Chapter 20
20
F ear made her fingers clumsy as Petra raced to get dressed. Beside her, Aiden was hauling on jeans and socks, worry pouring off him.
“I’m sure she’s okay,” Petra said to reassure herself as much as him.
He caught her fingers in his and squeezed tight. “We’ll figure out what happened together. No matter what.” Aiden dipped his chin firmly. “We promised she’d be safe, and we will make that happen…” His voice trailed off.
They rushed into the living room to discover a full room. Everyone from High Water ranch was there, plus Zach and Julia and Petra’s parents. Sasha stood slightly to one side with Tansy and Sydney surrounding her, a united front.
“Tell us,” Aiden demanded, turning to Declan.
“The girls planned to sleep in the barn. Sasha went to say good night to her parents, and when she got back, Jinx was gone. Her sleeping bag and backpack are missing.”
“We went through the entire barn from top to bottom,” Declan said. “She’s not there, and she’s not in any of the stalls.”
A quivering sniffle escaped Sasha, fear written all over her young face.
Petra stepped in front of her. “It’s okay, honey. You didn’t do anything wrong, but is there anything else you can tell us? Did Jinx say anything to you? Did she seem upset?”
Sasha shook her head. “She was quiet, but she’s often quiet.” She glanced at Tansy. “We had s’mores with you by the fire pit, then we sat on the swing to watch the fireworks. She said she’d meet me in the barn. I went to say good night to my mom and dad, but when I got up to the barn, Jinx wasn’t there.”
Aiden checked the time. “Fireworks finished less than an hour ago.”
No one had yet mentioned the one horrifying possibility. “You don’t think somebody from her past foster home grabbed her?” Petra asked Declan quietly, making sure Sasha didn’t overhear.
He shook his head. “Jinx left her phone on a pile of neatly folded clothes. A whole bunch of new stuff you bought her. It doesn’t look at all like somebody who was snatched up.”
“Dixie is missing too,” Jake said. “There’s a good chance the dog is still with Jinx.”
Or things had gone even more wrong than they knew. If someone had grabbed Jinx, they would’ve had to go through Dixie to do it. Fear bubbled in Petra’s gut, but she fought it down. This wasn’t the time to panic.
This was when she had to do everything possible for Jinx’s sake.
“She left her phone.” Petra paced beside Aiden then turned to the group. “Which means I can’t track her through location services. What else? What else can you tell us?”
“We didn’t take much out to the barn,” Sasha said. “We didn’t even pack any snacks because we knew there would be so much food at the birthday party.”
The girl looked so miserable Petra tugged her into a hug.
Aiden joined them, wrapping his arms around Petra’s and Sasha’s shoulders, his voice calm and reassuring. “Any more details? You guys were going to have a sleepover. What was the plan for tomorrow? I heard something about going riding after breakfast. What else?”
“Nothing fancy. I left my riding clothes in her room because everything we needed for the sleepover fit into our backpacks. Jinx said we’d come into the house to have breakfast so we could get dressed and go as soon as Declan was ready to take us.”
Petra jerked her head up and glanced toward the front door where their coats hung in an orderly fashion, courtesy of Jake’s meticulous hook arrangement.
The new grey backpack Jinx had bought for school was clearly visible on its hook.
Sweet relief poured over Petra the same moment Aiden laid his hand on her shoulder. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asked.
“Definitely.” Petra squeezed Sasha extra hard before stepping back, smiling her approval. “And that’s the last bit of the puzzle we needed. Well done.”
Sasha frowned along with the rest of them in the room. Everyone except Aiden, who instead nodded firmly as Petra grabbed her phone.
“Hacking?” Jake asked quietly.
“AirTags,” Aiden answered, tilting his head toward the wall as Petra hurriedly opened the app she needed. “Jinx bought a backpack for school, but she needed a second for going on trail rides because she didn’t want the school one to get all horsey. Petra lent her one of her old ones.”
Tansy clapped her hands together in delight. “You didn’t.”
Petra nodded. “And because I’m notorious for forgetting things somewhere and not knowing where I left them, I have AirTags sewn into all my bags.”
Aiden leaned over her shoulder, watching as she scrolled through the app settings. “I have never been so happy for someone to be forgetful as right now.” He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek then turned to Sasha. “How about we get Tansy and Sydney to take you home?”
Sasha shook her head. “I want to help find Jinx.”
“If it were up to me, I’d say yes. But I think your parents need to approve as well,” Sydney said bluntly. “You don’t want to get them angry enough they stop you and Jinx from being friends.”
The girl straightened, steel in her spine. “My parents would never do that because they know that friends help each other. I don’t know why Jinx is missing, but it’s not because things are bad here. She loves you, and she’s so grateful to be able to live with you. So please, let me help,” she begged.
Petra opened the map that indicated the location of the missing backpack. “Well, you get part of your wish.” She motioned Sasha forward, increasing the size of the map. “Is this your ranch?”
Sasha examined the screen closely then nodded, pointing without touching. “That’s the house. That’s the main arena, and that’s the old barn.” She frowned. “Why is Jinx in our old barn?”
“That is the question.” Aiden glanced around the room, nodding at his brothers. “Looks as if we’re going on a short trip. Be prepared for anything.”
Before they left the house Aiden paused to give Sasha one more hug. “We’re going to call your folks to explain why we’re coming over. I know you want to help, but we need you to stay with Tansy and Sydney.”
“As long as we’re going back home, too,” Sasha said firmly. “Jinx is my friend.”
“Absolutely.” He met Tansy’s eyes. “You guys can drive her, yes?”
Tansy nodded. “We’ll keep her safe,” she promised. “I mean that, Sasha. We get that Jinx is your friend, but you will stay with us until I say otherwise.”
The girl nodded, but fear remained in her eyes.
A mad rush began as everyone pulled themselves together and sped out the door. His brothers and Zach hopped into Declan’s truck, while Julia stayed with Tansy, Sydney, and Sasha.
Aiden and Petra climbed into his truck, but before he could slam it into gear and peel off up the drive to Silver Stone ranch, the back doors opened and Petra’s parents climbed in.
Aiden froze for a moment until Pamela tapped him rapidly on the shoulder. “Get going, young man. Multitasking is sometimes a necessary evil.”
“Mom, Dad, this is not the time—” Petra began before Zachary interrupted her.
“Not going to do anything except apologize, sweetheart. Aiden’s brother Declan pulled us aside during the fireworks and explained what you’re doing here.”
“We approve, and whatever reservations we have about the two of you as a couple is nothing other than the typical parental nosiness wanting what’s best for our little girl. Don’t worry about us, we’re here to help in any way we can,” Pamela assured them.
Relief over one trouble solved was wiped clean by their current situation. “Call Sasha’s parents.” Aiden told Petra. “A half-dozen trucks are pulling into their parking lot, and we don’t want to freak them out.”
Petra was on the phone within seconds. “Tamara, hi. First off, don’t panic. Nothing’s wrong with Sasha, but it looks as if Jinx might’ve decided she wanted a little alone time. She’s left our place and I’ve tracked her down to one of your old barns. Of course nobody here will sit back and wait until we know she’s fine.”
Tamara responded and Petra nodded. “Yes, definitely. There were a lot of people around, and it might’ve been too much. We’re pulling onto the Silver Stone drive now. Sasha’s worried, but she’s safe with Julia and the girls.”
After one more final sharp nod, Petra hung up. She twisted her head toward her parents in the back. “When we get there, you two stay with Tamara and Sasha, got it?”
“It’s so cute that you think you can order us around,” Pamela said, once again squeezing Aiden shoulder. “You’re an adorable young man, but you’re a little too cautious behind the wheel. Step on it.”
It was like something out of a police procedural. Aiden slid to a stop outside the main barn as Caleb Stone raced up, jerking a coat over his shoulders.
Aiden joined Caleb, ignoring the group assembling behind them. “She’s somewhere in your old barn, according to what Sasha told us. If she had a panic attack, I don’t want all of us going in there.”
Caleb’s face went as stone cold as his name. “If you need backup, you call.”
“If you can keep Sasha back for right now, that’s probably the best,” Petra said, grabbing Aiden by the hand and tugging him toward the main doors, eyes glued to the screen of her phone.
Declan and Jake stayed hard on their heels as they wove down neatly organized walkways, the scent of horses and clean fresh hay filling Aiden’s senses, the peacefulness around them a sharp contrast to the pulse of fear racing through his veins.
Petra headed straight for the staircase, ready to race up.
Aiden caught her by the hand, holding her back. “Go slow. If by some chance there is someone with her, we need them not to panic.”
She nodded, fear in her eyes.
“And I go first.” He cut off all debate by stepping in front of her and gliding quietly up the wooden staircase.
In the hayloft, the light was more muted. A single beam of light shone in the casement window and across the bales. Movement in the corner of his eye made him freeze with Petra tight against his back.
A mama cat strolled into view, tail raised high. The very tip flicked with annoyance.
Aiden relaxed slightly when the cat lowered her tail and sauntered over, coming to tangle herself around his ankles affectionately.
Which meant the place was empty except for Jinx, he was almost certain.
Still, they stayed quiet as they paced forward, the app showing them closing in on the AirTag.
They stepped around the corner of the bales, and there was Jinx, arms wrapped around her knees as she sat on the floorboards, her backpack beside her and head drooped toward the ground.
“Oh my God. Jinx. You’re safe,” Petra whispered. She darted forward and dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around the girl.
A soft sob escaped Jinx as she buried her chin against Petra’s neck, weeping loudly.
“She okay?” Declan paused beside Aiden.
“She doesn’t look hurt, but we need to talk. Maybe just Petra and me?”
“Sounds good. I’ll go tell the others.” Declan paused and patted his brother on the back. “You tell that girl to get her ass back home where she belongs.”
He said it loud enough Jinx heard, and she turned her face toward him, eyes swimming with tears as another ragged sob escaped.
“I mean it. If you got scared or something, that’s okay. But you remember we can’t make things better if you don’t tell us what’s gone wrong.” Declan dipped his chin then turned on his heel and headed down the stairs.
Jinx laid her head against Petra’s chest and cried quietly for a while longer. Aiden searched his pockets but had no luck finding any sort of tissue to offer.
So what. She was a little wet and soggy, but she was there and safe, and now he needed to make this better. Aiden sat cautiously, resting a hand gently on her back. Just staying there, waiting.
It took a few minutes until her sobs turned into uneasy, shaky breaths. She dug into the backpack and pulled free a wad of Kleenex, drying her eyes and blowing her nose.
Petra leaned back, anchoring herself against Aiden. “You know what? Declan’s right. We promised to talk things through, didn’t we?”
A sharp, angry snort escaped Jinx. “You mean talk about things like the fact you two are only pretending to be engaged?”
Aiden bit back a curse. “Heard that, did you?”
Jinx wiggled her way upright and stared at the wall behind Petra’s shoulder. “I had tucked our sleepover stuff into Declan’s rooms. When everybody left to go outside for the fireworks, I slipped in so I could grab a thicker coat, and suddenly you guys were in the next room, shouting at each other.”
Petra made a face. “Normally I would argue that it wasn’t actually shouting but a very loud discussion, but I’m sorry we upset you. That wasn’t a conversation meant for anybody else to overhear.”
“Of course not. But it doesn’t change anything because now I know you lied.” Her voice sounded weary now, as if she’d lost all hope.
Dammit. Jeff would’ve said this was a clear example of why keeping to the truth was always easier. “We did lie, but with the best of intentions.”
Jinx twisted, tears streaking her cheeks. “I get that. Danielle told me that she wasn’t going to leave me anywhere that I wouldn’t be safe. She assured me that she was leaving me with a nice couple who were engaged, and that he had two brothers, and that all of you were the salt of the earth, whatever that means. But you lied about being engaged.”
“Because we wanted you to have somewhere safe to go,” Petra insisted. “It wasn’t a lie that hurt anyone. It was so that we could help you?—”
“But it hurt you ,” Jinx sobbed. “It made you have to pretend to like each other and want to be with each other when that’s the last thing you want. I can’t do that to people I like. I can’t hurt you like that.”
“Well, for fuck’s sake.” Petra all but growled the words, and both Aiden and Jinx stared at her in shock. “Okay, I apologize for my language, but of all the conversations for you to eavesdrop on, that had to have been the worst. Not because you overheard us, but because you stopped eavesdropping before we finished.”
A frown folded Jinx’s brow. “You shouldn’t have to be together for my sake.”
“No, you’re right. We shouldn’t. But what you missed after you left was us getting our heads on straight as we talked . As we stopped pretending to ourselves that what we had wasn’t real.” Aiden linked his fingers with Petra’s then lifted them and kissed her knuckles. “What Petra said to me once I was smart enough to listen was she didn’t want to keep pretending . She wanted to know if I was as smart as her and had figured out that us being together was meant to be real.”
Silence echoed for a moment, then another sniff sounded as Jinx considered. “But you were pretending just so that you could have me come to High Water.”
“That might’ve been where we started, but it wasn’t a lie for long.” Petra smiled at Aiden. “What we should do right now is thank you, because I think we would’ve gotten here, but it would’ve taken us a lot longer. I’m so very happy I get to start forever with Aiden now instead of a couple of years down the road.”
“You’re staying together?” Jinx shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
Aiden lowered his voice. “We’re really staying together, and while you’re here, maybe you can do me a favour.”
Jinx wiped at her eyes then pull a nearby curious kitten into her lap. “What?”
“You’re my witness.” He turned to Petra. “I’m not going to do anything outrageous like propose and force you into an answer before you’re ready. But I want what we talked about before. About us being real. I’d be very happy if that meant the engagement as well. When it’s time.”
Petra’s lips twitched. She turned to Jinx. “You get to be my witness as well.”
Jinx wiggled upright. “What’s going on?”
Petra ignored the question and took Aiden’s hands in hers. “Aiden Demetri Skye, would you like to marry me?”
A gasp escaped Jinx, but all Aiden saw was Petra’s shining eyes and her wicked smile. “This is me in front of a witness saying I’m not being forced into this at all, and Petra Lynn Sorenson, I would love to be yours forever.”
He would’ve leaned in and kissed her, but at that moment Jinx threw herself at both of them, weeping and laughing and tucking herself between them. Petra joined in the crying and laughing as she gazed into Aiden’s eyes.
“Happy birthday,” he said. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said back. “Happy birthday to me.”