Big Game: Hunted Love #1 Read Free

brood mares ranging wild over the several thousand acres of land they owned, and even on the leased government range land. Each herd had its own stallion to breed the mares, and every fall, the hands went out and caught the mares up, administered vaccinations and parasite control, culled out any unfit to continue living wild, and separated the weanling aged foals out. Over the coming winter, the foals would begin to become acquainted with humans.
    That year, when a herd came in without a stallion, Chaser was allowed to take over the harem. It had been the perfect solution, and it was the first time her father took Kate seriously on anything related to the ranch operations. Afterward, she became less Daddy’s Little Angel and more his protégé, in serious training with the full expectation she would take over running the ranch when the time arrived. And so she had.
    Chaser’s death seemed like the end of an era. Even though she had taken over operating the ranch for the most part a few years ago, her father had always been there for backup. When he died, of course that changed and she had no one to fall back on. But as long as Chaser roamed, she had a connection with him, no matter how tenuous. Now it was gone, and she was truly on her own.
    She sighed, and forced herself to open the porch door. The momma hound pushed her way past Kate’s legs, anxious to get back her pups after going out to stretch her legs and relieve herself while Kate tucked the horses in. Hearing their mother, the pups set up a cacophony of baby howls, forcing a smile to Kate’s lips. Very soon they would be ready to learn to be ranch dogs.
    And Kate would continue her lonely existence, with only horses and dogs and gossipy neighbors for company. The prospect hadn’t seemed so bleak even just a few hours ago. Now the future stretched before her in an endless black hole. She wouldn’t have a husband and children, of course. No man wanted a disfigured woman, especially one who couldn’t have babies.
    One of the pups squalled in fear, having wondered too far from the blanket to find his way back the dinner table. Momma dog huff ed , but didn’t move from where she was already nursing her other five pups. The pup squalled louder and Kate took pity on him and scooped him up by his scruff and deposited him where he could find his mother again. Whimpering, the pup crawled the two feet and settled in contentedly to nurse with his siblings.
    Kate sighed, pushed the depression away forcefully, and continued on into the house. The answering machine on the utility counter flashed a new message. She almost walked on by and left it, but guilt dictated she check.
    “Uh, Miss Holt? Jakob Barger here. You asked about my uncle Frank hunting a lion for you. Frank won’t be able to, but if it’s okay with you, I can come track it down for you. Give me a call back as soon as possible. If I leave tonight, I can be at your place in the morning and get started.”
    That was it. And of course she had no choice if she wanted to stop that mountain lion from eating her horses. Her hand shook slightly as she hit the caller ID and returned his call. At least one advantage for the modern phone. The thought made her smile and she was a bit unprepared with Jakob Barger answered.
    “Miss Holt?”
    “Uh, yes. You’re willing to come track the lion down?”
    “I am. In fact, I already have my dogs loaded and my horses caught up.”
    “Good. We’ll see you in the morning then?”
    “Yes, Ma’am.”
    “Great, I’m…” she trailed off. Dead air. The bastard had hung up already, not bothering with directions, or to negotiate price. What if he got here and she wasn’t willing to pay his price? Guess he’d have a drive back for nothing then.
     

Chapter Three
     
    Jakob double checked the latches on the truck kennels and shoved the tote into the tight gap between the kennels. The large tote was filled with vacuum sealed packets of dried meat, intended to provide the dogs