Chapter 41
Brynn nearly collapsed into bed that night. She wouldn’t admit it to anybody else, but she had to admit it to herself—going to the fair exhausted her. She was getting better, but long outings sapped energy from her.
Even though she was bone-tired, she tossed and turned, recalling the argument between David Reese and Roy. How odd. Why would Roy presume David knew where Chelsea was? And had they ever found her? She whispered a prayer that the young woman was safe and back home, where she belonged.
She rolled over onto her stomach, which usually helped when she wanted to fall asleep. Romeo jumped on the bed and settled herself on Brynn’s lower back, purring. The purring worked its magic and Brynn nodded off.
She awakened to the scent of frying eggs, which always stirred her. She untangled herself from her quilts and made her way downstairs, surprised to see Willow at the breakfast table.
“I talked her into staying,” Wes said.
“He can be very persuasive,” Willow said, smiling. Brynn leaned down and hugged her. “So good to see you.”
“It smells heavenly, doesn’t it?” Becky said. “He’s making an omelet, with all of the fresh veggies from the garden.”
“Well, from other people’s gardens. We only have a small one. Don’t have time to do cheese and gardens, Not this year, anyway.” Wes placed the platter of eggs on the table.
“How are the girls this morning? I miss them.”
“They’re fine. I’m sure they miss you, too. That Jewel is gorgeous. She’s looking so healthy. You should be able to find her a new home soon.”
Brynn’s heart sank at the thought.
“Have you ever found her collar?” Becky asked to nobody in particular.
Wes sat down. “No.”
“Collar?” Willow asked. “Was her collar missing?”
“Still is.”
“No, it’s not. I’m sure I saw it on her this morning.” She took a bite of eggs.
Brynn’s head spun. “What? Her collar is back?”
Becky’s eyes widened. Wes stood. The three of them left the table.
“What? Where are you all going?” Willow said, her mouth half full.
Brynn kept moving. “Going to see the collar.”
“What’s the big deal?” Willow said, staying with her food. “I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’m hungry,” Brynn heard before she left the house, still in her pajamas and slippers.
The three of them rushed to the gate. Freckles spotted them and ran over as they opened it. “Hey, girl,” Brynn said, patting her but moving toward Jewel, grazing peacefully, ignoring them until the three of them got closer. She looked up, blinked.
“Well, ain’t that something,” Brynn said, for there stood the cow with a collar around her shaggy neck.
“How did that happen?” Becky said what they were all wondering.
Wes shook his head in disbelief. “Someone must have taken it and then put it back on.”
Astonished, Brynn’s breath was ragged. “But why would someone do that?”
The three of them stood staring at the cow as if she held the answers. She batted her big eyes and turned back to her breakfast.
Wes walked over to her and gently removed the collar and examined it. “It looks like the same collar, but I can’t be sure. I wasn’t paying much attention to it before.”
Becky and Brynn looked it over, too. Brynn held it up to the sky and noted the wobbly inseam. “I think there’s something inside.”
“Let’s take it in the house and cut it open,” Wes said. “We can always get her another collar.”
When the three of them came into the house, Willow was on her second helping of eggs. “If you-all aren’t going to eat, I am. These biscuits are amazing.” She looked up. “What are you doing bringing that filthy collar in here?”
“We suspect there’s something inside of it.”
She dropped her biscuit. “What?”
Wes reached for a knife and a pair of scissors. “Let’s take it into the living room.”
All of them, even Willow, followed Wes into the living room. He spread the collar out on the coffee table.
Brynn’s head was spinning. A missing collar returned, with something inside. This had to be one of the strangest things that had ever happened to her—and plenty of odd things had happened since she moved to Shenandoah Springs.
He gently took the knife and cut open the underside of the collar. What was inside? Jewels? Drugs? Brynn knew about the drug problem here and everywhere. She was expecting to see cocaine or something inside of the collar.
Wes turned it upside down. Little square pieces of plastic fell onto the table.
Becky’s mouth dropped. “What the heck is that?”
Wes frowned. “Computer chips.”
Brynn had held off calling Chelsea because she was so young and really, if she had taken the collar, what proof did they have? She didn’t want to be accused of harassing a minor. But if Chelsea did take it, would she have brought it back last night when she was missing—with those computer chips inside?
Looks like she would have to call her. She dreaded it.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Becky said.
Brynn shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“Those computer chips must hold valuable information.”
“Yes, but I was thinking . . . Chelsea must have been the person who brought it back. What would she know about computer chips?”
Wes’s head titled. “Plenty. She’s dating a brilliant computer guy, and she’s in the tech program at school.”
As they sat in silence, each with their own thoughts, Brynn’s stomach growled. Loudly. “Sorry.”
“You better get something more to eat.”
“I always think better on a full stomach. I didn’t get a chance to finish my eggs.”
“We all do,” Wes said. “This is crazy, right?”
“Can we see what information is on the chips?” Becky asked as they gathered around the breakfast table to finish eating.
“I’m not sure, but I’ll look into it. I can always call Roy.”
Brynn wondered if Roy was even available, assuming he might be in jail for assault. She kept her thoughts to herself. The eggs were getting cold.