CHAPTER23
JAX
It’s after ten by the time I wake up. The last few days must be catching up with me. I pull on my jeans and head downstairs. Aunt Molly is in the kitchen with one of the ranch hands, Cody.
“Morning, sleepy head,” she says with a smile.
“Morning,” I say as I eye the remainder of some fresh pancakes. “Any of those left or did this guy eat them all?” I pat Cody on the back.
“I didn’t get no pancakes,” Cody grumbles. “Only for guests, apparently.”
“Cody Jessop!” Molly says as she gives him a slap around the ear. “You had four eggs and half a pack of bacon, you ungrateful ass.”
“Sorry, Molly,” he chuckles as he stands and takes his plate to the sink.
“Lucia and Matthias are up?”
She smiles at me. “Yep. Up with the birds, those two.”
“And where are they now?” I frown because I don’t hear Matthias and that kid is always laughing or chattering.
“They went off exploring.”
“Exploring?” I frown. “Where?”
“Beats me. They took a backpack with water and some fruit and said they’d be back for lunch.”
“You just let them go wandering off on their own?” I snap as my heart starts racing in my chest.
“She’s a grown woman,” Molly snaps back, “and she seems pretty capable of taking her son for a walk if you ask me.”
I shake my head. I shouldn’t have snapped at her like that. “She’s in danger, Molly. Why did you think I brought her here?”
“What?” Her hand flies to her face. “When you said she was in some trouble, I assumed…”
“What?” I frown.
“I don’t know, maybe she was pregnant and wanted to hide it from her father or something? Or she had a bad break up?”
“Fuck!” I run my hands through my hair.
“I’m sure she’s fine. We could take a couple of horses and go look for them?” Cody offers.
“Yeah. They’re just out exploring. We’ll go find them.”
As our horses stroll through the fields, I see the outline of two unmistakable figures up ahead and my heart starts to pound in my chest. Matthias is holding onto his momma’s hand as she limps beside him.
Fuck. She’s hurt.
I squeeze my thighs and give Bastian a nudge with my heels and he picks up his pace as we head toward them. Cody spots them too and he follows me.
Lucia looks up as we approach, squinting in the bright mid-morning sun. I jump off my horse and walk over to them.
“Jax.” Matthias squeals.
“Hey, buddy. What happened?” I direct my question to Lucia but Matthias answers.
“Momma fell over.”