Rachel's Rescuer by Roxann Delaney

Author:Roxann Delaney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Lucas entered the kitchen to find Rachel sitting at the table, her face buried in her hands. The knot in his gut tightened. “What’s this about Cody?”

Fear shone in her eyes when she looked up. “He’s—he’s missing.”

Frowning, Lucas approached her. “Jen told me. You checked upstairs?”

“Of course I checked upstairs.” She started to stand, but sank quickly to the chair again. “And I checked down here, too.”

Lucas noticed how pale Rachel was. Dropping to one knee beside her, he gripped the back of her chair with one hand to keep from pulling her into his arms. “He probably slipped out the front way and went outside. We’ll find him.”

The door opened and Jenny walked in. “Harley’s saddling the horses. Pete’s going, too, so I’ll stay here with Rachel.”

“The horses?” Rachel gasped.

“We’ll check around the grounds before we lose light,” Lucas explained. “He’s probably close by. With three of us searching outside, it won’t take long. He can’t be far.”

Rachel gripped the sleeve of his coat. “Yes, he can. If Phyllis and Edward took him—”

Covering her hands with one of his, Lucas felt the icy chill of her fingers. “They couldn’t have gotten on the ranch without someone seeing them.”

Tears glistened in her eyes and her chin quivered. “But there’s no reason for him to disappear like this. Not on his own.”

Lucas glanced at Jenny, then focused his attention on Rachel. He had thought she was the strongest woman he had ever met, but she was crumbling before his eyes. He didn’t blame her. Having Cody disappear like this was scaring him, too. When had the boy become so important to him? So special? He looked at Rachel. When had his mother?

“Kids’ll do all kinds of things,” he finally told her, getting to his feet.

On his way out, he motioned for Jenny to join him on the porch. “Do you know what Cody was upset about?” he asked when the door closed behind her.

“He doesn’t want to leave and go home with me.”

Lucas nodded. “I’d bet my last heifer that’s the reason.”

“I’ll talk to her about it and see what we can do.” She turned to open the door, but Lucas stopped her.

“Let me talk to her after we find Cody.”

Jenny studied him for a moment, then nodded in agreement and slipped inside the house.

Determined to find Cody, Lucas strode down the porch steps toward Harley, who waited in the yard with the horses. Even though the temperature was low, he was more worried about Rachel than he was Cody. And worried about himself. He shouldn’t care so much. They would be leaving in a matter of days.

“Pete’s gone to check the east pasture. Where do you want to start?” Harley asked him.

Lucas took the reins and mounted. “You can check the west one and I’ll ride on down the road. Maybe he decided to take a walk.”

Giving his horse a nudge, he rode away from the house. He felt certain Cody wasn’t far away. He had come to understand the boy.

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