“She’s coming home?”
Wye shook her head. “No one even knows where she is now. Seems she was just passing through Boise. There was no one else in the car,” she added. “Not that they could see, anyway.”
Emerson processed that. “So she’s on her own.”
“At least she hasn’t been kidnapped—and she’s still alive—although I’m not sure that’s going to make Ward feel any better.”
“Why were you so late?”
“Ward kept me waiting again.”
“Was he out looking for Mindy?”
She shook her head. “I think he was drinking. I thought so yesterday, too, but today I could smell it on his breath. He said he had only one beer, but I stayed to make sure he ate a meal and drank a few cups of coffee before I headed out. He was completely lucid the whole time, and I’m probably making a mountain out of a molehill, but I had to be sure he was sober enough to care for Elise. I wish I’d brought her home with me.”
“You want me to go back there with you and get her?”
She scanned his face. “You’d do that?”
“Of course.”
She thought about it. “No, like I said, Ward was fine when I left.”
“How about when you talked to him on the phone just now?”
“He was definitely down after that call from Cab. He said he planned to go to bed early, so hopefully he’ll get some sleep, and I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”
“If Mindy doesn’t come home, how long are you going to keep watching Elise?” Emerson asked carefully. He respected Wye for how she was stepping in to help, but Ward didn’t seem the least bit grateful for what she was doing—nor did he show the least amount of respect for her time. Wye deserved better.
She pocketed her phone. “I don’t know,” she said. “Until he figures something out, I guess. I’m sure she’ll come back—sooner or later.”
And Emerson was just as sure Wye would keep filling in for her sister-in-law, no questions asked, until then.
Which made her a good person, he reminded himself.
“Why does it bother you so much that I’m spending time with my niece?” she asked him.
Hell, was that what she thought? “I’m not bothered by that at all. I’m bothered by Ward taking advantage of you.” He struggled to explain. “Reminds me of someone I used to know. It’s not important.” He waved it off, but the truth was Ward’s behavior bothered him a lot. It reminded him of the way he’d worshipped his older cousins growing up at his aunt and uncle’s house. The way he’d rushed to help with their chores and to fetch and carry things for them because he wanted to tag along on their adventures. The way he’d covered for them so they wouldn’t get in trouble with their parents.
The way they’d cut ties the minute his uncle kicked him out. One day he was part of a big family. The next he was on his own.
“Cab Johnson told Ward he can’t treat the case as if there was foul play. ‘Looks like she drove off on her own accord,’ is how he put it. Ward’s furious.” She made a face. “He demanded to know if Cab thought Mindy ran away from him.”
“What did Cab say?”
“‘Wouldn’t be the first time it happened.’ Kind of cold, don’t you think?”
“Seems about right to me.” If Ward treated Mindy the way he treated Wye, who could blame her for leaving? Although it said something that she’d left Elise behind.
“What if Mindy is clinically depressed? It seems like someone should track her down and make sure she’s okay,” Wye pressed.
“I guess they have rules to follow. A person isn’t a criminal just because they leave home.”
Wyoming played with her keys. “What if Ward doesn’t go to bed? What if he drinks more and doesn’t wake up when Elise cries?”
“Give me the word, and we’ll drive right back there. Is there any chance he could get violent?”
“Ward? With Elise—or me?” Wyoming asked.
“Either of you.”
She found her purse and deposited the keys into it firmly. “No, that’s not his style at all, and he loves Elise. Ward’s a little full of himself, and he’s definitely having a pity party right now, but he’s not a bad guy. I could just kill Mindy; the least she could do is call and let everybody know she’s okay.” She set her purse on a nearby chair. “I don’t know about you, but I need a cup of cocoa. Want some?”
“Sure. Maybe Mindy is afraid that if she calls, someone will persuade her to come back.”
Wye had just opened the refrigerator and was reaching for the milk, but she looked over her shoulder at that.
“Not because Ward is a bad guy or there’s anything wrong with her life here in Chance Creek. Just because she’s obviously overwhelmed,” he hurried to explain.
“Or lazy,” Wyoming said. She shut the door with a thump. “Sorry, now I’m the one being harsh.” She poured two cups full of milk into a pot and turned on the burner. “When things got hard for my family, I didn’t have the option of running away and weaseling out of all the work I needed to do.”
“You’re like me,” Emerson told her. “We couldn’t run off knowing we were hurting someone at home. Maybe that’s because we know how it feels to be on the receiving end.”
Wyoming nodded. “I guess you’re right.” But she didn’t explain her answer. Emerson wished he knew more about her past, but he’d wait for another time to ask.
The following morning Emerson watched her head out, squashing the urge to kiss her again, knowing the time wasn’t right.
“I’ll let Cass know when I’m going to be home today,” Wye told him.
“How about you call and let me know.” Emerson touched her hand. “I like to hear your voice,” he added.
Wyoming smiled a little. “I guess
