Page 57 of Lost and Found Cowboy

“That’s more like it. And we’re going to do itnow. Just to make sure you don’t have time to change your mind or try to get your boyfriend involved.”

“Now?”

“Yeah, I Googled how to transfer ownership of a business, and you just have to sign the deed over to me and it’s done.”

Could it really be that easy to lose her business and her entire livelihood?

“I’m sorry. I don’t have the original deed here. I only have a copy. It’s a commercial property so they have it on file at the courthouse.”

“I know that. I’m not an idiot. They keep them at the Clerk and Recorder’s office. Which is where we’re going now. They open at nine.”

Her shoulders sagged. Hewasan idiot.

But he also had her trapped. And her kids meant more to her than anything else in the world. She would do anything for them. Including giving up the property her grandmother had left her.

She could always get another job. But she couldn’t live without her kids. And she would die before she let Lyle take them away from her.

“Okay, I’ll go with you. My sitter should be here any minute.” She glanced at the clock. It was almost nine. Gertie should havebeen here by now. She pulled her phone from her pocket. “I just need to call her to make sure she’s on her way.”

Lyle slapped the phone from her hand, and it went flying across the floor and landed under the corner of the sofa. “You don’t need to call anyone. They’ll be fine.” He shoved Max toward the sofa and pointed at Izzy, who was sound asleep in the swing. “The baby’s asleep, and Max is old enough to be able to stay by himself for five minutes.” He glared down at her as Max clambered away, hiding himself and the dog behind the arm of the couch. “You can’t trick me. I know you’re up to something trying to make a phone call.”

“No. I swear I’m not. I just don’t want to leave my kids all by themselves.”

She wasn’t expecting the slap as he backhanded her across the face. Pain exploded in her cheek, and tears stung her eyes. She raised her hands in defense, cowering back.

He grabbed her by the ponytail and yanked at her hair. “They’remykids, too. And I say they’re fine. So, get your fucking purse. We’re leaving. Now.”

She bit back a sob, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry as he dragged her across the floor by the ponytail. He picked up her crossbody and threw it at her, the clasp of it catching her lip before falling into her lap.

She heard Max crying from behind the sofa and tried to make her tone light. “It’s okay, Maxxie. Mommy’s just gonna take a little ride with daddy. Gertie will be here any minute. You watch your sister. I love you.”

Lyle yanked her to her feet and wrapped his arm around her, gripping her by the forearm as he guided her toward his car.

Gotta keep up appearances.In case any of the neighbors looked out the window. Make it look like they were just a sweet couple walking across the lawn.

Her gaze cast up and down the street, searching for signs of Gertie’s car or the woman walking down the sidewalk, but she was nowhere in sight.

Lorna prayed for her children’s safety as Lyle opened the car door and shoved her inside.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Mack stuck his foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle. He patted Zeus’s neck. “Let’s go home, boy.”

It felt good to say that. And the Lassiter Ranch really did feel like his home now. But he was starting to feel like his home might be in another place as well—with Lorna and the kids. Being with them just felt easy, right, and he was happy when he was around them.

He let out a sigh as Zeus plodded toward the ranch. In his experience, just about the time he was starting to feel happy was when the rug got pulled out from under him.

His phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his pocket to see a Face Time request from Lorna. He was already smiling when he accepted the call, thinking she’d get a kick out of talking to him while he was out riding his horse. “Good morning, beautiful. Do you miss me already?”

Max’s terrified face filled the screen.

“Hey buddy, what’s going on?” he asked, already spurring the horse to move faster as panic tightened his chest.

The boy’s bottom lip trembled, and Mack could tell from his red eyes that he’d been crying. “My daddy was here, and he took my mommy.”

“What do you meantookher?”

“He said he was taking her to the courthouse to see the clerk and re-order.”

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