by Patricia Fry
“Yeah, but where are the tire marks? It doesn’t look as if anyone drove back that way today at all.”
“She could have driven over on that blacktopped section,” he reasoned. “The rest of the road is hardpan and you wouldn’t see any fresh tire tracks on it.”
“I guess you could be right,” Savannah said.
Max nodded. “Yeah, get in. Let’s drive back there and see what we can find.”
“Uh, I think someone should stay with the horses.”
Iris stepped forward. “I’ll go with you, Max. Savannah, why don’t you horse-sit in case they act up.”
When the others looked at Colbi, she said, “I’ll stay with Savannah. You two go on.”
“Good luck,” Savannah called as they drove off. She dropped her head in exasperation. “I just don’t believe this. Where could she be?” She pulled out her phone again, saying, “Still no answer.”
It was around two by the time Max and Iris returned. Savannah was first to greet them. “Find anything?”
Max shook his head. He pounded the steering wheel. “Dang it, what could have happened? Savannah, did you try her phone again?”
She nodded. “Several times. It just goes to voicemail.”
He grimaced. “This makes me think she’s lying hurt someplace. You know, she could have driven over a cliff and isn’t able to reach her phone.”
“Then why did we find her dishes up here?” Iris asked.
After thinking about it, he said, “Good question—one I sure wish we had an answer for. Do you think she came here, met up with someone she was afraid of, and drove back down the hill, only to have some sort of accident?”
“I guess it’s possible,” Savannah said.
“So you think the bad people took her food and let her go?” Iris asked.
“Yeah,” Colbi said quietly, “or does that person on crutches have her?”
Without hesitation, Max picked up his phone. “I’m calling the sheriff. Something’s definitely not right. I’m afraid Maggie might be in trouble.” When he saw the look of horror on Savannah’s face, he asked, “Don’t you think so?”
“I guess,” she said, choking up. “But I really didn’t want to face it.” She wiped at her eyes and took a breath. “I expected to see that Jeep of hers pull in here any minute and hear her apologize, saying she stopped to save an injured kitten or dog or bear cub...”
Max grimaced. “That would be nice, wouldn’t it? But if she’s in trouble, I don’t want to let any more time go by.”
“Makes sense. Yes, we should call someone.”
“Will they come up here?” Iris asked. “Hey, I’ll call Craig. He’ll know what to do.”
“Yes, call him, Iris,” Max instructed. “If Craig can help, I’d sure like to talk to him. In the meantime, I’m calling 9-1-1.” A few minutes later, he reported, “They’re sending someone up. I told them we’re afraid she went over the side on one of those hairpin curves, so they’ll keep an eye out on their way.”
“Here, Max,” Iris said, handing him her phone. “My husband wants to talk to you.”
“Hello, Detective.”
“So what happened?” Craig asked, concern in his voice.
Max ran his hand through his thick salt-and-pepper hair while pacing back and forth in front of the women. “I wish I knew. Maggie seems to have vanished. We’re up here at the picnic grounds where the girls were supposed to meet and there isn’t a sign of her, except I guess the gals found what they think are some of her dishes. She was driving up to bring lunch to the horseback riders.”
“Yes, Iris told me,” he said quietly. “Are you going to be there for a while?”
“Yes, the sheriff is sending someone up and I want to be here when they arrive.”
Craig hesitated, then said, “I’ll be there in thirty minutes or so. If the gals are going to ride those horses back this afternoon, they’d better get started, don’t you think?”
Max glanced at the women. “Yeah, I guess so. I’ll let them know.” Once he’d ended the call, he said, “Savannah, Craig thinks you should head back so you don’t get caught in the dark.”
She nodded. “Yeah, we probably should.” However, when she gazed at Colbi and Iris, she noticed, “You two don’t look very enthused.”
Colbi stared down at her boots. “It’s a long way back.”
Iris added, “Yeah, and it’s going to get cold soon. Can’t someone come and get them in one of those horse trucks? Beulah and Delilah would probably appreciate a ride home.”
“I’m afraid not,” Savannah said apologetically. “Bonnie and Barney have gone to a show down south. So even if there was someone to bring us a trailer, there’s no trailer. They’re using it.”
“Oh no,” Colbi said, resting her head in her hands.
Iris let out a sigh. “Well, let’s get a move on, then—round ‘em up and move ‘em out, as they say.”
Savannah laughed briefly. “That’s what they say on a cattle drive.” Then she announced a little more loudly, “Hey! I have an idea. I know someone with a spread just over the knoll there—down toward the highway. What’s their name? Bowman—Heddy and Bob.” She scrolled through her phone contacts. “There it is,” she said, placing a call. “Hello, is this Heddy? This is Savannah Ivey. I met you when Michael and I came out to vaccinate your goat herd last summer.”
“Yes, Savannah, I remember. How are you?”
“In a pickle at the moment, and I was hoping you could help us.”
“Sure. What’s going on?”
“Well, I’m on horseback not too far from your place with friends. We’ve run into a problem here at Coyote Camp and I don’t think we have time to ride back before dark. Could we…?”
“Of course, you can. We have extra stalls. How many horses do you have?”
“Three.”
“Bring ’em on down and we’ll take them off your hands. Do you need a ride home?”
“I think my uncle can pick us up. But first, I’d better call Bonnie and clear this with her.”
“Oh, you’re on the Teagues’ horses? I’m sure she and Barney will be fine with it. They’re friends of ours—we run in the same circles, you know.”
“Okay. I’ll make the call out of courtesy, and we’ll see you in a little while. Thank you so much.”
“Glad to help.”
After clearing their new plan with the Teague Ranch manager, Savannah reported, “Okay, girls, we’re taking a short ride instead of the long one.” She looked at her watch. “Sheesh, Max, I hope they get here before too long. I sure don’t want to be riding over that area in the dark. I don’t know how rugged it might be between here and there.”
“How long do you think it’ll take you to get to the Bowman place?” he asked.
“Oh, about fifteen minutes, maybe.”
“Well, why don’t you hang out here until, say, four thirty or five. We should know something by then. I’m pretty sure authorities will want to question all of us.”
“Darn,” Savannah said, kicking a rock with the toe of her boot.
“What?” Max asked frowning.
“I’d better call Mr. I-Told-You-So.”
“Huh?”
“Michael,” she explained, with a sly grin. “Every time I plan something with my aunt, he worries that something will happen.”
Iris grinned. “Could that be because something usually does happen?”
Looking sheepish, Savannah placed the call. Feigning a lighter mood, she chirped into the phone, “Hi, hon, whatcha doing? How’s the baby?”
“Good. We’re just reading her favorite story.”
Together, they said, “The Pokey Little Puppy.”
“How are you? Enjoying your ride?” He paused, then said, “Oh, it’s going to be dark soon; you’re probably on your way home, right?”
“Well…” she started.
“Oh no, Savannah. What went wrong this time? Did your mare throw a shoe, did one o
f the horses run off, no one got rattlesnake-bit, did they?”
“No, Michael. It’s just that…”
“What?” he insisted.
“My aunt’s missing. We can’t find her. Max is up here and Craig and the sheriff are on their way.”
“Missing? What do you mean?”
“I mean, we rode up to Coyote Camp to meet her and she didn’t show up. She isn’t answering her phone and…Michael,” she said, her voice sounding pinched, “we can’t find her. We don’t know where she is.”
“Good Lord. So you’re still up there with the horses? Do you need me to come up with a trailer? You don’t have time to ride them back before dark, do you?”
“We have it under control, hon. We’re taking them over to the Bowmans’ in a little bit and Max will give us a ride home. I’d better go get them saddled so they’ll be ready to go. I’ll be home in probably a couple of hours. See you then. Love you.”
By the time Savannah had saddled the horses with only a little help from the others, the deputies and Craig Sledge had arrived. As expected, they quizzed the women, examined the food containers and the tire tracks, and searched the area. By four forty-five, Savannah said, “We’d better get to riding, girls. Come on, mount up.” When she noticed Colbi standing next to Beulah contemplating her step up into the saddle, she instructed, “Lead her over to that flat rock over there, so you can reach that stirrup.” She then held Delilah’s lead rope while Iris struggled to climb aboard. Before mounting Peaches, she said, “We’ll wait over there for you, Max. It’s the first ranch on the highway to your left. There’s a metal horse on the mailbox with their name on it—Bowman.”
“Got it,” he said. “Be there as soon as I can.”
“So what do you think, Craig?” Savannah asked before riding off with the others.
“Hmmm, those could be tire tracks from pretty much any mid-sized car,” he said, “including her car.” He took a deep breath and looked around, then pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Please, Maggie, call me,” he said into it.
“Still won’t answer?” Savannah asked. “This really is scary.”
“Yeah,” Iris said. “The longer she’s gone, the more worried I get.” She changed her tone. “But if I find out she’s lounging in a coffee shop enjoying a mocha while we’re starving and getting saddle sores, I’ll…”
****
“Hi Savannah,” Adam greeted when she stepped into the kitchen of her home after five thirty that evening. “We’re fixing dinner. Are you hungry?”
“Hi there, kiddo,” she responded, tousling his hair. “How’d you get here?”
“My mom and other dad brought me. Are you surprised?”
“Yes this is a nice surprise. I didn’t expect you until next weekend.” She picked up Lily, then looked at Michael. “So what are you guys cooking up?”
“Sheepherder pie,” Adam said.
“Shepherd’s pie,” Michael corrected.
Adam looked puzzled. “What’s the difference, Dad? It’s still meat, gravy, and smashed taters, isn’t it?”
Michael nodded. “And vegetables. Don’t forget the vegetables.”
“I was trying to,” Adam said, grinning.
“Any news?” Michael asked quietly. When he noticed Savannah’s emotions rising to the surface, he wiped his hands and wrapped her and Lily in a bear hug.
“They didn’t find Aunt Maggie?” Adam asked. “Where do you think she went?”
“No one knows, Son,” Michael said. “But there are a lot of people looking for her.”
“And Rags, too?” he asked.
Savannah pulled back from Michael, placed the squirming toddler on the floor, and peered at the ten-year-old. “Rags?”
“Yeah, she took Rags to your picnic. Rags and Dolly. I saw Dolly in her car, waiting for Rags. Dolly looked real excited, too.”
“Wait,” Savannah said, easing down onto a kitchen chair, her hands on Adam’s arms. “She came and got Rags?”
He nodded.
She looked at Michael, then back at Adam. “Why? Do you know why she did that?”
“She said you wanted to take a special picture with him in it, so she decided to surprise you and bring Rags and Dolly to the picnic. She took both of Rags’s harnesses and leashes so Dolly would have one, too. Didn’t you see them?”
“No,” Savannah said, her voice filled with emotion. “They never showed up. Michael, why did you let her take him?”
He shrugged. “I guess I was bathing Lily when she came by. Adam told me about it later.”
“I can’t believe this. Now Rags is gone, too?” She stood and pulled her phone out of her pocket, saying, “Oh no—Colbi—she must be frantic.” Just as she started to place a call, her phone rang. “Colbi,” she said into the phone. “I was just going to call you.”
“Harrison said she has Dolly with her,” Colbi wailed. “And Rags. Why do you suppose she decided to take the cats to a picnic, for God’s sake?”
“I don’t know, Colbi. I guess it was supposed to be a surprise for us.”
“Now they’re missing. Where are they, Savannah? Where could they be? Oh my gosh, I’m so worried.”
“I know, hon. Is Damon there with you?”
“He’ll be here soon. Harrison’s here. He’s heating up some leftovers for supper—but I’m sure I can’t eat. I’m just sick. Well, you know how much I love Dolly.”
“Yes, I know. I’m so sorry. Well, we all are. Hey, I have a call coming in—it’s Craig. He might have news. I’ll call you right back, okay?”
“Yes, please do.”
“Hello Craig, have you found them?”
“Them?” he asked.
“Yes, my aunt has Dolly and Rags with her.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s a long story. What have you found out?”
He hesitated. “Not much, I’m afraid. They’re taking search dogs out in the morning and they’ll put up a helicopter to see if they can spot her car. In the meantime, there’s an APB out for her and the car.” He paused. “Honey, it could be that your aunt had some sort of spell and is confused. We’re trying to cover all bases. We will find her. You can be sure of that.”
“I hope so, Craig.”
“Savannah, I know this is difficult for you. But you might want to go check on Max. I just talked to him and he’s pretty upset.”
“Of course he is. Thank you for suggesting that, Craig. I’m afraid I’ve been so caught up in my own grief that I didn’t think about him. I’ll definitely go over there—or see if he wants to come here.” She said more quietly, “Please keep us posted, will you?”
“Sure will. She’ll turn up—don’t you worry.”
Before ending the call, Savannah said, “Craig, could I ask you something?”
“Yeah,” he said cautiously.
“It’s about Damon.” She hesitated before saying, “I saw him a couple of days ago arguing with a man. I’m…well…I’m a little concerned about what I witnessed. Michael told me about the extortion attempt. I thought maybe I should tell someone what I saw, but I didn’t want to burden Colbi with it.”
“By all means, Savannah. What did you see?”
“Well, I went to the newspaper office on an errand and Damon was in the parking lot with a man I’ve never seen before. They were arguing—I mean it was scary. They were both really angry. While I was watching from my car, a woman got out of a parked car with a handful of documents. She sort of waved them around in front of Damon, but ended up taking them with her when they left.”
“Good God,” he said. “What did this man look like?”
“He was tall and dark.”
“Oh really?” Craig said. He was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Did you hear the conversation?”
“No. But it sure wasn’t friendly.”
“You say this man was with a woman? Was she a bleached blond around forty-five or fifty?”
“Sounds like her. Yes.
What’s going on, Craig? Do you know? Is Damon in some sort of danger?”
“Danger? I certainly hope not. But he is being victimized and probably by his own father.” He coughed and cleared his throat. “I can’t say anything more, Savannah. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. All I can say is, we have a situation here and we’re trying to deal with it as diplomatically as we can.” He paused. “For now, let’s concentrate on locating your aunt.”
“Okay, I’m going over to sit with Max now.”
Once she’d ended the call, she scooped up Lily and blew raspberries on her neck, making her giggle. “I missed you, doodlebug,” she said, holding her close. After releasing her, she walked up to Michael. “I’m going over to Max’s. Craig thinks he probably needs company.”
“Oh, good idea, hon. Do you want me to hold dinner for you?”
“No. You guys eat. I’ll eat later.” She started to leave, then stopped and kissed Lily’s chubby cheek. “See you later, punkin. Mommy’s going to be with Uncle Max for a while.” She then called out, “’Bye Adam. I look forward to eating your sheepherder’s pie.”
Chapter 3
“Thanks for coming over, Savannah,” Max said, ushering her into the living room. He picked up a tangerine faux-Persian and placed her on his lap as he sat down in an overstuffed chair.
“Hi, Layla,” Savannah said to the cat. She eased down next to a black-and-white tuxedo cat and began petting his plush fur.
After sitting in silence for a few moments, Max spoke. “It took me almost a lifetime to find the woman of my dreams. She just can’t be gone so soon.”
“She’ll show up. She just has to. Craig said she might have had some sort of spell and is confused.”
Max frowned. “I can’t imagine that. But I suppose anything’s possible.” He shook his head. “I sure don’t want to think about the possibilities, though.”
“No, I don’t, either. In fact, I came over here to cheer you up. I’m not doing a very good job of it.” She stood. “Hey, can I get you something to eat or drink?”
Max thought for a moment. “How about a swig of your aunt’s homemade coffee liqueur? I think we have a little left.”
