Billionaire Bosses Collection. Кэрол Мортимер

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      “Thank heavens the weather is warmer than last week,” Emma said, half running to keep up with his long stride.

      “Will already has a chopper in the air and he’s calling Ryan. He’ll notify the county sheriff after he talks to Ryan,” Zach said. He was chilled with fear for Caroline and couldn’t wait to get to Will’s ranch to start searching. Hazards spun in his mind and he tried to not think about them. How long would it take Caroline to get to the highway? From what Will said, she must have been near the house when last seen. He’d think forty minutes to an hour at best before she could possibly reach the highway. He glanced at the sky. It probably would be dark in another two hours.

      “Damn, there are some canyons and some woods on Will’s land,” he said. “She’s just so little.”

      Climbing into a pickup, with Emma rushing into the passenger seat, Zach headed toward the highway pushing the truck as fast as he dared.

      Emma called her mother, relaying the situation. “My family can at least say a few prayers,” she explained to Zach. “How long has Caroline been gone?”

      “Not long. The minute she regained consciousness, Rosalyn called Will on her cell, so it was just a brief time. The bad thing was Rosalyn had no idea which direction to go to look for Caroline.”

      “Surely she hasn’t gone far from home. Maybe she’ll find her way back soon.”

      “She’ll be chasing that little dog,” he said, explaining about how easily Caroline could find her way to the highway. “Little kids can go fast sometimes and they like to run.”

      “I think we’ll find her. She hasn’t had time to get far.”

      “We’ve got a creek that has a few deep spots. She swims, but it’s cold and I don’t know what she’d do if she panicked. We have rattlesnakes in abundance,” he said, clamping his mouth closed. “At least it’s winter and the snakes won’t be the same problem as in summer,” he said, aware he was thinking out loud. Caroline was too little, her life too sheltered, to have any idea how to take care of herself.

      “Hope for the best, Zach,” she said, looking every which way out the windows. “I know she can’t be this far out, but I can’t keep from looking around.”

      He gritted his teeth. He couldn’t understand Emma’s hopeful tone as if finding Caroline had become a certainty. There had been only rare moments in his adult life he had felt terrified, but he did now. He never had to this extent.

      The car left a cloud of dust in the graveled road as he sped along, sliding on curves, sending plumes of dust into the air. They reached the highway in record time and he was amazed his driving hadn’t scared Emma. Feeling a grim foreboding, Zach pushed the truck to its limit, speeding on the flat road. He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles hurt.

      “When we get close to Will’s land, especially in line with the house, should you slow to watch for her?”

      “I’m going to the house to find out where Rosalyn last saw her. We have to find her before night falls. We have mountain lions, coyotes. She can’t stay out alone tonight.”

      “She can’t have gotten far,” Emma said with a strong, positive tone. “We’ll find her before dark. We’ll split up to look,” Emma said. “No point in staying together. Maybe Muffy will just go home.”

      “I don’t think so,” Zach replied, his nerves on edge and not helped by Emma’s cheerful optimism. “That little dog isn’t any more accustomed to being out on her own than Caroline is. Muffy won’t know the way home. Damn, I’ve never felt so helpless.”

      “Have you ever been this panicked about yourself?”

      He gave her a startled look. “That’s entirely different.”

      “Have you ever been this concerned about another adult?”

      “No. Adults are different. Caroline is vulnerable.”

      “You’re going to help. There are lots of people to help in the search. I’m sure we’ll find her.”

      “Emma, I don’t know how you can be so certain we’ll find her,” he said, trying to avoid snapping at her. “All the odds are the other way.” If he and Emma were opposites, it had never been more so than at this moment. He glanced at her and saw her watching the land spreading away from the county road.

      “There are a lot of people to look for her and she hasn’t been gone long,” Emma replied.

      She was right, but it was a huge ranch with too many hazards for a child. Caroline would be completely unpredictable because she had never been out alone before. He hurt for Will and Zach was terrified for Caroline, trying to avoid thinking about how afraid she must be.

      They lapsed into another silence until Zach waved a hand. “We’re less than a mile from the turn into Will’s ranch.”

      A barb wire fence bounded the property and the land near the road was flat with mesquite scattered across it. “You can see a lot from here.” Shortly, he spotted the gate ahead and beyond it a thick grove of trees. The road curved out of sight and two tall cottonwoods bordered the county road. “Let me out along here, Zach,” Emma said.

      “I don’t think she’s had time to get this far. I hope not.”

      “I’ll start walking back toward the house. Maybe I’ll meet her.” She patted his arm. “Don’t worry until you have to.”

      “How the hell can I not worry?” he snapped, knowing he was being sharp, but he was filled with worry and fear for Caroline and he couldn’t understand or appreciate Emma’s positive attitude.

      “Let me out as soon as you turn off the highway please.”

      “Emma, I don’t want to have to worry about you, too.”

      “Don’t be ridiculous. I have my phone. Stop the car and I’ll go on foot.”

      He slowed, turned and stopped.

      “Be positive, Zach. We’ll find her.” She jumped out quickly and he drove away.

      At least she had a phone and knew how to use it. He suspected Emma knew little more than Caroline about being out on her own on the ranch, but she was an adult and would be okay. She was insulated in her positive feelings while he had none. As he drove around a bend in the road, Emma disappeared from sight in his rearview mirror.

      Emma stood still, her gaze searching the dark woods. It would be five soon and since it was winter, the daylight would fade quickly. Saying another prayer, she began to walk inside Will’s fence, continuing on in the direction they had been headed before Zach turned onto the ranch drive. She had told him she would walk toward the house, but she wanted to look along the highway a bit first. The highway worried Zach and she could see why. She studied the darkness beneath the thick grove of trees as she went. Surely if a child and a dog were nearby, they would make noise.

      “Caroline,” Emma called, the cry sounding small, pointless in all the emptiness around her.

      Emma walked briskly for ten minutes, following the wide curve of the road, listening for СКАЧАТЬ