Page 62 of Shelter from the Storm

“I’m not sure why she lied to us, but I’m worried,” she said.

“About what?”

Edith sighed, and for a moment, he thought she wasn’t going to tell him. He knew Gretchen had been confiding in Edith, but he didn’t realize how much more Edith knew than him.

“I’m afraid maybe her ex showed up.”

“Her ex?”

“That’s not my story to tell,” Edith said. “But he’s not a good man, Theo. Please find her.”

“I will.”

“And call me when you do.”

Theo assured her that he would, then hung up, trying to remain calm.

“What’s wrong?” Levi said. “Where’s Gretchen?”

“I don’t know, but I need to find her. She has to be somewhere on the farm.” At least, Theo hoped she was. Given that Edith hadn’t picked her up and she didn’t drive, he thought that was a somewhat safe bet. Until he recalled her plans to employ Koda’s Uber service. If she did that…she could be anywhere.

Or perhaps this dangerous ex?—

Theo didn’t let himself think about that.

“Levi.” Theo was unable to mask his panic. “Edith thinks she might be in danger. An ex.”

“We’ll split up.” Levi placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Within minutes, Levi had gathered the rest of the family, divvying up places around the farm where she could have gone, each of them setting off to search the cabins, winery, big houses, barns, and stables.

Theo raced to the brewhouse, since that was where Gretchen was headed when she’d left the party. The entire time, his mind swirled over what Edith had said. Her ex wasn’t a good man.

Now he knew the “who,” the person who’d hurt her, who’d caused her to flinch when he moved too fast, tremble or whimper when he laughed too loud or thunder boomed. Who was to blame for the panic attacks.

Bile rose to his throat when he considered exactly why him touching her neck scared her and he recalled that damn sweater she’d shown up here in the day they met. The way it covered her neck.

Running down the hallway to her office, he pulled up short when he saw the door closed, the light off.

He’d needed her to be here, because the idea of her running—or worse, being taken by someone who meant her harm—was too terrifying to consider.

Opening her door, he turned on the lights, his hopes dashed when he found the room empty. Closing the door, he spent the next twenty minutes systematically working his way through every room in the brewhouse, even searching around the machinery in case she was hiding.

Hiding.

Shit.

He was an idiot.

He raced back to her office, because he was almost certain he’d seen…

Entering once more, he turned on the lights—and there it was. Her cellphone, lying face down on her desk.

Theo walked over to it, and as he did…

She came into view.

Gretchen was huddled behind her desk, her legs tucked against her chest, her arms wrapped around them, her forehead pressed to her knees. She didn’t lift her head when he slowly walked around the desk.

“Don’t hurt me!” she whimpered, her voice so scared Theo felt sick. Then he glanced in the trash can and realized she had been.

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