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“That hook hit Josh in the head.” His sister opened the passenger door and slipped inside. “He’s at the hospital now in critical condition. Eric went over to meet Brody and Chad there. But no one has seen Katie.”
Liam had witnessed his share of logging accidents. But a large metal hook to the head sounded pretty damn serious. He turned the truck around and drove as fast as he dared over the dirt path to the house. “Have you tried her barn? The horse trails?”
“Her car was parked at the house and I checked the barn. Sugar was missing, but I didn’t have time to search the trails. I came looking for you, figuring I’d reach Katie on her cell. But she’s not picking up. Have you heard from her?”
“I haven’t spoken to her in days. Last I heard of her, Eric said she was passed out drunk at your place following Monday’s meeting. She hasn’t returned my calls. And her brothers sure as hell won’t let me near her.”
He pulled up to a stop beside her truck and Georgia hopped out. “I have to go pick up Nate, but then I’ll keep looking.”
“I’ll find her,” he said. “Keep calling her cell. I have an idea where she might have gone if she was on horseback.”
Liam hightailed it down the driveway. If her brother was in critical condition, Katie needed to get to Josh’s side. She already beat herself up over not being there for her father. If she didn’t get a chance to say good-bye to Josh—if it came to that—she’d never forgive herself. And she’d probably run as fast as she could away from Independence Falls. As much as he wanted her to follow her dreams, he didn’t want her to leave for the wrong reasons. Heartbreak held tight—and it was a lot easier to face surrounded by friends and family.
“KATIE!”
She heard his voice and opened her eyes, staring up at the tree branches. Sugar, who’d been tied to the tree happily grazing, glanced over at her.
“Katie!”
This time, she sat up, reaching behind her and brushing the leaves out of her long, straight ponytail. About twenty feet away, she spotted Liam racing toward her. He’d called every day since she’d walked out of his office. But she hadn’t called him back yet. Her big brother had been right, she needed time to think.
She’d taken a long, hard look at her goals, setting aside her stubborn determination and focusing on what was in her heart. Saving animals, but also this place, this town, her family—and Liam.
Katie ran through her checklist of L-words every day while staring up at the twin fir trees.
Like? Check.
Lust? Check.
Love—
“Katie, you need to come with me. Now,” Liam said, bursting into her quiet bubble under the trees.
She frowned, crossing her arms in front of her chest. This man might be the love of her life, but that did not give him the right to make demands after he’d walked out on her.
“Josh was in an accident,” he continued. And just like that her frustration slipped away. Liam offered more details, but all she heard were the words “Josh” and “accident” over and over. “He’s in critical condition. We’ll know more when we get to the hospital.”
“Critical condition,” she repeated. Those words tied to her brother . . . no, this couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t lose him.
“Ride Sugar back to the barn,” Liam ordered. “Fast as you can safely go. I’ll drive my truck around and meet you there.”
She nodded, numbly mounting Sugar. Liam placed a hand on her calf before she steered the mare to the path.
“Are you OK to ride?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Just get Sugar into her stall. Georgia will stop by with Nate later and take care of the animals.”
He’d made arrangements, thought ahead when all she could think was Josh and accident. “Thank you.”
“I’ll get you there,” he said. “I promise. Focus on riding.”
Katie followed his instructions, racing off toward her property, pushing Sugar as fast as she dared. How long had Josh been at the hospital? When did the accident happen?
The questions she’d forgotten to ask swirled in her mind as she steered the mare home. When the barn came into view, she spotted Liam jumping down from his truck. He rushed to meet her, helping her remove the tack and close Sugar in her stall.
Liam took her hand, leading her to the truck. “Georgia will be here soon. I spoke to her on my way over. Do you have your phone? She has been trying to reach you.”
