Missing in the Desert

By Dana Mentink

Five years ago, her sister disappeared…
Now someone is coming for her.

Who would believe that Mara Castillo's sister—missing and presumed dead—suddenly sent a one-word text? Now Mara wants answers, even if it means stepping into a killer's sights with her brother's best friend, rancher Levi Duke, as her only protection. But with someone who has everything to lose after her, uncovering a long-buried secret could save her life…or claim it.

A DESERT JUSTICE STORY

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Desert Justice

Book 1: Framed in Death Valley
Book 2: Missing in the Desert

• Language: English
• Publisher: Love Inspired
• Release date: Jul 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9780369716118

Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink is a Publisher's Weekly and national bestselling author. She has been honored to win two Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion and a Reviewer's Choice award. She's authored more than thirty five novels to date for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Harlequin Heartwarming. Dana loves feedback from her readers. Contact her at www.danamentink.com

Book preview

ONE

Levi Duke let the engine idle and rubbed his temple. Another headache, courtesy of the wreck. The headaches were probably temporary, the doctors said. He sighed. Yes, the car accident four months before had left him with a scar, but worse yet, his hospital time made him miss out on a perfect horse to add to his herd. That was the real pain of it.

Not this time, he said. We’re gonna have ourselves a new mare, ’Jo.

Banjo, the sizable mutt with a chunk missing from one ear, sprawled in his passenger seat and licked the knee of Levi’s jeans. The dog slithered his way under Levi’s palm until he got the ear rub he was looking for. Mission accomplished, he flopped over and presented his belly, long legs taking up more than his fair share of the room. His fleas and the mud were gone now, thanks to a bath that had been a struggle of epic proportions, his leg wound treated, too. His ribs were not quite as prominent as the day Levi had found him panting and half-dead in a dry creek bed. The dog had introduced himself with eyes desperate for help and the faintest of tail wags. Who could say no to that?

The cell phone chimed.

We’re just driving past the Funeral Mountains. Mara’s voice was cool, in spite of the faint Southern drawl. Never could hide her feelings. She was upset with him for inviting her brother, Seth, to partner with him in purchasing the Rocking Horse Ranch. Maybe she had a right to be. A busted-up old ranch just outside Death Valley National Park, a place so hot it was nearly uninhabitable four months of the year? Not exactly a surefire moneymaker. But it wasn’t really about the money—not for him, anyway. He was surprised Mara had even agreed to accompany Seth to meet the mare. Maybe Mara was softening to the idea? Not likely.

Be careful, he said. Road’s steep. I’ll meet you at the farm and introduce you to Cookie. She’s a sweetheart. Offered for sale by a local, the mare would be a perfect fit for their current herd of eleven if co-owner Seth approved. They needed more horses pronto to meet the tourist demands for the November Camp Town Days Festival the following week.

There was a pause. All right.

He forced cheer into his voice to counteract her lack of enthusiasm. Laney and Beckett are having a barbecue at the Hotsprings. They asked me to invite you both. His cousin Beckett’s hotel was making a slow recovery after the set of killings that had resulted in Beckett’s false imprisonment and a threat to Laney’s life. It was easier to forget those days now, as the couple prepared for the spring birth of their first child.

Mara queried her brother and returned her attention to the phone. Seth says he’d love to go, but I have some business to work on.

Business? Mara helped run her parents’ furniture store in Henderson, Nevada, some two hundred miles away. Odd that she’d have business here in podunk Furnace Falls. It wasn’t his nature to pry. Then again, she might just be making an excuse to stay far away from him. He blew out a silent breath. Horses were so much easier to read than people, especially women, most especially Mara Castillo.

The pause lingered as he tried to figure out what to say next. The shiver went through him, that strange combination of fascination and bewilderment that raven-haired Mara awakened in him ever since he’d met her in high-school keyboarding class. He’d flunked the typing part, but he sure had spent plenty of time wondering what Mara was thinking in that seat in front of him, her hair dark as the nighttime desert sky.

Mara cut through his thoughts. See you soon, then.

Face to face he would have answered with a silent nod. Can’t wait. Can’t wait? Way to sound like a sappy teen instead of a savvy ranch owner. He was still fighting with his tongue to dredge up something articulate when she cut him off.

Be there in a half hour.

He almost smiled at her annoyed tone. Mara had always worn her heart on her sleeve. There was no pretense about her. He’d finally worked up the courage his senior year to ask her to the school dance.

She’d laughed. I don’t want to cram into a gym and listen to loud music and drink watery punch. How about we go fishing instead?

They had, and Levi had developed an undeniable crush on his best friend’s tomboy sister. He blinked, realizing she’d already disconnected. He’d have to do better than that to prove to her he was a competent business partner for her brother. It was a tall order. The saddlery he’d opened after his return to civilian life had gone belly-up, in spite of regular help from Seth when he could get away from his contracting job in Nevada. Seth would do anything for Levi, even follow him into enlisting when her family needed him most. A breeze blew across Levi’s face, carrying the scent of hard-packed earth and sunshine.

November temperatures were the most palatable of the whole year. Death Valley, the hottest location in North America, cooled somewhat in the fall, making it prime tourist season. The town was abuzz with preparations for Camp Town Days which would feature reenactments of the famous 20 Mule Team journeys. The wagon teams would start in town and roll their way across Furnace Falls to a campsite on the outskirts of town where they could stay to enjoy the vendor displays and plenty of old-fashioned fun. Tourists would need horses and guides, tours of the Keane Wonder Mine and wagon rides into Death Valley National Park. He and Seth would be ready to meet the need especially if they could acquire another even-tempered mare to add to the Rocking Horse family.

The miles passed quickly as he drove to Hank’s property which was at the bottom of a perilously pitched road. So pitched, in fact, that if they purchased the animal he’d have to ride the mare up to the flat plateau above, since they could not get a trailer down the grade.

Riding the brakes, he made it to the bottom and parked on the graveled drive that led to Hank’s house and barn. A rumble indicated an approaching vehicle, but the sound was too high and thin for a car engine. Banjo stared out the open window, nose twitching, an agitated whine escaping his fleshy lips. A motorcycle, he decided. Someone visiting Hank’s farm...but minutes passed without any sign of an approach. He peered upward where the road wound in and out of sight amid the foothills. Weird... Again, unease tightened his stomach.

But there was nothing wrong, nothing at all. He tried to shake off the feeling. Probably just out of sorts because he’d forgotten to eat lunch. Again.

The glove box of his pickup supplied a half-melted granola bar which he ate, window rolled down. He tossed the last bite to Banjo who swallowed it without even chewing.

Levi figured maybe his agitation was born of his eagerness to return to the ranch. It didn’t matter what the naysayers said about the Rocking Horse: it was a paradise to him. Every rusted bolt and warped fence post was part of a dream he’d had since he was four years old visiting his uncle’s barn. Cookie the mare was just one more step toward the life he was meant to live in the most fantastic place on earth.

Banjo barked. The mysterious motorcyclist? Still Levi could not spot anything. Odd.

He heard the rumble of what had to be Seth’s SUV. A glimpse of bright yellow paint proved him right. He shifted at the thought of seeing Mara. Seth was always the genial, happy-go-lucky guy who reminded Levi of his own brother, Austin. His sister was another breed altogether.

As the vehicle made the hairpin turn and began to inch down the slope, Seth stuck an arm out the window and waved. Levi waved back, grinning.

A sound sliced through the afternoon. His body recognized it before his brain did, and he reflexively ducked. A shot.

A hunter? On private property? Shooting what, birds? The thoughts tumbled as he looked wildly for the source. Banjo began to bark in a frantic, throaty cascade. Was it the motorcyclist he’d heard before? He scanned the foothills, trying to quiet the dog.

A second shot followed the first.

Seth’s SUV’s windshield shattered. It began to slide to the side of the road.

No, he yelled in horror.

The car was a blur of yellow, the tires squealing as they labored to keep the vehicle upright. Sun glittered off the broken glass as it turned over and rolled again and again.

---

Mara was too shocked to scream. A moment before, her brother had finally been opening up about what had happened with his fiancée.

Tanya made it clear, sis. She found another guy. Funny thing is, I still love her, you know? I want a fresh start, a new way of living. I can have that on the ranch.

The reply was still on her lips when something punched through the front window, raining chips of glass on her lap. At first she thought it might have been a rock. But how was that possible? A second missile followed, moments later. She felt Seth recoil. Had he been struck?

Out the spidered front window, she saw a man in profile, hat pulled down over his eyes, black bandanna covering his nose and mouth, a long wisp of beard trailing as he lowered a rifle. Then he stepped back into the scrub and disappeared.

Seth— she started, breaking off in horror as she saw the blood blooming on his shoulder, his neck, in his hair. He slumped over.

Now the scream did emerge. Seth!

He didn’t answer, hands falling from the wheel. They began to careen downslope. Bright flashes of sunlight blinded her. Branches crackled as the vehicle plowed off the road into the scrub. She tried to brace herself against the dashboard with one hand and grab Seth’s arm to steady him, but the violent juddering tossed them like tumbleweeds. They would have been ejected through the fractured window if not for their seat belts.

A branch thrust through the side window, cutting into her neck. She shrank back before it sliced any deeper toward her carotid.

She thought she might have heard her brother groan. He was alive, he would be okay, she told herself. Again she tried to lean toward him, desperate and terrified, but she could not steady herself against the violent jostling. They bounced off a half-buried boulder sticking up from the ground. The impact set them on a new trajectory.

With a sudden jerk, the SUV flipped on its side. They could not continue their acceleration much longer. She knew the road bottomed out at the farm. Levi would be there, he’d probably already called for help. The car slowed, grinding over the gravel with a tortured squeal that left her teeth on edge.

The movement continued to ease off. She was able to catch sight of Levi charging up the slope, long legs flying. He came to an abrupt stop. She could not see his eyes from under the shadow of his cowboy hat but his mouth opened in a cry she could not hear. A hairy dog followed at his heels.

At the same moment, the SUV jounced over what must have been a ridge of rock and began once again to tumble out of control.

Hang on, she yelled to Seth. Small rocks and debris rained through the broken windows as they began to pick up speed again. They’d lose momentum soon, wouldn’t they? Levi was close. He’d get her brother out, call for an ambulance. It would all be okay.

Her attention was snagged by an object appearing before them. The upthrust arms of a Joshua tree loomed directly in their path. Its prickly trunk was sturdy as if it had been standing there defying the elements since long before she’d been born. She grabbed at the wheel, trying to divert their course. Too late.

She did not even have time to brace herself as the vehicle slammed into the tree with such force the airbags deployed. The breath was driven out of her. She was flung back against the seat. The airbag exploded like a smack to the face. Her vision was filled with white. Stunned, she could only sit there immobilized, struggling to breathe.

Slowly the bag began to deflate, inch by inch. It subsided enough that she could make sense of their situation. The car was on its side, driver’s door to the ground, front bumper crumpled against the Joshua tree. She was hanging upside down, tethered by her seat belt.

Panting, she tried to stop her brain from spinning. Dizziness made her feel sick to her stomach. Was she able to move? Was Seth? Was he alive? She jerked a panicked look down. Her long hair hung in a tousled mass around her face. Shoving it back, she reached over. The driver’s-side airbag completely hid him until it slowly began to deflate. Inch by inch, moment by moment. She could hardly stand it. Gradually his head came into view.

Seth? she whispered.

He was crumpled below her against the driver’s-side door, face turned away. The blood dripping from his curly hair filled her with terror. So much blood. Was this real? Was she in the grip of a heinous nightmare? Silently, she prayed as she tried to get hold of his hand. Her own hands were shaking so badly she could not seem to get them to move on command.

Seth, please answer me. Say something, she whispered.

Mara. Levi’s face swam into view, his navy blue eyes and shock of ginger hair blurred for a moment until she blinked. He scrambled around trying to reach the driver’s door to no avail. The front windshield was a mess of broken glass, rocks and the remnants of the airbags. Instead he climbed up to her passenger door and grunted as he heaved on it. Finally it gave way with a squeak of metal.

Another man, white-haired and stout, appeared at a run, probably the property owner. Emergency is on its way, he said. They were over the hill at a call. They’ll be here in less than five minutes. What should I do?

The voices faded in and out. A sense of unreality crowded rational thought. This was a bad dream. She would blink and wake up. Her brother would be knocking on her apartment door teasing her about sleeping late.

If the sun had to wait for you to plug it in, we’d live in darkness, he’d say.

They would go to their parents’ furniture store, and he would help with deliveries while she updated the website and assisted her mother on the floor. She would dust the family picture on the front desk, the one that showed the five of them, including Corinne before she’d run away. This was not, could not, be happening.

Mara, Levi said again, cutting through her fog. How badly are you hurt? Can you tell me?

What? She blinked again. I think... I’m okay. But Seth is bleeding.

I’ll help him. I’m afraid to cut you loose in case you have internal injuries.

Go help Seth, she said as loudly as she could. Please, Levi.

He pressed her hand and climbed out, crawling around to the driver’s side.

Hey, buddy, she heard Levi say. It’s gonna be all right. Help’s coming.

Is he...? she croaked.

He’s alive. I just heard him groan.

And that was all she needed to hear. The desert sun grew dim, and a buzzing sounded in her ears. The older man said, I heard shooting. Is that what caused this?

The bearded man had shot into their vehicle, twice.

It had not been an accident. He’d intended to kill.

Who was the man who’d fired the shot?

And why?

Levi’s body went suddenly taut, and he jerked a look beyond her. Then he threw himself in front of the passenger window just as she heard the sound of another shot embedding itself in the metal.

TWO

Levi realized his error. He’d been so focused on the wreck he hadn’t considered that the shooter might not have given up. Feet crashed through the brush upslope. The gunman was looking for a better vantage point. He’d circle around, and there would be nothing in the way to impede him from killing them all. Easy shots, easy kills.

Stay low and tell the cops the shooter is still active, he shouted to Hank. Hank scrunched down behind a tree and yanked his cell phone out with shaking hands.

Levi could wait no longer. He sprinted to his truck and grabbed the rifle, Banjo at his heels. He stopped only long enough to steady the weapon before he let loose with a couple of rounds. He didn’t have much hope of hitting his target, but he prayed it would be enough to scare the guy off. It only took two rifle shots before he heard the revving of the motorcycle engine. The shooter was going to get away, but there were other priorities right now.

He returned to the wreck and dropped on his knees next to the broken-out driver’s-side window fighting a feeling of helplessness. Everything in him wanted to wrestle Seth and Mara free from the ravaged SUV and tend to their wounds. He didn’t have a ton of knowledge about medical things, but he knew enough to worry about spinal-cord injuries. If he left them there... What if they were bleeding internally? Dying slowly from invisible wounds?

He used his boot to push aside some of the broken glass and reached inside. Seth was completely unresponsive. He searched for a pulse in his wrist and found one, his fingers coming away sticky with blood. He let out a shuddering breath.

Mara. There was no reply. Can you hear me?

She was quiet, eyes closed, suspended there as if she was drifting. Stay with me, okay? he said loudly. Talk to me. She didn’t move. Panic crackled through his nerves. "I know you’re mad that Seth bought into the Rocking Horse. Why don’t you tell me off? You’ve been wanting to give me a piece of your mind. Now’s the time to let me

Reviews for Missing in the Desert

[bookslesstravelled · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

*eARC provided via NetGalley & Harlequin Publishing. This does not affect my review.*

Actual Rating: 3.5

I've read an earlier book by Dana Mentink in the LIS line, and remembered enjoying it as well! I've seen this one around, and while occasionally check NG for LIS books, this one happened to be one of the current available. (there are usually 3 LIS titles listed at a time, and they cycle out periodically.)

I started of loving this one, and I adored Levi and Mara and getting to meet their families. The trouble came early in the mystery though, as there was a hint and a detail that seemed lacking, and the more I read, the more it frustrated me. So, on the one hand, I loved the slow-burn relationship the was budding between the MCs, and I also really enjoyed the suspense and how they handled things, with plenty of themes of character growth, forgiveness, saying 'Sorry' when needed, and many others including family and friendship ties. But this one clue made the reveal and a couple other scenes almost, cringe worthy?

I don't know, and I'm known to over analyze and look too deeply sometimes, so overall this is a great one from the LIS line, and if not for the one blip, would likely be one of my favorites, so I highly recommend it for LIS readers! I also would have easily given it at least a 4.5 star rating if not some the one thing, as it was a reoccurring point of focus in the book, yet didn't seem to add up as the story progressed and the characters just accepted it without question?

Yet, I was glad to meet these characters and to get to enjoy Levi and Mara's story, and I look forward to reading Beckett's (previous) story and any upcoming installments in the series!

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one book that I couldn’t put down. Oh I know people say that about a lot of books, but this one is different. It has elements of intrigue, secrets, surprises and yes a bit of romance. You put all those qualities together and you have a story that accelerates with each page. Get ready for a book that will have you bitting your nails, sitting on the edge of your seat or whatever you do when something you are reading gets your adrenaline going. Imagine driving on the road with a family member and suddenly a shot shatters the windshield. You feel yourself losing control of the vehicle and then everything is dark. Mara is in for a shock as she tries to piece together what just happened. Is her brother okay? Does it have something to do with her missing sister? She remembers seeing someone just before she lost consciousness but her memory is clouded. The author illustrates with depth the sheer panic Mara feels as she awakens in a hospital bed. Let’s talk about Mara and her past for a moment. She has not given up hope that her sister is still alive even though she has been missing for quite awhile. I think coming back to the town where her sister disappeared will once again give Mara a push to look for clues that the police might have overlooked. I loved this part of the story because I wanted Mara to get closure so she could at least find peace.Levi was a great character but he sure has no business sense. Well maybe he just bit off more than he could chew. Trying to help his buddy out who just happens to be Mara’s brother does complicate things. Has he let his friend down? Can he save the ranch while helping Mara uncover a secret that has been hidden for years? Their interaction was refreshing because it shows real emotions that anyone could have when unresolved issues stare them in the face. Oh yes these two could either walk away from each other once again, or they could find a way to forgive. I couldn’t wait to see how the author untangles the past as Mara and Levi work together to not only try to save the ranch, but expose someone who has caused a family to grieve.I loved that the setting of the story is set in Death Valley with unforgiving terrain that is hard to adjust to. The author has definitely done her research by the description of the trails that horses travel and the feel of emptiness across the area. I think I would like to visit the place and learn more about its history. Before I end the review I must give special recognition to three very special characters. Banjo, Rabbit and Tiny you have captured my heart and I loved every moment of your appearances in the story. Thank you for reminding me that animals are a gift. Well my time is up and I hope I have enticed you enough to pick up a copy of this book. It will deliver excitement, danger, secrets and an ending that I was not prepared for.I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mercy me! Missing in the Desert is a roller coaster ride that takes off at full throttle speed and never lets up! Author Dana Mentink has written a story with fascinating characters, intense action, and many questions needing to be answered. Who ambushed, and almost killed, Mara Castillo and her brother Seth? Why is Mara receiving clues that suggest that their sister may still be alive, even though she hasn't been seen in five years? Will Mara ever realize just how special Levi Duke really is? Levi, who has a steadfast devotion for Mara, Seth, and the menagerie of rescue animals at his Rocking Horse ranch, and is willing to put himself at risk to keep them safe!Threats, danger, and hidden agendas add to the drama of Missing in the Desert, but the strong family connections and the sweet romance increase its appeal. I recommend this book to all who enjoy romantic Christian suspense.I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author. I was never obligated to share a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

[stardust_fiddle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“Was this real? Was she in the grip of a heinous nightmare?” The second Desert Justice story by Dana Mentink, “Missing in the Desert,” shoots out of the gate with a gripping first chapter that sets the pace for the rest of this Love-Inspired Suspense installation. While technically it could be a stand-alone, I recommend reading “Framed in Death Valley” first; I did not have a chance to do so, and I think that if I had, I would have had a richer understanding of the relationships between the characters. Nevertheless, this did not at all detract from my enjoyment of this novel. Suspense relies, naturally, on action and plot, but carefully developing the characters and how they interact with one another is likewise imperative. Mentink introduces them here in a rapid-fire style and then proceeds to explore them throughout the narrative, an effective technique that underscores the power of first impressions and demonstrates that people are not always as they appear. Everyone has something in their past that they regret, and for some, the past becomes the present. Five years after her younger sister Corinne disappears and is presumed dead, Mara Castillo reluctantly steps in to help Levi Duke on his ranch, only to find herself in the crosshairs of a killer. Her name stood out to me immediately, and as Naomi called herself Mara in Ruth 1:20, the forename is fitting here, also; Mara Castillo is bitter and sad about her circumstances at the beginning of the story, but as she begins to see things differently, her heart changes. As a dog and horse lover, this cover caught my eye before I knew anything about the story itself. I enjoy the inclusion of the ranch animals in the narrative, often offering a bit of comic relief during or after tense scenes. For instance, in an amusing twist, Banjo the dog goes from stalwart guard to unlikely mother. The animals also signify the importance of home as a place of belonging, refuge, and freedom to pursue dreams. Even when those dreams end up looking differently than expected, which is when faith must truly believe that the Lord will keep His promise to “make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

[kimpotter-309059 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Missing in the Desert by Dana Mentink is the second book in her Desert Justice series. Mara Castillo’s younger sister has been missing for five years and presumed dead. When Mara receives a one-word text, she believes it’s from her missing sister. Can she uncover the truth before the killer comes after her? This was an edge-of-your-seat adrenaline rush! The twist at the end was very unexpected. Mara and Luke complimented each other so well. Luke’s care for all the wounded animals was a delight. Another great book by one of my favorite suspense authors!I received this book from the author for my honest review.

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“You are a good man, and you wouldn’t manipulate Seth. I can see why he’d want to jump into the Rocking Horse. It’s…a special place...But special isn’t going to pay the bills.” Just why has Mara Castillo agreed to help Levi with the struggling Rocking Horse Ranch at the edge of Death Valley? Both she and her parents resent her brother Seth’s financial involvement in the ranch, and their animosity only seems to increase. Indeed, “Horses were so much easier to read than people...” thinks Levi Duke as he puzzles this out.I love seeing the family loyalties as both the Castillos and the Dukes are fiercely protective of their own, to the point of rudeness(unfortunately) and judging either Levi’s or Mara’s motives. I love seeing them being forced to work together, despite misgivings, and some grow beyond their distrust and cruelty.I have to admit, Dana Mentink’s Missing in the Desert achieved favorite status for me. Perhaps the western desert locale affected that. Definitely, the large part horses played helped. The importance of sibling close relationships probably also influenced that status. Twists and turns affected my choice. Mentink’s inclusion of a young child also probably swayed me. If any of these factors, plus faith, forgiveness, gentleness, loyalty, and romantic suspense call to your reading spirit, pick up Dana Mentink’s Missing in the Desert, #2, Desert Justice, today. (While part of a series, and you will recognize friends from the first book, it is not necessary to read book one first.)

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved Mara and Levi and the ranch he owns. Levi seems to have a soft spot for misfits on his ranch. He and Mara were long time friends but she is upset because of her brother Seth. This story has romance, suspense and inspiration. I did not want to put the book down until I knew what had happened to Mara’s sister. This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was happening. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[eamace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Death Valley had always been a place of security, acceptance, peace. This story starts out with a bang and never lets up. Expect to hold your breath at times, and maybe even bite your nails. The author has put little Furnace Falls on the map! Arrival at the Rocking Horse Ranch was certainly worth writing about, as far as Mara and Seth were concerned! The action never lets up. Someone is trying to kill Mara — but why?Shots fired, a text out of nowhere, a postcard that makes no sense and more. You will spend all your time trying to figure out what on earth is going on. For a place of peace and quiet, there is a whole lot of action!An ARC of this second book in the Desert Justice series was received through Love Inspired Suspense and CelebrateLit. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.