If Eric’s been shot, what happened to Heather? Jennie jumped to her feet, ran out the door, and leaped onto Gabby’s back. Hazen followed with Thunder as they raced down to the stables. In one fluid motion, Hazen dismounted and ran into the barn with Jennie at his heels. A siren split the air as they reached the couch in Dusty’s office where Eric now lay.
“Heather’s pony brought him in,” Dusty shifted to one side as Hazen dropped to one knee beside Eric.
“The bleeding’s pretty well stopped, but I can’t seem to rouse him.”
Jennie hunkered down beside Hazen and pressed her fingers against Eric’s neck. His face was pasty white, his lips blue. He’d been shot in the shoulder. Blood soaked a quarter of his shirt, seeping into his shirt pocket.
“I can feel a pulse, but it’s weak.” She rose and backed away to make room for the paramedics.
Hazen scrambled to his feet, plowed past the two men from the rescue unit. Jennie followed him out of the office to where they’d left the horses. He vaulted onto Thunder’s back and raced away.
“Hazen, wait!” Jennie yelled into the dust kicked up by the horse’s hooves. She reached for Gabby, then looked back at her uncle and Lopez who were making their way toward her.
Jeff’s eyes narrowed as he stared after his son. “Let him go. Boy’s running away from everything these days.”
“It’s not what you think. He’s not running away. I think he’s gone to find Heather. Whoever shot Eric …” Jennie stopped and sighed. “It’s a long story.”
Twenty minutes later, when the ambulance was gone and they’d all gathered back in Dusty’s office, Jennie told her story to Sheriff Mason, Jeff, Lopez, and Maggie. She began by explaining the relationship between Heather and Eric. “Heather had been sneaking out to meet him and they were planning to go to California. Hazen and I tried to talk her out of it, but she was gone when I woke up this morning.”
“Where was she supposed to meet him?” Jeff asked.
“She didn’t say.”
The sheriff straightened and, with a look on his face that accused her of lying, said, “Well now, little lady, that was quite a story.” He brought a plastic bag out of his jacket pocket containing a blood-stained piece of paper. “We found this note in the boy’s pocket. I’ve bagged it—want to check for prints, though I doubt we’ll find any. Apparently your little girl’s been kidnapped.”
“What?” they chorused.
“Let me see it.” Jeff reached for the bagged note.
The sheriff handed it to him. “I’ll need to keep it as evidence.”
“What does it say?” Jennie asked.
Jeff handed the plastic-protected note to her. On a pale green shade of paper she’d seen too many times before, someone had scrawled, You’ll see your daughter as soon as you deed Dancing Waters back over to its rightful owner.
Jeff shook his head. “I can’t believe Elliot would do something so stupid.”
“Does seem strange he’d draw attention to himself that way, but you never know.” Mason took back the bag and pocketed it. “I’ll go on into town and have a talk with him—that is if he’s still around. Any idea where he might be staying?”
Jeff rubbed his forehead. “No. Greg Bennett should know. You might want to call him anyway. He’ll want to know what his client’s been up to.”
Lopez lifted the brim of his hat with a forefinger, then let it drop back onto his head. “I might know where to find Elliot. Saw him a couple of days ago heading into Marsha’s Bed & Breakfast. Only I don’t reckon he’s the one you’re lookin’ for. Chad Elliot don’t seem like the type of man …”
“You’ve talked to him?” Jeff snapped.
“He … ah … called me when he first got to town. I reckon I should have told you.”
“I reckon so.” Jeff’s jaw had gone rigid and Jennie wondered if the ranch manager’s rendezvous with the enemy would get him fired. “We’ll talk about this later.”
Lopez rubbed a hand across his face. “Like I was saying, Elliot didn’t seem like the kind that’d resort to kidnapping. He thinks he’s got a good case—no sense jeopardizing that. I reckon Danielson’s behind this. He’ll do anything to keep Dancin’ Waters from being signed over to the Forestry Service. He glared at Sheriff Mason. “If you’d a put him in jail this wouldn’t have happened.”
Sheriff Mason shot Lopez a disgusted look. “Not that I owe you any explanations, but we didn’t have enough evidence against Jake to arrest him. He wouldn’t have done something like this anyway. He’s got a kid of his own.”
Jeff clasped his hands together on his lap. “Look, Mason, I know you and I are at opposite ends of the poles politically, but—”
“What kind of man do you think I am, White Cloud? You think I’d let political differences interfere with upholding the law?” He started to leave, then turned back around at the door. “I’ve already got deputies at work on this. We’ll find her.”
He left then, but the tension in the room increased as Bob Lopez and Jeff White Cloud eyed each other like two bull moose laying claim to their territory. Lopez’s confession, if that’s what it was, called his character into question. He’d spoken with Chad Elliot. Could he also be conspiring with him against the White Clouds? He’d originally worked for the Elliots. Had Chad Elliot bought him back? The look on Jeff’s face told Jennie he was wondering the same thing.
“I’m going to get back to work.” Maggie released her white-knuckled hold on Jeff’s chair. “The ranch isn’t going to run itself.”
Jeff reached up and squeezed Maggie’s hand. “I’d better call Dad. Then I suspect I’ll have to call Alex to get the papers ready just in case.”
Maggie bent to kiss him, then straightened. “Jennie, come with me please.”
Jennie followed Maggie out of the office and occasionally glanced at her aunt as they walked. Maggie reminded her more of Mom every day. She wished she could tell Maggie everything would be all right, but Jennie had no idea how things would turn out. “Aunt Maggie, I—I’m sorry about Heather. Hazen and I both tried to talk her out of going with Eric. Now—”
“Don’t blame yourself, Jennie. If someone wanted to kidnap Heather they’d have done it regardless of whether or not she planned to leave. I wish we’d taken this modeling business more seriously. I just hope it’s not too late.”
Jennie didn’t know what to say, so she settled for a hug. When they reached the steps of the main lodge, Maggie leaned against one of the thick logs on either side of the wide steps. “I’d like you to watch Amber for me today. I don’t want her to be alone.”
Jennie nodded. “I’ll be happy to watch her.”
“Um—if she gets too rambunctious you can take her down to the stables and ride in the arena, and maybe go swimming in the guest pool, but stay on the grounds. While you’re in the house be sure you keep the doors locked.”
Jennie nodded again. “I will.”
“She’s with Heidi right now. I’ll need to tell her about Heather.”
“We’ll tell her together,” Jeff said as he and Lopez approached them.
Lopez pushed the wheelchair up the ramp next to the lodge steps. “I’d best be going. I’ll check in with you every hour or so.” The ranch manager tipped his hat, and left. Apparently they’d resolved their differences—at least for the time being.
“I’ll call the house and have Heidi bring Amber down.” Jeff grabbed the wheels and propelled himself into the lodge office.
Amber didn’t say much when Jeff and Maggie told her about Heather and Eric. After they’d talked about it and reassured her, Amber’s intense gaze drilled into her parents. “You’re not giving up the ranch, are you?”
Maggie and Jeff looked at each other, then back at Amber. “I don’t know,” Jeff answered. “Amber—honey—no matter what happens, we’ll be together as a family.”
After a light lunch, Jennie and Amber left the lodge. “You girls be careful.” Maggie hugged Amber for the tenth time. She and Jeff watched from the porch as Jennie pulled Amber down the steps. Deep furrows lined their foreheads.
“Let’s exercise the horses,” Amber suggested, turning toward the stables.
“Sure.” Jennie remembered what Amber had said about how riding made her feel better. “I could use another lesson.”
Alex Dayton pulled into the driveway, spraying gravel as he ground to a stop. He jumped out and jogged toward them, his tie flapping against his expensive black suit. “Have you heard anything?” he panted.
“No. Just the note so far,” Jeff answered.
“I am so sorry about Heather. If there’s anything I can do …”
“Thanks, Alex. We appreciate that.”
Dayton’s sky-blue gaze drifted from Jeff to Jennie and Amber. He reached down and ruffled Amber’s hair. “How’s the little Sunshine?”
Amber pulled back and adjusted her curls. “I’m mad.”
Maggie gave Amber a behave-yourself look.
He shifted his attention to Jennie. “I’ve seen you around a couple of times, but I don’t believe we’ve officially met. I’m Alex Dayton.”
“I’m sorry,” Maggie said. “I should have introduced you yesterday. Alex and his dad own most of the banks around these parts. He’s been about the only friend that’s stuck by us since all this land business started.”
“Hi,” Jennie replied.
Alex Dayton gave her a warm smile and a nod. “The pleasure’s mine.” He turned back to the adults, climbed up the steps, and stopped in front of Jeff. “I brought the information you wanted. Wish I could talk you out of it, but I suppose this is the best way. Let’s just hope Sheriff Mason is able to find Heather. I know I shouldn’t be breaking confidences, but I talked to Greg. He’s hopping mad. Says he’s wondering if Elliot and Danielson are in on it together. He’s about ready to drop Elliot’s case.”
Jeff reached for the thick envelope Dayton held.
Dayton ran well-manicured fingers through his thinning blond hair. “There must be some other way, Jeff. Giving in to the kidnapper’s demands just doesn’t seem right.”
“If you think of one, let us know.” Uncle Jeff spun the chair around. “Let’s talk in the office.”
Jennie felt sick. She couldn’t believe they’d give up Dancing Waters. “Come on, Amber. Let’s go.”
“We gotta do something to stop them, Jennie.” Amber’s eyes had changed, misted. “We just have to.”
Jennie squeezed her cousin’s hand, groping for the right words. None came.
They’d worked the horses for twenty minutes when Amber announced she wanted to go swimming. Jennie agreed and followed Amber out of the arena into the stables. Without waiting for Amber, Jennie swung off Gabby and came around to pet his forehead. “You are such a good horse. I could ride you all day.”
Gabby snorted and snuffled at her shoulder. “How are you doing, Amber? Ready to help me with the saddle?” Jennie might have been able to manage the saddle alone but didn’t want to take the chance of dropping it.
When Amber didn’t answer, Jennie glanced toward Cinnamon’s stall across the way. Amber wasn’t there. She heard the clip-clop of hooves at the far end of the stable, then caught a glimpse of a red-brown rump and black tail as Cinnamon disappeared out the door.
“Uh-oh.” Jennie pulled Gabby away from his stall and got back into the saddle. “I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing, but I have a feeling it’s not good.” She snapped the reins and urged the gelding forward. The horse trotted out the door and across the pasture. Jennie spotted Amber as she and Cinnamon jumped the fence. She groaned. Dusty came around the corner. He’d seen Amber too and started running after her.
“I’ll get her,” Jennie yelled. Or die trying.
Jennie stopped breathing before they reached the fence. She looped the reins around her wrist and held tight to the saddle horn, leaving her right arm free and waving in the air to help maintain her balance. A lesson or two on jumping might have been nice. She closed her eyes as Gabby’s front hooves left the ground. Please make it. Please.
Her eyes flew open as Gabby’s hooves hit the ground. He’d apparently done this before. The gelding galloped on, following Amber and Cinnamon into the woods.
The gray overcast sky grew darker as it started to rain.
Jennie caught up to Amber at the llama pasture, where she’d stopped to open the gate. “I’m surprised you didn’t try to jump this one too,” Jennie snapped.
“She could slip in the mud and get cut on the barbed wire. ’Sides, I didn’t think you’d catch up to me so fast.” Amber led Cinnamon through the gate and waited for Jennie. Rain had plastered her red-gold hair against her head. “I’m going to see Papa and you can’t stop me.”
“I could, but I won’t.” Jennie rode Gabby through, not bothering to get down. If Amber wanted to run off on her own, she could deal with the gate herself. Besides, she wasn’t about to let Amber out of her sight again. “Your folks are probably worried sick by now.” She paused to button her denim jacket, then turned up the collar to keep the water from dripping down her neck.
Amber pouted. “I don’t care. I have to talk to Papa. He’ll know what to do.”
Maybe he would. At least there they’d be safe and dry. “Since we’re closer to his place, we’ll go to your grandfather’s and call your folks.” What worried Jennie was getting to Joseph’s house. It was still a long way. The rain had grown into a relentless downpour.
Jennie let out a long sigh of relief when they finally rode into Joseph’s yard, past his Ford Ranger, and up to the porch. They dismounted, tied the horses to the railing, and ran for cover. Jennie grimaced as she pulled the soaked denim away from her legs.
“Papa!” Amber pounded on the door.
Joseph didn’t answer.
“Maybe he’s out looking for us. Your mom and dad would have called him.”
“No,” Amber insisted. “He would have met us along the way.”
“In the rain?” Jennie knocked again.
Amber tried the knob. The door swung open.
Hold it, McGrady. The hairs on the back of her neck bristled. Something is very wrong here. “Wait.” Jennie grabbed at her cousin’s arm and missed.
Amber disappeared inside.