“It’s my fault.” Evie buried her head in Hayden’s chest. “I was taking a quiz. They promised to stay in the paddock. It was so quiet. I was feeling really good and—”
“You lost track of what they were doing.”
“Yes.” Her voice wavered. “We have to find them. It’s going to be dark soon. It gets cold at night.”
“I know. I’ll find them.” He hoped. “Can you get back to the ranch on your own? I’ll keep going. I can cover more ground on Red.”
“I’m not going back without Katie.” Evie lifted her tear-strewn face. “I need to find her. And Irene. But what if Irene’s mind has drifted? Katie will be so scared. And if anything happens to—”
“Honey, I need you back at the ranch, manning the phone. Rhett can ride out, too, if you watch the twins.”
“I have to find Katie,” she said in a shaky voice. “Or Steven will—”
“One step at a time, Evie. First, we find them.” Hayden hugged her again, wanting to hold on to her forever, finally realizing with gut-shaking intensity what that meant—I love Evie. But he couldn’t tell her now. “I’ll find Katie. I promise.”
Evie nodded, turning toward home.
But he couldn’t find them. Not by nightfall.
They had no choice but to call the sheriff, who organized a search and rescue, and Steven, who threatened to take Katie away from Evie.
*
Eve awoke in the darkness before dawn on Tuesday morning, drooling on Hayden’s chest. They were sprawled on the couch together. She eased out of his embrace, aching because her baby girl wasn’t here to hold.
Was Katie scared? Cold? Hungry? Had Irene wandered off, leaving Katie alone?
Eve moaned, doubling over.
The sheriff had mobilized a search party. But there’d been no phone call to wake them with news. That had to mean they hadn’t found Katie or Irene.
I want my baby back safe and sound. And Irene too.
Eve stared upward, praying.
Please. I’ll do anything.
Fear made each breath a struggle. But Eve had to be practical. Coffee. Eggs. Fuel for Hayden. She had to keep moving or she’d just be a crying mess. And yet, she couldn’t even bring herself to stand.
Tears gathered in Eve’s eyes when she saw Poppy curled up on a nearby chair. “I just want her back.” Her words woke Hayden. She laid a palm on his cheek. He may not love her, but he’d done his best to find Katie. “I want more family days, Hayden. I want Katie to learn how to ride Sunny. I just…” A tear rolled down her cheek. A solitary tear. “I want her home.”
“Home,” Hayden said slowly, sitting up. “That’s it. I know where they are.”
*
“What makes you think Gran tried to find Homestead Hollow?” Rhett asked as they galloped along the fence bordering the national forest.
“Just the way she was talking about it that day we rode to Clover Creek.” And a feeling. A really strong bolt of intuition. He could have kicked himself for not realizing it before. “It was one of Gran and Grandpa’s favorite spots on the property. They have to be there.”
Rhett didn’t make any reassurances. He just kept pace with Hayden.
With thousands of acres of land contained in the Bennett Ranch proper and hundreds of thousands of acres of national forest, it was the only hope Hayden had left. It had nearly broken him to witness Evie suffering over Katie and Gran’s disappearance. He’d do anything to return her daughter to her, anything to get Gran back alive and in one piece.
It took them over two hours to reach a gate in the fence line that allowed access to the national forest.
“Look!” Rhett pointed to the path on the other side of the gate. “A horse passed this way.”
“I never thought I’d be so glad to see fresh manure in my life!” Hayden got the gate open and then closed it behind them when both horses were through.