“Eb, honey.” Ryder crouched down beside the whimper child. “Sweetheart, tell me what’s wrong.”
Eb held out her hand, showing her mother the fading unexplained scratch on her palm that she’d had when Ethol had found her. Ebony shook with fear. “They hurt me, Mummy. Don’t buy them, please don’t. I’ll be good.”
A shiver ran over Ryder’s neck and down her spine as footsteps pounded toward her. Milo had jumped out the window and was barrelling down the pathway between the plants toward them. He pulled up at a screeching halt and wiped his big tongue over Ebony’s hair, his nose pushing into her face. Her little arms wound up and around his neck and the whimpering slowed.
“Honey, are you telling me that the rainbow rose of Uncle Eric’s did that to your hand?”
A sniffle and a nod of her head was the only acknowledgement, but it was enough for Ryder. Her legs refused to hold her up and she sagged down on the pathway beside the trolley grappling for the edge of it for support. Always a family member, always someone close to you. Isn’t that how it worked more often than not? She sat there, her hand resting on her daughter’s leg, wondering how he was involved. Why he’d taken her little girl. Was it only to slow her down with the investigation, or was it for more sinister reasons? To sell her on to a black market racket or even a paedophile ring?
Gumboot encased feet appeared in front of her on the pathway. She looked up into the concerned face of the lady who had been at the counter when they walked in. “Excuse me, miss, but are you okay?”
Dazed and shocked, Ryder shook her head. “No. I mean I’ll be fine. Sorry for blocking your pathway.” What a stupid thing to say.
“Can I get you anything? A glass of water perhaps?”
Ryder looked up at her and blinked. “Um. Thank you, that would be wonderful. Sorry about this.”
“Don’t you fret over it a bit. Anyone can take a funny turn you know. Sit right there and I’ll be right back.” As she scurried away, Ryder pulled out her phone and placed a call. “Can I speak to Jake, please?” When he answered she sucked in a breath and let it all out in a rush. “It’s Eric. He took Ebony. She remembered how she got the scratch on her palm.”
“Where are you?” She could hear the concern in his voice.
“Sitting on the pathway in the garden centre. I think I’m a little bit in shock.” She closed her eyes and breathed, trying to calm her racing heart.
“I’ll be there in five. Ask Louise to keep an eye on you. She will.”
As Ryder slipped the phone back in her pocket, Louise came bustling down the pathway with two glasses of water. She handed one to Ryder and hovered over Ebony. “Does your little one want a drink, do you think?”
“Eb, honey. This nice lady has a drink for you.” The little hands tightened around Milo’s neck even more and the big dog glanced at Louise and blinked at her. She took a step backwards.
“Very protective, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is. Sorry but she had a scare. Jake will be here shortly so if it’s alright with you if we sit here...”
“Oh. Oh dear, I hope everything is alright. Of course you can stay there, love. We’re quiet and it wouldn’t matter if we weren’t. What Jake wants, Jake gets. Such a lovely boy he is too.” She wrung her hands together as if searching for words. “Um, so are you friends with my nephew, dear?”
“We work together.”
“Oh right. That’s it, your accent reminded me. I heard an American girl was going to work for him. You’re Ethol’s granddaughter, aren’t you?” Louise seemed happy to put a name to a face.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Well you sit right there until...oh, hang on. Here’s Jake now. My my, he must have put the pedal to the metal to get here that quick. Always in a rush he is.” Louise turned and hurried off to meet him, leaving Ryder with a whirling brain she had trouble slowing down.
* * *
“She’s down that way, Jake. Poor thing looks like she’s had an awful fright and the big dog of hers, well, don’t go too close to that little girl. He’ll have your head by the look of things.”
Jake gave her a quick hug. “He may look frightening but he’s a softie. Very protective of Ebony I might add.”
Seeing Ryder in a heap on the ground angered him more than he would have thought. But hearing Ebony had had a flash back pissed him off to no end. As ropable as an angry bear, he’d driven over here like a man possessed.
Eric! It didn’t make sense but not for a moment would he doubt the child, certainly not looking at the state she and her mother were in. “Ryder.” He dropped to his knees on the pathway beside her and opened his arms. Her eyes were haunted with so much pain, it cut him to the core. Ryder fell into him and he wrapped his arms around her, looking at Milo and Ebony.
“Hey, big dog, nice job.” He smoothed Ryder’s hair, feeling her pounding heart against his chest. “Ebony, you okay sweetheart?”
A small nod of her head indicated she’d heard him. She continued to hold onto her dog and Milo sat there, lapping up the attention as if it was his due to be guardian dog to the little girl.
“You know what, ladies, I have a pot of coffee at the office and a caramel fudge cake that my mother dropped off for morning tea. I’m looking for someone to share it with. What do you say, hungry?”
Ebony lifted her head and peered over Milo’s neck at him. Her gaze went to the dog’s face and then back to Jake, a question mark in her eyes.
“I’m sure Milo would love to come and meet
