Chapter Twenty-Six
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
When Sheriff Cooper’s phone rang early the following morning, he glanced at the screen and sat bolt upright. The caller was Deputy Tagg.
“What’s happened?” he asked anxiously, hastily accepting the call.
“Sheriff, I’m sorry but it’s Courtney McCallum—she’s gone. The nurse checked her durin’ the night and she was sleepin’, but this mornin’ the bed was empty. I swear I never left the chair except to run to the men’s room, and one of the nurses waited for me.”
“So how the hell did she get outta there?”
“Apparently the bathroom. There are narrow windows above the counter just below the ceilin’. She must have climbed out and was picked up by a waitin’ vehicle.”
“Are there cameras back there.”
“I’m afraid not, Sheriff.”
“I’ll put out an alert. Block off that parkin’ lot and search it. You never know what you might find. I’ll send someone to help you.”
“I’ll get right on it, Sheriff.”
Kissing his wife on the cheek, he quickly climbed from the bed, contacted the station with the APB, then called the Moonshine Campground. When he heard Joe Meyer was still here he felt a shard of hope.
“What about his vehicle? Do you have any details?”
“No, sheriff, I’m sorry we don’t keep that information, but I can describe it. He has a silver four door, not a big car, but not a compact either. I think it might have been a Hyundai. Like a Sonata or Elantra.”
“That’s very helpful, thank you. Can you see the driveway from where you are?”
“I can. Do you want me to call you if I see him leave?”
“Yes. I believe my number will have shown up on your phone.”
“It has, Sheriff.”
“What cabin is he in?”
“I believe it’s number five, let me check…yes, that’s correct. Uh, should we be worried?”
“I don’t believe he presents any danger, but for the moment I’d keep my distance.”
“I’ll make sure everyone knows.”
“Thank you, and please call me immediately if you see him with a woman who’s attractive, tall and thin. Her name is Courtney McCallum.”
“I sure will, Sheriff.”
* * *
Waking up next to Blake’s warm, muscled body, Heather cuddled closer and let out a contented sigh. A moment later she heard him yawn, and his arms came around her.
“It sure is nice to have you here,” he murmured. “I swear I’d be happy if I never left this bed.”
“You wouldn’t be happy when all your clients found other trainers.”
“Yeah, well, it would be worth it,” he quipped, then groaned as she moved her hand to his crotch and gripped his hardness. But Butch, sleeping by the bed, suddenly sat up and barked.
“It appears someone else is happy I’m here as well,” she remarked with a grin as she moved and glanced down at him.
“He can find his own girl. You belong to me.”
“Is that so! Do I get a say in this?”
“Nope,” he declared, moving her onto her back and staring down at her. “I’ve known you for…how long?”
“It was a year a couple of weeks ago.”
“Why didn’t you remind me? We could’ve celebrated.”
“I think we did,” she said with a wink. “It was just a bit late. Anyway, what were you going to say?”
“I was goin’ to say,” he replied, lowering his voice, “that it’s been since you first brought Apollo here that I decided you were for me.”
“You did not.”
“I did.”
“What took you so long?”
“I honestly can’t say. I guess I was just waitin’ for the right time, and I wanted to make sure the feelin’s were mutual. They are, aren’t they?” he added with a slight frown.
“No, not at all. Jumping into bed a year after I meet a man is a habit. I’ve been trying to break it, but—”
“You are soooo bad,” he growled, interrupting her and abruptly rolling her over. “I should start every day spankin’ your butt,” he continued, landing a couple of playful swats. As she squealed and laughed, he hastily retrieved a condom from his nightstand and sheathed himself. “Dammit,” he muttered as he grabbed her hips and pulled them up.
“What’s wrong.”
“Nothin’,” he said huskily, placing himself at her entrance.
As he pushed inside her and immediately began thrusting with quick, forceful strokes, she gasped in surprise, then groaned with pleasure. He was pounding without pause, and when he reached beneath her and tweaked her nipples a rush of sparkling sensations radiated through her body. Suddenly she felt her orgasm looming. She thought he would slow down or even stop, but he accelerated.
“Let go,” he growled. “Let go right now.”
His command sent her over the edge, and he couldn’t stop the wild cry escaping her lips. Though sparkling spasms shuddered through her body she could hear his deep groans, and felt his fingers digging into her skin. The crackling convulsions seemed never-ending, until finally she collapsed on her stomach. As he fell next to her, she heard him let out several heavy breaths before moving his arm around her shoulders and pulling her against him.
“Is that what’s called a quickie?” she panted.
“Unfortunately.”
“Why unfortunately?”
“Hey, I’d spend all mornin’ in this bed with you, all day for that matter! But I overslept. Can’t imagine why,” he added with a grin. “Anyway, Doug will already be here and I need to help with the feedin’ and cleanin’. Sorry, darlin’, I have to get myself together.”
“You do that. If it’s okay with you I’ll just stay here for a few minutes. I need to catch my breath.”
“Stay as long as you want,” he said, kissing her softly before climbing from the bed. “When do you have to leave?”
“I have to be at the restaurant between ten-forty-five and eleven so I have plenty of time. I’ll get up soon and visit with Henry and Apollo before I go.”
“I’ll take a quick shower and head off. Help yourself to whatever you want for breakfast,” he said, as he moved to the bathroom, but as he was about to close the door his cellphone rang. “Hey, it’s Sheriff Cooper,” he declared, picking it up from his nightstand. “Mornin’ sheriff. Is everything okay?”
“I’m sorry to say it’s not. Courtney McCallum was taken to the hospital yesterday after collapsing in her cell. Unfortunately she escaped overnight. If you happen to see her please let me know right away.”
“Yes, of course, Sheriff.”
“I’m also on the lookout for a car. It’s silver and could be a Hyundai Elantra or Sonata.”
“A vehicle like that was parked under a tree just down from my ranch and it followed Heather home recently. It belongs to a guy named Joe Meyer. He’s staying at the Moonshine Campground.”
“Ah, thank you,” the sheriff said knowingly. “I’ll keep in touch.”