Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(76)

He had to answer.





Chapter 50


Brand


Brandon was running toward his truck when Colby finally picked up on the third ring. He didn’t waste time. “Marcie got a call from Piper a few minutes ago. She stepped out on the porch to answer, and the next time I looked up she was running to her car. I couldn’t catch her before she drove away.”

“No problem. Piper left me about half an hour ago to go talk to Marcie. She must have caught her by phone.” Colby’s tone relaxed a bit as he seemed to be thinking out loud. “No idea why Piper would leave her van by the side of the road. Maybe Marcie picked her up and they were in a hurry?”

Brand climbed in his truck as Colby kept talking. “The way the van is parked, the open door. Something is wrong, Brand. Piper left one of her shoes in the mud by the van. She’d never do that. This is looking more like a crime scene.”

The ranger’s last words were loaded with worry.

Brand slammed the truck door and flipped on the tracker he’d planted in Leon’s car. “You know where Piper is right now?”

“Negative. She was headed back to town but obviously didn’t make it. Something’s wrong. Real wrong. There are two sets of footprints in the mud by the road.”

Brand was silent for a moment, then yelled at Colby over his roaring truck engine. “The tracker shows Leon’s car at Marcie’s trailer. Piper must be there also. He somehow got her to stop, then kidnapped her.”

Colby said what Brand was thinking. “Leon’s got Piper’s phone. The call Marcie got was him calling, not Piper. I called her cell and it went straight to message.”

“Anything else missing?”

“No. I can see her purse in the front seat. She didn’t leave willingly.”

“Leon has more than just her phone. He has Piper, and it seems Marcie is headed toward them,” Brand answered as the noise of the truck driving over rough road almost blocked his words. “We’ve got to find them fast.”

“But why would he take her to the trailer?” Colby didn’t bother with a helmet. He yelled as he took off on his bike, “It’s miles away.”

“To pull Marcie back so he can finish what he started.” Brand paused as he jumped a ditch with all four tires off the ground. “Marcie took off running to help Piper, just like Leon hoped she would. I saw her face as she backed out of the drive. It was total panic.”

“I’m on my way to Someday Valley.” Colby swore.

“Right.” The roar of his truck made Brand also yell. “You go in on the back side. I’ll get there first and go in the front. Leon has a plan he wants to act out. His own kind of party. But he won’t be expecting us.”

“He’ll be armed and ready for you this time, Brand.”

“I know, but he better be fully loaded because it will take more than one hit to stop me.”

Neither man said another word. Every second counted. They had to get to the trailer before Leon hurt anyone.

Brand was ten minutes away at full speed, but Colby was twenty if he pushed ninety.





Chapter 51


Pecos


Pecos was standing by the dispatcher table, ready to leave. All he could think about was getting home to Kerrie and Button. She had to stay in bed most of the time, so Mr. Winston had set up a table for two in their room. Marcie had cleaned out the connecting room and made a small living area and a nursery. It was like they had a real apartment. Mr. Winston even found a rocking chair in the attic.

Pecos had thought of taking off a few days, but his mother-in-law convinced him a new mother’s mother was supposed to be around the first few days. He talked her into making it nights so he could be with Kerrie all day.

Since the birth, every time his wife opened her eyes she searched for him. Even with the baby in her arms, she wanted him holding her. Pecos had become her rock.

When he’d kissed her lightly as he left for work, she’d whispered, “More.”

“More what?”

“More of you, husband. Or should I call you Daddy? I want you closer, every minute. Touching me, holding me, loving me.”

Pecos studied her. What had happened to his Kerrie who always rationed out her touch and her kisses? “Are you saying, when you recover, of course, that you want me to truly be your husband?” He looked up to make sure no one was in the room.”

Surprisingly, she nodded. “When I saw you shaking when the doctor told you to cut the cord, I realized you were the most handsome man in the world. You’re Button’s father and it’s time you were my husband for real.”

He’d kissed her again and almost ran from the room. If he’d stayed any longer he might never leave her.

Pecos had thought about what she’d said all during his long shift, and now he just wanted to go home and hold her.

A 911 call came in, shattering his daydream.

He looked around just as the day dispatcher sat down. She had her sewing basket, several snacks, two bottles of water, and a box of tissues.

“I’ll take this call while you settle in,” he said, seeing that the old dear was emptying her sewing bag.

Kerrie would have to wait a few minutes. It wouldn’t matter. They had the rest of their lives.

“Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?”