Page 3 of Sunrise & Serenity

Which leaves only one option.

I scroll through my contacts and find the number Sterling gave me for the ranch. My thumb hovers over the screen for a moment. This isn’t the first impression I was hoping to make on my new employer. Then again, I don’t exactly have a choice. I blow out a breath and tap the Call button.

Silence. Call failed.

My stomach sinks, and the backs of my eyes sting again. I squeeze them shut, fighting back more tears. Crying won’t help.

Getting out of the car might, though.

The corner of the door scrapes the wet ground as I push it open, and I grimace as my white sneakers sink into the mud. My comfy driving outfit—a maxi skirt and a cardigan-covered tank top—is instantly drenched by the rain. Pulling the cardigan tightly around me, I shove the door shut.

Thank god I make it to the road without face-planting. Blinking raindrops out of my eyes, I hold my breath and try the number for Wild Ember again.

When the call goes through and the line rings, I exhale heavily.

“Hello?” The deep voice is familiar.

“Hi, Sterling. It’s Sage Emerson.”

“Sage. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you until tomorrow. Is everything okay?”

I scrunch my nose. “Actually… I stupidly decided to drive up the mountain during the storm, and, well… now I’m in a ditch.”

“Are you hurt?” he asks, his tone suddenly sharp.

Heat creeps up my neck. “No, I’m fine. I’m just… stuck. But my phone is about to die, and I need help getting out of here.”

“Where are you?” His voice is all business now, and it’s reassuring.

I scan the area. Dark trees. Dark road. Not much to go on.

“Uh… I’m on the main road that goes over the mountain, just under half an hour from Silverford. I’m not sure how far that is from you.”

“We’re ten minutes past Silverford. That’s no problem. I’ll send someone to pick you up.”

Relief floods me. “Thank you so much. Would it also be possible for you to message Mia to let her know what happened and that I’m okay? She’ll worry if she doesn’t hear from me.”

“I’ll handle it. Just stay in your car, and someone will be there soon.”

After saying goodbye, I check my battery. There’s only a sliver left. I’m tempted to message Mia myself, but that could drain it completely. The thought of being trapped out here in the dark with a dead phone is scarier than I’d like to admit.

Visions of bears and wolves hiding in the trees send a shiver down my spine, and I rush back to the safety of my car, locking the door the moment I’m inside. I peer through the rain into the shadows. I’m cold, wet, and currently regretting every horror movie I’ve ever watched.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I sink lower in my seat.

Hopefully, whoever my knight in shining armor turns out to be won’t take too long to get here.

CHAPTER 2

HOLDEN

The second I shoulder my way through my cabin door, rain still dripping from the brim of my Stetson, my cell phone rings. I hang my hat on a hook on the wall, then fish the phone out of my pocket.

At the sight of Sterling’s name on the screen, I mutter a curse before answering. “I just got home. What is it?”

“Sorry to do this to you, Holden, but I’ve got another stray that needs rescuing.”

My eldest brother is hard to read at the best of times, so I hope to hell he’s joking. But given the damage tonight’s storm did to the south pasture fencing, I’m not betting on it.