Page 68 of Daddy's Little Farmer

She sighed and nodded. “I will. May I use a phone, please?”

“Of course. Follow me.”

He took her into a large office that was crammed with books. “Sit behind my desk and call whoever you need to.”

“How can I find a person’s number?”

“You could use the Internet.”

“He’s a groundskeeper at the place I lived.”

“That might be harder. Do you know his full name?”

She nodded.

“Okay, let me help you.”

He lifted her on top of the desk and sat down in the chair beside her. She watched him start the computer and go to a certain site.

“Okay, what’s his name?” Alex asked.

“Porter Billings.”

Alex pulled up all the men with that name in a fifty-mile radius. Thankfully, the name was unusual enough. There was just one.

“There you go.”

She smiled. “I can’t believe you did it that fast.”

“I’m good at a few things.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m guessing a lot more.”

He grinned. “I’ll be in the kitchen. Yell if you need me.”

“All right.”

Mara sat in the chair and dialed the number.

“Hello.”

“Porter?”

“Oh, my. Mara. Where are you? Everyone has been looking for you.”

“I’m safe with a friend. I’ve got a huge favor.”

“Anything.”

“Can you take care of the animals until I find a way to get them back home?”

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes, I have to. When I have time, I’ll tell you. If there’s a chance I can only take one or two, do you think you’d want to have the rest of them?”

“Mara. I can’t imagine this farm without you.”

“I know. It breaks my heart, but I don’t have a choice.”

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