Love on the Horizon (A Northern Woods Novel) Read Online Free

and turned onto the road that led to his neighbor’s property, one
mile south. When he approached the dwelling, the security lights came on, which
enabled him to search the area carefully. His neighbor hired him to take care
of the grounds when she moved to New Mexico.
    He quickly searched the acreage
and found no sign of his son or his dog. He cut across the meadow, while he
carefully shone the spotlight ahead of the Jeep and off to the side, giving him
a bright, open view. He spotted Garrett driving slowly along the side of the
dirt road.
    “Garrett! I’m making a stop at
the house to check on Mariah. Meet me at the stable in ten minutes and we’ll
both head out on horseback.”
    “Okay boss, I’ll have the horses
waiting. Kim just arrived. She’s in the house with Mariah.”
    “Thanks, I’ll be right back.”
    When Garrett Johnson had come
looking for work, Nick had known him to be the best horse whisperer in
Brockenridge County. Nick hired him on the spot. He and his wife Kim have a
house in the city of Huntington, about twenty miles west of Pinewood Hills.
    He hurried in to check on Mariah
and found her in the living room, rocking back and forth, in a deep trance. She
was staring out the window and didn’t respond to him. He softly called her
name. Kim approached from the kitchen carrying two cups of coffee and handed
one to Nick.
    “She’ll be okay. She was sitting
on the porch when I arrived. We talked for a bit, and then I led her into the
house. I gave her a mild sedative. She’ll be fine.”
    Mariah noticed him standing next
to her, and she smiled when he knelt down beside her. He kissed her on the
cheek and placed an afghan across her lap.
    “We’ll find him, honey, don’t
worry. Everyone is out searching. Lucky will take good care of him, you know
that don’t you?” She nodded with a faint smile. “I’m going back out now. You
sit and have a nice visit with Kim. I’ll be home as soon as we locate him.
    “Thanks Kim, I appreciate your
coming by.”
    “No problem,” she said with a
look of concern. “We’ll be fine, don’t worry. I’ll keep her safe.”
    He nodded, then placed his
Stetson on his head and hurried out to the stable where Garrett waited
patiently, the horses saddled and ready to go.
    * * *
    After the men had been searching
for a couple of hours and still hadn’t found Nicky, Art phoned the Pinewood
Hills Police Department. They arrived at the Colburn Stables Ranch within ten
minutes, and the Huntington Police Department appeared soon after, bringing
with them a search and rescue police dog. With four hundred acres of land to
cover, they knew it might lead to a long night.
    When Kim convinced Mariah to take
a nap, she began working in the kitchen, making sandwiches and coffee for the
men. It was becoming very late, and a few of them would stop in for a break now
and then, to grab a bite to eat. She made sure there was enough food and coffee
ready for them at all times. Many nearby neighbors joined in the search, along
with volunteers from Huntington. The late-night news showed a recent picture of
Nicky, with his age and description.
    At four a.m., Nick appeared in
the doorway. The look on his face told Kim that he had no good word yet. She
sat him down at the table and poured him a cup of coffee.
    “Is Mariah sleeping?” he asked
quietly.
    “I gave her another sedative
around two a.m., and she fell into a deep sleep soon after.”
    “Will that be safe for her? I’m
assuming you know that she’s expecting?”
    “Yes, I’m aware of that. Don’t
worry, Nick. It’s only a mild sedative; Chamomile is one of the gentlest herbal
sleep aids, and safe for pregnant women.”
    “Thank you so much, Kim. I don’t
know what I would have done if Garrett hadn’t been able to reach you.”
    “I’ve been working the graveyard
shift this week, and luckily, I have tonight and tomorrow night off.” Kim was a
nurse at the Huntington Urgent Care Center.
    After a couple bites of