The Scars That Make Us (Second Generation Book 3)

Chapter 42

JACE

“Jace, what the hell is going on out there today?” Lawry, one of the part-time ranchers Granger recently hired comes riding into the cattle holding area where I was getting ready for the vet’s visit tomorrow. 

“What are you talking about?”

“I was out in the front field on my lunch break and a line of cars starts pulling in, scared the shit out of the horse. Had to a hell of a time getting him to come back this way.”

“I don’t know, we don’t have any scheduled deliveries. Maybe Bev does for the reception hall.”

“Nah man, this isn’t deliveries, it’s like people, guests, or something.”

I put down my clipboard and start walking towards the main entrance of the farm when I see Mitch and Granger storming out of the main stable, both of them with a shotgun in their hands. I up my pace from a walk to a jog to catch up with them. “Hey, what the fuck is going on?”

“Jace, where the hell is your phone?” I press my back pocket, realizing my phone is missing. I start to talk, but Granger cuts me off. “No time to talk, get up to your place quickly and make sure Catarina is okay.”

“Why wouldn’t Cat be okay? What the fuck is going on, Granger?”

“I don’t know everything yet, but Tracy called and said a line of guys that look like reporters just pulled in and tried to swarm her. Asher got her into your place, but more are showing up. We need to lock the ranch down. Go!”

My mind goes a million miles a minute. I don’t understand all the things that he said, but I heard I needed to make sure my wife was safe and that was my number one goal. I booked it down the path between the barns and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I used my key to unlock the door and when I opened it, Nola and Catarina were curled up on the couch while Dante was looking out the window.

“Jace!” She tries to get up, but I don’t let her get the chance. I make my way to her and pull her into my chest. “I’m so glad you’re here now. I was so worried. I tried to call, but I wasn’t getting any answer.”

“I’m so sorry. My phone wasn’t on me. I don’t know where I left it. Maybe in the saddlebag from when I was out riding. I’m here now. Tell me what happened.”

I run my hand through her hair while the other rests on her stomach. I take deep long breaths, hoping to calm her breathing and keep her from getting too worked up. “We were over at the big house for breakfast. We started walking back here and this van came out of nowhere. It was driving so quickly, I swear I almost thought it was going to hit us.”

“What? It didn’t, did it?”

She shakes her head against my chest. “No, no. Asher covered me with his body and started moving me out of the way, but then two people jumped out, a lady with some microphone and a camera guy. She started shouting questions at me, questions about things she shouldn’t know about. I don’t know how they found out I was here or about those other things.”

“I tried to get them out of here,” Dante stated, “but all of them told me to watch myself. They didn’t want me touching them on camera and shit.” I nod my appreciation of him.

“Asher told me to come up here and lock the door. I did and I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer!”

“I’m so sorry, baby. I swear I will always triple check where my phone is from now on. God, I am so sorry. You’re okay though, right? Not hurt?”