Lachlan did his best to temper his nerves this time. I saw him fight through his discomfort while trying to respect the urgency growing inside me.
He was a trooper when he wanted to be, and I added brave and driven to his list, even when I didn’t say it out loud.
I took us at a slightly faster pace going home. It rankled that I couldn’t race ahead, but it wasn’t Lachlan’s fault. He was doing his best, and going downslope was more nerve-racking for some than climbing. He didn’t object or voice any concern, but the look on his face was telling.
When we came out on the open land that led to the stables, the sun was nearly set. Long shadows obscured my vision. Windsor had called a half-hour ago to tell me Percy wasn’t at the house, and he promised he would head to the farm and meet me there.
The cruiser sat beside Lachlan’s BMW. I guided the horses into the yard, knowing I needed to take care of them too, but I had to find out what was going on first. I dismounted from Bella and talked Lachlan through the process as well, my urgency rising.
I gave both horses a quick pet, letting them know I’d be back soon.
Lachlan followed on my heels as I raced to the house. Windsor and Dad were outside. They met my gaze as I approached, and I knew by the looks on their faces, Percy hadn’t been found.
My stomach fell. I tripped on my feet as I came to a halt. Spinning in place, I scanned the fast-darkening landscape as waves of panic pummeled into me, almost buckling my knees. I couldn’t breathe. He was just a kid. An eight-year-old kid who could have passed for five. He couldn’t be on his own.
“East, I’ve got men checking the neighborhood and going door-to-door. He can’t have gone far,” Windsor said. “Someone will have seen him.”
“God fucking dammit.” I threw my hat and balled my fists. “And what have you done about Mervin? Did anyone ask him where his kid is? Does he have a fuckin’ clue?”
“Bygrove took him into the station and interviewed him the best he was able. The man’s slobbering drunk. He thinks the kid was home when he left.”
“He thinks?”
Lachlan picked up my hat and banged it off. I was pacing a hole in the ground when he clasped my arm, stopping me. I yanked away, but he grabbed me again and put my hat on before taking my face between his palms. “Focus. You know Percy best. Where would he go?”
Some of my panic retreated with Lachlan’s touch, but not enough. I stared into his deep green eyes and tried to break free from the crippling fear of Percy being alone somewhere.
“He comes to me. He always comes to me. I told him to. I told him I’d always be there no matter what. I don’t know where else he’d go.”
“It’s a hell of a walk along the county road to get out here. That boy walks it all the time,” Dad said. “You got men checking the road?” he asked Windsor.
“Not yet, but I’ll radio them and get someone out there.”
“I’m gonna check it too, but I’ll walk it,” I said, thinking of how dark it would be in the next half an hour and how dangerous it could get. Never mind the cars, there were all kinds of vicious animals who could decide to hurt a small boy like Percy. “Tell your men to go slow. It’s dark out there.”
Windsor nodded and headed to his cruiser. He leaned in the driver’s door and pulled the radio to his mouth, talking to whoever was on the other side.
“I’ll go with you,” Lachlan said.
I nodded, too choked up to find words.
Windsor returned and reported he had someone headed along the road now. “I don’t want to panic you more, East, but I’m going to head back to the office and make a call to the RCMP headquarters in Edmonton. Percy’s only eight. The likelihood is, he’s just wandered off and will turn up, but I can’t dismiss something else.”
“You think someone took him?” Bile climbed my throat.
“Like I said, I can’t dismiss it. It’s better I cover my bases. They’re better equipped to deal with a missing person than I am. They have the manpower I don’t have. If Percy turns up, no harm done.”
Reluctantly, I nodded. The idea that someone had nabbed Percy brought a swell of emotions