Publication date: February 6th, 2024
Synopsis:
Can they find her son in time?
Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts.
Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything's on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He's not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch.
Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking ehr son with them.
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Excerpt
Sophie Cayes's tummy twisted when she read the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Celebration leaflet, MMIW for short. Jeannette, one of the gallery's consortium members, had given her the brochure before Sophie taught her morning art lesson.
Her angst heightened at the thought of standing on the stage in Elmo, talking about Bria's murder. All eyes on her. In seven days. She hugged herself. Nope. A hard pass. Besides, her hands were full with her abusive ex-husband's attempt to rip Basin away from her.
She set the flyer on the worktable next to a tote of paintbrushes. "I can't." Saying her sister's name? In a crowd? When she couldn't even say it in private without unraveling? No way. She plucked a paper towel off the countertop, her body trembling like ripples on a lake in a stiff breeze. She needed to focus on retaining full custody of her son. "Think about it. And remember, I got your back. With Basin. With your lessons. With the celebration." Jeannette headed to the gallery showroom.
Sophie turned to her art student, Natalie, when the front door's bell chimed, and Matt's deep-timbre voice stormed into the room. "Where's Sophie?"
Oh, God, no. Not here. Not today. Wiping her quivering hands on her apron, she hurried to the gallery. The sight of him made her cringe inside. She couldn't afford a disfigured reputation, not when she needed prestigious galleries and museums to take her seriously.
"What are you doing here, Matt?" Sophie glanced at Jeannette and shook her head. Disgust and dread slinked down her throat and settled into her stomach. Why hadn't she turned Matt in for abuse years ago? Then maybe she wouldn't have a custody battle on her hands. She hated how terrified of him she used to be. Still was. Oh, how she'd love to be in a peaceful place where she could paint, and her son could grow up without his vicious father lurking on weekends and holidays.
Jeannette slid her cell out of her pocket.
Glad her friend had offered to be the bad guy and call the cops if he happened to show up, Sophie kept an eye on her. She hadn't expected Matt to drop in. At least not today.
"Thought you had your pack test."
"Got done early."
"What about your survival refresher training? Don't they do it all in one day?"
"You know I have it in the afternoons." He encroached on her personal bubble, and she took a step back. Then another, feeling like she'd pass out. "I want Basin for the weekend. Olivia wants to take him to the River Honoring on Monday morning."
Matt's new wife wants him again. Are you kidding me? No. Definitely not. The River Honoring, held by the Flathead River, hosted elementary-aged kids who went from station to station learning various skills about nature, energy, and culture. Certainly no place for a four-year-old with breathing issues. "She wants him all week, actually."
All week? Her heart punched her rib cage. "It's supposed to rain. You know he has trouble--"
"Geeze, Sophie. He'll be fine. Quit hovering over him like a--"
She backed up a step and glared. Get out of here! "Fine."
Matt always got his way. If not, he'd slap her. She needed to agree with him and get him out of the gallery before he made a scene. Before Jeannette called the cops. And she wasn't familiar enough with Natalie to know if the woman would spread gossip or not. She certainly didn't need to be the talk of the rez. "I'll bring him over after dinner." Or not.
"No need. Olivia's picking him up at childcare."
Dirty bugger. The blonde bomb had no business picking up her son. She struggled to keep her tone even. "I didn't agree to her picking him up today."
"She's on her way to his day care now." He held up his key to her house. The one she'd sworn she'd gotten back. "I'll get his stuff." He turned with a smirk on his face and left. No, no, no. Why had she agreed?
CARMEN PEONE is an award-winning author who loves to write inspirational stories of hope, healing, & horses that lead to happily ever after.
She is one of the few authors who has not always dreamed of writing. It found her. Spupaleena, Carmen's character in the True to Heart Trilogy hounded her until she told her story. Carmen soon learned how much she loved writing and creating stories with strong female characters.
Besides Carmen's infinite love for her Dingo Daisy Mae, may she now rest in peace, she loves horses. They brighten dark days, get creative juices flowing when in a slump, and put smiles on the faces of those who visit with them. You can see Buck and Cash on the covers of the True to Heart Trilogy.
You are invited to subscribe to Carmen's blog and learn about various cultural traditions and life on the reservation as well as Incredible Western Women and fellow author's new releases. When you sign up for Connect with Carmen, you can receive 3 free gifts as a thank you: Gentling the Cowboy, a contemporary western romance novella; A Horse Lover's Manifesto; and a contemporary western romance short story, Arami's Hope.
Carmen is represented by Linda S. Glaz Literary Agency.
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