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Irritation spiked as he pushed back from the computer, rubbing his eyes to ease the strain. He’d been staring at way too many computer screens lately. He glanced at the door where Ellie stood, her brow knit. “What’s up now?”
He tried to temper the edge in his voice by gritting out a smile. But there’d been too many interruptions this week, too many thoughts spiraling out of control, just like their finances. Maybe he’d have to beg the bank for a new loan. On his hands and knees if necessary. Because if he’d done his sums right, they were in the red so much it was like watching his life bleed out.
“Have you seen Mom?”
“Nope.” His mother never came into the office that had once been her bedroom. When her husband had left—none of them had called that man their father in years—she’d revamped the sleeping arrangements and stuck the oldest two boys in here while she’d claimed Dermott’s old room at the opposite end of the house. Later, when Dermott and Mitchell had left, this room had become a living space until Cooper left and Jackson’s responsibilities meant he’d repurposed it as the office. “Why?”
“She’s missing again.”
“Again?” He arched a brow.
“I don’t know what’s going on.” His sister moved past teetering stacks of files he needed to sort out but had put off until a rainy day. Trouble was, rainy days required focus on other things. “She’s gotten so vague, I don’t even think she recognizes me some days.”
“What?” His world felt like a pack of cards tumbling down in space.
“Surely you’ve noticed it too.”
No. Truth be told, he’d barely spoken to his mother in what felt like weeks. Remorse stung, swearing louder than any blue-worded email from disappointed fellow ranchers.
“So you don’t know where she is?”
“No.” She gestured to his two-way radio, lying half-buried under another pile of bank statements. “Can you call the guys, see if anyone’s seen her?”
“Sure.” He snatched it up, rose, and followed his sister as she made a quick pass of all the rooms. His chest tensed. Okay, so this was concerning. He stabbed the button that would alert Denny and all hands. “Anyone seen my mom?”
He winced at how that sounded, like a lost little boy. But that was how he felt most days. Lost. Drowning in a sea of paperwork, debt, and fears.
The walkie-talkie crackled. “No boss.”
“No, sir.”
“Nope.”
“Sorry.”
“Lo siento.”
“Keep an eye out for her and let me know.”
There came a bunch of affirmations and he shoved the radio in his pocket, his gut clenching.
“So where is she?” He veered to the bunkhouses as Ellie hurried to the barn. With over 250 acres of land, someone could easily lose their way if they strayed too far. And while he’d tried to assure Lexi that wolves didn’t attack humans, he didn’t want to take chances with Mom. Especially as she was looking kind of frail these days.
“Mom? Are you in here?” He pushed open the door to one of the old bunkhouse rooms.
It was dark, the musty scent and dust that flew as he flicked on the light suggesting no one had been here for months. Still, it was worth checking. He peered into the furthest corner, even checked under the bottom bunks. No luck.
He closed the door and did the same in the next two rooms as well. Still nothing. Where was she?
Another room, this one occupied by Felipe. He moved to open the door, feeling a little funny checking here without them, when the walkie-talkie crackled again.
“I got her.” Denny.
“Where are you?”
“Down near the machinery shed.”
The machinery shed? What was she doing there? “I’ll be right there.”
