Page 33 of Comforted By The Mountain Man
“Alright, young man. What can I get for you today?” she asks Ryder, who launches into naming almost everything he sees.
Laughing, she comes around to explain what each item actually is when my phone rings.
“I’m sorry. Could you excuse me a moment?” I ask, seeing the call is from Asher.
“Sure, dear.”
“Stay here, baby,” I tell Ryder, turning to face the back of the bakery to answer. “Hey,” I smile.
“Hey, Brown Eyes. Quick question about the numbers from the shipment we just sent off to West’s bar.”
I answer the questions and we discuss some adjustments for the coming season. This town makes a big deal of Fall and Christmas. We ensure the budget matches to accommodate. I turn to check on Ryder, only I don’t see him.
A large number of people are crowding the counter for the late morning rush.
“One second, Ash,” I say distracted, walking between people. “Excuse me,” I repeat, searching between them. “Ryder?” I call out again.
“Sierra, what’s wrong?” Asher asks but I’m growing frantic.
I push through and lean over the counter, grabbing the older woman’s attention. “My son. Ryder. Where did he go?”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” She looks around. “I gave him a sample treat and told him to stay right here until you returned.”
I turn and rush to the front door. “Ryder,” I cry out, pushing through the door, looking in every direction. “Ryder!”
“Sierra,” Asher’s stern voice grabs my attention.
“Asher,” I sob. “Oh, God. I don’t see him. I can’t find him.”
“Listen to me, Brown Eyes. Take a deep breath. Don’t move from the bakery until I get there. He might have wandered off and will return knowing you’re there.”
“I can’t just stand here,” I argue. “That’s,” my throat closes on me. “He’s my everything, Asher.”
“Baby, I know. We will find him,” he says firmly. “Do not leave. I will be there in less than ten minutes. You hear me?”
I nod, though he can’t see me. I fist my bangs, losing my mind. Asher must have hung up but I still hold the phone to my ear. I pace the street, peeking inside other shops, calling out for Ryder, asking shop workers if they’ve seen his description. Nobody has seen anything.
How did this happen?
I’ve heard of parents losing their kids in malls, stores. I counted myself lucky that I’d never experienced this before. Did he just walk off? Did something catch his attention?
Asher violently swerves into a parking spot. He’s in what I believe to be Grayson’s military Jeep. Rushing out like a bull, he takes my shoulders in his hands. “Anything?” he asks.
I shake my head, tears flying off. “He wouldn’t have walked off. He’s never done that before. How could he just vanish like that?”
“Breathe, Sierra.”
“Do I call the police?”
His expression darkens. “No. They’re useless. I already called the guys. West, being a couple blocks down is already searching Main Street. We need to make calls. Someone has to have seen him.”
I voice something I’ve been terrified to consider. “Asher,” I whisper. “What if they—,” I don’t finish.
He takes my face in his hands. “We will find him. You trust me?” Crying, I nod. I do. I do trust Asher. With our lives.
“Then trust me when I say, we’re going to find him.”
We spend the next hour with West and Holden, searching all through town, asking people questions, and showing them pictures I luckily have taken on my new phone. No one has seen him. It’s like he just vanished into thin air.
