Holidays on the Ranch (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)(55)

“Can I help you?” Finn asked.

“We’ve got a call from the Laytons up the road from you. Their foster kids went missing last night. We’re just checking the neighbors to see if anyone saw or heard anything,” he said.

“Well, come on in where it’s warm. We’re just getting ready to do chores, but those kids sure aren’t here. You want a cup of coffee?” Finn asked.

“No, thank you. I got a cup in the car. Mr. Layton says that the kids have taken quite a likin’ to the little boy who lives here. He was hoping the kid might have talked to them and would know where they might be headed or holed up. You didn’t tell me you had a kid.”

“That would be my nephew, not my child. His name is Martin. He is friends with the kids and is very upset about them going back into foster care. He’s not feeling well, but I can ask him. Please come inside, Sheriff,” Callie said, but she caught the sly wink from Finn and blushed.

He nodded and stepped into the living room. “I’d appreciate that, Callie.”

Callie started to swing the door open but remembered that he’d asked that she not barge into his room, so she shouted through it. “Hey, Martin, the sheriff is out here. Your friends are missing, and Mr. Layton is worried. Have you talked to Olivia?”

“Hot damn! Joe wants a doughnut,” Joe yelled.

The door opened immediately, and there was Martin, all the color drained from his face. “Oh, no! Did someone steal them? We should have taken them in, Callie. Now they’re gone, and it’s cold, and what if they freeze or starve? What’s Joe hollerin’ about? Did Verdie make doughnuts?”

“You just get to feeling better. The police will find them.” She touched his forehead, but he wasn’t feverish.

Evidently Joe could smell doughnuts, and that set him off. “Run, dog, run. Cops,” he said loudly.

Orville raised an eyebrow and she shook her head.

“He’s upset because he wanted us to take them, but we aren’t approved foster parents. Sorry about the bird.”

“Well, thank you. Call me if you hear anything. Small as Burnt Boot is, we’ll find them.”

“Now I’m really worried,” Callie said as soon as the door closed. “I hope they’re holed up in a warm barn. Maybe they’ve gotten into the school or the church. That’s the two places they know won’t be occupied on a Saturday.”

Finn draped an arm around Callie’s waist. “Let’s get the chores done, and if they haven’t found them by then, we’ll help with the search. Just knowing we’re out there will make Martin feel better.”

“He’ll throw a fit to go, even if he’s not feeling better,” she said.

“We’ll take him with us, I promise.”

Verdie waved from the kitchen table as they passed. “Don’t worry about those kids. They’re probably somewhere warm and safe, and like the man said, this ain’t a big town. Somebody saw them or is keeping them, and they’ll be in touch with the Laytons right soon.”

When they were in the truck with Shotgun right between them, Callie sighed loudly. “I’m sorry, Finn. It’s just that he’s never made friends before, and he’s been so happy here.”

The truck roared to life when he started the engine. “Don’t worry. It’ll all blow over in a week or two, and he’ll make new friends. I wonder why Joe yelped about doughnuts.”

“He probably could smell them on Orville.” Callie laughed. “I bet if you kissed me right now, you could taste them. Kind of like the smell a smoker leaves behind when he’s been in a room.”

“Never accuse me of passing up an opportunity like that.” Finn leaned over and let his tongue slip inside her mouth.

“So?” she asked when he moved away.

“No doughnut taste there, but it was right nice. Anytime you want me to check for doughnut breath, you just let me know.”

***

“If you need me, I’ll be in my room reading.” Verdie knocked on Martin’s door and raised her voice so he could hear it.

“Dammit, kid! Talk to Joe,” the bird yelled.

He opened it just enough that he could step outside into the hallway with her. “I’ll be fine. I’m feeling better. I’ll go change out Joe’s papers in a little while and read him a story.”

“I promised I’d be honest with you, Martin. Tomorrow they’re coming to take those kids away to Gainesville to a place where they’ll stay until Monday. Then they are going to put them in three different homes,” Verdie said.

Tears rolled down his cheeks. “I wouldn’t never want anyone to put Callie in one place and me in another.”

Verdie hugged him tightly. “I had a bunch of brothers and a sister, and I sure wouldn’t have wanted to be torn away from them, either. But if you know anything about the kids, Martin, you need to tell me or Callie so we can let the Laytons know. They’re real worried.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded. “I’m hungry again. Reckon it’d be all right if I stuffed some of them leftover eggs in a biscuit?”

“Guess that medicine worked pretty good.” She smiled.

“I can do it myself and eat it while I work on Callie’s Christmas present. I’ll be real careful and not make a mess,” he said.