Chapter 15
Max had seen Hadley getting ready to leave and told her goodbye.
Now he stood on the front porch of Refuge Cove, taking a moment to center himself before continuing with his day.
He stared into the distance.
The mountains rose, quiet and unmoving, with snow-covered ridges. The sight of them reminded him of how small he was in the grand scheme of things. His life was but a speck.
And right now, the purpose of his little speck of a life was helping to find Lyndee.
She was out there somewhere. His own mother had been in one terrible relationship after another. Max had tried to protect her. And as a result, he’d lost everything. His choices had even ended his military career.
His jaw tightened at the memories, but he tried to push them aside.
He needed to concentrate on Lyndee. He wanted to be searching for her. But it wasn’t his call.
Sheriff Sutherland had jurisdiction. He had deputies. He had protocols. Though at one time Max had hoped to go into law enforcement after the army, that was no longer a possibility.
He’d mourned that for a while, but now he’d accepted the fact.
He dragged a hand over the back of his neck and forced himself to breathe evenly. Inserting himself where he wasn’t needed wouldn’t help Lyndee. It would only complicate things. Still, the thought of her being out there with Kenny sat like a weight in his chest.
Kenny had taken her to that cabin. Max felt certain of it.
The signs of a struggle confirmed that much.
But something had interrupted whatever Kenny had planned. Something had spooked him enough that he’d fled.
If Max had to guess, Kenny hadn’t gone far. Most likely, he’d gone deeper into the woods, somewhere harder to reach and easier to disappear.
Max finally turned back toward the house.
He had things to do here, responsibilities he couldn’t ignore—even if every instinct told him to grab his gear and head out.
Gravel crunched behind him, and the gate squeaked open. Max turned as a truck pulled into the drive and came to a stop near the house.
A moment later, the driver’s door opened, and Wyatt stepped out.
Thunder jumped from the passenger side, and the German Shepherd scanned the area.
Max stepped closer. “Morning. Didn’t expect to see you so early.”
Wyatt shut the truck door and nodded toward the mountains. “I got a call about the cabin. Micah reached out and asked if Thunder and I could head out to see if we can pick up a trail.”
Max’s pulse kicked up a notch. “You heading out now?”
“As soon as I grab some cold weather gear I let Caleb borrow.”
“Any chance I could go with you?” The words came out steady, but there was no hiding the urgency behind them.
Maybe he shouldn’t have asked. But how could he not?
Wyatt’s gaze held Max’s a moment as he weighed the request. “This isn’t a controlled scene. If Kenny’s still out there, it could get unpredictable.”
“I know. But I also know the area, and I’m experienced. And I won’t get in your way.”
Wyatt gave a single nod. “All right. I could use another set of eyes.”
Relief hit harder than Max expected. “Thank you.”
“We head out in fifteen,” Wyatt added. “Bring what you need. Once we’re out there, we’re not turning back unless we have to.”
“I’ll clear it with Caleb and be ready.”
Hadley slowed as she pulled up in front of her clinic.
She frowned when she saw the plywood covering the front window of her building.
The sight of it didn’t project warmth or welcome—or anything like the image she’d worked so hard to build.
She cut the engine and sat there a moment, hands resting on the steering wheel as she took in the building and the town.
Blue Ridge Hollow was supposed to be her fresh start, a place where things were steady and safe.
Instead, this town seemed to be trying to unravel her.
No, not the town, she corrected. Someone in the town. But who? It still didn’t make any sense.
Could it be Travis? But why would he have a vendetta against her?
Hadley pushed the thoughts aside, realizing they would get her nowhere. Then she grabbed her bag and stepped out into the cold.
She slipped inside the clinic.
Warmth greeted her, along with the familiar scent of cotton-infused air fresheners. Normally, that alone would have settled her nerves. Today, it didn’t quite reach.
“Morning,” Susie called from the front desk.
“Morning.” Hadley set her bag down and turned toward Susie. “I need to make a few calls today. Insurance and such. And I need to find someone who can replace that glass.”
And I need to check my finances to make sure I can afford the window replacement until insurance steps in. Hadley didn’t say that part aloud.
“The wood over the window doesn’t exactly scream ‘come on in,’ does it?” Susie muttered with a frown as she glanced at the front of the clinic.
“No, it doesn’t. Hopefully we can get it fixed quickly.”
She turned back toward the desk and studied Susie more closely. Something seemed off about her today. Her smile didn’t come as easily, and she kept looking around as if nervous.
“You okay?” Hadley asked.
Susie hesitated then frowned. “Actually . . . no.”
Hadley’s stomach tightened. “What’s wrong?”
“I wanted to be sure before I said anything to you. But our appointment book is missing.”
Hadley blinked, unsure if she’d heard correctly. “Missing?”
“I’ve looked everywhere.” Susie gestured toward the desk then the shelves behind her. “It’s not here. I didn’t take it home. I always leave it right here in this drawer under my desk.”
Hadley stepped closer, her mind already turning. “That’s . . . strange.”
They kept things simple and old school. Every appointment was written down by hand. It worked for them and kept things easy.
And now the book was gone.
“I didn’t even think to check for that last night after the window was smashed,” Hadley said. “I thought if anything was stolen, it wouldn’t be an appointment book.”
“I know. Why would someone take an appointment book?” The skin wrinkled on Susie’s forehead. “It’s not like it’s worth anything.”
Hadley didn’t answer right away. She didn’t know the answer. But the theft didn’t feel random. Someone had taken that book for a reason.
She checked the clock on the wall, and her stomach dropped. “My first appointment isn’t here yet?”
“Who was it?” Susie asked. “Do you remember?”
“Claire Sullivan. She’s bringing in her yorkie, Davy, for a routine checkup.”
Susie reached for a notepad. “I’ll find her number and see what’s going on.”
“Thanks. Let me know.” Hadley stepped back and ran a hand through her hair, trying to steady herself.
This wasn’t how she’d imagined the day starting. She’d hoped yesterday was a fluke and that today things would get better.
That hope completely deflated.