Rancher Under Fire
SABOTAGE AT ANGELFIRE RANCHJackson Durant would go to any lengths to protect his young daughter and his ranch. He knows the puzzling incidents on his homestead are no accidents. Someone is after him…but who? And why? Reporter Mariah Reyes is determined to find out. She never expected her pursuit of a story on the reclusive rancher would endanger her life—nor that she'd fall for the cowboy. But when Jackson's daughter is kidnapped, she'll do anything to help save the little girl—even if it means becoming a target herself.
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SABOTAGE AT ANGELFIRE RANCH
Jackson Durant would go to any lengths to protect his young daughter and his ranch. He knows the puzzling incidents on his homestead are no accidents. Someone is after himâ¦but who? And why? Reporter Mariah Reyes is determined to find out. She never expected her pursuit of a story on the reclusive rancher would endanger her lifeânor that sheâd fall for the cowboy. But when Jacksonâs daughter is kidnapped, sheâll do anything to help save the little girlâeven if it means becoming a target herself.
Mariah was the last woman he should be interested in.
A reporter who had the power to destroy his peaceful life.
But Jackson had to admit he enjoyed the feel of her arms locked around his waist as they rode out to the fence line. He stared at the damage. The fence had obviously been cut. By whom? He didnât have any enemies. But for several weeks there had been incidents that made him uneasy.
âThis repair might take a while,â he told her. âWhy donât you go down to the creek?â
He watched her walk away, but he put the brakes on his thoughts. Donât think about the greenhorn reporter. Sheâll be leaving in a few days anyway. Jackson shook his head. That was why he didnât want women on the ranch. They were a distraction. Nothing but trouble.
He worked on the repair till a loud crack echoed over the hills. Jackson jumped, nicking his finger on a barb. Gunfire?
Another blast ripped the quiet, followed by a scream.
Mariah!
VICKIE McDONOUGH
is an award-winning and bestselling author of over thirty published books and novellas. She grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams in her fictional stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen and others living in the West. Sheâs a wife of almost forty years, mother of four grown sons and one daughter-in-law, and is grandma to a feisty eight-year-old girl. When sheâs not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, buying cool things for her booth in an antique mall, watching movies and traveling. To learn more about Vickieâs books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com. You can also find Vickie on Facebook and Twitter.
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
âIsaiah 40:31
To my agent, Chip MacGregor.
If not for Chip, this book would never have happened. Thanks for pushing me and opening doors that give life to Rancher Under Fire.
Contents
Mariah Reyes had to face the factsâshe was lost. Hours of wandering on the desolate country roads of Northeastern Oklahoma had left her more confused than a chameleon in a bowl of Skittles.
She checked for oncoming carsânot that sheâd seen more than one in the past half hourâthen reached for the map on the passengerâs seat. She peeked down at the line sheâd drawn before leaving home that showed the way to Angelfire Ranch, but it didnât help. Glancing up, she jerked the steering wheel to the right to get her car back in her lane and willed her pulse to return to normal.
âThis is crazy.â She slowed the car, pulled onto the gravel shoulder and searched her purse for her phone. Maybe she could find her way using the built-in GPS and maps. She turned it on and opened the map app. Sheâd already plugged in the address to Jackson Durantâs ranch, but she hadnât wanted to risk driving while trying to follow the tiny GPS dot on her phone.
She studied the barren winter wilderness while she waited for the map to load. Tall, yellow grass fluttered in the wind, and the few leaves still clinging to the almost-bald trees waved at her. The land here wasnât as flat as the Dallas area, and there were more trees, but the emptiness of the countryside after the busyness of the big city left her feeling isolated.
She checked her phone. With only one bar on her cell, the map wouldnât load. âThatâs great.â Mariah tossed the phone onto the passengerâs seat and blew out a sigh. So much for modern technology.
Now what?
Sheâd passed a farm several miles back, but she hated asking for help. She shifted the car in gear and drove forward. Just a few more miles, and if she didnât find Angelfire Ranch, sheâd turn around or ask someone for directions.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into a parking lot containing half a dozen trucks and a single gray sedan. She looped her arm through her purse straps and read the name of the establishment made from cement blocks painted an icky avocado-green: Tank UpâGas and Bar. She shook her head. âOnly in Oklahoma.â
A Coke and some chocolate would do a lot to improve her mood. She grabbed her map, pressed the remote to lock the car and headed into the store. Loud music, smoke and the odor of burned pizza greeted her.
