In Love by Christmas: A Paranormal Romance Read Free

Indians’ wild horses and their transport to Will’s Montana ranch. Then she excused herself. Had her exodus been planned, Will wondered?
    Grandfather coughed, and then said, “I told Leroy of your daughter, Will Duane. He wants to help her.”
    Will’s eyes stung and swam with tears. The shaman was going to help him. Maybe it would be OK. “I worry about her every day. She’s a heroin addict, Leroy, a very bad one. Before that, she was an alcoholic.” His hands quivered.
    “I don’t know where she is. I want to find her and get her into treatment.” His face tightened. “She’s been hospitalized before. A lot of times. Nothing worked. See if you can find her and get her someplace where she can be treated. I can’t say how much it would mean to me.”
    Will jumped up and returned minutes later, his nose blown and eyes wiped, clutching an album. Will flipped through it. It was mostly horse show pictures and a few from ballet recitals. Leroy turned the page and stopped at the only informal one in the book: an eight by ten of Cass galloping a cow pony across a creek. Cass was laughing, mouth wide open, head back. She had dark hair and pale skin.
    “She was almost fourteen, just a young girl.” Will’s eyes filled again.
    Leroy studied the photo. Will could see he was smitten. He hadn’t breathed since he took the scrapbook. His eyes glistened as he picked the book up to examine the photo more closely.
    Grandfather studied the photo and smiled. “You will find her, Leroy. No one else in the world can.” The young man looked uncertainly at his grandfather. “You’re soul mates, Leroy. I’m certain of it. The energy never lies. The Great One created you to be each other’s perfect mates.” He sat back with a satisfied grin.
    “I’ll help you,” Leroy said. “When do you want me to start?”
    “Right after dinner? I have a feeling that she’s in terrible danger. She’s in New York City somewhere. You’ll need help finding her and getting her free.”
    “I can find her by myself.”
    “You may be able to find her, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to get her away from whoever’s got her.” Will’s mouth tightened. “I give her money. I know what they’ll do to her if she can’t pay. I can’t stand thinking of that. She’s a golden goose to them—guaranteed income. That’s why they keep her alive and why they’ll fight to keep her. Enzo Donatore is behind her condition. Did your grandfather tell you about him?”
    Leroy nodded. “He is the devil in human form. He caused the massacre here.”
    “Never forget that. Donatore tried to kill me twice this week. Grandfather is the only reason I’m alive. Donatore wants to steal your soul and make you into his slave forever.” Will stopped talking, ran his hand through his hair, and looked around wildly.
    “You need to get going. I have some people at home who will be valuable in extracting her, wherever she is. Hannah Herhrman is my chief of security. She’s a former Israeli commando. Hannah loves Cass. She was her unofficial babysitter. I’ll send her and some of her operatives to New York. You should also take Doug Saunders. He’s here at the Meeting. He has connections and knows how to get places you don’t. Can you leave right away?”
    Leroy nodded.
    One of the warriors approached cautiously and said, “Leroy, want to drum?”
    Leroy looked at his grandfather.
    “Go ahead, Leroy. For a few minutes.” Turning to Will, he said, “Leroy is the best drummer in all the Nations. He is the best drummer I have ever heard. Maybe the best in the world. Because of Leroy, we beat the Northern Salmon six years in a row.”
    Will thought Grandfather was exaggerating. He had no idea what he was talking about with the salmon. But very soon, he noticed a change in the music coming from the Pit. It had cohesion; it had rhythm, and power. The sound Leroy created was magnetic. Will had absolutely no musical abilities. He couldn’t even clap in