Chapter Sixteen
Thomas looked at the time on his computer and got up. The girls should have been back by now, so he went to check on lunch.
He’d been stressing about telling his girl about the man she met at the convent.
He knew that until she knew everything, she’d be terrified, and he hated to put her through that.
He was determined to make her listen to him before getting too upset, but she had such a tender heart, it would be hard for her.
He found Daisy at the stove in the kitchen. “Hey, you’re back,” he said.
Daisy turned to him and frowned. “Yes. We’ve been back for about an hour. Didn’t Angel come and tell you about lunch?”
Thomas’s brows snapped together. “And that was an hour ago?” A feeling of dread started to grow. That meant she might have seen Sanchez and probably got frightened.
“Yes. I wonder where she went,” Daisy said.
“I’ll go look for her,” he said.
“Tell her lunch is about ready.”
“I will.” Thomas turned and rushed to their bedroom. He looked around but didn’t see anything out of place. He checked the closet and bathroom, and she wasn’t there.
“Angel,” he called out. He turned to leave the room and saw the piece of paper on his nightstand.
Thomas picked it up and read it, and had to read it two more times before it finally sank in that she had left him.
She thought he was tired of her and was going to give her to Sanchez.
How in the world could she think he’d ever let her leave?
She was his baby girl, his heart, and he couldn’t see his life without her.
He felt panic starting to build and had to fight it down in order to think logically. She couldn’t drive, so she wouldn’t have taken one of the vehicles. She might have asked one of his men, but they would have checked in with him first. That meant she walked off.
Thomas hurried out of the house, calling for his men.
When he had a few in front of him, he explained the situation to them. He pointed to a few. “I want you two to take a truck and go in opposite directions. Call if you find her. The rest of you saddle the horses and spread out. I want to find her before dark.”
The men scattered.
Thomas stopped David. “I’m going to grab the clothes she wore yesterday. Bring Jaxx here. I’m going to see if he can help find her.”
“Good idea,” David said. “I’ll be right back.”
“Daisy,” Thomas said as he walked into the back door. “Angel has run away.”
“Oh, no. Why? She was fine earlier,” she said.
Thomas went over the man who had visited. He told her he suspected Angel had only heard that the man was coming back and not the whole conversation. “There is a lot I have to tell her.”
“I hate that she thinks you don’t want her,” Daisy said.
“Me, too. We have to realize it’s going to take a long time for her to trust us. The life before she came to us was pretty horrible. I’m just disappointed that she thinks I don’t love her.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get her back where she belongs,” Daisy said.
“You’re damn right we will. I’ve got to go, but I’ll keep you up to date.”
“Good. I’ll pray you find her soon.”
Thomas nodded. “Oh, I will, and then she’ll feel the flat of my hand on her ass.”
“Just don’t be too rough on her, Thomas,” Daisy said.
Thomas sighed. “You know I’d never hurt that woman.”
“I do know that. Go find our girl.”
Thomas rushed up to their bedroom, grabbed a shirt Angel had worn the day before, and headed outside. David was waiting with Jaxx.
“Here, boy,” Thomas said, holding the clothing against the dog’s nose. He could tell the dog recognized the scent because his tail wagged furiously.
One of his men walked up, leading two saddled horses. “Here you go, Boss.”
“Thanks, Tim.” Thomas turned back to the dog. “Find Angel, boy.”
To his surprise, the dog took off toward the line of trees. Both he and David scrambled onto the horses and raced after him.
Thomas started to panic when they lost sight of the dog. They continued in the direction they last saw him go, but it was harder on the horses to get through some of the dense brush or thicket of closely spaced trees.
Finally, a path opened up, allowing them to run and close the gap between them and the dog. It was fast approaching nighttime, and it was getting next to impossible to see.
It soon dawned on him that they were close to one of the cabins he kept stocked just in case his men got caught in a storm or they were unable to see as the sun set. He’d made it a rule not to take any chances because he didn’t want any of them hurt.
The cabin came into view, and a lump settled in his throat when he saw a dim light inside. Oh, damn. Please let it be her inside. When Jaxx started scratching at the door, he was sure she was inside.
He turned to David. “Did you bring a flashlight?”
David nodded. “Yeah. I can get home. I know where the main path is, so it won’t take me long.”
“Take Jaxx back with you. I’ll get her home. Call everyone in and tell them where we are. Tell Daisy, too. I know she’s worried.”
“You got it, Boss.” David whistled for the dog. “Come on, boy. You did good. Let’s go get a bone.”
Jaxx looked reluctant to leave. “Go on, Jaxx. I’ll bring her home soon.”
Jaxx followed his man, stopping a few times to look back at him.
“Go on,” Thomas encouraged. He waited until they were out of sight before dismounting, pulling the saddle and blanket off, and putting him in the small pen attached to the cabin. He gave him hay they kept on hand in a thick plastic bin, and water before making his way to the door.
Thomas looked into the window to see a tiny shape on one of the cots curled in a blanket. He wanted to kick himself for making her afraid and thinking he didn’t want her anymore.
They’d been together for six months, and he could still tell the trust she had for him was pretty solid, usually, but there were times he caught a shadow of vulnerability in her expression that he wanted to eradicate once and for all.
Because of this situation, it looked like they’d taken several steps back, and it would take even longer to gain all her trust. He hated the fact that she thought even for a second he would give her up, but all he had to think about was what she went through as a child and young adult.
He knew it would take a lot of time before she knew without a doubt that she was his forever.
Thomas carefully opened the door. He felt a moment of displeasure that she hadn’t locked it because anyone could have gotten in.
He locked it. He didn’t undress, but did take off his boots before sliding onto the cot and wrapping his arms around his baby girl. The bed wasn’t big enough for both of them, but he didn’t care. As long as he had her in his arms, he was happy.