Page 137 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

Tears filled her eyes when she thought about him. He’d be worried sick. She wiped the tears away. She’d make it up to him when she got back to him – and she was going to get back to him. She wouldn’t entertain any other thoughts than that. She dragged herself to the closest tree and used it to pull herself to her feet. Now, she just had to figure out how to hop to the next one – and the one after that. She glanced toward the road – it had seemed like they had only driven a short way off of it, but it looked like a much greater distance now. She’d just have to take it one tree at a time.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Travis stood in the middle of cabin number six, looking around. It was as though Retta had just vanished into thin air. Her legal pad was on the floor. Her purse and phone were on the end table. He squeezed his eyes shut – her walking boot was on the floor, propped against the sofa. She liked to take it off while she sat. But how had she left without it? Her crutches were leaning against the little counter that divided the kitchen from the living area.

Her SUV was still outside where she’d parked when they arrived this morning. He took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. His hands were shaking. He felt … powerless, and that wasn’t a feeling he liked.

Trip came and rested his hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find her, bud.”

He nodded. He just hoped that she’d be all right when they did.

Deacon came and stood directly in front of him. “Pull it together, Duke. Time’s ticking.”

He squared his shoulders and stood up a little straighter. “Right. But … I can’t think straight. What … ? How …?”

“What do you know about this Jamie woman?” Trip asked.

Travis grabbed Retta’s phone. He didn’t know much about Jamie, but he knew a man who did – Marty. And Retta had his number in her phone. As he unlocked it, he thanked his lucky stars that Retta had told him her password.

He found Marty’s number and hit the call button.

“Retta?”

“No, Marty. It’s Travis. Is your wife in Montana?”

“Jamie? No. she’s … oh, shit! Why? Is Retta alright?”

Travis scowled. “She’s gone – disappeared – and someone who looks like Jamie was seen on our property this morning. What can you tell me?”

“Nothing. I … I mean, I want to help, but I don’t know anything. I can call and see if she’s still at home in Georgia. She … she gets a little … obsessive.”

“Do you think it’s likely that she followed you out here?”

Marty blew out a sigh. “Yes. She’s done it before. I don’t know how she finds me, but … she … Yes. It’s entirely possible. What can I do?”

“You find out if she’s at home and you let me know. Call me back.” Travis ended the call.

“What’s her full name?” Deacon asked.

“I don’t know – yeah, I do – Hoffman. Jamie Hoffman. Why?”

Deacon waved a hand – he was already making a call.

Travis paced around the small cabin. He didn’t know where to start, his brain was frozen in fear. Jamie could have taken her anywhere, and he didn’t know where to start.

He turned to Zeke. “Where exactly did you see her?”

“Where the road passes in front of that cabin. About a quarter mile in from the main road.”

“We should check all the cabins,” said Ace. “They could still be here on the property.”

“Yeah.” Travis knew it made sense to check, but he also knew that they wouldn’t find her in any of the cabins. She wasn’there anymore; he could sense it. It might seem fanciful, but this whole place had a different feel to it when she was here, and that feeling was gone.

Ace and Ty left to go and check the cabins. He felt like they should be doing something more useful – he just didn’t know what.

Deacon ended his call. “I figured if she’s following her husband she must have flown in – and rented a car at the airport. I tracked it down and put out a BOLO on the vehicle.”

“Thanks, Chief.” If Jamie was out there driving around, having law enforcement officers on the lookout for her was something. Travis just didn’t know if she’d be driving around or if she’d have Retta with her.

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