The Loner's Thanksgiving Wish. Roxanne Rustand

or you could use one of the cottages. Aspen has already been winterized for the season, but Silver Bells has a better furnace.”

      Mei’s heart lifted at the offer. “A cottage would be wonderful, Mom.”

      The pretty little rental cottages were set in a stand of pines at the far end of the property along Silver Creek, barely visible from the main house. They’d been part of the quaint resort run by the previous owners, though the other cottages had been torn down long ago.

      “You can have it for the year you’ll be here, if you like.”

      Mei’s reason for coming early was to be supportive during her brother’s troubles, and being close by without sharing the same roof would be perfect. “I’ll be happy to pay the full lease.”

      “I can’t take your money, dear,” Lisette protested. “You’re my daughter.”

      “But you’ll be losing income from tourist rentals.”

      Lisette fluttered her fingertips. “I hardly depend on that, as you must know. It’s mostly just a bit of a hobby for me.”

      “At least let me pay half then.”

      “Even that’s too much.” She frowned. “Do you even have a job? There aren’t many opportunities around here.”

      “I called the principal here before I left San Francisco. I’ll be substitute teaching at the high school.”

      “Really.” Lisette gave her a long, assessing look. “I can’t imagine that pays well.”

      Mei sighed. Both of her parents had pushed so hard, wanting her to try for medical or dental school or even law school. That she’d followed her heart into teaching had been just one more disappointment for them … one more failed expectation. “I’ll be fine, really.”

      “Okay, if you must—a hundred dollars a month. I’ll start a little savings account with it, and you can have it all back later.”

      From the glint in her eye Mei knew it would do no good to argue, even though the cottages rented for more than that for a single night. “Deal. That’s awesome, Mom.”

      “Stay here tonight, and tomorrow you can move into the cottage. One of your cousins called this morning and said she’d stop by to help you settle in.”

      Surprised and touched, Mei cocked her head. “Vivienne?”

      “I think so.” Lisette put Albert on a chair and withdrew containers marked Fresh Fruit Salad and Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans from the refrigerator, put them on the counter and opened a bakery box of fragrant croissants.

      In a few minutes they were seated at opposite ends of the long oak table in the dining room, with the aroma of peach tea wafting in the air.

      Mei glanced around at the ornate oak buffet, the lighted glass china hutch filled with fine crystal, the sparkling chandelier. Soft classical music provided a quiet backdrop, just as it had a lifetime ago, when she and Lucas had sat across from each other and their parents had taken the opposite ends of the table.

      It had been a time to discuss the day’s activities. Report cards. Test grades. Lucas had excelled at everything. He was their parents’ biological child, born two years after Mei’s adoption as an infant, and he’d been the golden child, the unexpected gift from above. The perfect one.

      Intelligent and charming, he’d always been able to talk himself out of trouble. Even during his wild and rebellious phase, he’d been the one who fit in this world.

      She might have been far more jealous, as a child longing for acceptance, had he not been so kind to her.

      And now, after delaying the moment as long as she could, she had to deliver bad news about Lucas to her already fragile mother. Mei’s stomach wrenched, her first bite of Arabella’s wonderful chicken salad turning to sawdust in her mouth.

      Lisette’s fork clattered against her plate, her eyes fixed on Mei’s face. “I have the most dreadful feeling that you’re going to tell me something I don’t want to hear.”

      Mei had practiced this conversation a dozen times on her way to Colorado. But now the words flew from her thoughts and left her fumbling for a gentle way to deliver the message. “It’s about Lucas,” she began, moving to the chair next to her mother’s.

      All color drained from Lisette’s face. “Is he …”

      “He’s missing.” Mei took her mother’s shaking hands in her own. “But knowing Lucas, he’s probably just fine.”

      “Missing?” Lisette echoed faintly, her eyes locked on Mei’s. “That can’t be. He called and said he was on some sort of mission in Florida so he wouldn’t be able to keep in touch. That’s probably it. He’s involved with some kind of church and … he’s just away.”

      Mei took a long, steadying breath. “Not a church mission, Mom. Apparently a friend betrayed some drug dealers, so they kidnapped his little boy … trying to force the man’s cooperation. Luke is trying to help.”

      Her eyes filled with pain, Lisette clenched her hands in her lap. “I don’t understand. Lucas can’t be involved in some drug crowd.”

      “He’s not, Mom. But apparently he rescued the child and then disappeared into the Everglades. The police have no idea where Lucas is, and even a private investigator hasn’t had any luck. Maybe he’s afraid the local cops are dirty and doesn’t know who to trust.”

      Lisette’s eyes welled with sudden tears. “Why doesn’t he just come home?”

      “I don’t know. I just know that people are looking for him.”

      Lisette closed her eyes and folded her hands, her lips moving in silent prayer.

      An uncomfortable feeling crawled through Mei. Though often cool and distant, Mom was still a believer, whereas a childhood of weekly church attendance hadn’t instilled strong faith in Mei’s heart.

      The pastor had often referred to God as Father and referred to God’s followers as His children. But with her demanding earthly father and the brusque, dismissive attitude of her grandfather, those images couldn’t have been less comforting.

      Fathers were loving and kind and patient? Not in her world.

      Chapter Four

      Jack winced at the sight of his brother as he walked into Cade’s hospital room the next day. “Hey, there, buddy. You look like you were in quite a fight.”

      “With a mountain,” Cade grumbled, shifting his weight. He bit back a moan at the painful effort. “But I should be outta here, not laying around like some pansy.”

      Against the white sheets and blankets, propped up with a pile of pillows, the bruises and scrapes on Cade’s face and arms were vivid reminders of how close he’d come to being more seriously injured.

      “How’s that hard head of yours?” Jack asked.

      Cade rolled his eyes. “This is a waste of time. The nurses say they’re watching me for concussion symptoms. I could do that just fine at home. If I could find my clothes and my boots, I’d leave.”

      “The doc says you have quite a concussion, bro. That’s nothing to fool around with. Yesterday you weren’t sure what day it was or where you were.” Jack pulled up a chair and straddled it. “And you can’t walk on that ankle for a few days, so you can hardly be working cattle out at the Circle C.”

      “Cody needs every ranch hand he’s got. And I need the money. The wedding—”

      “I’m sure he won’t let you back on a horse or a four-wheeler until you’re safe. Liability issues.” Jack tipped his head toward the doorway. “Though I expect you’ll be out of here and back in the saddle before you know it.”

      Cade mumbled something and pulled