Page 95 of Someone to Hold

“Okay. Fancy, you’re good here, right?”

The horse’s eyes are wide, and she’s pawing at the ground.

“I know the feeling, girl,” I say, then grab Laurel’s hand and head out of the barn.

It doesn’t feel like my flashlight makes a dent in the sheets of rain, but a moment later, I see a brighter light moving toward us.

“You need to go back to the house,” Chase says, all business. “I’ll take care of the horses.”

“Luke is gone.” I try to keep the fear out of my voice for Laurel’s sake. “So is Gumdrop. We didn’t realize he’d left the house.”

He goes perfectly still, like he’s the eye at the center of the squall. I don’t know what I expected of this man—for him to freak out or curse or lecture me on my son’s recklessness—but he reaches out and takes my hand, the warmth of his touch giving me the hope I desperately need.

“Get in the house,” he repeats. “I’ll take Fancy to find him. Call the authorities.”

“I have no service.”

He reaches into his jacket and pulls out his phone. When the screen illuminates, I can see the mark on his cheek left by his father. Raindrops drip from the brim of his hat, but his eyes are steady when they meet mine again.

“Keep checking,” he shouts over the wind. “As soon as youhave service, tell them I’m heading southwest toward Miner’s Peak. Then call Ray. Gumdrop is a creature of habit, so he’ll stick to the trails he knows.”

“You’ll be able to find them?” My throat burns as I force out the question over the roaring storm around us.

Chase hears, or maybe he’s just guessing the question, but he squeezes my fingers and nods.

“I’m going to bring your son home.”

“And Gumdrop!” Laurel adds in a trembly voice.

He bends down and slicks the wet hair off my daughter’s face. “And Gumdrop, baby. I promise.”

Another round of thunder booms, a little further off this time, and I lift Laurel into my arms and run as best I can to the house.

“Your ankle?—”

“It’s fine,” I tell her. I don’t think I could feel pain in my body right now if someone took a mallet to my foot.

When the door closes behind us, I sink to the floor.

Laurel keeps her thin arms wrapped around my neck. “I’m scared.”

“Me too. But Chase will find him. We have to be brave.”

“That’s what you said when Daddy had his accident.”

I suck in a sharp breath, refusing to believe this is anything like that awful night.

“Chase is going to bring him home, sweetie.”

“He promised,” she whispers.

I nod. “I believe him.”

I have to believe.

29

CHASE