Page 126 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

Ty stared at the ranch truck. He was still trying to take it all in. While Kolby drove up East River Road, he’d called Cash to ask him if Amelia could track Shay’s phone. Someone – he didn’t know who, he was just grateful that his family had his back – had already called. Cash had answered with a laugh and told him that Amelia had already located her phone, and she must have a flat because she was stopped just off the road halfway up East River.

Ty had known that he wasn’t going to find her there. Every instinct he had was screaming that she was in big trouble – and Cash had soon sobered up when he told him that.

Now, they were here, standing next to the truck, which had been abandoned at the first locked gate on the forest service road. There was no sign of Shay – only her phone, lying smashed on the passenger seat – as if that bastard had left it as a message. Her backpack sat in the footwell, and her keys in the cupholder. He picked them up and ran his fingers over the keychain he’d given her in Salt Lake.

He jumped when his phone rang.

“What have you got?” he answered.

“I talked to Alexis,” said Cash.

Ty didn’t speak. There was nothing she could do for them from California.

“I had to, squirt. She’s on her way.”

Ty closed his eyes. He could only hope that by the time Alexis arrived, it would be for a joyful reunion. He wouldn’t allow himself to think that there was any other possible outcome.

He pulled himself together. “It has to be Carey Duncan. He must have found her.”

Cash blew out a sigh. “Sounds that way.”

“Why – what do you know?”

“I don’t, but think about it. He was asking around about her – beat her little brother up over it. Booker knew not to say anything, but I guess other people in town know where she went – someone must have let something slip without realizing it.”

Ty punched the truck. He should have thought of that – should have made sure that people knew not to talk about where Shay had gone. April knew where she was, and April worked in a damn coffee shop – anyone could overhear what she said in there.

“Ty? You okay?”

“No.”

“What was that noise?”

Ty looked down at his bloodied knuckles. “Nothing. I’m going to follow the trail – see if …”

“Make sure you stay in pairs. We’re on our way.”

“Thanks.”

Ty looked up at the mountains. Shay was up there somewhere, and he had to find her. He couldn’t think about what kind of shape she’d be in when he did.

Kolby grasped his shoulder. “Luke’s already called it in. Deacon’s sending some men, and …”

Ty shrugged and stared up the trail into the mountains. “What can they do? We know who has her. I just have to find him.” He went back to his truck and took his pistol from the glove box.

“Do you want to stay here and tell the others what’s going on? I’m going to …”

“You know better than that. Wade can organize everyone – Frankie’s in town, so she’s going to pick the kids up – but we need to wait and coordinate with them before we head up there. We’re not going to get a signal once we get a few hundred yards in.”

Ty started walking. “You coordinate whatever you want. Catch up with me or don’t.”

Kolby caught up with him a couple of minutes later. “I told them we’re freelancing this one.”

Ty nodded. There was no way he was going to wait around when Shay was out there somewhere, no doubt scared, possibly hurt, and … he shuddered; he couldn’t think about the rest.

They jogged for half an hour, mostly in silence. Ty’s mind was running wild. Images of Shay flooded his head. The first time he’d seen her in Salt Lake – he hadn’t been able to believe his luck. The way she looked with a smear of sauce on her cheek while she devoured her In N Out burger. The sadness in her eyes when he’d left her to catch her flight home. The way she’d run to him at the airport in Summer Lake. All the love in her eyes as she rode him hard just yesterday morning before they went to work. He blew out a sigh and stopped.

He sucked in a big breath, then bellowed, “Shay!”

---