Montana Hearts by Darlene Panzera Read Free Book Online Page B

Delaney. That must have been hard on her family. No wonder she had to take on extra photography jobs.
    â€œThey have a stall where Rio can heal,” Jace said, picking up the blanket and tucking it around her again. “And I can get from Fox Creek to Bozeman in a half hour if you need me.”
    â€œHopefully we won’t ,” Natalie said with a scowl, then she gave him an apologetic look. “But it sure is good to see you, Jace. I missed you.”
    â€œWe both missed you,” his mother said, and arched her brow. “Maybe while you’re here you can visit a few realtors and see about buying a ranch up here?”
    He grinned. “Instead of going back to Arizona?”
    â€œI can’t have you raising my grandchildren three states away,” she warned.
    â€œMom, I’d bet my best buckle Nat has kids before me.”
    â€œAnd right now neither one of us is even dating,” Nat chimed in. “Right, Jace?”
    â€œRight,” he agreed. “Although I do have my eye on Delaney Collins, and hope she might help change that status in the near future.”
    His mother laughed. “In that case, I like her already. If you won’t stay up here in Montana for me, maybe you’ll stay here for her.”
    Although his mother and sister were all smiles when he left, the threatening letter his mother had received stayed fixed in his mind. Deciding he should do something about it, Jace drove his truck up the familiar dirt lane leading to Bucky Knowles’s old ranch just ten minutes away. His best friend’s father had been a game warden for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for years, and had recently become an undercover agent. No doubt he’d know the general location of a poacher or two.
    When he knocked at the door, both Buck and his father invited him in for coffee. It didn’t take long for Jace to explain why he was there. “If you hear of any poachers who might be responsible for the threat to my mother, you’ll let me know?”
    â€œOf course,” Eli Knowles said, and leaned forward, placing his hand on Jace’s shoulder. “But you might be able to help me as well.”
    â€œHelp you?” Jace looked the man straight in the eye. “How?”
    â€œYou said you’re going to be staying in Fox Creek?” When Jace nodded, Eli continued. “I’ve been hearing rumors about a big poaching ring in that area. And you—­a wealthy rodeo star who’s known to love a good hunt—­are exactly the kind of person these outfitters like to lure in with promises of catching big game. You could do some investigating, keep your eyes and ears open as you visit a few of the neighboring ranches.”
    Jace nodded. “I could find out who threatened my mother.”
    â€œMaybe,” Eli agreed. “But poaching is a huge problem across the entire state, not just in Fox Creek. There’s just not enough game wardens to uncover them all. The threat to your mother could have come from any of them.”
    â€œI know,” Jace said. “But if I manage to find one illegal outfitting operation, they might have information on some of the others.”
    â€œNow don’t go getting yourself into any trouble,” Eli warned.
    Jace grinned. “Do I ever?”
    Buck laughed. “Always.”
    â€œRemember, if you come across anything, you need to contact me ,” Eli said, giving him a stern look.
    Jace gave the man an affirmative nod. “Understood, sir.”
    â€œGuess that means traveling with me down to the rodeo in Reno this weekend is out of the question,” Bucky said, and slapped Jace on the shoulder. “I wish you luck.”
    â€œYou, too,” he told him, and with a pang of regret Jace realized this would be the first big rodeo he’d miss in over five years. “Win one for the both of us.”
    T H U R S D A Y M O R N I N G , D E L A N E Y rode her