Page 49 of Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy

“What is it, buddy?”

“I didn’t go straight to the barn,” he admitted. “I peeked out the window and saw a green truck, and then I went to tell Peanut Butter that Molly loved him too.”

My gaze collided with Wyatt’s, a smile spreading slowly on his face. I hugged Hunter tight and kissed his head again. “You did good, buddy. Really good. Go with Billy; Uncle Wyatt and I are going to find Molly.” I hoped we would find her. If not, well, I wasn’t ready to even think about that right now.

As soon as Hunter was settled back on the saddle with Billy, I turned to Wyatt, who wore a worried expression. “We should go over near the pond. He probably took the old service road to make his escape.”

I nodded, and we both jumped back in the truck. “The question is where in the hell would he take her? Back to Houston or someplace closer?”

“Molly is strong,” Wyatt said as he stomped on the gas and we flew across the property.

“I know,” I bit back.

“What I mean,” Wyatt began in a slower, more comforting tone, “is that she’s a fighter. Just look at the way she gave you shit when you stepped out of line. There’s no way in hell she’s gonna sit back and just let him drive her away without a fight.”

He was right, of course. “Thanks.”

“Hey, what are best friends for if not making you keep your head on straight when someone kidnaps your girlfriend?”

I laughed. “Yeah, I guess that is what best friends are for. Still, thank you.”

“Anytime. Now, let’s go get your woman.”

I nodded and stared out ahead, hoping Molly would forgive me for leaving her unprotected. It was my job to protect her, to keep her safe, and I failed.

“We don’t have time for you to blame yourself, Colt. We need to be focused on finding Molly.”

“I should have protected her.”

Wyatt sighed. “She was on ranch property. If she can’t be safe here, then nowhere is safe.”

That was a terrifying thought, but I understood Wyatt’s point. “We have to find her.”

“We will,” he insisted and slammed on the brakes.

“Wyatt, we don’t have time for a pep talk.”

“Shut up and look,” he pointed out just ahead of the windshield.

I followed the path of his finger and gasped at the sight of the green pickup truck smashed into a tree. “She could be hurt.”

“But they’re on foot,” he reminded me. “Can’t have gone too far in the time it took Hunter to go to Billy and then to us. Right?”

“Exactly,” he said around a smile. “There are a few vacant outbuildings around here. We should start there.”

I jumped out of the car before I could agree with Wyatt. “We should go on foot. He’ll hear the car coming from a mile away.” And though I didn’t voice my worries out loud, Wyatt understood.

“Let’s go, then.”

Hang on, Molly. I’m comin’ for ya.

Chapter29

Molly

“We weren’t right for each other, Travis.” Reasoning with him wasn’t working, and I didn’t know what else to do. Every word I said either offended him or sent him into an anger spiral.

“We werefuckingperfect together until you got it in your head that you wanted better than me!”

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