ANYTHING FOR HER CHILD
After someone attempts to abduct her daughter, single mom Zoe Collier flees to a remote ranch for safety. But when the would-be kidnappers follow them to Wranglerâs Corner, Zoe must figure out why somebody wants Sophia. Local vet Aaron Starke is determined to help Zoe investigateâand to keep his intriguing new neighbors safe. Zoeâs used to relying on her own wits to survive. But quick-witted, caring Aaron is just the type of man she needs in her corner. And he might be her partner for keepsâ¦if they can find the truth without losing their lives.
Wranglerâs Corner: Family comes first
âI donât think I could shoot someone, Aaron.â
âIf it comes down to his life or yours or his and Sophiaâs, I think you could.â
Tears filled her eyes, and she glanced up at him, not caring if he saw the wetness. âYes, I could for Sophia.â She sniffed, and a tear traced down her cheek. He lifted a hand and thumbed it away but left his palm cupping her cheek. She drew in a sharp breath.
âClay will figure out whatâs going on. The man in the hospital will wake up eventually, and Clay will get him to talk.â
Zoe closed her eyes against the lovely sensation of his touch. She had no business feeling an attraction for him. Not when she was fighting for hers and Sophiaâs lives. She opened her eyes and met his. âAaron, I appreciate everything you and your family and friends have done for Sophia and me, but I think itâs time for us to run again.â
âHow is that going to help?â
She sighed. âWell, for one, itâll give the authorities time to try to figure things out. But I canât run without help.â
He frowned. âWhat do you mean?â
âI want you to help us disappear.â
LYNETTE EASON is a bestselling, award-winning author who makes her home in South Carolina with her husband and two teenage children. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and teaching at various writing conferences around the country. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Lynette can often be found online interacting with her readers. You can find her at facebook.com/lynette.eason and on Twitter,@lynetteeason.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
âPsalms 46:1
This book is dedicated to those in law enforcement.
Thank you to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to make the world a safer place for me and my loved ones. âMay the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face to shine upon you. Amen.â
ONE
Zoe Collier gripped the pitchfork and stabbed it into the bale of hay. âIâm going to grab some water bottles from the fridge, okay?â
âOkay, Mom.â Nine-year-old Sophia turned the water off and started wrapping the hose.
âRemind me to put some in the fridge out here for later.â
âPut some out here for later,â Sophia dutifully said.
âHaha. Come on in after you finish that, and weâll make some cookies.â
Zoe relished her daughterâs grin. One that used to flash all the time before the kidnapping attempt a month ago. Sheâd been walking home from school when a car pulled up beside her. The vehicle door had flown open, and hands had reached for Sophia. Zoe had been standing on the porch watching it, horrified at the possibility that the man would manage to get her daughter into the vehicle. Sheâd raced toward them screaming for Sophia to run. Sophia had, and the car had squealed away.
Zoe shuddered.
Then the attempt to run Zoe off the road and leave her in the ditchâor worse, have her go over the side of the cliff...
She shook her head.
At least now they were safe until she could figure out whom to trust and ask for help. Running two hundred miles away from Knoxville, Tennessee, to this little town in the middle of nowhere had seemed like a good idea a few weeks ago. Now she wasnât sure.
Oh, the people in town were friendly enough, but she and Sophia were so isolated out here. More isolated than sheâd intended or understood it to be when sheâd taken the job. She drew in a deep breath. But it served its purpose. âStop it. Get the water and put your worries behind you. You have a painting to finish,â Zoe told herself. She was extremely grateful she could work from anywhere. Her paintings sold well in a variety of shops all over the country, providing a good living for her and Sophia. She looked over the area. If she could live anywhere on a permanent basis, it would be somewhere like this. A rich land with horses to ride and plenty of fresh air to breathe.
âHey, Mom?â
She turned back to Sophia. âYes?â
âWhen is Lily going to have her baby?â
Lily, the pregnant heifer. âAny day now.â
âIs Doctor Aaron going to come check on her today?â