Endless Mercy (The Treasures of Nome #2) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,2
scary silence surrounded her.
As a shiver raced up her back, her legs trembled. So she sat on the ground and tucked her skirt around her legs. Another swallow. Her throat hurt. What would happen? Was Jeb on the other side trying to get her out? Or would he leave her all alone to go and get help?
The thought of being alone in the dark made her shiver again. She wasn’t feeling brave at all. Tears choked her. “Jeb . . . help!”
Christopher Powell swiped a hand down his face. He should clean himself up before Melly saw him. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone back to the saloon so early in the day. Nah, he was fine. Wasn’t even drunk. He wouldn’t go back tonight. Yeah. That would make his wife happy.
Tripping over something he didn’t see, he heard voices coming from his cabin. With a bit of focus, he listened. A low-timbered voice.
Great. His wife’s father was here. Just what he needed. To feel insignificant and incompetent again. It wasn’t Chris’s fault that he couldn’t make a fortune at anything he put his hand to like good ol’ Chuck Bundrant. Maybe he should go back to the saloon after all. At least he fit in there.
He turned on his heel, but his wife’s cries tore at him. Why was she upset? He stepped forward a few paces to listen.
“She’s been gone for hours, Papa,” Melly sobbed. “No one knows where she is. I wanted to come get you earlier, but I thought we could find her.”
“Don’t you worry, Melly.” Chuck’s bossy voice echoed through the cracks in the thin cabin walls. “I’ll go put a search team together. I employ plenty of men. We’ll find her. I promise.”
Find who? Who was missing? One of his girls? His heart skipped, and he stormed through the door. “What’s wrong?”
Melissa ran to him and put her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re home—Maddy is missing. We can’t find her anywhere.” The grief in her voice made him feel like the lowest of the low. If he’d been here . . . then maybe . . . No. It didn’t matter. Chris peered into his other daughters’ wide eyes. Whitney and Havyn clung to each other behind their mother. Tears streamed down Havyn’s cheeks, while Whitney said soft, comforting words and shot daggers at him with her eyes.
At twelve years old, she was the oldest and mother hen of the group. And she’d become wise to the world’s temptations. At least his. She had come to the saloon a few times to find him and drag him home. Not something a father wanted his daughter to do. But she was a stubborn one. Just like her dad.
Avoiding eye contact with his wife’s father, Chris held Melly close. “I’ll go look for her.”
“Papa’s going to put together a search team. Maybe you could go with them.” She pulled back and gazed up into his eyes. A gaze that still held hope and love for him. God only knew why.
“I’m glad he’s getting a group together, but I’ll do better on my own. I’m her father, I bet I can find her.” Lifting his chin, he dared a look at Chuck. “Thank you for helping us search.”
The older man didn’t flinch. “The only thing that matters now is Madysen. I’ll get the word out, and we’ll send teams in every direction. We’ll comb this mountain if we have to.” Chuck headed toward the door. “Melissa, stay here in case she returns. We’ll fire two shots in the air when we find her.”
“Thank you, Papa.” Melly twisted a hankie in her hands and watched him leave.
“I best get out there as well.” Chris gazed at his girls. “I’ll find her.”
Havyn ran to him and sobbed into his coat.
Whitney crossed her arms over her chest. It had been a while since his eldest daughter had trusted him. But the slight glimmer of hope in her eyes pushed him forward. He would find Maddy and gain everyone’s respect again. Then maybe, just maybe, he could turn things around.
“I’ll find her. I will. Don’t worry.” Chris patted Havyn’s head and gave Melissa a nod. He had to do this.
A half hour later, he searched the streets. How sad was it that he had no idea where his little girl would be? Where did she like to play? Where would she go to hide? The girls were constantly playing hide-and-seek. Did she have any friends other than her sisters?