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L ibby’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched Shane approach the driver’s side of the truck. Bryce was sniffing the area with interest but hadn’t alerted. Shane’s shoulders were tense as he moved closer. A wave of doubt assailed her. Shane wasn’t a cop, and confronting the driver of the truck pulling a trailer that may or may not house four-wheelers suddenly seemed like a bad idea.

What if the poacher pulled a gun and shot him before he could say a single word?

Trying to be quiet, she opened her passenger-side door and slipped out of the vehicle. Without closing the door, she rounded the door and took a few steps forward, her phone gripped in her hand. She had typed in the numbers 911 so that all she needed to do was push the button to connect the call.

Yet even as she eased closer to Shane, she felt sick at knowing whatever took place here would be over and done before the police could arrive.

The driver’s side of the door abruptly opened, causing Shane to stop in his tracks. She froze in place too. Bryce lifted his head but didn’t growl. She took that as a good sign. An older man emerged from the car, squinting at Shane. He wasn’t her grandfather but could have been a similar age or a few years younger or older.

“What’s going on?” the older man demanded. “What’s with the gun and the dog? You planning to rob me?”

“No, sir,” Shane said. He tucked the weapon into the hollow of his back, then held his hands up where the old man could see them. “My name is Shane Sullivan. I’m from the Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue Ranch. I’m sorry to bother you, but we’re looking for a man by the name of Marvin Tolliver.”

“Never heard of him.” The stranger’s gaze darted toward the dog and then to her. “Don’t either of you come any closer. And keep that dog away from me.”

Shane’s shoulders stiffened even more, but he didn’t turn to glare at her. He kept his gaze centered on the driver of the black truck. “Sir, do you have anyone else in the truck with you? We know Marvin Tolliver was taken by someone riding a four-wheeler.” Shane gestured to the trailer. “Looks to me like you’re pulling ATVs.”

For a moment, Libby thought the guy wasn’t going to answer, then he shrugged. “Yeah, I got a four-wheeler in my trailer. Taking it to my grandson.” The old man crossed his arms over his chest and stood his ground. “I’m alone in the truck. But if you come any closer, I’ll be forced to take matters into my own hands.”

“No need to worry, I don’t want to harm you or anyone else.” Shane took a step backward to give the man some room. “I appreciate you cooperating with us. As you can imagine, we’re very concerned for Marvin’s safety.”

“Hrmph.” The old man eyed Libby. “I guess I can understand that. But I haven’t seen anything unusual. Like I said, I’m taking the four-wheeler to my grandson.”

“Come, Bryce.” The dog trotted to Shane’s side. He took another step backward, giving the older man a nod. “Have a good day, sir.” When Shane turned to return to the SUV, closing the hatch after Bryce jumped back in, she hastily ducked back into the passenger seat.

The older man stood there staring at them as Shane buckled his seat belt. Then Shane pulled out his phone and took a few pictures of the truck and trailer before backing out of the parking space.

Only once they were back on the highway did the guy behind them return to his truck. Soon the driver was out of their sight.

Libby was glad the encounter was uneventful but hated knowing they were no closer to finding her grandfather.

“You were supposed to stay inside the SUV.” Shane shot her a narrow look. “I’m going to turn around and head back to your grandfather’s cabin if you can’t follow simple instructions.”

“I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to you.” Maybe she deserved his annoyance, but she had only his best interests at heart. “You’re not a cop, and it occurred to me that if the driver was the poacher, he might shoot first and ask questions later.”

“Exactly why you should have stayed in the car.” He blew out a breath. “Seriously, Libby, you need to let me take the lead on this. I had Bryce as an added layer of protection. You would have only gotten in the way.”

“Okay, okay.” She knew he was right. “I can’t help feeling disappointed. I thought for sure Grandpa was in the truck.”

“Bryce didn’t alert, and I couldn’t get close enough to see if anyone else was inside.” Shane’s expression was somber. “I don’t want to believe that guy was lying to us, but I would have liked to see inside the trailer.”

She glanced at him in surprise. “He’s too old to have been one of the poachers.”

“Is he?” Shane shrugged. “Who’s to say the old man wasn’t working with the poachers in some way? Just because Bryce didn’t alert on your grandfather’s scent near the truck doesn’t mean that guy isn’t involved. He could have made up the story about taking the four-wheeler to his grandson. For all we know, he had two machines back there.”

Realization dawned. “So that’s why you took pictures?” Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs. “You think it’s possible the two poachers split up?”

“I have no idea, but I didn’t want to force his hand.” He held out his phone. “Find Paul’s name and send him the pictures. Maybe one of the sheriff’s deputies will have more luck in talking to him. They’ll run his plate number and hopefully get an address.”

She found Paul Holland’s name and created a text message to send along with the photos. Passed this guy on the lookout, please run his license and talk to him?

The response was a long time coming. Will do.

With a sigh, she dropped the phone in the center console. “Paul agreed to follow up with the truck.”

Shane nodded. “The local police will likely have more success.”

And what if their best wasn’t good enough? She swallowed the comment, knowing there was no point in thinking the worst. That was Shane’s MO, not hers. Deep down, Libby was sure that if her grandfather was dead, she’d know it. Feel it or sense it in some way.

They drove in silence for a few minutes before Shane gestured to a passing sign. “We’ll stop for dinner in the next town, then turn around to head back to the cabin.”

She wanted to argue but sensed she’d be wasting her breath. Maybe she should go back to her grandfather’s cabin. Better to be close in case her grandfather was able to get back home under his own power. The poachers may have dropped him off someplace far away to give themselves time to escape without being caught. Grandpa could have caught a ride back to his place.

Maybe he was right now waiting for her there.

The minute the thought flashed through her mind, she realized her grandfather would have called her. She recalled seeing his phone on the charger in his bedroom. Grandpa wasn’t good about remembering to take his cell phone with him. Every time she scolded him for not answering when she called, he reminded her that he didn’t grow up with a phone attached to his hip the way she had.

“We rode our bikes to our friend’s houses,” Grandpa would say. “We didn’t call, we just showed up. If they were home, we’d head out together. If not, we’d move on.”

“What’s so funny?” Shane asked.

She realized she was smiling at the memory. “Nothing really. I was hoping Grandpa might be waiting for us back at his place, but he left his phone in his bedroom, so if that were the case, I’m sure he’d call.”

“I didn’t realize he left his phone behind.”

She shrugged. “I wasn’t surprised, although it would have been nice if we could have tracked it.”

“Not likely to have been able to track it very far considering the lack of cell service,” Shane said. “I take it he doesn’t wear one of those fancy watches that link to the phone?”

“Nope. His watch is one of those older models that needs to have the battery replaced every year or so.” She shook her head. “I think he’s had it for almost fifty years. I’m surprised it still works.”

The corner of Shane’s mouth quirked in a rare smile. Then he gestured to the road ahead of them. “I’m not sure they have a lot of restaurant selections but let me know where you’d like to eat.”

“Carla’s Café is fine with me.” She was aware of a strange awkwardness between them. Under different circumstances, this could have been considered a date.

Not that she could imagine spending a lot of time with the grumpy Gus sitting beside her. Shane was handsome and nice enough, but his less than enthusiastic attitude was already wearing her down.

She needed someone who had the same faith and sunny outlook on life that she did. Even in the face of her grandfather going missing.

“Carla’s Café it is,” Shane said, turning down a side street.

“Wait, what about Bryce?” She belatedly realized the dog was in the crate area. Bryce had been so quiet she’d almost forgotten about him.

“I’ll feed him first, then he can come inside with us.” Shane caught her curious gaze. “In my experience, the locals don’t mind. I think that’s because our K9s are well trained and generally don’t cause problems.”

“Or because your reputation is one of serving the public,” she pointed out. “I’m sure people here realize they may need your help sometime and don’t want to burn any bridges with the family.”

Shane shrugged and pulled into a parking space. “That too.”

Feeding Bryce didn’t take long, and she was impressed at how the dog sat staring at Shane, waiting for permission to gobble up his food. She glanced around but didn’t see anything suspicious. She wanted to check in with Paul but knew that if the police had found her grandfather, they’d let her know.

“Come, Bryce.” Shane closed the hatch and turned to head into the café. Libby followed, flushing a bit as Shane held the door open for her.

Not. A. Date.

There were a couple of booths open, so she headed to the closest one. Shane slid in across from her, and Bryce made himself at home under the table. She reached for the menu. When her gaze landed on the pot roast special, she thought of her grandpa. He’d have ordered it if he’d been there with them.

“What can I get you?” Their server placed two glasses of water on the table. Her name tag identified her as Georgina. Her wan expression made her appear to be in her forties, but her curvy figure made Libby feel like a stick. The woman might have had almost ten years on them, but that didn’t stop her from smiling flirtatiously at Shane. “You’re one of the Sullivans, aren’t you?”

“Yep.” Shane appeared oblivious to Georgina’s flirting. “Libby, you should order first.”

Libby bit back a smile. “I’ll have the pot roast special.” She replaced the plastic menu in the wire holder. “Thank you.”

“Same,” Shane agreed.

“I’ll get those orders in.” Looking slightly deflated at the lack of attention, Georgina turned away.

“Does that always happen?” She was genuinely curious. “Does everyone recognize you?”

Shane scoffed. “She didn’t recognize me. She took one look at my dog and made an assumption. I don’t remember ever seeing her before in my life.”

“Guess your family is somewhat famous.” She sipped her water.

Shane scowled. “I guess. But sometimes it’s a pain to be the center of attention.”

“Are you ever happy?” The question popped out of her mouth before she could stop it. “I mean seriously, Shane, look on the bright side. You have a wonderful family. Siblings who drop everything to offer their assistance if needed.” She shot him an exasperated glance. “Be thankful for what you have.”

“I am thankful,” he protested. A flush darkened his cheeks. “But you’re right in that I need to show more gratitude.”

She wasn’t sure why she was lecturing him and decided to let it go. Their dinners didn’t take long, and this time Georgina didn’t flirt with Shane as she set their plates down. “Hope y’all enjoy.”

“Thanks.” Libby didn’t reach for her fork but clasped her hands together and bowed her head. After a moment, Shane took the hint and did the same. In a low voice, she said, “Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for this food we are about to eat. And we also ask that You please keep my grandfather safe in Your care. Amen.”

“Amen,” Shane murmured.

She glanced up at him in surprise. His blue eyes clung to hers for a long moment before he gave her a silent nod, and he reached for his fork.

It suddenly occurred to her that if Shane wasn’t so grouchy, she’d be in danger of losing her heart.

* * *

The pot roast was good. Shane was a little surprised that Libby had chosen the special. Based on her slender figure, he assumed she was one of those who picked at their salads.

Which is why making assumptions is dangerous , he thought with a sigh.

“Do you think we’ll hear from the sheriff’s department anytime soon?” Libby asked. She’d dug into her meal with gusto.

Reminding himself not to be a pessimist, he nodded. “I’m sure they’ll be in touch with you soon.”

She arched a brow. “Nice of you to say.”

He wasn’t overly nice by nature. He preferred to be realistic. Setting expectations when setting out on a search and rescue mission was key. But he knew Libby well enough to know she wouldn’t appreciate his honest opinion.

And truthfully, he knew the sheriff’s department would only call when they had news. Good or bad.

“If you don’t hear from them tonight, you can touch base with them in the morning.” He finished his pot roast and reached for his wallet. He did the math and removed more than enough cash to cover the tip. “Excuse me.” He stood and headed toward the restrooms.

He hadn’t spent this much time alone with a woman in eons and was clearly out of practice making small talk. Shane told himself he needed to make more of an effort for Libby’s sake.

She was right to scold him for not being grateful for his family. If they didn’t find Marvin Tolliver alive, he knew she’d be alone in the world.

And that was something he couldn’t relate to. Shane might be a loner at heart, but he always knew his siblings would be there if needed.

Libby stood when he approached. “My turn.”

Georgina rushed over the minute Libby disappeared into the restroom. “Can I get you anything else?” she asked with a sweet smile.

“No thanks.” He pushed the cash across the table. “Take care.”

“Come back for a visit real soon.” Georgina smiled again, but when he barely looked at her, she stuffed the cash into her apron and turned away.

“Let’s go, Bryce.” He stood and gave his K9 the hand signal for heel. The large dog crawled out from beneath the table and sat tall at his side. “Good boy.” He stroked a hand over the soft black and tan fur. “You worked hard today, buddy.”

Bryce swished his tail back and forth in agreement.

When Libby returned, they headed outside. He gave Bryce the command to get busy. After cleaning up after his dog, they hit the road.

For some reason, the trip back to Marvin’s cabin seemed to take forever. Libby stared down at her phone as if willing one of the deputies to call with news.

“If we don’t hear anything tomorrow, will you bring Bryce back out to search the woods again?” Libby asked. “I know it might seem useless, but I can’t help worrying that somehow we missed him and that Grandpa is still out there.”

Despite thinking that would be a waste of time and resources, he shrugged. “Sure. We can give it another try.”

“Really?” Her face brightened. “Thanks, Shane.” She reached over to grasp his hand. “You’re the best.”

He wasn’t the best, but Bryce was good, and if there was a chance of finding Marvin, Bryce would be the one to do it.

Dusk had fallen by the time he pulled into the driveway. Because the summer solstice was right around the corner, the area wasn’t completely shrouded in darkness. Yet the lack of light inside the cabin gave him pause.

“Stay here. I’ll take Bryce in first.” The memory of the guy who’d bolted from the cellar was fresh in his mind. He reached for his side arm.

“Okay.” When he arched a brow, she flushed. “I promise to wait here.”

He nodded and opened the back hatch before sliding out from behind the wheel. Bryce stretched, then bounded forward, sniffing the area with interest. Knowing his dog would alert him to anyone hiding inside, Shane strode to the front door and opened it.

Bryce trotted inside, still sniffing curiously. Shane flicked on lights as he went, relieved to see the interior of the cabin looked exactly the way they’d left it.

The poachers hadn’t been back. At least, not yet.

But now that he was standing there, Shane decided he couldn’t let Libby sleep here alone. Not when there wasn’t a neighbor within miles.

He took a minute to clear every bedroom, bathroom, and closet before heading back outside. He opened Libby’s passenger door. “It’s all clear.”

“Thanks.” She jumped out, wincing a bit as she put her weight on her sore ankle. “I, uh, will you call me tomorrow then?”

“I’m staying.” He winced at how blunt the words sounded. “What I mean is, I don’t think you should be here alone. Besides, it’s a long drive back to the Sullivan ranch, and I’ll just have to turn around to come back in the morning. I’ll sleep on the sofa. Bryce will be fine on the floor next to me. We won’t be a bother.”

She gnawed her lower lip for a few seconds, then nodded. “Okay. Thank you. That’s very kind.”

He was tempted to remind her that he wasn’t kind but practical, but he swallowed the urge. It wouldn’t hurt for him to put some effort into being nice. Libby was going through a difficult time, and the least he could do was offer some support.

“I, uh, just need to let my family know. They’ll worry if I don’t show up.” He turned away, tucking the gun in the small of his back so he could pull out his phone. “Come, Bryce.” He stepped back outside with Bryce to call Chase.

When his older brother answered, Shane got straight to the point. “I’m sleeping on Libby’s sofa tonight. I don’t know if you’ve been updated by Alexis and Joel, but I may need additional search support in the morning too.”

“Alexis filled me in,” Chase said. “Did some guy really search the cellar?”

“Yeah.” Shane stared up at the stars flickering in the sky. “There’s something fishy going on, Chase. It just doesn’t make sense that someone would kidnap an old man. What could they possibly want?”

“The cabin and the land?” Chase suggested. “You know as well as I do people will do drastic things in desperate times.”

“Maybe, but I’m sure Libby is set to inherit the place if Marvin passes away.” Shane found himself shaking his head even though Chase couldn’t see him. “I don’t think this is about the cabin or the land. I think Libby’s grandfather has secrets she doesn’t know about. Or secrets she does know about but hasn’t told me.”

“Another good reason to stick close,” Chase said. “If this guy comes back, Bryce will take him down.”

“Yeah, except the last time the idiot fired several shots to keep us back.” The near miss had concerned him. “But Bryce is a good watchdog for sure. I’ll let you know if anything changes. Thanks, Chase.”

“Be safe.” His brother ended the call.

Shane watched as Bryce trotted around the yard lifting his leg to mark his territory. Shane opened the back hatch and pulled out the backpack he’d used earlier that day. Bryce would need food in the morning, plus water for tonight. He slammed the hatch, waited for the dog to finish up, then headed inside.

Libby had left a pillow and blanket on the sofa. Then he noticed she’d folded a second blanket on the floor for Bryce. Her thoughtfulness made him smile.

“Do you need anything else?” Libby asked, hovering in the kitchen. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find a spare toothbrush.”

“That’s okay.” He set the pack down. “Bryce has one in the backpack I can use.”

Her brown eyes widened, then a wide smile bloomed on her face. “Is that a joke? You made a joke?”

“Apparently not a good one if you have to ask.” He raked his hand through his hair, feeling like an idiot. So much for trying. “Never mind. Good night, Libby.”

“Good night, Shane.” She turned and disappeared down the hallway leading to the bedrooms. He didn’t notice her limping and hoped her ankle would be back to normal come morning.

Shane set his weapon on the end table, dropped onto the sofa, and removed his hiking boots, giving her time to get settled before padding to the bathroom. Bryce really did have a toothbrush in the backpack, but Shane had no intention of sharing it. He turned off the lights as he returned, then stretched out on the sofa.

“Here, Bryce.” He patted the pallet Libby had made for the dog. Bryce sniffed it, then made a circle before curling up and closing his eyes. “Good boy,” he murmured.

He repositioned the pillow behind his bed and covered himself with the light blanket. The sofa wasn’t bad, a tad short, but he’d slept in worse places. It wasn’t the strange surroundings that kept him awake.

It was Libby and whatever had gone down today with her grandfather’s disappearance.

He couldn’t toss and turn, so he tried to relax the muscles in his body. The trick must have worked because Shane awoke to the low growl rumbling from deep within Bryce’s throat.

He jackknifed into a sitting position, blinking to peer through the darkness. The low, constant growl was a warning.

Shane reached for the gun and shoved his feet into his hiking boots. He rose and moved through the kitchen, listening for whatever had caught Bryce’s attention.

Suddenly Bryce jumped to his feet and let out several sharp barks. A hint of movement outside the patio doors caught his attention. Shane bolted across the room, yanked open the sliding glass door, and shouted, “Stop!”

Of course, the guy didn’t stop. He ran toward the woods.

“Get him!” Bryce didn’t need additional encouragement. His K9 raced through the opening, covering the distance in the blink of an eye.

Shane followed his dog, again praying the intruder wouldn’t shoot. The darkness made it difficult to see clearly, but he shouldn’t have been surprised to hear an engine roar to life.

“Get him,” he shouted again, hoping Bryce would stop the guy from escaping. But the engine roar only grew louder, then faded as the intruder disappeared.

“Bryce! Come!” Fear lanced through him as he swept his gaze over the area. Then Bryce was bounding back toward him. Relief made his knees go weak, and he dropped to the ground to hug his dog. “Good boy. Are you okay? Are you?” He ran his fingers over the shepherd’s pelt, breathing a sigh gratitude when he didn’t find any injuries.

Then Bryce dropped something into his palm. Shane stared down in surprise, realizing it was a strip of denim from what looked like the bottom of a pant leg.

From the intruder? “Good boy,” he repeated. It wasn’t much, but the scrap of clothing would be enough to use as a scent source.

Maybe heading back out into the woods come morning was a good idea. Searching for the guy who’d tried to break into the cabin might lead them to Marvin.