She lifted her face from his chest. Tears raced down her cheeks, smearing her makeup. Todd cupped her face and brushed them away with the pads of his thumbs. Her breath hitched, and the touch between them shifted from comforting to something different. Something electric. His heart kicked into high gear when her gaze dropped to his mouth.
Todd couldn’t resist her any more than he could stop pulling air into his lungs. For the first time since he was sixteen, he ignored all common sense and his fears.
He kissed her.
Seven
Janet was in dangerous territory.
The warmth of Todd’s lips, the gentleness of his touch, seared into her. The birds chirping in the trees, the rustle of the wind scattering the dried leaves, the horrible memory of the attack all melted away. In his arms emotions ruled, and there wasn’t room for anything else.
She needed to tread lightly. Her feelings for Todd went far deeper than she’d allowed herself to admit. But he was leaving Sweetgrass, and if she wasn’t careful, he was going to take her heart with him.
A branch broke in the woods behind Todd, and a flash of blue ducked behind a bush. She stiffened, any sense of momentary security fleeing.
“Buck,” she whispered.
Todd peered into the woods before pushing her toward the vehicle. “Let’s go.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. Buck spying on them was beyond creepy. Todd’s truck rumbled to life, and Janet let out a sigh of relief when her house came into view.
“Is it possible Buck’s involved in Valerie’s disappearance?” Todd asked, as he shut off the engine. “He showed up in town right after Valerie went missing, he’s guarding the property like he’s got something to hide, and he’s watching us. It’s weird.”
“I don’t see how. Buck and the Maxwells don’t get along at all. I can’t see them working together.”
“Maybe we’re making the wrong assumption and the Maxwells aren’t involved at all.”
“But Buck doesn’t have a connection to Valerie.”
“How do you know?” he asked. “How much do you really know about him and where he’s been in the last few years? Houston isn’t far from Sweetgrass. It’s conceivable Buck and Valerie could’ve crossed paths.”
Goose bumps pebbled across her arms, and she hugged herself. “That’s true.”
“Valerie could be on the Bertrands’ property.”
Her throat clogged as the memory of the attacker covering her mouth swelled. The cab of the truck closed in. Her hand shook as she fumbled with the door handle before clambering out.
What was happening to Valerie right now? Had she been hurt when the SUV hit her? What about afterward?
Todd came around the vehicle. “I’m sorry. I have the sensitivity of a two-by-four.”
“No, you didn’t say anything I wasn’t already thinking. It’s just horrific. All of it. I feel so helpless.”
“Would prayer help?”
She let out a breath, and tears burned the back of her eyes. “Yes, it would.”
They joined hands, bowed their heads, and Janet poured all of the mixed emotions into her prayer. The weight crushing her shoulders lifted. Valerie was in God’s hands. It didn’t mean Janet would stop trying to find her or pushing law enforcement to help, but there was only so much she could control. The rest she had to give to the Lord.
After the prayer was done, she hugged Todd. “Thank you. I needed the reminder.”
Arms wrapped around each other’s waists, they walked to the house. Janet opened the door and silence greeted her.
“Callie?” Her heart skipped a beat, and she took several steps into the living room. The dog bed was empty. The curtains in the living room fluttered. Janet whirled and raced into the kitchen. Todd called out to her, but she didn’t stop.
The back door was open.
She grabbed the counter for support as the room tilted. Mud smears marred the freshly laid tile, but with growing horror, she realized none of them were paw prints.
Janet bolted from the kitchen into the yard. “Callie!”
Todd caught up with her and grabbed onto her arm, halting her progress forward. He scanned the trees bordering her property. “Janet, it’s not safe.”
“I’m not leaving without my dog. She would never go far on her own.”
She yelled again and again, Todd joining in, but Callie didn’t appear. Tears blurred Janet’s vision. If someone was willing to kidnap a woman, and attack another, what would he do to a dog?
“If she was somewhere outside, and heard me, she would come running.” She swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. “We have to organize a search for her. She could be hurt, or worse.”
“Don’t panic yet. Let’s start in the storage sheds. If someone came into the house and let her outside, she may have gone exploring and gotten herself trapped. She’s done it before.”
It was logical, but Janet was beyond reason. Callie was a member of her family, and she had the horrible feeling something bad had happened to her beloved pet. She pitched forward, urgency fueling her strides.
Todd grabbed her hand. “Stay with me. I know you’re scared for Callie, but it’s safer if we’re together.”
“Okay, but please hurry.”
They crossed the yard together. The rickety storage sheds sat along the tree line in a corner of the property. Todd’s gaze scanned the area once more before he turned his attention to the first shed’s windows. They were grimy with years of dust.
Janet wrapped her arms around her middle and stifled the urge to scream. Todd swung the door open.
Empty.
They moved to the next one. Janet’s shoulder muscles ached and her teeth ground together, but a tingle on the back of her neck caused her to turn around. She scanned the tree line. Nothing. Behind her, the shed door creaked open and Todd inhaled sharply.
She whirled. Golden fur stood out against the cement floor and Janet pushed past Todd.
“Callie.” Tears ran down her face as she dropped to her knees. Her poor dog had been hogtied. Duct tape was wrapped around her muzzle. Callie whimpered, and Janet hugged her.
“Todd, find
