The Cowboy Next Door by R.C. Ryan

The Cowboy Next Door by R.C. Ryan

Author:R.C. Ryan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2019-02-26T00:00:00+00:00


Sam’s sweaty shirt was plastered to his chest as he deposited another wagonload of wet straw and dung in a field behind the barn. He’d been pushing himself for an hour, unwilling to stop. He knew if he didn’t keep going, he’d be tortured with images of sweet Penny, hurt, helpless. Was she traveling against her will with Dex, or had she tried to bargain with him? Worse, had he left her hidden away somewhere while he arranged a meeting with Curtis? Was she shivering in some cold, deserted barn or shack? Had he hog-tied her in the back of that truck? The thought of it taunted him, ripping out his heart.

When Sam heard the crunch of wheels on gravel, he set aside the wagon and rushed to the door of the barn in time to see Ben stepping out of his police vehicle.

Climbing out of the passenger side was Penny’s brother Curtis.

Sam was beside them in an instant.

Before they could climb the steps, the family came spilling out the back door and gathered around them on the porch.

Sam’s hand shot out, clutching the front of Curtis’s shirt, dragging him close. “Where is your sister?”

Ben put a hand on his brother’s arm. “Back off, Sam. I’m responsible for his safety.”

“His safety? What about Penny’s?”

Ben’s hand closed around Sam’s. “I said back off.”

Sam’s teeth were clenched like a vise as he reluctantly released Curtis.

He and the others studied the young man’s ashen face.

“I wish I could help.” Curtis looked around at the cluster of men staring daggers at him. “I didn’t even know she’d gone missing until the sheriff told me.”

Sam wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “Oh yeah? Just where did the law finally catch up with you?”

“I was trying to get out of town. I was on the interstate when the state police picked me up and delivered me to Sheriff Monroe. That’s when I learned about Penny.” Curtis hung his head. “I never meant for this to happen.”

“You knew, by running, you were asking for trouble. Dex made it plain that nobody stiffs him.”

“I wasn’t thinking. And certainly not thinking about my sister. All I wanted to do was get as far away from here as possible.”

“Are you saying you haven’t heard from Dex?”

Curtis shook his head. “Not a word. But if he’s taken Penny…”

“Your sister never would have left here on her own, especially now, when she was waiting to hear news of you. She had to be taken against her will.” Sam looked from Curtis to Ben. “Have you checked her cell phone records?”

Ben nodded. “The state boys are on it. If she has it with her, they’ll locate her.”

“And if it’s been tossed?”

Ben gave a slow shake of his head. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Sam. The state police have ways of tracking victims.”

Victim.

The very word had Sam’s heart dropping like a stone.

Victims were abducted and later found in shallow graves. Victims were nameless, faceless headlines in the news.

He couldn’t wrap his mind around Penny being called a victim.



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