Page 35 of August’s Cowboy Braxton

Come alone, or she learns what happens when you stop listening.

Braxton took one look. “Where is she?”

“I saw her twenty minutes ago with the rest of the girls.”

We split up. I checked the staging area and contestant tent while he headed toward the arena.

Nothing. My pulse climbed with every place she wasn’t.

Then laughter drifted from the livestock pens. I rounded the corner and almost sagged against the fence. Martina stood next to her mother, feeding a carrot to one of the horses. She was safe.

I crouched down next to her. “Can I see your bracelet again?”

She held up a bare wrist. “A nice lady borrowed it.”

Braxton went still behind me.

I kept my voice light. “What lady?”

Martina frowned, trying to remember. “She said it was pretty and wanted a picture for Royalty Weekend.”

Her mother stepped closer. “She told us she’d bring it back before we finished for the night.”

“How long ago was that?” I smiled at both of them, not wanting to cause concern.

“After waving practice.”

That was almost half an hour ago. “Do you remember what she looked like?”

“She had brown hair. And one of those shirts.”

Martina pointed toward a volunteer in a Mustang Mountain Rodeo Association polo. It was the same one worn by most of the staff.

I hugged her before standing. “Thanks for letting us know. I’ll find your bracelet.”

Braxton scanned the crowd. “She used the bracelet to make you think she had the kid.”

“She knew exactly what would get me moving.”

My phone buzzed again.

Stock office. Five minutes.

I showed him.

The stock office sat beyond the contestant area. Far enough from the crowd for privacy. Close enough not to look suspicious.

Movement caught my eye. Evie was coming toward us.

Braxton saw her too. “Stay with the plan,” he murmured.

My pulse kicked harder. Evie reached us wearing the same concerned expression I’d trusted for years.

“There you are. One of the junior contestants is crying by the stock office. She asked for you.”

Braxton shifted beside me. “What girl?”

Evie blinked. “One of the younger ones. I didn’t ask her name.”