you called his attorney in Helena?” Jim asked. “I don’t know all the details, but he was hell-bent to sell the ranch. I just assumed this had something to do with the sale.”
“I’ve spoken with Ross Anderson,” Tessa said, remembering her telephone conversation with the young lawyer. “He hasn’t heard a word.”
“It’s not like Denver,” Van Stern remarked.
Tessa knew she was grasping at straws, that the possibility that Denver had heard from Colton was remote, but nothing else made any sense. She asked, “Could he have left because of his brother? He said he wanted to stay in L.A. until he heard from Colton.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it. I don’t think they’ve seen each other in years. Ever since that fire.”
“Right,” Tessa said, sick with worry. She stared out the kitchen window and wondered where Denver was. Why hadn’t he called again? “If he phones you, please ask him to call me.”
“Will do,” Van Stern said before hanging up.
Tessa leaned against the wall. Her stomach rumbled. Her head was pounding, she ached all over. She hadn’t slept well. She’d only dozed, and her dreams, when she had drifted off, had been filled with Denver. They’d been lying on the sand, the sea breeze ruffling his hair, the water lapping at her skirt, and he’d kissed her, long and hard, only stopping to vow that he loved her—
“Tessa?” a female voice called, accompanied by pounding on the front door.
“Coming!” Tessa hurried down the hall, swung open the door and found Cassie Aldridge standing on the front porch.
“Hi. Mitch called Craig yesterday.”
“He did?” Tessa said before remembering.
Cassie nodded. “He had a couple of calves he wanted me to check out.”
“Oh, right. They’re in the barn. I’ll come with you.”
“I can find my way,” Cassie offered with a smile. “Isn’t that where I examined Brigadier?”
“Yes.”
Cassie’s black hair gleamed in the afternoon sun. “I was at the Edwards ranch the other day,” she said as they walked toward the barn. “Brigadier’s as good as new.”
Tessa’s heart turned over. “Ornery as ever?”
Cassie laughed. “He tried to take a bite out of my back side. Fortunately, I’m quick.”
Chuckling, Tessa opened the door and snapped on the lights. The two calves were still in the stall, but they were both on their feet. At the sight of Tessa, they began to bawl.
“Hungry?” she asked.
Cassie opened the gate and caught the first calf. He tried to struggle free. The heifer, too, backed away. “They look good to me,” Cassie said, examining first one calf, then the other. Both animals tried to escape, running into each other and nearly knocking Cassie down. “Mitch said he thought they’d eaten pine needles.”
“No one said they were Rhodes scholars,” Tessa replied, and Cassie smiled—a wide feminine smile.
“Well I don’t see any reason to keep them penned up any longer.”
“Good.”
Together, they herded the rambunctious calves outside. The ruddy heifer and steer took off, tails switching, galloping through the dry field toward the rest of the herd.
“Thanks for stopping by,” Tessa said as she walked Cassie back to her truck.
“No problem. I’ll send you a bill.” Cassie’s hazel eyes gleamed and her mouth curved into a feminine smile. She climbed into the cab and leaned out the window. “Is Denver around?”
Tessa rammed her hands deep into the pockets of her jeans. “I don’t know where he is,” she admitted, wondering at the ease with which she confided in a woman she barely knew. “He was in California, but he left.”
Jamming her key into the ignition, Cassie asked, “Has he heard anything from Colton?”
“Not a word,” Tessa said.
“I guess that’s not a big surprise.” Cassie slid a pair of sunglasses onto her nose. Her mouth twisted wryly. “I don’t think there’s enough adventure or danger in this world to keep Colton McLean satisfied.”
“Probably not,” Tessa agreed, her thoughts with Denver, wherever he was.
“I’ll see you around. Let me know if those calves relapse.” Cassie stepped on the throttle and waved as she drove away. Tessa watched the white truck ramble down the drive and wished she had some inkling about Denver. Where was he? Frowning, she walked back to the house.
* * *
Get up! she told herself nearly a week later, but couldn’t find the energy. She hadn’t heard a word from Denver. Not one lousy word! “A lot he cares,” she grumbled as she tossed off the sheets, then gasped when she felt the overpowering urge to vomit. She barely made it to the bathroom where she retched for a full ten minutes.
Sweat collected