Hannah could only hope that was true.
13
Thirteen
Hannah went straight to her apartment to go through the books again when she got back to Casper Creek. Cooper tracked down Boone to relate the news about Abigail and join in the search. He was convinced Angel had been secreted away somehow, which meant they needed more information to find her, but he couldn’t sit around doing nothing when the girl needed help.
The afternoon seemed to stretch into forever, with Boone ultimately leaving and then coming back with Lindsey. Cooper had watched him from the paddock as he received a call, recognizing the moment Boone lost his temper. He’d known the call had been about Lindsey without the sheriff having to relate the information. The way Boone stalked off told Cooper the teenager was in for a lecture, and the girl’s red cheeks and swollen eyes when Boone returned with her in tow confirmed that she’d gotten one. Despite that, Lindsey helped her father carry in two huge boxes of food before theatrically throwing herself into a chair.
“And how are things with you?” Cooper asked as he filled a glass with half iced tea and half lemonade.
Lindsey glared at him. “I’m crappy. How are you?”
Cooper chuckled as he carried the glass to her. He knew her drink of choice thanks to numerous meals with her father and was hopeful she would perk up thanks to the delivery. “I’ve had better days.”
Lindsey was petulant as she sipped her drink, her dark eyes landing on her father. She didn’t speak, though.
Boone didn’t have that problem. “Did you thank Cooper for that drink?”
Lindsey made a protesting sound. “I didn’t ask for it.”
“That doesn’t matter. He delivered it to you, went out of his way because he knows that’s your favorite. The polite thing to do is thank him.”
Lindsey grumbled something unintelligible under her breath before turning a bright — and obviously fake — smile toward Cooper. “Thank you so much for the blood, sweat, and tears you lost while providing me with this rare and wonderful drink. I’m forever in your debt.”
It was such an absurd statement Cooper had no choice but to press his lips together and look away to keep from laughing. Boone was familiar enough with the security chief, however, that he recognized trouble.
“Don’t encourage her,” Boone warned.
“I’m not encouraging her.”
“If you laugh, that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“Go ahead and laugh,” Lindsey prodded. “I know you want to. I’m an absolute delight and should be rewarded ... even if my father doesn’t want to acknowledge my greatness.”
“Oh, geez.” Cooper refused to make eye contact with either of them, instead fixing his attention on Hannah as she entered through the swinging doors with Jinx on her heels. “There’s my favorite girl.”
Lindsey rolled her eyes. “Oh, sure, she’s your favorite girl. I’ll just bet you encourage her every chance you get.”
Hannah, bewildered, glanced between Lindsey and Cooper. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Boone growled. “You didn’t miss anything.”
“I believe Boone and his daughter are having a bit of a ... thing,” Cooper volunteered. “I’m not an expert on the shenanigans of teenagers — I haven’t been one for more than a decade — but I’m pretty sure Lindsey is testing her limits ... and her father is out of patience.”
“Ah.” Hannah’s eyes danced with amusement. “I see. Does it make you want to have children?”
The question was asked in a teasing manner, but Cooper was serious when answering. “I wouldn’t mind a kid or two ... eventually. I don’t particularly want this kid right now.” He jerked a thumb at Lindsey and winked. “Teenagers are something you have to build up to. However, I would love a three-year-old little girl with blond hair and blue eyes forcing me to attend tea parties.”
Hannah was taken aback. “Blond hair and blue eyes?”
“He’s talking about a miniature version of you,” Lindsey snapped. “He’s gaga over you, if you haven’t noticed.”
“That will be enough of that,” Boone said, extending a warning finger in her direction. He was obviously close to blowing, something Lindsey recognized because her eyes were narrow slits of contemplation.
“Don’t do it,” Cooper warned, correctly reading Lindsey’s mood. “Your dad has had a long day. You don’t want to add to it unnecessarily.”
“Maybe I’ve had a long day,” Lindsey shot back. “Have you ever considered that?”
“Sure.” Cooper didn’t miss a beat as he nodded. “I’m betting you did have a long day. You’re probably worried about Angel.”
“I barely know her.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not worried, and it doesn’t mean you’re not confused about what happened. We’re all confused. We all want to find her. Your father has been out here looking all day. He deserves a break.”
“Maybe I deserve a break.” Lindsey morosely stared at the table as Boone removed containers from the box. “Just because he thinks I’m a kid doesn’t mean I don’t deserve a break, too.”
“Fair enough.” Cooper flicked his eyes to Boone. “Do I want to know what you deserve a break from, Lindsey?”
“Him,” the teenager muttered.
“Right, because I’m the worst thing that ever happened to you,” Boone shot back, shaking his head. “Just ... stop being a pain. If you’re rude to Cooper, Hannah, or Tyler, then I’m going to increase your home confinement for another two weeks. That will leave you locked up for a month during great weather. Is that what you want?”
Lindsey made a protesting sound. “I’m not being rude.”
“You’re a teenager. You idle at rude.” Boone shook his head and focused on Cooper. “That thing they do where they’re sweetness and light? It doesn’t last. They’re only cute for five minutes ... and then they learn to talk.”
Rather than make things worse and continue the conversation, Cooper focused on Hannah. “Did you find anything upstairs?”
Hannah shook her head. “I went through
