Page 103 of Thaw My Heart

“Kit!” Sadie calls out. “I found something.”

We all dismount, heading towards Sadie. She points to a fenceline that’s been cut. Almost hidden between the pines.

“Goddamnit,” I mutter, grabbing the high-tensile wire.

“And over there,” she points to a few fallen trees in the distance, making a clearing to the road. “They must’ve cut through that way.”

Straight into Aspen Hollow, where there would be at least five B-double trucks stocked full of cattle branded with our signature. There’s no way that someone didn’t notice them.

Whoever did this is a damn fool.

“Here,” Blake hands me a pair of pliers to fix the fenceline. My hands get to work, closing it off so nothing else gets through.

“Well, they knew what they were doing,” Cole mutters, getting down on his knees next to me in the snow.

“Except they weren’t very smart.” I connect another wire. “We should electrify this. Teach those bastards to try this again.” Electrify it and set up cameras. It would be some good entertainment in the Mess Hall.

Cole nods. “That’s a great idea.”

“I’m sorry, this is a goddamn nightmare.”

Cole chuckles, a raspy laugh. “You’re handling it well.” I huff a laugh, not believing him. “I would’ve lost my shit by now.”

My uncle is generally a steady man, but I do recall the few times I’ve seen him “lose his shit” in the past. However, the only arguments I’ve ever seen between Cole and Annie were about the ranch. Because of how much it meant to him. “Well, why aren’t you now?” Since my promotion, all that’s been happening is chaos.

He had every right to be losing his shit.

“Age is a funny thing. Things that would’ve set me off when I was younger no longer bother me. After fifty years of working on a ranch, you learn to just take the punches. Roll with it, as the young ones say.” He pauses. “And most importantly,” his eyes meet mine, “I trust you.”

A wall of warmth fills me.

Pain flashes across Cole’s face. He coughs once, clearing his throat, but then he coughs again. Harder this time. My arms wrap around him, holding him before he falls over. His hand flies up to his mouth, trying to stop, but he starts coughing so hard his face is turning blue.

“Cole, what’s wrong?” Sadie asks, brows furrowing with worry.

Cole stops for a moment, pulling his hand back from his mouth, revealing a pool of blood in his palm. Dripping into the snow. His worried eyes meet mine, and all I can see is his fear.

“Get him home,” my voice shakes.

He never should’ve come with us. He should be home resting. He shouldn’t be out in the fields because of my failure to keep the herd safe.

Blake takes him from my arms, helping him to his horse. Quickly, I tie off the rest of the wires, glancing back to see Cole on his horse and Blake mounted up, ready to go.

Sadie stands hesitantly by my side. Thick snowflakes brush against her nose and coat.

“Go with them, Sadie.”

Worry fills her brown eyes. “What about you?”

“There’s a cabin not too far from here. I’ll borrow a truck and head into town. See what I can find out.” It’s the best plan I could come up with. Despite my fears about Cole’s condition, I still need to find the missing herd.

Cole continues coughing, hand covering his mouth as he struggles to hold his horse’s reins.

On second thought… “Blake, get him to the hospital,” I say to him. “Have Wes call as many people as he knows in Aspen Hollow. Have him ask if they’ve seen anything.”

“You got it,” Blake nods, grabbing Cole’s horse’s reins before taking off in a trot.

Sadie steps closer. “Can’t I go with you?”