Chapter 59 Reese
The fireworks are ready. It took thirty minutes longer than we expected, but I don’t think Lucy will mind. Mason and Colt are supervising so I can go get my girl. I can’t wait to watch her face when they light up the sky.
Everyone’s been told at the entry gate that fireworks will be starting at nine, just in case anyone doesn’t feel comfortable with them for whatever reason. I understand that they can affect some mentally, or even physically, and I don’t want to surprise anyone with that.
Lucy’s not by the fire, so I walk around. She probably got caught up talking to someone. It’s who she is and I smile just thinking about it.
“What’s got you smilin’ so big, honey?” Mama’s voice stops me, and I look her way. She and Yates both brought chairs so Jarrett’s setting them out in a prime location.
“Just thinkin’ about Goldie, have you seen her?” I ask, still looking around.
“I haven’t, not since Jarrett walked us down from the house,” she smiles, wrapping me up in a Mama hug.
Yates offers his hand after sitting, he’s tired, I can see it in his eyes.
The slower movements, the way he always needs to sit after only a few minutes.
My chest constricts, but I hold it in. He doesn’t need my sadness.
Spotting Spencer across the lawn we’d mowed just for this, I beeline that way.
He sees me coming and offers his hand, I take it and forgo pleasantries. “Have you seen Lucy?”
“I thought she was with you?” He asks, and Briar pops up beside him with Heath in tow.
“No, she was sittin’ by the fire before we left to snag some seats for the lightshow, I saw her head back to the tent to get more s’more’s stuff,” she says, tilting her head. “Why, what’s wrong?”
I don’t know how I know it, but lead drops in my stomach.
Turning around, I bolt for the tent where she has the s’mores stuff and look everywhere. She’s not there, and she’s not by the fire.
Where is she?
Pulling out my phone I don’t bother calling hers, she left it at the house because the dress doesn’t have pockets. Dialing Mason, he picks up with a “We ran into a technical issue–”
“No, I don’t care about the fireworks, I can’t find Lucy,” I tell him. “Can you see her?”
He pauses, and my heart clamps tighter and tighter the longer I wait. “Nah, Champ, I don’t see her.”
I don’t bother with thanks before I hang up, I’ve got to find her.
“Reese,” Heath’s voice wavers and I spin, finding him, Spencer, and Briar following me. They’re standing around the side of the tent looking down at the dirt.
My stomach plummets at the looks on their faces. With tentative steps I spot what’s on the ground. A plate with stuff for one s’more. A lone stack not yet charred.
Lucy.
“We need to call the Sherriff,” Briar says, “somethin’s not right.”
Spencer pulls his phone from his pocket and dials someone. I can’t focus on that right now, Lucy’s gone and I’ve got one guess who took her.
My phone rings, BLOCKED CALLER, flashes on the screen.
Lifting the phone to my ear, I answer the call and my whole body turns to ice.
“Lookin’ for someone?” The voice on the other line’s been modified. Like a robot talking through the speaker. They laugh and anger surges through the ice in my veins. “She’s real safe, if that helps.”
“What do you want?” I ask.
The person tuts and says, “Now, now, if you listen to me maybe I’ll think about letting you see her one more time.”
Placing the call on speaker so Spencer and Heath can hear, I lift my finger to my lips signaling them to be quiet.
“We’ve got a score to settle, meet me at the diner,” they spit, “and come alone.”
The call goes dead and I’m already sprinting through the field toward the house. My truck’s there with the keys already in the ignition. Scrambling into the driver's seat, Spencer pops open the passenger door and slides in.
“You heard them,” I argue, looking at Spencer with barely contained rage. “I have to go alone. Now get the hell outta my truck Spence.”
“Yeah I heard ‘em, loud and clear. You’re not thinkin’ rationally right now if you think I’m gonna let you kill yourself over this. Lucy’s smart, okay. She knows the diner inside and out, whoever took her there has underestimated her already.”
Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders and refrain from punching my hopefully-soon-to-be-brother-in-law in the face.
I know he’s right, and a part of me knows I could use his help, the other wants to cause whoever took my girl more pain than they can imagine, and I can’t put anyone else in harm’s way.
In the distance the first firework lights up the sky, and I crank the truck, deciding having Spencer with me may be an advantage after all. Making sure Heath and Briar didn’t follow, I peel out of the drive. Tearing through the ranch, I drive as fast as I can to the diner, praying Spencer is right.