Rancher Rescue. Barb Han
by a family member. Don’t see many kidnappings. Especially not out here.”
“Doesn’t sound good.”
The sheriff dropped his gaze for a second and shook his head.
“What are the chances of finding him alive?”
“The odds are better if he was taken by a relative. Doesn’t sound like the case here.” Coleman broke eye contact. “That’s a whole different ball game.”
The words were a sucker punch to Caleb’s chest.
“I’d appreciate hearing any news or leads you come across firsthand.” Last thing Caleb wanted was for Katherine to learn what had happened to her nephew over the internet or on the news.
“Of course. There’s always the possibility he got away and will turn up here. The first twenty-four hours are the most critical.”
The thought of a little boy wandering around lost and alone in the dark woods clenched Caleb’s gut. “Why’d they threaten to kill him if she called the police?”
“They probably want to keep this quiet. To scare her. Who knows? She’s not a celebrity or politician. Why would someone target her? We need to find her phone. In the meantime, have her make a list of enemies. Ask her if she’s gotten into a fight with anyone lately. Could someone have a problem with her or her sister? Without her cell, we don’t know if anyone’s trying to contact her to make demands.”
Caleb shook Coleman’s hand before he got in his cruiser and pulled away.
He stood on the porch for a long moment, looking out at the landscape that had kept him from getting too restless for years. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. This was home. And yet, an uneasy feeling crept over him.
Chapter Three
Matt’s black pickup roared down the drive. Caleb walked to meet his foreman. “Find anything?”
“There’s nothing around for miles. Whoever did this got away fast.”
The whole scenario seemed calculated, ruling out the slight possibility this was a case of mistaken identity. “You checked with the McGraths?”
Matt nodded. “They haven’t seen or heard anything all day. Gave us the okay to search their property and barn. I sent Jimmy and Greg over to the Reynolds’, too. Not a trace. No one saw anything, either. There’s nothing but her word to go on.” Worry showed in the tight muscles of his face. “I gotta ask. You think it’s possible she could be making this up?”
Caleb ground his back teeth. “This is real. She has the bumps and bruises to prove it.”
“It was a crappy question but needed to be asked. There’s no trail to follow. No other signs she’s telling the truth. Could the marks be from something else?”
“You didn’t see her. The terror in her eyes. The blood. I had to cut her free from the fencing. Dig barbs out of her leg.”
“Stay with me for a minute. I’m just sayin’. Where’s the proof she even has a nephew? How do we know all the mechanical stuff upstairs is oiled and the cranks are working with her?”
The point was valid. If he hadn’t been the one to find her, he might wonder if she was crazy, too. But he had been the one. Her tortured expression might haunt him for the rest of his life. She’d faced the hell in front of her with her chin up. He didn’t doubt her. “I hear you and I understand your concerns. I do. But you’re off base.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I just know.”
Matt cocked one eyebrow. “Okay...how?”
“Call it gut instinct.”
“Then I’ll take your word for it. I’ll give her a ride wherever she wants to go.” He took a step toward the house.
“Sheriff wants her to stick around.”
Matt hesitated. His doubt about the situation was written all over his face. To his credit, he seemed to know when to hold his tongue. He turned toward the barn. “Be careful. You have a tendency to get too involved with creatures that need saving. I’ll check on the boys out back.”
It would be dark before too long. The sun, a bright orange glow on the horizon, was retreating. “I’ll put on a pot of coffee.”
As soon as Caleb walked inside, Katherine hit him with the first question.
“What did the sheriff say?” She stroked the little yellow tabby who had made herself at home in her lap.
“How’d you manage that?” He inclined his chin toward the kitty.
She shrugged. “She hopped on the couch and curled up. She’s a sweet girl. Why?”
“Claws has been afraid of people ever since I brought her into the house.”
“How’d she lose her leg?”
“Found her like that when I was riding fences one day. She was in pretty bad shape. Vet fixed her up, and she’s been my little shadow ever since. Scratched the heck out of Matt the first time he picked her up. Usually hides when I have company.”
Claws purred as Katherine scratched under her chin. “Can’t imagine who would hurt such a sweet girl.” She paused, and then locked gazes. “You were going to tell me what the sheriff said.”
“That he’d contact me if they found anything. Do you remember what else you were doing before the men showed up?”
“We’d bought a jar of local honey. We were picking out pumpkins to take home with us.”
“Anything else?”
“That’s it. That’s all I remember.”
Caleb moved to the side table and picked up the empty soup bowl. “You drink coffee?”
“Yes.”
“Give me five minutes. In the meantime, sheriff wants a list of names. Anyone who might’ve been out to hurt your sister. Or you.”
He put down the bowl, took a pen and paper from a side table drawer and placed it next to her before moving into the kitchen.
She was making scribbles on the sheet of paper when he returned and handed her a cup. “Wasn’t sure how you took yours.”
“Black is fine.” She gripped the mug. “What’s next? How long does the sheriff expect me to sit here and do nothing?”
“Waiting’s hard. Believe me, everything that can be done is happening. The authorities have all their resources on this. My men are filling the gaps. It’s best to stay put until the sheriff calls. Give yourself a chance to heal. How’s your leg?”
“Better. Thank you.”
His bandage job looked to be holding. “What was the last thing you remembered before Noah was...” Damn. He hated saying the word taken out loud.
“I don’t know. After the pumpkins, we were going on a hayride. I’d gone over to tell him. He was playing with the really big ones on the edge of the patch. Near the woods. I took pictures of him climbing on them. If we can find my phone, I can supply the sheriff with a recent photo.”
“Think you might have captured the guys on your camera?”
“It’s possible.”
“I’ll notify the sheriff.”
Caleb phoned Coleman and provided an update. The hunt for her belongings intensified. They might find answers. At the very least, Matt would believe her if she could produce a picture of her nephew. Why did that seem so important?
“Think they saw you snapping shots?”
She shrugged. “Don’t know.”