Tyson had been called in to help search for a missing teen not long before Rory moved back to town. The sheriff had given him strict instructions on where to ride and how long to take. Tyson had argued, insisting a storm was headed their way and he only had hours of clear vision ahead of him. Hours that could have been better put to use with him searching the trails that couldn’t be accessed by trucks. Trails he knew better than anyone. But he wasn’t the boss and did as he was told – only to regret it the following day when he finally got to follow his instinct and found the body of the young man frozen in a snowdrift.
He wouldn’t let that happen to Fisher but it was something he would deal with later, after the boy was safe back in his mother’s arms. He could explain everything then and calm Layla’s frazzled feathers, if she would listen to him.
Tyson stuck his foot in the stirrup and hauled himself up into the saddle. “Let’s go, boy. We have a lost baby to find.”
Chapter Twenty
Layla hurried down the hill toward Marietta and turned left toward Gina and Rory’s ranch. They would be beside themselves, she understood that but now she had to add to their angst and tell them Tyson had gone off on his own and wouldn’t be joining the search from their side of the ranch.
When she pulled up at the house, she saw Chance’s truck, Rory’s sheriff’s truck, and a few more she didn’t recognize. She hurried out of her car and barged through the front door, not bothering to knock. They were all congregated in the kitchen with a map on the table.
“Layla, you came.” Gina sat at the table, her face pale and streaked with tears.
“Of course I came. Don’t worry, honey, we’ll find him, I promise.” She wrapped her arms around her distraught friend and fought down the emotions that threatened to choke her.
“Where’s Tyson?” Rory pinned her with a gaze that spoke of tense anger born of worry barely held in under the surface.
“Uh, he’s gone looking from his side. Said you’d understand and it was a waste of time coming over here to tell you that.”
“Typical.” The voice was bitter and Layla turned to look at Jethro Hansen. She hadn’t noticed him standing with his brothers before. “We all know what happens when Tyson goes off on his own now, don’t we? Just ask the parents of Simon West.”
“What are you talking about?” Layla gripped Gina’s hand, a tremor of cold washing over her body.
“Poor kid was found froz—”
“That’s enough.” Chance slammed his hand on the kitchen table to get everyone’s attention. “We all know why that happened but now is not the time or the place for you to start stirring up old business, Jethro. Fact of the matter is, my brother is one of the best trackers in Montana and we all know it, so if Tyson says he should go in from the back, that’s where we should all head to as well.” He pointed to the back of the property on the map. “This here is where this ranch meets up with Tyson’s. I suspect he’s thinking that, because of the way Rory’s place veers into a gully, if Fisher has made it further than the first paddock, he’d naturally head in that direction because of the fall of the land.”
Rory coughed to clear his throat. “I agree. I think we split up into teams and all head for the back boundary. Pa, you come with me in the truck. Chance, you take Callie on the horses and Jethro, I’d appreciate it if you and your brothers could work as a team together.” He held out his phone. “Keep in touch and call if you see anything at all.”
He turned to Layla who had her arm around Gina. “If you could stay here and keep an eye on Gina for me?” His voice wobbled dangerously and Layla’s stomach clenched at the unshed tears in his eyes.
“Of course I will.” She squeezed her friend’s hand, noticing the clamminess of her skin. Gina’s complexion was paler than Layla had ever seen it before.
He tipped his chin at the back door and Layla excused herself and followed him outside. Rory stood with his hands on his hips and looked at her. “If she looks any worse than she is now, call Evan. I’m hoping this isn’t going to put her into early labor but I wouldn’t be at all surprised. I think she was feeling a bit out of sorts this morning anyway, probably the reason she slept so long this afternoon. I tried to get her to go in and see him but she refuses to leave until we find Fisher.”
“Of course, I’ll take good care of her.” She swallowed and looked him in the eye. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get Tyson to come over. I tried, Rory. Seems he’s not one for following the rules.”
“I know that and sometimes it gets him into more trouble than it’s worth. Not your fault, Layla. Take care of my wife.” He called out to the team and hurried to his truck.
Callie squeezed her arm on her way past. “We’ll find him. Don’t worry so much.”
“I can’t help it. I feel responsible somehow.” She watched them run down to the barn with Sherbet on their heels where two horses stood tied up and saddled ready to go before she turned back into the kitchen.
*
Tyson scanned the horizon for anything out of the ordinary. Any small puff of dust or splash of color not fitting the landscape that might give away the cheeky little boy he’d become so fond of. He doubted Fisher would be this far over but a small child could cover a lot of ground in a few hours and well Tyson knew it. He told himself not to think of birds flying overhead. It would be too soon for anything to attract vultures.
While he rode and watched, Tyson had time to think about Layla and their son. She wanted uncomplicated – well so did he. He liked to call a spade a spade and wasn’t keen on surprises out of the blue. A steady, calm home life unlike the one he’d had growing up was all he’d dreamed of the nights he lay in bed hugging his ragged teddy bear listening to his father’s drunken sobs coming from the kitchen.
The following day, Tyson had hid behind the hedge outside the house listening to Chance trying to talk his father into getting help but that usually ended up in an argument. Despite all of this, he’d been the only son to stay at home when he grew up. To say he felt responsible for his father was wrong, he didn’t. He’d lived in hope that something would snap in Pa’s mind and he’d get over the anguish their mother’s death left behind.
It’d taken a long time but eventually his pa surfaced from his pain and the haze of alcohol to face the world again. Luckily for Pa, Chance forgave him and now they were closer than ever. Tyson swore he’d never put a child of his through the same experience. He wanted to protect and nurture his son, not cry over the loss of his mother whether it was due to a death or a marriage breakdown.
They’d come so close to not having a relationship and Tyson wondered if he’d blown his second chance. Layla hadn’t looked impressed when he didn’t follow the instructions Rory had given her. Rory would understand but would Layla decide Tyson not complying was akin to going off on a tangent as she so prettily put it? He hoped not. The problem was that they were both so determined to do things their own way and neither of them wanted to be the one that stepped down.
Once Fisher was found, Tyson would try and sort it out but right now this search needed his attention.
He focused on the land ahead and nudged the horse forward. Soon he’d start riding in a grid pattern. He glanced up at the sky, the dark clouds starting to rumble overhead. A fat drop of rain hit him in the face and then another. Within minutes his back was soaked through. It didn’t bode well for finding markings to follow. His heart plummeted.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I think you should lie down for a while, Gina.” Layla hovered in front of her friend, noticing the beads of sweat on her forehead.
“No, I’m fine, really.” She groaned and held her belly. Bending over.
“Bull. You’re in labor, even I can tell that. Why didn’t you tell Rory?” Layla placed a hand on Gina’s back and rubbed circles as she panted.
“Because he’d make me go to hospital, that’s why. I’m not going anywhere until they find my son.”
“Can you at least go and lie down then? I’m going t
o time these pains and see how you go. If I need to call an ambulance, I will and you won’t be in a position to fight me on this one. Trust me, Gina, I won’t let you stay here and risk these babies.” She slid a hand around Gina’s waist and helped her to her feet.
Together they walked into the bedroom and Layla got Gina onto the bed.
“I’m going to call Evan anyway once we time these pains.” She slid off Gina’s shoes ad tucked her feet under the blankets. “Let me know when you have the next one, okay?”
Tears ran down Gina’s cheeks. “I can’t believe I fell asleep and lost my little man.” She lifted a hand and wiped the moisture from her face. “I thought he was tucked up in bed too.”
“He probably was. Look, you’re worrying too much and that’s not good for you. He may not have gone far at all.”
“But it’s pouring outside. He’s going to get so cold.” She gripped Layla’s hand. “I’ll never forgive myself if they don’t find him.”
Layla climbed on the bed and turned her back to the pillows so she was comfortable. She needed to take Gina’s mind off Fisher going missing and try to keep her calm. “Guess what happened with Tyson?”
“Rory told me you forgave him but he didn’t give me the details. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about it.” She gave a half smile. “Is it true?”
“Yes. Jethro caused a stir. I’m guessing you know that bit, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, he took me back to my house and put me to bed. It had been a terrible day, what with getting punched in the face from Jethro and all. I must admit, I was feeling rather under the weather.” She smiled at the memory of Tyson standing at the door with stolen roses in his hands.
“Emily had decided I was going home for the day and was pushing me out the door when Tyson walked in. He was so cute standing there with a bunch of roses he’d stolen from Jock’s garden.”
“That’s so sweet.” Gina smiled.
“Yes it was. Anyway, he took me home, tucked me into bed with a cup of tea, and then insisted I go to sleep. I thought he was going home but no, the big softy decided to stay and make me dinner. When I woke up I heard a noise in the kitchen.” She watched as Gina got wrapped up in the story. “I thought he was a burglar and called Rory to come and save me.” How she hadn’t put two and two together surprised her. It made sense but at the time she was too stressed to think straight.
“Anyway, we talked and made up. He’s being a bit stubborn but I’m allowed to spend some money on the house to make it livable.”
“Really? That’s so cool. I’m glad you two are getting on, Layla. He’s a good guy under all that gruff stuff. He’s a proud man, so I suppose you’re going to have to accept that and do the best you can.” Her face pinched and she closed her eyes.
Layla looked at her watch and made a mental note of the time. Twelve minutes since the last pain. Not as bad as she’d first thought. She’d give it another half an hour and then phone Evan for advice. When Gina dozed off, Layla made the call.
“I’d like you to bring her in but understand that she won’t leave until they find Fisher. It doesn’t sound as though she’s in labor properly yet though but that could change at any time. I wish I could come up but we’re as busy as anything here at the moment.” Frustration in Evan’s voice made all the more anxious to hear from Tyson or Rory. “Let me know if things change with her and if you hear from anyone about Fisher.”
“Of course I will.”
*
Tyson wiped the rain from his face. It always made it harder to track when the weather turned foul like this but he wouldn’t give up without a fight. He would find Fisher and get him home to his momma where he belonged.
He glanced at the sky. The clouds seemed to be clearing so hopefully the rain would ease as well. With only a couple of hours of daylight left, he had to move fast. If he didn’t find the little boy by sunset, it would be hard to continue. He had to think of his horse as well. If it stumbled and broke a leg, they would be useless to Fisher.
Once he crossed over into Rory’s ranch his senses went on high alert. Little boys could move fast and they were at least a good few miles from the house. He followed the terrain and pushed his horse toward the gully, keeping a good lookout for anything that would indicate the child had been there.
When the rain finally stopped and the sun did its best to peek out from the clouds, he breathed a sigh of relief. Rain tickled down in rivulets making the way slippery for his horse but Tyson had every confidence they would be fine. He let Rango go down at his own pace while he scanned the area. Nothing moved.
The ride gave him plenty of time to think about his child and how it could be for him and Layla now they had made peace with each other. How close had he come to being a mere visitor in his child’s life, having to be content with watching from the sideline and having the occasional visits? The idea left a sour taste in his mouth and he brushed that train of thought away, deciding to think of more pleasant things instead while he scanned the terrain.
A small, muddy shoe floated down a channel worn into the side of the gully. His heart slammed up into his throat. Tyson pulled up his horse and slid to the ground. Beads of sweat broke out on his top lip, his breath hitched in his throat. No, don’t let him be hurt.
“Fisher, Fisher.” He stood holding the soggy little shoe and called until his voice broke. Tears clogged his throat as visions of what could be drifted through his mind. A small child, a gully, and torrential rain that rushed down the sides in their own little rivers didn’t bode well for Fisher.
Tyson grabbed the horse’s reins and started walking up the side of the gully. He tracked the tiny river of water, hoping that what he would find at the other end would be all he could hope for.
He slid in the mud, lurched forward, and ripped the skin on his palms as he gripped the rocks. Tyson cursed and dug his toes in, started to climb again, a whinny from Rango pulling him up short. He dropped the reins and gave the horse his head, knowing he would find his own way up the rise and wait at the top. Better that than risk his horse falling down like Tyson had just done.
Stones and dirt scattered over his head as Rango launched himself up the bank. Mud squished as it tried to suck down the hooves but the horse was too strong and hell-bent on making it up to the top. The last couple of feet, he struggled wobbling precariously on the lip of the bank. With a final push of brute strength, the horse clambered over the top and found solid ground. He shook his head, the bit rattling on his teeth.
“Good boy. Good boy, Rango.” Tyson rested his head on his hand for a moment, letting the relief ease the tension from his muscles before continuing his climb.
He’d jammed the shoe in his jacket pocket, determined on finding its owner alive and well, if not a little wet and bedraggled. He owed his brothers more than he could say and if this was the only thing he could do for them, he would come up trumps. After all, he had a reputation to uphold.
Tyson pulled himself over the edge and lay flat on his stomach, trying to get his breathing under control. Rango, head down, snuffling a tuft of grass, stood a little distance from him.
“Good boy. Here, boy.” He held out his hand as the horse walked over to him.
With his hand on the horse’s leg, Tyson pulled himself up to a sitting position, then used the big bay to hold on to while he found his feet. Unsteady to start with, he managed to find his balance and heaved a sigh of relief.
The small river still trickled toward the edge of the gully and would probably run for hours yet. With no time to waste, he hoisted himself into the saddle and followed it, praying they would find Fisher before the evening sky became too dark for him to see. As he rode, Tyson called out, hoping for an answer.
He rode for another half an hour that seemed to stretch on forever. With a mere hour of daylight left, he paused for a moment to study the ground around the pool that marked the beginning of the stream he’d been following. The rain had ceased over an hour ago but it
still trickled into the depression in the earth to overflow and head down into the gully. Tyson picked up a stick and poked it into the water, testing the depth.
Satisfied the child wasn’t in there, he turned and called out. “Fisher. Buddy, where are you?” The only sound that reached his ears was the cry of the eagle soaring up in the clouds above him. He took the reins in his hand, tried not to get too saddened yet and started to walk, looking for footprints, anything to lead him to his nephew.
It took another fifteen minutes before Tyson found any sign of Fisher. One tiny shoe print and a bare footprint beside a small puddle, almost washed away by the rain. “Thank goodness. I was beginning to lose hope in my own skills.” He stopped and listened, waiting for a cry to lead him to the boy. By Tysons calculations, they were only about a mile and a half from the ranch house and he should be coming into contact with Rory and the others soon.
A soft hiccupping sob broke the silence.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Gina, they’ve got him. Fisher is safe.” Layla sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her friend. She still held her phone in her hand, Rory still talking in the back ground.
Gina reached for it, snatched it up, and held it to her ear. “Rory? Is it true, you found my baby?”
Layla tried to control the tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched as Rory reassured Gina her little boy was safe and well but gave up as her friend broke down and sobbed. She reached for Gina, pulled her against her shoulder and together they cried in relief.
“I can’t believe it. He’s alive.” Gina’s red-rimmed eyes shone with relief. “Tyson is incredible. I didn’t really know how he did that tracking until recently when we were talking about him doing trail rides.” She sniffed and reached for a tissue from the bedside table, sat up and blew her nose. Gina gave a wobbly laugh. “I promise I won’t make any rude remarks about him ever again.”
Her Favorite Cowboy (The Watson Brothers #4) Page 13