Page 72 of Sheriff's City Girl

“That’s weird,” Drew commented, his voice dropping off in a low tone. “Hey Jess,” he added. “Why don’t you run up and tell Dara that the pizza will be here soon. I’ll bring your phone back—and don’t worry, I won’t look at it.”

I couldn’t hear her answer, but I took it that it must’ve worked, because then Drew let out a heavy sigh.

“What is it, Drew?” I demanded.

“They’re some shady people, Hewitt,” he grunted, using my last name like he had ever since we had met in grade school. “I don’t know what the fuck is up with them, but I don’t think they walk the straight and narrow. I’m not saying that they did anything, but I’m not saying that they might’ve not created a distraction to keep you from proposing to save the ranch.”

“Yeah, but…” I glanced back to the house, my heart nearly stopping as I saw Brittany and Graham standing just outside, scanning the area. I ducked down, using the Bronco for cover. I didn’t want them to know where the hell I was at the moment—not while I was trying to figure this shit out.

“You can try Lily again, but I think she would’ve told me about going to pick up Emma. The Hudsons live a solid twenty minutes away—and that wouldn’t line up with the time of running to pick up pizza. Not to mention, she really did have pizza to pick up.”

“I’m gonna try her again, but you’re probably right,” I said, hoping like hell my gut was wrong. “Do you think there’s anyone else that could’ve picked her up?”

“Nah, I don’t think so,” he said with a sigh. “Sarah, that young lady who works for her, is closing up the café. I don’t think there’s anyone else around here that she would feel comfortable reaching out to.”

“Right,” I muttered, just as my phone started to beep that I was receiving a call. I pulled it away from my ear, seeing Lily’s name on the screen. “I’ll let you know what I find out,” I said quickly, hanging up on him. I hit the answer and put it to my ear.

“Hey, what’s up?” Lily asked, her voice way too fucking bright to know what happened.

“You’re not by chance showing up to pick up Emma from here—or already have picked her up.”

“What?” She sounded genuinely confused.

“I can’t find Emma. We got into a fight right when we got here… I saw… I found out…” I couldn’t even get the words out, but thankfully I didn’t have to.

“Ah, you know she’s pregnant.”

“Yeah, and it’s all good. I needed some air, so she went in without me… And now she’s gone. I feel like the Hudsons are feeding me a bunch of bullshit—and I was hoping you picked her up.” I hated recalling everything without much detail, but I needed to get a move on… I was certain I was missing the proposal, but at this point…

I wasn’t sure I cared.

“She wouldn’t have just… left.”

“I don’t know,” I exasperated. “I cannot find her.”

“You’re panicking over nothing, just go back in,” Lily was trying to reassure me, but before I could say anything, that beeping started in my ear again, sending a stabbing headache searing through my skull.

Fuck. This is not the time for a migraine.

“I have someone else calling.”

“Wait—”

I hung up, my heart thudding so heavily it rattled my chest as I read the caller ID.

Unknown.

“This is Mason,” I answered, a lump in my throat growing as the distorted voice came over the line.

“There’s no point in continuing to look for her, Sheriff. She’s gone,” the distorted voice growled in my ear.

Fear, worry, but mostly anger exploded in my chest. “Who the hell?—”

Click.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Emma

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