“Mom’s Sick, So I Came Instead” Widow’s Daughter Rode to Millionaire Cowboy’s Ranch—What He Did Next

Chapter 6

Vance strode to the study doors and threw them open.

“Caldwell!”

His voice shook the walls. Caldwell jumped up from a bench in the hallway.

“Ready to finalize the contract, Silas?”

“Cancel the meeting.”

Caldwell’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me? The buyers leave tonight. We’ll lose twenty thousand—”

“I said cancel it.” Vance grabbed his heavy riding coat from a hook. “Tell them to come back next month.”

“Silas, have you lost your mind?”

Vance turned and extended his hand to Abigail.

“Come on, soldier.”

Abigail took his hand. It was large and calloused, like Grandpa’s had been.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To finish this interview,” Vance said. “In person.”

He led her through the hall, past a stunned Caldwell, and out the front doors.

The ranch yard erupted into motion at his command.

“Hitch the wagon! Fetch Doc Harrison! We ride in five minutes!”

Within moments, a covered wagon was ready, pulled by a matched pair of black horses. A gray-haired man in a rumpled suit hurried over, carrying a black medical bag.

“Silas, what’s this about?” the doctor asked.

“Severe lung fever,” Vance said, helping Abigail into the wagon. “We’re riding to the Weaver claim.”

The doctor climbed in without another word.

Vance took the reins himself and snapped the leather. The horses surged forward, carrying them through the gates and onto the open prairie.

Abigail sat beside him, clutching the satchel.

“Is Doc Harrison part of the interview?” she asked.

A faint smile touched Vance’s lips. “Something like that.”

The wagon thundered across the trail, kicking up clouds of dust. Vance kept his eyes on the horizon, his jaw set.

Why didn’t you send word, Thomas? he thought. I would’ve given you half my herd.

But Thomas had been proud. He’d never asked for help.

And now he was gone.

But his family wasn’t.

Not yet.