Missing in the Desert

by Dana Mentink

  “Clever, huh?” Jerry smiled at Levi. He was dressed the part of the Mule Team driver, complete with leather boots and dust-covered clothes. He stretched his arm as if he was working out a cramp. “I mean, the way he laid out the whole place. Got yourself quite a shiner, Levi. You’re a trouble magnet.”

  Levi watched Mara and Willow get out of the jeep and walk toward them.

  “Have you dug your trailer out?” Levi asked.

  He sighed. “Well, now, not completely.” He scuffed his heel in the dirt. “I feel really bad about that still. You and your girlfriend could have been seriously hurt.”

  Girlfriend? “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  Jerry quirked a bristly brow. “My mistake.”

  He wasn’t sure how to keep the conversation going, but he didn’t have to. Willow and Mara caught up. Willow had her enormous camera, and Mara held a clipboard with a series of neat checks on it. “We made sure all the belongings were accounted for by our guests. I told them we’d hang on to them for a few minutes while they found their campsite.”

  Always efficient.

  “Have you seen Teegan around?” Levi asked Jerry, casually.

  “Earlier he was adding wood to the fire. Don’t see him now. Might be fetching more logs. I gotta go find the little cowboys’ room. See you later.”

  Levi noticed Amelia and Peter were gone from the craft table when he looked.

  “The Johnsons are ready for their luggage,” Austin said. “I’ll take it over to their tent.”

  “You don’t need to do that,” Levi told his brother.

  Austin grinned. “What? And miss my chance to earn a tip?” He hefted the bags with his good arm and followed the Johnsons. The sisters refused help and toted their own bags.

  “That’s it, then,” Levi announced. “We’re clear. Austin and I will take the horses back. We’ll be right behind you.”

  But Mara wasn’t listening. Her gaze was lost somewhere in the rock cliff that backed the campsite. She hadn’t forgotten her mission.

  Get it done and get out of here, his instincts whispered.

  Fast.

  * * *

  Mara clutched the clipboard as she walked away from the tent area. Wisps of smoke from the campfire tickled her nostrils. She looked up at the mountains in the distance, caught in a blaze of noontime sun. All around her were people enjoying one another’s company. Standing there in such an unbelievably perfect landscape, she could almost forget about all that had happened—her brother, the crash, the harsh voice in the hospital.

  Why aren’t you dead?

  Who could be so evil as to want her dead? Or Seth? Or Corinne...

  Thoughts of her sister crowded close again. Being in this place brought the memories to the surface. Somewhere in this breathtaking region, Corinne had taken her last breath.

  It was probably silly, imagining some clue in the painting, but she was here, and she did not want to leave any proverbial stones unturned. She closed her eyes, trying to recreate the crudely painted cliff in the artwork she’d bought from Amelia. The teapot cloud floating over a sloppily painted mountain.

  Willow had shown her the indistinct photo on her camera again, just before they’d come. The rock in the painting was split into four parts, like the fingers of a hand. It had been so familiar, and she was certain she’d seen a similar view on Gene’s property. Surely there would be something in the scenery that would remind her of the painting. Light stung her eyes as she opened them and tried to see things afresh. The warm, sandy ground seemed to exert a magnetic pull.

  Levi kept right next to her as she wandered away from the campsite, toward the vast acres of rock-studded plain. The vista was dazzling, but nothing stood out as she’d prayed it would. The four-fingered rock had to be there, but she saw no sign of it. Levi stopped her with a touch to her forearm.

  “We should go back, Mara.”

  “But...” she said, ready to dig in her heels. Then she sighed. He was right, and she’d agreed to be cautious. This plain rippled into foothills, which stretched away into the vast sprawl of the mountains. They were so far away, it would have been impossible to depict any particular formation. What had she expected? This wasn’t some Nancy Drew novel where the clue would be revealed and there would be a happy ending for one and all.

  He grasped her hand, and she squeezed his fingers as they returned. “Thank you for letting me look,” she said. “I know that wasn’t strictly in our agreement.”

  “I wanted you to find something, too.” The warmth of his hand kept her pushing through a sudden tide of exhaustion.

  She didn’t want her failed mission to detract from the success of the day. “Anyway, I guess we completed our first official Camp Town Days tour, so that counts for something.”

  “Thanks to you. You’re a natural at this horse-tour business.”

  She laughed. “I—” Her words failed. Electricity zinged through her body. She squinted against the smoke from the campfire. Behind the flames, the pile of rocks rose into the sky, losing itself into the blue. “Look.”

  They moved closer to the fire, standing upwind of the crackling blaze. She pointed, and he peered after her finger. When he still could not see it, she slid her hand under his chin, avoiding hurting his bruised flesh, and gently tipped his head up.

  The arch of his brows told her he’d seen it. A shelf of rock that was split into four parts...like fingers on the hand, like the painting. She reached for her cell phone to text Willow.

  Something buzzed from overhead.

  “What is that?” A woman sitting facing the campfire jerked around.

  Levi stared up at the sky, arms out as if he could ward off whatever was coming.

  “Run, Mara!” he shouted.

  The thing swooped closer, diving straight at her.

  FIFTEEN

  She thought at first it was a bird, until it came close enough that she could see the metal propellers. A toy? But this toy was diving straight toward her, ready to plow nose first into her face. She ducked, and it sailed up but not out of sight. It hovered, circled, reoriented to try again.

  “It’s a drone,” somebody yelled. “Who’s flying it?”

  She had no extra brainpower to look around as the drone was now turning and readying for another attack. Whoever was at the controls, their target was her and no one else.

  “Mara,” Levi called, reaching to pull her away. He stumbled over an exposed rock and went down to one knee. The drone was speeding through the air in a sizzling blur.

  Fear turned to something else. The muscles in her arms acted of their own accord. The drone was so close now she could make out the blinking green light on the front. Come and get me. Go ahead. She stepped away from Levi and swung the clipboard with all the strength she could summon. It cracked into the drone with a satisfying crunch, sending the machine whirling backward in an untidy arc. A propeller broke off. The drone tumbled once and dropped into the campfire.

  She stood there clutching the clipboard and breathing hard. Levi was next to her now, gaping at the melting mess in the flames. She caught her breath, tucked the clipboard under her arm and gave him a shaky smile.

  “Handled,” she said.

  His expression was a mixture of horror and appreciation. “I’ll say.” He immediately guided her to Willow’s jeep. Somehow, she got her legs to cooperate. Willow caught up. “Austin took off to look for the drone operator.”

  “Most of those things only have a range of a few miles, so he or she will be close.” Levi continued to hurry her past the spectators who were now crowding near the campfire to see what had happened to the drone.

  Close. Her mouth went dry. As she approached the jeep, Levi opened the passenger door and ushered her inside. Willow slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. “Drive to meet the officer we passed on the way in. Tell him what happene
d.”

  He turned.

  “Where are you going?” Mara asked.

  “To help Austin. Don’t stop, and don’t get out of the car.”

  Be careful, she wanted to say, but he surprised her by bending and pressing a kiss to her lips.

  He chuckled. “Now I remember why you always beat Seth and me at batting practice.”

  Her lips were still tingling as he closed the door. Willow guided the car toward the police officer. “I’ve seen those things used for aerial photography, and even search-and-rescue stuff lately, but never to terrorize someone. Who would do that?”

  “Someone close,” Mara said as she looked out the window. The four-fingered rock shadowed the vehicle as they left. It was certainly the same formation in the painted picture that had been stolen from Levi’s truck.

  As they rolled on she realized that Gene’s ranch was the only place that offered a clear view of the rock. So whoever painted it had to have been right here on the property. They passed Teegan’s house. A wave of cold prickles washed over her as she noted that his kitchen window looked right out onto that very rock, as did a side window in Gene’s house.

  The drone hadn’t been an accident or a prank. It had been sent to zero in on her. Why? To prevent her from making the connection between the painting and the actual location?

  Too late.

  Now she saw the crowd beginning to scatter. Teegan appeared holding Peter, facing his wife. Had he come from his yard? Easy enough for him to have launched a drone from there. She saw Gene gripping a pair of barbecue tongs, apparently getting the story from Jerry who pointed a finger at the departing jeep. Any one of them could have slunk behind the nearest rock tumble and piloted the drone and then joined in the melee, appearing completely innocent. The remote control might even be small enough to fit in a pocket.

  Mara felt as if all their eyes were locked on the jeep as they drove to the police officer. He must have gotten word that something was happening because he rolled to meet them.

  “Jude’s been patrolling the main road. He’s approaching now,” the officer said. “I’ll escort you to the gate to meet him before I head to the campsite.”

  They nodded, rolled up their window and continued to the gate. Though she knew it had been a minor threat and the drone strike would not necessarily have inflicted a grievous wound, she was relieved when Jude’s vehicle came into sight.

  Still, she would only feel completely at ease when Levi showed up at the ranch without further incident.

  Back at the Rocking Horse, she and Willow settled in at the kitchen table, distracted by the attention of Banjo and the mewing cat. Jude checked in briefly, earning a bark from Banjo, until he flipped him a dog biscuit.

  “Do you carry doggy treats in your pockets?” Willow said. “I didn’t realize that was standard cop equipment.”

  “Started keeping a bag of dog chews in my vehicle after I met Banjo. I guess I should add kitty treats, too, now.”

  When he had ascertained they were okay and got Mara’s explanation of what happened, he nodded. “I’ll be on the phone for a while, so I’ll step outside.”

  Willow fixed tea for them both. Mara cradled the mug gratefully. “So much has happened since I came to Furnace Falls it makes my head spin.”

  “It sure has. I, uh, misjudged you. I guess it’s a good time to apologize.”

  “No need. I was looking down from my high horse,” she said with a sigh. “I know Levi better now. I understand his motives.”

  Willow slid into her chair, her eyebrow raised. “You know I love my brother to distraction.”

  Mara stiffened, eyeing her warily.

  “I thought until recently that his whole heart was in this ranch, but I’m beginning to think there’s room for something else.” She smiled. “Or should I say someone else.”

  Heat began to crawl up her neck. “Me?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “It’s not like that between us.”

  “He doesn’t kiss just anyone, you know.”

  “Well, I, um...”

  She held up a palm. “Not my business, but as you know I’m protective of him so I butt in when I feel the impulse. How do you feel about Levi? Because I can tell he feels pretty strongly about you.”

  How did she feel? She felt as though he was the most amazing man she’d ever met: quiet, strong, loving, tenderhearted—as much as he tried to hide it. She sidestepped the question. “He’s selling the ranch.”

  She gaped. “Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t think he wants it known, but he intends to give back the money Seth spent so my family can pay for therapy.”

  “That sounds like Levi. But that doesn’t mean you two couldn’t be together, does it?” She waved a hand. “I put you on the spot. I have a way of doing that. You don’t have to answer. Just promise me you won’t hurt my brother. He cares about you, a lot. If you don’t love him, tell him flat out. He’s too good and too sincere to play games.”

  “No games. I can assure you of that.” But their arrangement was temporary. And hadn’t that been the plan all along? Mara had come grudgingly, and Levi hadn’t wanted her there any more than she’d desired to be there. They were together purely out of convenience.

  He feels pretty strongly about you... She’d thought so, imagined something between them. Now she wasn’t sure about anything. She was grateful beyond measure when she saw Austin and Levi riding onto the property, each of them leading two horses behind them. She jumped up to fix a pitcher of ice water and set out glasses, mostly to keep from talking to Willow.

  The men entered, followed by Jude.

  “No sign of the controller,” Levi said.

  Austin drank deeply. “I figure he was hiding around the side of the rock pile, maybe. After Mara took out the drone, he must have joined in the group as if nothing happened.”

  Jude smiled. “Mara, I’m thinking of including your drone-handling technique in our police training, in case we should ever need it.”

  Mara laughed. “My brother always says swing for the bleachers.” Thinking about how Seth would laugh sent a wave of sorrow washing over her.

  “Unfortunately, the machine is incinerated, so no prints there. Drones weighing more than 8.8 grams are supposed to be registered with the FAA and visibly labeled with the number. If there was one, it’s unreadable, but we’ll have the techs examine it, anyway.”

  “Teegan’s house looks right out on the four-fingered rock,” Mara said. She explained her theory of the painting. “The drone could be his way of discouraging me from making that connection.”

  “It’s sketchy,” Jude said. “There’s no proof that your sister painted it. Nothing to tie Teegan to any of the attacks on you. Nothing to justify a search warrant.”

  Mara deflated.

  “So another attack on Mara, and there’s not a thing we can do?” Levi’s hands were balled into fists on the table.

  “We’ll look closer at the drone. We’re still processing the scene at J and K. That’s all I can give you for now.” He rose and tossed another dog cookie to Banjo. “Don’t get up, boy. I’m on my way out.”

  Willow and Austin left together shortly thereafter.

  Mara felt suddenly claustrophobic. “I’m going to visit the horses.”

  He didn’t answer, just got up and walked to the fence alongside her. She wanted to be alone, to sort out in her mind the drone attack and Willow’s probing comments. Why should they impact her so? Because Willow knew Levi better than anyone on the planet, and she believed he might just be developing serious feelings for Mara.

  They stood side by side, elbows propped on the warped fence rails. “Levi...” she started.

  He looked at her, silent, waiting patiently for her to continue. Her heart stirred at the quiet blue gaze, and electricity tingled in the spot where her shoulder t
ouched his. And then words failed her.

  He cocked his head for a moment, and then he turned slowly. His lips were only inches away. Was Willow right? Was it love he was beginning to feel for Mara? And what was the answering echo inside her own heart?

  He drew her close and pressed a kiss to her cheek, then her temple. What was this feeling that burgeoned between them? Did he feel as confused as she did? They were recent antagonists, he was her brother’s best friend, her life was not here in Furnace Falls, and maybe his wasn’t either if he sold the Rocking Horse. He was quiet, laid-back, content, and she was none of those things. But she could not escape the feeling that God had brought her here, right here, for a reason.

  She heard the steady beat of his heart as she laid her head on his chest. It was such a sense of comfort that she almost didn’t hear the approaching car.

  * * *

  Levi immediately let go of Mara and stepped in front of her as the unfamiliar sedan rolled up the drive. He wished he had his rifle.

  “It’s my dad.” Mara broke around him and started to run toward the vehicle. She was gasping, trembling, and he caught up with her as the car stopped.

  Mr. Castillo got out. Levi searched his face looking for signs of what he most feared.

  Mara stopped short of her father, hands pressed to her mouth, face pale as moonlight. “Oh, Daddy. It’s not Seth. He’s not...”

  Her father’s brows creased. “No, no, honey. I’m sorry. I didn’t think how you’d react. Seth is okay.”

  Mara sobbed, and Levi longed to comfort her, but it was not his place. Mr. Castillo wrapped her in a hug and rocked her from side to side until she could regain some composure.

  “I thought, when I saw you there...” she said, rubbing the tears from her cheeks as he let her go.

  “I wanted to talk to you face to face.” He took in the surroundings. Levi grimaced as he imagined what Mr. Castillo would think about the ramshackle cabin where his daughter was staying, the barking of Banjo who had mercifully been shut in the kitchen.