Wild Horse Springs

by Jodi Thomas

  * * *

  WHEN DAN STEPPED into his office, fifty volunteers waited for him. A few were using walkers and had to be given other duties, but most were ready and willing to work.

  He went over each rule: stay within sight of each other; if you see fresh footprints, be careful about destroying any evidence. On and on he went through rules he’d only read in books and never had to put into practice.

  They had no name to call the child and no picture to use, so the search would be silent.

  “We’re looking for two persons,” Dan said as he stood in the middle of a crowd that had grown to a hundred. “One little girl, thin, brown hair, about five, and one short man, about five-four, with one ear missing.”

  When he stepped down, Tess took over. She was amazing. Every team had its area marked off on a map. The people in wheelchairs or walkers were photocopying extra maps and phone-number lists to call. Each team had a cell phone and a bottle of water. The ranchers were given instructions by phone to search everywhere on their ranches. A hundred cowhands were already in the saddle, moving across their camps and reporting back to headquarters.

  Cody had called in every lawman he could find. Roads were closed in every direction until every vehicle was inspected.

  Tim showed up looking hungover, but sober. He quickly informed everyone he had experience and would handle overall coordination of resources.

  Dan stood in his office in front of everyone and hugged Brandi when she rushed in, announcing she was helping with the search.

  “We’ll find her,” he whispered.

  Then, he did something he thought he’d never do in public. He kissed Brandi right on the mouth in front of everyone. Then, without a word, he put on his hat and headed out to do his job.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  THATCHER CLIMBED IN through the window and carefully set down his bundle. “We’ll be safe here,” he whispered.

  He turned and locked the window. “You’d think the sheriff would be more careful about locks.”

  The little girl pushed the blanket away and stood smiling at him. “That was fun, That.” She giggled at using his nickname twice. “Is this your house?”

  “No. It belongs a friend of mine. He won’t mind if we use it. You want to pop some popcorn and watch a movie?”

  She nodded and followed him to the kitchen. “My mommy always let me have candy and popcorn together.”

  “Great. You look for the candy, and I’ll pop the corn.” He pointed to the big brown recliner. “You might find a jar over there.”

  Thatcher decided he’d get her settled with some cartoons and snacks, and then he’d call the sheriff. He’d lost his cell phone somewhere in the night when he’d been running, and the sheriff had his hands full of other problems right now. Brigman probably hadn’t even noticed he was gone.

  Thirty minutes later he tried to call the sheriff’s office. Busy. He tried again and again. Every commercial, he’d use the landline on the lake house to dial the sheriff’s office, and it was always busy.

  Finally he left a message on Brigman’s cell. “Sheriff, it’s Thatcher. Me and the girl are safe. She’s eaten all those little Baby Ruths you keep hidden beside the chair. Call me when you have time.”

  The little girl fell asleep on the couch, but Thatcher stayed on guard. He’d used his belt to make a sling for the little .22, and carried it on his back under Cody’s big coat so she wouldn’t see it. Now he pulled it out and rested the rifle over his legs.

  Only, what were the chances Shorty would find him here? For the first time since he’d seen the drug guys counting money in the trailer, Thatcher felt safe.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  AN HOUR INTO the manhunt, Lauren noticed Lucas pulling Tim O’Grady aside.

  “I got an idea where to look. Want to go along with me?” he asked.

  “I just sent notice out over half the state. I think I’ll stay around and see what happens.” Tim looked bothered that Lucas even asked.

  “I’ll go.” Lauren had been close enough to overhear. She’d been answering phones all morning. She needed to break free for a while.

  “Yeah, Lucas, take L with you,” Tim said. “She’s not needed around here.”

  Lucas looked at Lauren, silently pleading with her not to go. Both of them knew it would only irritate Tim.

  “I’m going,” she repeated, knowing he’d have to tell his plan to everyone around if he argued with her.

  “Fine.” He headed out without glancing back to see if she was following.

  Some friend, she thought. She couldn’t believe she’d spent years longing and wishing they were together.

  Lauren hurried past the army of senior citizens taking calls. When she passed Miss Bees, she picked up the old golf club the former Phy Ed teacher used as a cane. “Mind if I borrow this?”

  Miss Bees shook her head. “Bring it back and don’t dent it. I’m down to three clubs.”

  “Promise.” Lauren gripped what might serve as a weapon and ran to follow Lucas.

  She expected Lucas to head for his dad’s pickup or his fancy sports car, but he passed them both and headed straight for the town triangle. Folks had given up even imagining it as a town square. With Crossroads’ luck, people would drive for miles to see the bandstand that never got finished sitting in the town triangle.

  Lauren had to almost run to keep up with him.

  “I talked to the foreman of this project half an hour ago,” Lucas said as he hurried across the street. “He said several of his men were missing this morning. We found three in jail and another two passed out in their trucks. He told me about one guy, a chubby dude who always wore hats, even indoors. The short worker had dropped by to pick up his check a few days ago. Said he was moving on. The foreman might not have remembered him so clearly, except that the guy took time to tell him how he hated this town and everyone in it.”

  Lauren was interested. Short guy. Always wore a hat. It could be who they were looking for. Or not.

  “Only the foreman says his old car is still parked out in the lot behind where they’re building the grandstand or whatever it’s going to be. The foreman asked me if I’d tell the sheriff to tow it, since the chubby guy doesn’t work for him anymore. He complained that the car was probably worthless, and he’d have to pay for the towing.”

  “Someone’s already checked every car in town,” Lauren reported. “I heard Tess announce it.”

  “I know, but I plan to check this one again.” He looked down at her. “You can go back if you want.”

  “No, I’ll go. You might need backup.”

  They crossed through a wire fence into where all the workers’ cars and trucks were parked along with extra lumber and equipment. Lauren thought all these sites made the town look ugly, but maybe soon the building of the new houses and the baseball courts and the town square would be finished, and Crossroads would shine.

  As they began to move from car to car, looking in all the windows and checking the trunks to see if any were unlocked, Tim joined them. “I got to thinking,” he said as he rushed up. “If you guys do find something, I want to be in on it.”

  Lucas looked happy to see him. “The workers said they’d search their own land, but I could tell the foreman didn’t want to let any of his men off long enough to do the job right.”

  Lauren spotted an old car that looked like it had been planted in one spot since the snow started. No tracks showed, coming or going.

  All three moved closer in silence. Tim checked one side, looking in every window. Lucas checked the other. She moved to the trunk and froze. It wasn’t completely closed.

  They stood staring. Lucas reached down and slowly opened the trunk. Tim leaned back ready to fight.

  As the sun melted into the trunk, a sleeping, chubby little
man raised his head. He was dirty and obviously drugged up, and missing one ear.

  Lauren raised her golf club. “You’re under arrest.”

  Lucas and Tim didn’t give him time to object. They each grabbed an arm and pulled him out. He fought and squealed like a pig all the way back to the office, but Lauren kept threatening him with the club, and her friends held him tight between them.

  Pop was just stepping out of his car. He just stood staring, like they were a parade passing by. Finally, Tim yelled for help and Dan pulled out his handcuffs. By then most of the fight had gone out of the little man, and he cooperated.

  Dan passed Shorty over to Cody to book and stood on his desk. “The hunt is officially over. Thatcher and the little girl are safe and warm. I want to think every one of you for your help.”

  Everyone shouted and hugged, then Ranger Tess organized them all again to make sure everyone was notified that the hunt was over.

  Lauren hugged her father, but he only used one arm. His other hand was holding on to the singer.

  “Where is he?” Lauren whispered.

  “Follow us home.” He winked at his daughter, and for the first time in days, she no longer saw exhaustion in his eyes.

  She gathered Tim and Lucas and did just that. By the time she walked in the door, Brandi had the little girl in her lap hugging her, and Thatcher was filling Pop in on details.

  “I figured Shorty wouldn’t be at a gunfight. He’s a knife man. If most of the bums headed out to get me, it just made sense that Shorty would stay behind to find the kid. But, can you believe it, the town actually kept a secret. No one told Shorty where the little girl was. I was planning to leave her there, but she cried, saying she wanted to come with me.” He smiled. “I have that effect on women of all ages.”

  Lauren shook her head, then broke down and kissed him just because he really was a hero.

  Thatcher rubbed off her kiss. “Don’t be doing that, Lauren. Near as I can see, you already got two boyfriends, and I don’t aim to be the third.”

  “Thanks for letting me down easy,” she said.

  Thatcher straightened. “Yep, you’re too old, Lauren, and Hailey’s too young.”

  Everyone but him froze like an ice age passed by and missed him. “What’s wrong?”

  Dan’s words broke the silence. “Who is Hailey?”

  “I am,” the little girl whispered. “That—” she pointed at Thatcher “—said if I talk, I can go back home.”

  Dan leaned down and smiled at her. “That’s true.”

  Tim moved closer. “You’re Hailey Davidson from Norman, Oklahoma, aren’t you? Your mommy’s been looking for you for four months. I read the report. Her ex took you just to get back at her for leaving him.”

  “He wasn’t my real dad,” Hailey whispered. “Mom says I don’t have one.”

  Brandi lifted her up. “But you got a mommy, Hailey, and she loves you very much.”

  While everyone got organized, the singer simply rocked the child in her arms and sang to her softly.

  Lauren swore she heard Brandi say, “Thank you, dear one, for letting me hold you for a while.”

  It was almost midnight when a patrol car led the way down to the Brigman home on the lake. Lauren stood in the shadows halfway up the hill, not wanting to be too close, unable to stay completely away.

  She watched as a woman climbed out of the car and ran to Brandi, who was still holding the little girl. Lauren couldn’t hear the words, but she could see the joy. The mother hugged Brandi and Pop, then moved away, kissing on a child she’d thought she lost.

  “You all right?” Lucas asked from the shadows behind Lauren as they watched the mother wave goodbye.

  “I’m fine. You didn’t have to stay with me.”

  “I know. I wanted to.” He offered his hand. She took it, and they walked together back down the incline. “Thatcher would have wanted to see it, too, but the sheriff said to let him sleep.”

  “He lives a busy life.” She laughed. “Pop says Thatcher’s aging him double time. He’ll be glad when the kid goes to college.”

  “You want to come out to the house tomorrow? Mom’s starting the baking. We could help make tamales, then go for a ride. The weather’s warming.”

  “Lucas, you don’t have to invite me. Polly will be in tomorrow. We could stay around here.”

  Lucas stopped. “Polly can come, too. I’ve already invited Tim. Maybe it’s time we all remembered we’re friends.”

  She thought about it. Her world was shifting again. She was changing, growing. “All right. Friends. I’ll bring Polly.”

  They walked on until they reached the deck. “Where’s your dad going?” Lucas asked.

  She looked out front and saw Pop walking toward his Jeep with his arm around the singer. “Oh, he’s taking Brandi Malone home. She doesn’t have a car. Pop’s nice like that. It’s part of his duty.”

  Lucas grinned. “Yeah, right.”

  They stood in the shadows, watching as Pop opened her side of the Jeep, then leaned in and kissed her before closing her door.

  Lucas whispered, “Your pop takes his job very seriously. How about, in the line of duty, of course, you kiss me good-night?”

  “Why not?” She moved into the arms of an old friend.

  Her kiss was playful, leaving two friends feeling good, wanting more, but she pulled away. “Good night, Lucas.”

  “Good night, mi cielo.”

  Lauren shrugged and walked inside. Who knew, maybe one day she might be his sky, but for right now, she needed to find herself first.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  DAN SAT ON the corner of the bed and watched Brandi tug off her beautiful blue boots.

  “I love those boots,” he said.

  “Maybe I’ll leave you one to remember me.” She smiled as she circled around. “I can’t believe we’re alone for the whole night.”

  “What’s left of it. It was almost two when I checked in, and we have to be out by ten.”

  “I don’t care.” She moved up, shoving her leg between his knees so her body could rest against him. “You’re all mine, Sheriff.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

  When he tugged her away, he said, “Put your foot on my knee, and I’ll pull off those long socks.”

  She followed orders, and he took his time.

  “I think I fell for you that first day when I helped you on with your boot. There was something about touching you. It felt so right.”

  While he was removing her socks, he decided to help her take everything off.

  She spread out on top of the covers, beautiful and bare. He drank her in like fine wine, loving every ounce.

  Neither of them talked. It seemed they’d been talking for days and only had moments to touch. Now they made love like longtime lovers did, slow and easy, cherishing every part.

  Then they cuddled close and slept until dawn. He woke her slowly, making her body hungry for him even before she turned loose of her dreams.

  This time the loving came in a hurry. Both wanted more, as if they knew they were running out of time. When it ended, he caught her crying.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m just going to miss you, Dan.”

  He sat up. “Then stay.”

  “I can’t. I have another gig in New Mexico.”

  “Then come back to me when it’s finished.”

  She pulled the sheet over her and sat up beside him. “You knew from the first this was only going to be a wild love affair. No promises. No forever. We agreed. We’d walk away with a beautiful memory.”

  “I know I agreed. I even thought that was what I wanted, but it’s not. I’m not a wild love affair kind of man. I’m a commitment, forever, kind of man.
Don’t leave me, Brandi. Saying I love you isn’t half enough. I need you. I want you.”

  He climbed from the bed, knowing he was saying too much. She was right; they had agreed. A wild affair, nothing more. They’d both said they were not looking for love.

  Brandi stood and began to dress. She’d cried when the little girl left, but she’d said she was happy a mother found her child. She’d never told him, not once, that she wanted to stay or that she loved him. And now, he was making leaving so hard on her. On them both.

  Dan dug his fingers through his hair. He was ruining what was between them. He should just enjoy the few days they had left. There would be years to miss her once she was gone.

  Now wasn’t the time to argue.

  He moved behind her and gently pulled her against his chest. “Come back to bed, pretty lady. I didn’t mean to make you mad or sad. How about we work on making you happy.”

  She turned in his arms and kissed him.

  It took time, gently wooing, feather touches, but she finally warmed. Without a word he carried her back to bed. The loving this time was a sweet losing of himself in her arms.

  This time, when she slept in his arms, he never stopped touching her, but she didn’t wake. Finally, he drifted to sleep, breathing in the smell of her hair, feeling her warmth beside him. Hearing her little sighs of pleasure when he touched places where she loved to be touched.

  Hours later when he woke to a maid knocking and yelling “Housekeeping!”, Dan rolled over and found Brandi was gone.

  He dressed and paid the bill, but he knew she wasn’t coming back. The clerk at the desk said she’d called a cab from the lobby.

  He didn’t try to call her cell. He didn’t track down where she had the Franklin sisters ship her things. He didn’t go looking for her.

  Dan simply went back to Crossroads, Texas. Back to his life. Back to fishing and watching football and talking to his daughter when she had time between her friends and her new job in Lubbock.