Endless Mercy (The Treasures of Nome #2) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,3

mentioned a friend named Sally? And wasn’t there a Jeb? Or was it Jed? Scratching his days-old beard, he went to the school. Maybe the kids from town would be there and he could ask them questions. Not that his girls went to the school, but they would know other children . . . wouldn’t they?

Taking long strides, Chris set out for the schoolhouse on the edge of town. But when he reached it, it was locked up tight. Blast! Today was Saturday.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to ignore his overwhelming thirst. But it nagged and pulled at him until he licked his lips. Maybe just one drink. It couldn’t hurt. Probably make him think clearer too ’cause then he wouldn’t be distracted by it.

He closed his eyes. No wonder he was such a horrible father––his little girl was lost, and he couldn’t even keep his focus on her for an hour before he started thinking about liquor.

A new resolve filled his mind. Melly and the girls deserved better. This was his chance. He could be a better man. He could. He balled his fists at his side and took a long, deep breath. He would do this. Maddy needed him.

Pushing his legs back into motion, he ran back to town.

Two young girls darted across his path.

“Hey!”

His harsh tone made them stop, and they turned to him with eyes as big as saucers.

“Have you seen Madysen Powell?”

They relaxed a bit. One of the girls shrugged.

The other looked to her friend. Then back at him. “She was playing with Jeb Morrison this morning. Down near the mines.” The little girl grabbed her friend’s hand, and they took off running again.

The mines? Didn’t these kids know it was dangerous to play near any of the mines?

Chris headed for the mercantile. Someone had to know where he could find Jeb Morrison.

As he yanked the door open to the merc, the little bell above the door gave a jangle. Would anyone listen to him? Most people didn’t pay attention to town drunks.

Even as he thought it, his stomach plummeted. Everything stopped, and he stood on the threshold unable to breathe. That’s how the town saw him . . . as one of the drunks. So why would they even give him the time of day? Was this the life he wanted to live? The reputation he wanted his family to live in the shadow of—that he was a no-good drunk?

He shook off the mounting dread. This was about Maddy. Surely they would help a little girl. He stepped up to the counter.

“How can I help you, Mr. Powell?” At least the man had the decency to know his name and talk to him without condescension.

“I’m looking for Jeb Morrison. He’s a friend of my daughter Maddy. She’s missing.”

A hush fell over the customers in the room.

The man standing at the counter next to him nudged him in the arm. “I saw Jeb and his pa down by the creek just south of here ’afore I came in.”

“Thank you.” Chris nodded at the man and raced out the door. The thought of finding his daughter and making his wife proud gave him a surge of energy and diminished his thirst. Maybe he could change. If he put his mind to it.

When he reached the creek, a man and his son were washing gold pans.

“You Jeb Morrison?” Chris reached for the kid’s arm. Blood pumped through his veins. The kid must know something, and Chris would get it out of him.

“Who’s askin’?” The man yanked the boy’s arm out of Chris’s grasp and narrowed his eyes. When he straightened to his full height, he towered a good foot over Chris. And the breadth of his chest testified to years of hard labor on the mountain.

All the bravado Chris had felt a moment ago vanished. He cleared his throat and forced himself to be congenial. “Name’s Chris Powell. I hear that Jeb and my daughter Maddy are friends. She’s missing. One of the other kids said she saw Jeb and Maddy playing near the mines this morning, so I thought your boy here might know where she is.”

The man looked down at the boy. “You know anything about this? ’Cause if you been playing near the mines, you’ll get a beating you’ll not soon forget.”

The kid shook his head. A little too fast. Something wasn’t right in the look of his eyes. Had he turned a touch paler? “Me and Maddy were looking