Page 51 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

The man nodded. “I’ll take your word on that, then. What can I do for you?”

“We’d like to know the status of the investigation—any leads you might have, as well as what’s being done right now to find JJ,” Colt said.

“Let’s go back to my office where we can sit down.” The chief led them down a short hallway and into a small, cramped office, where they all took a seat. Hensley folded his hands on the desk. “We’ve handed out photos of the kidnappers at key businesses here in town and asked that we be contacted if they show up. We’ve got an APB out on a red Ford Taurus that we now know Jeb’s aunt is driving, and law enforcement have a description of the van believed to belong to the kidnappers. We’re still hoping to get a license number for the van soon.”

“Is that all? Is no one out looking for my son?” Taylor asked in a strained voice.

The chief sighed loudly. “Until we have more to go on, we’d be searching blind. I’ve got officers doing regular checks at the grocery store, and specifically looking for these two vehicles. If they’re in this area, there’s a good chance they’ll show up there.” He ran his hand through his hair in what appeared to be a habitual gesture. “The FBI agents have been canvassing the businesses in town to see if the men have been in. It’s my understanding that, in particular, they’re interested in the lumberyards. They think that the kidnappers may have an old cabin or house they’ve retreated to and that it may need fixing up.”

“That makes sense,” Colt said. Then he told the chief where they were staying and gave the man his cell phone number.

“The Feds are staying there too.” He wrote something down on a notepad and handed it to Colt. “These are their room numbers.”

“Thank you, chief, for the update. Please keep us posted if anything new arises,” Taylor said as she and Colt stood to go.

Hensley paused for a moment, and then said, “I’ll do that.”

Back at the hotel, they checked in and then dropped by the agents’ rooms, but neither man was there.

“I hope this means that they’re out on the case,” Taylor said as they headed down the stairs toward their own room.

“I’ll bet it does,” he said, wanting to encourage her as her anxiety seemed to be getting the best of her.

In the room, Taylor set her suitcase on the luggage rack and began to pace back and forth in front of the bed. “Surely there’s something we can do.” She met his gaze with a desperate look in her eyes. “Colt, we can’t just sit here. JJ’s out there with those horrible men. We’ve got to do something.”

Her eyes began to fill, and he strode toward her, taking her into his arms in a gentle hug. “We will do something, honey, but we can’t go off half-cocked. We need to settle in here and get the lay of the land, okay?”

She buried her face in his chest. “I just feel so useless, so helpless. My baby needs me, and I don’t know what to do.”

He slipped his fingers through her hair and cupped her head, cradling her gently to him. “We’ll find JJ. We’re close now, and it’s just a matter of time until those bozos make a mistake. There are a lot of people looking for them, and we’ll find them.”

Her head moved against his chest as she nodded slowly. He held her there for long moments until she said, “I guess we should go eat, huh?”

Thankful that her desperate moment had passed, he said, “Good idea. What are you hungry for?”

She shrugged. “Surprise me, cowboy.”

He chuckled and took her hand as he led her from the room.

***

After dinner, theystopped by again to see if the agents were in their rooms. One of them was.

Colt offered his hand. “I’m Colt Meadows, a deputy sheriff from Horsehead, Texas. I’m here about the Joshua James Benson kidnapping.” He turned to Taylor. “And this is Taylor Benson, JJ’s mother.”

The man studied them both for a moment, then shook Colt’s hand and nodded to Taylor. “Agent Hamill. How can I help you?” He stepped aside, motioning for them to come in.

“I read the report from my counterparts in Texas, and I didn’t realize that you were a deputy sheriff, Mr. Meadows,” Hamill continued.

Unwilling to tell the man that he was brand-new in his position, Colt nodded. “I am.”

“Can you tell us what the FBI is doing to find JJ?” Taylor asked.

“We’re canvassing the town to see if anyone has spotted them, and we’re keeping an eye out at key businesses to see if they show up. The police chief has given us a couple of men to help in our endeavors, and we’re making headway. I believe it’s just a matter of time before we spot them. From what I gather these guys aren’t master criminals,” Hamill said as the corner of his mouth lifted.

Her voice pleading, Taylor said, “But don’t you think you should be out looking for JJ? My understanding is that you think these people are holed up somewhere in these mountains. Can’t you search for them?”

Agent Hamill’s voice was kind when he said, “We need some clue first as to what direction we should look. Mountains and forest surround Cumberland. These people could be anywhere. There are thousands of miles of logging roads in Appalachia, and we just don’t have the manpower to cover every one within driving distance of Cumberland and the surrounding areas.”

---