Page 33 of River Justice

ITDIDN’TTAKElong for word to spread. Charlotte had called area ranchers, asking for their help and telling them that Holly Jo had been kidnapped. She was offering a reward for anyone who found her.

She knew the sheriff would be furious with her for not checking with him before doing this, but by now, she suspected everyone had already heard the news about the kidnapping anyway. Not surprisingly, the first call she got was from Stuart. “I’m not sure a reward is a good idea—let alone telling everyone in the county that Holly Jo has been kidnapped.”

“Isn’t this the fastest way to find her if she is still in this river basin?”

The sheriff sighed. “The kidnapper is bound to hear about this. If he panics, he might do something we will all regret. He might also demand money now. Before, he said he just wanted Holden to admit to something he’s done.”

“I’m sure your list of suspects is very long.”

“Your name was at the top.”

“Stuart, you don’t believe I kidnapped that girl. Everyone knows what Holden did to me. Anyway, he has already admitted it many times.”

“Brand might not feel the same. Have you talked to him?”

“Not yet, but I know my son. He would never kidnap anyone, especially some young girl. I thought he had an alibi, anyway. You’re looking in the wrong place.”

“Where would you suggest I look?”

“Did Holden tell you how he came to be Holly Jo’s guardian?” Silence. She chuckled. “That’s what I thought. Seems you already know where to look.”

After Charlotte hung up with the sheriff, her eldest daughter called. Even six months ago, that wouldn’t have been a surprise. But since Cooper McKenna returned to town after being gone for two years and stole Tilly’s heart, the two had gotten married. Charlotte had tried to stop it from happening by disowning her daughter, taking the one thing Tilly loved maybe as much as Cooper away from her—the Stafford Ranch.

But not even that could get her daughter to change her mind, so Charlotte had lost her. They hadn’t spoken, not even at the wedding, which Charlotte had attended but quickly left after Tilly and Cooper were wed.

“I just heard what you did,” Tilly said without preamble.

“That covers a lot of ground,” Charlotte said, unable to tell by her daughter’s tone how this call would go.

“I suppose it does,” Tilly said and cleared her throat. “The reward and getting ranchers to search for Holly Jo. Thank you for doing that.”

“I needed to do something. I only hope the girl is found safe and quickly.” Silence. Charlotte could feel her daughter wanting to hang up, maybe even regretting this call. She desperately wished she could take back the hateful things she’d said the last time she spoke to Tilly. “Your wedding was beautiful.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you were there.”

“You invited me.”

“But I wasn’t sure you would come.”

More silence.

“How are you?” Charlotte asked, not wanting the call to end.

“Good. Cooper and I are building our house. I’m sure you’ve heard.”

“You must be excited.” She hoped that if Tilly was pregnant, she might mention it.

“I should go. Cooper and I are helping with the search.”

“I’m glad you called.” She wasn’t sure Tilly was still there. “I...I love you.” Silence. Her daughter had hung up.

Charlotte disconnected, surprised at the emotion she felt. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed Tilly, how much she’d missed hearing her voice. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat as her phone rang yet again. This time it was another rancher, calling to say they’d searched all their buildings. No Holly Jo.

Soon it would be too dark to search any longer. Charlotte still held out hope that the girl would be found before tonight. She couldn’t imagine who had her, and she worried the girl wasn’t safe. She hated to think that Holly Jo would have to spend a night away from her family with God only knew who.

“WEHAVETOquit meeting like this,” Birdie said as she and Brand attracted attention the moment they walked into the café. “People are going to start talking.”

“Too late for that, no thanks to you.” Brand wasn’t sure if people were staring at them because they’d heard that he’d been arrested here earlier today, dragged out of the café in handcuffs, and that he’d been with Birdie Malone, the daughter of the deceased husband of Brand’s mother, who was also his suspected killer.

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