our own. If you won’t go with Leah, then I will.”

Holt tensed, knowing it wasn’t true that everyone in Destiny took care of, their own. His father hadn’t. Something tightened in his chest. Even Holt wasn’t so callous as to let a kid roam around the wilderness.

“Will you stop grumbling? I didn’t say I wouldn’t go.” Ignoring the gleam in the old man’s eyes, he stood and went to the mudroom. He opened the door just in time to see Leah pull her jeans over those long smooth legs.

Damn. His body suddenly stirred to life.

She jerked around and fisted the shirt edges together. “Do you mind?”

Holt leaned against the doorjamb as if the intimacy of watching her didn’t bother him at all. Like hell. He forced a smile. “Not at all.”

Leah turned her back on him and fastened the jeans. “I’m going back to town now. I’ll get your shirt back to you.”

“Keep it as long as you want. It looks a lot better on you anyway.”

She ignored him and pulled on her boots, then grabbed her blouse and bra off the dryer. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

He nodded. “I’ll have the horses saddled about eight.”

She froze. “But I thought—”

“I only said I couldn’t keep doing this all day…every day. I do have to help Zach with chores, and we’re trying to organize the roundup.”

“I know.” Her expression softened as she came closer. “Holt, I appreciate your time and help, especially after the mishap in the mine.”

She looked young…and innocent as she flashed those big brown eyes at him. He felt the reaction deep in his gut. She drew more than protective instincts from him. “That’s why you shouldn’t go into those mines alone.”

Leah nibbled on her lower lip. “So…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” she said.

Holt nodded, not trusting himself with saying anything more.

“Goodbye,” she said, then darted out the door and down the steps. The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, but she seemed to hardly notice it. Leah raised her face skyward and drew a deep breath before she got into her car.

From the window he watched her drive off. Had he ever been that carefree? He knew the answer to that. He’d been driven all his life. His mother, Elizabeth Pershing, had expected certain things from her only child. He had to uphold the blue-blood old Boston Pershing family’s name. And being the son of a Colorado rancher had already been a black mark against him. As hard as he tried, Holt never felt good enough to be a Pershing. He’d once overheard his grandparents say that Elizabeth had made a mistake marrying, and having a child with John Rawlins. Holt never doubted that he was the “mistake.”

The one difference between himself and his mother was he’d finally stopped trying to please the family. When he’d heard of John Rawlins’s death—and even with his Grandmother Pershing’s threats to disinherit him—Holt had quit his job and moved to Colorado to take over the ranch.

He walked away from his career and from the woman he supposedly loved. Melanie was everything a man could want. But when she wanted to settle down and start a family, he couldn’t take that step.

He wasn’t sure if he was capable of love.

“Leah, did you hear what I said?” Morgan asked.

“What?” Leah glanced at her sister, embarrassed that she’d been caught daydreaming.

“I asked if you think the church hall is big enough for Mom and Dad’s anniversary party.”

“Well, you should know better than I do. How many people will the place hold? Are we inviting the entire town?”

The always organized and composed Morgan looked anything but that today. “I’m not sure,” she said. “It’s just that we’ve got the town’s Founder’s Day celebration at the same time.”

Morgan was the only one of the Keenan sisters who had stayed in Destiny. Leah had taken off to photograph the world. Paige, with her law degree, took a job with the D.A. in Denver. Morgan’s dream had always been to teach school. But while she’d been student teaching in an inner-city school, she’d suddenly come home. To stay. She’d said that she’d changed her mind about her career, then soon after opened a gift shop in the Keenan Inn. Since then Morgan hadn’t traveled any farther away from Destiny than Durango. She’d been the one here for the family, especially her sisters.

Leah decided it was about time she and Paige helped out.

“When did you say Paige was coming home?” Leah asked.

“Not sure. The last time I talked to her she was working on a big criminal case. She’s hoping she’ll make it by the end of the month.”

Leah frowned. “That only leaves us two weeks before the party.”

“I’ll take whatever I can get.” Morgan smiled. “I’m just glad you could get so much time off. Three years is too long to be away.”

Guilt made Leah blush. “You always knew I was an eager kid with big dreams. I had to grab an opportunity when it was handed to me.”

“Are you sorry?” Morgan asked.

“Of course there are times,” Leah began, “that I missed the family.” So many nights she’d cried herself to sleep after she photographed all the pain and suffering. It was what hadn’t gone into print that truly haunted her. She sighed. “But Our World magazine gave me an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” For the last three years, she’d led Morgan to think her life was so glamorous, but the faces of the children she had to walk away from would bother her always.

Leah forced aside the memories and smiled. “I wish I’d had better accommodations. Most of the places I went didn’t even have running water, or toilets.” Or any respect for life.

“Well, we for sure can give you better living quarters. I just hope you don’t get bored.”

On the contrary, Leah welcomed the peace and quiet of her hometown. Her thoughts turned to Destiny’s new resident, Holt Rawlins. He hadn’t exactly made her feel peaceful. “I think I can stay busy enough.”

“If you’re talking about the runaway boy, maybe I should give Reed a call. As sheriff he could get together a lot of volunteers.”

“I’m just afraid that we’ll drive him deeper into the woods. Maybe it’s better if Holt and I go out tomorrow alone.”

“You’ve been in town for only a few days and you’ve seen more of our new resident than we have in the past four months.” Morgan’s eyes widened. “What’s he like?”

Leah shrugged. “I see a strong physical resemblance, but he’s nothing like John. Has he made friends with anyone in town?”

“Outside of the few times I’ve seen him at the grocery store or the trading post, he’s pretty much kept to himself. He’s cordial and polite. Maybe you should invite him to a town meeting and introduce him around.”

Leah wasn’t sure Holt wanted to make friends. “Doesn’t it seem strange that John never mentioned a son?” Leah asked. “Why he never had a relationship with Holt?”

Morgan shrugged. “Could be the divorce was a bitter one, and it’s difficult to keep a long-distance father/son relationship going.”

Leah drew a breath. “It’s still hard for me to imagine John Rawlins ignoring his own child.”

“It happens,” Morgan told her. “Look at us. Our birth mother never came back to get us.”

It was no secret that twenty-seven years ago three girls—two toddlers and an infant—were left at the inn for the childless Keenans to raise. There had never been much discussion about the girls’ biological parents. Why would a mother just leave her daughters?

Morgan looked at her sister. “Sometimes parents can’t keep their promises.”

The next morning, although the sun was shining, the weather was still chilly. It was a perfect day for a ride. Leah brought her camera this time and tucked it away in her saddlebag. She wasn’t going to waste this incredible scenery.

Riding Daisy, Leah followed behind Holt on the trail. They’d already checked out two abandoned mines. Only this time, Holt had her stay outside while he looked around. As much as she wanted to protest, she knew better than to push him anymore. So she busied herself taking pictures.

As they headed back they approached the waterfall. Holt reined his horse and turned toward her. He pushed his hat back exposing his handsome face. “How about we take a break?”

“Sure why not.”

Leah climbed down and retrieved her camera. She started toward the rushing water, feeling the temperature cool. The fresh mountain air was refreshing and a fine mist caressed her face as she climbed over the rocky base to find the best angle to shoot a picture. Poised with her camera, Leah was in her own world when she shifted and began to slip. She gasped. Suddenly a pair of strong arms circled her waist and kept her from falling in the water.