Faith at the Crossroads

Boss, My reporter's nose smells a story brewing at the Double V Ranch. Word is that rancher Michael Vance has already lost several cows to a mystery ailment. This isn't the first odd thing to happen there, either --Michael's old foreman disappeared out of the blue, and his new one, Hector Delgato, is cagey. He bears watching. Meanwhile, Michael hired newcomer Layla Dixon as the housekeeper/vet while his injured housekeeper recovers, and the bohemian beauty is nothing like meat-and-potatoes Michael. I think romance might be in the air, but there is also something sinister starting up in Colorado Springs...

Hometown Hero Returns by Colleen Montgomery (staff reporter). Draft. U.S. Air Force captain Kenneth Vance is back in Colorado Springs on medical leave, and currently working for his old friend Quinn Montgomery's vandalism-plagued construction company. Sources say both families are being targeted for their roles in taking down that South American drug cartel a year ago. Ken has been seen around town with Julianna Red Feather, who has been busy training canine search-and-rescue teams. [Note: Mention Julianna's high school crush on Ken?] Each is at a turning point in their careers-and lives-and spending all this time together might lead to good news for the Vance family for the first time in months!

From the desk of Colleen Montgomery Alessandro Donato-there's more to Lidia Vance's nephew than meets the eye. * Says he's an accountant for the European Union (but spends a lot oftime here in Colorado Springs). * Pops up whenever anything bad happens...and then mysteriously disappears. Wonder if he knows anything about the troubles plaguing the Vance and Montgomery families, and/or if it's connected to the dismantled drug cartel? I'll have to stick close to the handsome Italian to find out what secrets he's keeping. It'll be tough, but this reporter is willing to do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.

TO: AL_CRANE@CSSENTINEL.ORG FROM: COLLEEN_MONTGOMERY @CSSENTINEL.ORG Boss, I'm finishing up all my articles before Alessandro and I get married later this month. He's thrilled his uncle Max is out of the hospital and can attend the wedding. If only Baltasar Escalante weren't still out there - Alessandro believes he's plotting against the Vance and Montgomery families. My cousin Quinn has been busy restoring detective Becca Hilliard's house, but he's also on alert following the explosion at the hospital. I'd be thrilled if Quinn and Becca became a couple but I wonder how safe it is to fall in love when there's a madman on the loose...