“He’s shaking his head,” Chloe said.“Says he can ride Red or Magic.”
Beau was turning out to be more like the rest than anyone gave him credit for.He’d definitely picked up the stubborn gene.
“We can find her, but we’ll need all hands on deck,” Chloe said.
“Not Nikki.”
“She’s resting after the ordeal.”
“And the pregnancy?”he asked.He didn’t have the first clue how to take care of a pregnancy early on, but traipsing around in the woods in danger couldn’t possibly be on the list.
“So far, so good,” Chloe said.She had the most experience, considering she’d borne Grayson.“The OB says Nikki should rest for a few days just to be sure.”
He had even more respect for what women went through when it came to having children.They were warriors.
Cassie would want to hear this news, too.He wanted to be the one to tell her.
For the first time since she had taken off, he had hope that they would find her.Stay alive until we can get to you.
Finding her safe and sound was not guaranteed.
“Who’s meeting me?”he asked.
“That would be Kade and Owen,” Chloe supplied.Three people in a group was probably overkill, but he wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.The three of them could figure out how to split the territory once they met in person.
“I’ll head that way.Tell them to meet me in the middle.If they leave now, we’ll see each other in roughly half an hour.”The midpoint.They could split from there.He’d send his brothers back toward the house as he headed toward the small cattle ranch.
“Okay, Hudson.In the meantime, stay safe out there.”
“You know I will.”
“Okay, then.Let’s go.”Chloe ended the call.
Hudson’s cell buzzed while still in his hand.He checked the screen.Marcus?
Cassie tripped and faceplanted.Her left shoulder landed hard on a pointed object.She immediately sat up and scanned the area for signs of a predator.Once she was reassured that she was alone, she checked her shoulder and the ground.She’d landed on a rock that felt like the pointed edges of scissors.Her shirt was torn.Blood leaked from a puncture wound.
Shit.
Thank the stars she wasn’t swimming in the ocean where this would be enough blood to draw sharks from a mile away.Out here in the woods, she had a chance of not drawing attention.
But first, she needed to stem the bleeding.
What the hell was she doing?Had it been a mistake to come out here, thinking she could make it to see Christian?
Dying before she got the chance to look at her son hadn’t occurred to her.Every gust of wind or bird chirp caused her to jump.Someone was out here, trying to snatch her.The mountain lion threat wouldn’t go away.
Frustration nipped at her, but determination was stronger.
Once she had the injury under control, she pushed herself to her feet and continued marching on.
“Hey,”Hudson said to Marcus, immediately answering the call.
“There’s been a mountain lion attack,” Marcus said after perfunctory greetings.“I’ll send the location.”
“Who reported it?”Hudson held his breath, half-afraid of the answer.
“An anonymous caller,” Marcus said.