Debra Ullrick (15 page)

Harrison rose and made his way down the steps. He met Fletcher just as he pulled in front of the mansion. “Good morning.”

“Morning.” Fletcher tied off the lines, set the brake and hopped down.

“I need to talk to you about something.” Without looking, Harrison knew Abby was nearby; he could sense her, could smell the rose scent that normally surrounded her.

“Something wrong?” Fletcher asked.

“We’ve encountered a situation that we were wondering if you could help us out with.”

“What’s that?”

Harrison explained their dilemma.

“I’m sure my men would be more than happy to help. I know a few other men I could ask in town that would help, too.”

Harrison hated that he couldn’t be the one to solve Abby’s dilemma and that Fletcher was. But what did he expect? He wasn’t from around here, so he didn’t know anyone, and Fletcher did. “Thank you. We need to pull out of here no later than eight so we can meet the train when it arrives. Will you take care of organizing it? Abby and I need to head on over to the livery to see about renting Mr. Barges’s two wagons.”

“That won’t be necessary. I know enough men who can help that you won’t need to.”

“Very well, then. We’ll see you in about an hour?”

Fletcher nodded, strode over to where his men were waiting by their horses and wagons, and started talking to them. Several heads looked their way and nodded.

Harrison turned to Abby. “Looks like you won’t have to drive a wagon, after all.”

“It wouldn’t have bothered me. I’m used to it. In a way I was hoping I would have to so that I could go with the men.”

“We can go in my buggy if you’d like.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“No, ma’am.” His heart might take a beating, but seeing the smile on her face would be worth it.

Forty-five minutes later, after they got the boys and dropped them off with Zoé, a convoy of wagons lined up in front of Abby’s. Fletcher let him know they were ready.

Harrison helped Abby into his buggy. When they pulled out, Harrison rode alongside Fletcher’s lead wagon so Abby would not have to endure the trail dust the other wagons kicked up.

Conversation flowed freely. They arrived at the train station just minutes before the stack of smoke from the train’s engine could be seen coming around the bend.

“I can hardly wait to see the chairs.” She clapped. “Oh, no.” Her joy quickly evaporated and she stopped clapping.

“What?” He looked around for the problem but saw none.

“We forgot to bring something to cover the furniture so it doesn’t get dusty.”

“No, we didn’t.” Harrison smiled. “When I asked Fletcher if he could help us, I also asked if he would have the men gather blankets and ropes to cover the pieces.”

She placed her hand against her cheek and sighed. “Thank you, Harrison. You think of everything.” She rewarded him with one of her beautiful smiles.

“I try.” His lips curled.

After he and Abby inspected the shipment to make sure it was correct, and the chairs were being transferred to the wagons, Abby excused herself and headed into town. He hated her going unescorted, but she insisted she would be fine, and asked him if he would supervise the men.

Later on, when everything was loaded, Abby, along with three other young women, arrived carrying baskets. Several of the men eyed the females with appreciative glances. Within seconds, the younger single men rushed over to the ladies and took their burdens from them.

Before one of them could help Abby, Harrison beat them to it and relieved Abby of her heavy basket. “What do we have here?”

“Drinks. After that long ride here and with working in this here heat, I thought the men might want something to drink. I got them something to eat, too.”

“How thoughtful of you to do that, Abby. Thank you.”

She brushed away his compliment, and her gaze trailed to where the men were gathered. “It looks like they’re enjoying the ham and cheese sandwiches. Shall we join them?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He offered her his free arm. Just thinking about how thoughtful and sweet she was made him proud to know her and to have her for a business partner. Too bad their relationship had no hope of developing into something more. Like something more personal and permanent. If only there was a way to make it work. But once again, Harrison had to face the ugly truth and reality that it wouldn’t.

Chapter Twelve

S
hortly after sunrise the next morning, Abby rummaged through her dresses before picking out a pale peach one with white flowers and white leaves on it. Once she readied herself for the day, she skipped down the stairs and scurried into the large theater. Up the main aisle she strolled, running her hands over the plush fabric of one of the chairs as she did.

She made her way to the center of the stage and skimmed her gaze over the perfectly lined rows of royal blue chairs, and imagined herself performing in front of a packed house. Lines she’d memorized while performing Elizabeth Bennett from a theatrical version of Jane Austen’s
Pride and Prejudice
passed through her lips with meaningful emotion. “‘I do. I do like him. I love him. Indeed, he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable.’”

Harrison’s face slipped into the front portal of her mind.

“Abby!” Zoé’s frantic voice popped that image.

Zoé ran toward her, crying.

Abby darted off the stage and met her halfway down the aisle. “What’s wrong?” Abby scanned her face.

“You must come quickly.” Sobs tore from Zoé, and she grabbed Abby’s hand and yanked her toward the door. Abby had to hurry to keep up with Zoé, lest she lose her footing.

“What is going on, Zoé?”

Zoé didn’t answer and panic jumped into Abby’s throat. Had something happened to one of Zoé’s sisters? She had no idea, but she’d never seen Zoé this upset before, so she knew it had to be something dreadful.

When they entered the hall, Harrison and the town’s sheriff stood in the main entrance room talking.

What was the sheriff doing here? A million questions dashed through Abby’s mind, and she broke free from Zoé’s grasp and rushed to them. “What’s going on here?”

Harrison’s attention brushed toward her, turned back to the sheriff, and then flew back to her. He strode over to her. “Have you seen Graham and Josiah?”

“Josiah and Graham? No. Why?” She looked at Zoé. Her face was blotchy, and tears pooled into her fear-filled eyes.

“We were hoping they came here.”

“Came here? What’s going on? Why would you think they would be here?” She fluttered a glance at the grandfather clock. It was too early in the morning for Zoé to have them as they weren’t supposed to be here until eight o’clock, and it was only seven-fifteen now.

“When I woke up this morning, the boys were gone. We thought maybe they tried to find their way here.” Harrison raked his hand through his disheveled hair and ran it across the back of his neck. Whisker stubbles dotted his normally shaved chin.

Suddenly it struck her what he’d just said. Josiah and Graham were missing. Fear threatened to rob her of her senses, but one look at the concern on Harrison’s face and she knew she needed to be strong for him. “We need to pray.” As soon as she said it, she remembered Harrison didn’t pray, but she did.

Sheriff Long, Colette and Veronique joined them. They bowed their heads.

“God, the twins’ disappearance is no surprise to You. You know exactly where they are. We’re asking You to guide us to them. In the meantime, place a hedge of protection around them and keep them safe. Amen.” Abby raised her head and her focus zoned in on the sheriff. “Sheriff Long, do you know anyone here who has a hunting dog?”

“I was thinking the same thing and was just about to say that Levi Huntley has a mutt that can hunt down just about anything or anyone. I’ll run and fetch him and anyone else I can gather to search for the boys.” Sheriff faced Harrison. “I think it’s best if we start our search from up at your place.”

“My place is...” Harrison started to tell the sheriff where he lived, but Sheriff Long held up his hand, saying he already knew where he lived because he made it his business to know the whereabouts of not only the citizens of Hot Mineral Springs, but newcomers and strangers, as well. “I’ll meet you up there.” With those words he strode toward the door, boots clomping hard and steady.

Abby turned her eyes up at Harrison. “I’m going with you.”

“Thank you.” He pulled her hand into his and held onto it.

Abby knew he meant nothing by it and that he just needed another human’s comforting touch.

Keeping her hand in his, she turned to the Denis sisters. “Zoé, think of all the places you’ve taken the boys and then go look in those places to see if they’re there. Colette, you go with her. And Veronique, could you throw together something for the men to eat and drink when we return?”

Veronique nodded and all three sisters left.

Hand in hand, Abby and Harrison hurried into the buggy and headed out of town. “When we get to the house, we’ll need something of Josiah and Graham’s. Something the dog can sniff to get their scent.”

He nodded, saying nothing.

As they made their way up the winding road canopied by trees, Abby and Harrison scanned the trees.

Minutes later, Harrison’s house came into view.

Staimes paced up one end of the deck and back down to the other. The instant he spotted them, he stopped pacing and ran down the steps to where they were just pulling up in front.

“Did you find them?” Staimes asked.

“No. I was hoping they were here.” Defeat beat through Harrison’s voice.

Abby could tell he was trying to be strong, but the disappearance of his sons was weighing heavily on him. It showed in his eyes and in the wrinkles around them.

She had to keep pressing down her own fears, lest they overwhelm her sanity and ability to help him. She laid her hand on his arm, doing her best to be strong and confident. Neither of which she felt at the moment. “We’ll find them. They’ve got to be around here somewhere.”

Harrison clutched her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “I hope so.”

By the time they got inside and retrieved an item that belonged to each boy, Sheriff Long and twenty-three men pulled into the yard. Without a dog.

Abby’s heart sank. “Where’s the dog?”

“Levi wasn’t home. Mrs. Huntley said Levi had gone hunting and wouldn’t be back until later this evening. I asked her to tell him when he got home, if we hadn’t sent word to her yet that the boys had been found, to have him come here. We need to make sure someone stays here in case the boys show up. I think it should be you and Miss Abby,” Sheriff Long told Harrison.

“No. I’m going with you. I can’t just sit here while my boys are lost out there somewhere.”

“I’ll stay,” Abby said, even though she really wanted to go with Harrison, to be there for him if he needed her.

Harrison faced her. “Thank you, Abby. I’d appreciate that.”

The men gathered around and quickly discussed plans. Three shots were to be fired in a row if anyone found Josiah and Graham. Two shots if anyone spotted any signs of them.

In sets of twos, they all headed out in different directions. Some on horseback, others on foot.

Abby and Staimes stayed behind.

Unable to sit idly by and do nothing, Abby searched every inch of the house, even though Staimes assured her they’d already done that at least twice.

Fifteen minutes later, at the sound of wagons coming up the road, Abby rushed down the stairs and flew out the door.

Fletcher and his men rode up on their mounts and wagons. Fletcher hopped down from the wagon and hurried over to her. “We just heard. How’s Harrison holding up?” Being a father himself, she figured Fletcher had to know what Harrison was going through.

She herself could only imagine what Harrison must be feeling. Her own mind was tormented with negative what-ifs. But each time those thoughts came, she gave her fears and concerns over to the Lord. “He’s taking it hard. He’s trying to be strong, but I can tell this is really scaring him.”

“If that was Julie out there, I’d be petrified.”

She could only nod.

“Is there anything we can do?”

“The men have gone out to look for them.”

“How long ago?”

“Fifteen minutes or so ago.”

He raised his hat and ran the sleeve of his shirt over his forehead that wasn’t even wet.

“I didn’t even ask Harrison what happened. But I’m wondering if the boys were anxious to come to my place and perhaps headed down that way.” The thought of the Colorado River dividing their places sent chills up and down Abby’s spine. What if Josiah and Graham— No! She wouldn’t even allow herself to think that way. She couldn’t. She loved those boys as if they were her own. They had to come back, and they had to come back alive.

* * *

Harrison and Sheriff Long looked for any signs that the boys had been here, but there were none. Graham and Josiah must have slipped out of the house sometime before it rained during the night.

The thought of them out there all alone, in the dark, scared and cold, loaded his stomach with a boulder-size pit of helplessness and fear. His heart ached with a pain he’d only known twice before—once after he discovered his wife had left, and the other the day he had found out she had died. He hoped God had heard Abby’s prayer because He certainly hadn’t heard any of Harrison’s over the years.

They beat back the pine-tree branches as they trekked their way through the thick woods. More than an hour had passed and there was still no sign of his sons.

Where could they have gone? One place kept coming to his mind.

“Sheriff.” Harrison stopped. “I can’t shake this feeling that my boys were headed to Abby’s. Even though I already checked there, I think we should head that way.”

The sheriff nodded. “Let’s head that way, then.”

They started walking toward Abby’s place.

His mind trailed back to the day before and when they had gotten back from the train station. He and his sons had had dinner with Abby. Afterward, the four of them sat on the floor and built a cabin out of homemade wooden blocks. When they got tired of that, Abby picked out a children’s book and read to them. He remembered her animated voice and the way she made the characters come to life, the excitement on his sons’ faces as they listened with such intent, how they cried most of the way home, and how they said they loved Abby and wished she was their mother.

It was time for him to put his fears of remarrying aside. Instead of looking for another nanny, he needed to find a wife. Someone who would be a good mother to his children. Abby’s face popped into his mind. As much as he hated to do it, he had to erase that image.

“Over here. I think I found something.” Sheriff Long’s voice broke through Harrison’s thoughts.

Pine needles crunched under Harrison’s feet as he made his way to the sheriff, standing at the rocky edge of the Colorado River. There, near the riverbank, lay one of his son’s carved horses. Harrison thought he might be sick. He swallowed several times, fighting the sickening image that threatened to overtake him.

White caps peaked as the rushing water barreled into the boulders poking out from the deep riverbed. Harrison closed his eyes, imagining the worst. The sound of rushing water filled the eerie silence.

A large hand cupped his shoulder, and his gaze slid that way.

“Don’t go imagining the worst, Harrison. I don’t see any sign to indicate they went into the water.”

Harrison hoped, and even almost prayed, that the man was right.

Sheriff Long looked around and then pointed toward a large boulder. “There’s something over there.” He and Harrison hurried toward the giant rock, the moisture from the tall grasses saturating the bottoms of their pant legs as they did.

His sons’ socks and shoes lay on the rocky ground in a heap. Faster than the river water rolling over the rocks below the surface, dread tumbled over and over Harrison until he felt he would drown under the weight of his great loss. He dropped to his knees, clutched the items to his chest and laid his head back. Not caring that he wasn’t alone, he cried out, “Why, God, why? Do You hate me that much? What about Abby? She prayed that my sons would be safe. Apparently, You don’t answer her prayers, either. What kind of a God are You, anyway?”

“A loving One,” Sheriff Long answered.

Harrison’s eyes bolted open, and he glared at the tall middle-aged man with the black burly mustache. “How can you say that? My boys are gone.”

“You don’t know that.”

Harrison shot him a look that said the man must be nuts. All he had to do was look at the evidence. His sons’ shoes and socks were found near the edge of the riverbank, and his children were nowhere in sight. It didn’t take much to figure out what had happened.

A gunshot sliced through the air.

Harrison bolted to his feet, waiting, listening for another.

A second shot sounded.

He held his breath, waiting for a third.

When it came, no joy accompanied it as he didn’t know if his boys had been found safely or not.

“It sounded like it came from that direction.” Sheriff Long pointed across and downriver, toward the direction of Abby’s place. “There’s a bridge down that way. We can cross over there.”

Harrison rushed forward behind the man, stumbling and hurrying with barely any direction to his steps. They came to a rough-hewn beam draped across the width of the river, one that didn’t look nearly strong enough to hold their weight. “This is a bridge?” Harrison hiked a brow in the sheriff’s direction.

“Don’t let its looks fool you. This here bridge is a lot stronger than it looks.”

It had to be. Judging by its decrepit appearance, that thing couldn’t even hold something as light as a hummingbird.

Still, Harrison needed to trust that the sheriff knew what he was doing.

One at a time, they carefully made their way across it.

Three more gunshots pierced the air. Only this time they were louder. They were closer to his boys. Harrison’s blood pounded in his ears.

Rocks crunched under their feet as they raced through the uneven ground, shoving branches of various bushes aside.

A large bull snake slid out from under the brush right in front of him, tripping him and crashing his knee against a rock. The snake slithered away.

Ignoring the intense pain, Harrison pushed himself up, brushed the rocks and mud from off his knee and with a strong limp, forced himself to move forward so he could catch up with the sheriff. Pain darted through his leg like a million pins and needles as he stepped over felled logs lying across the narrow pathway. They came upon a small clearing where a group of men were gathered into a circle.