Her resolve to fight for Charlotte’s safety hardened, and she felt something primal awaken within her.
Every moment that passed deepened the gnawing realization that they might be underestimating their former adversaries’ depravity. Heather knew firsthand that Bret could be both ruthless and mean.
My God, would he have taken Charlotte as a means of getting back at her?
Heather wanted to scream. She was the cause of this. She’d brought danger into the Watkins’ home. Charlotte was missing because of her. She just knew it.
All of the old feelings she'd experienced when Becky had gone missing came back and swamped her. She needed to stay calm. Hysteria wouldn't do anyone any good. Nor would ‘what-ifs’. And time was of the essence.
Because she would not lose anyone else she loved. Never again.
"I'll get the dogs. They're our best chance to locate her."
Lyle, his face filled with dread and fear nodded.
Heather grabbed her phone and punched in Jerry Hilden’s contact. She barely let the line engage. “Jerry, I need you to bring Benny back to the ranch right now. A little girl is missing and I need him.” Assured that Jerry understood the urgency, she hung up and put a shaking hand on Lyle’s arm. “All these dogs know Charlotte. That will make their job easier.”
He nodded again, his jaw tight, his eyes portraying a sort of paralyzed shock. Then like a startled bird, he shook himself out of his stupor and began barking orders.
"Kenny, call the sheriff. Mike, see if you can round up the neighbors. And call Grandpa. Ask him to get the plane in the air. Joe, get those FBI people back here.
“Already on it.”
The four men moved in quick, military precision as Heather rushed into the house for both Pudge and an article of Charlotte’s clothing. In addition to the scent on her clothing, every working dog on this ranch knew that cat’s scent was connected to Charlotte.
14
The shadows cast by the late afternoon sun were stretching longer as Heather raced along the edges of the property, her heart pounding in her chest. They were racing against daylight. Lyle followed closely, his presence a steadying force despite the chaos flooding her mind. She had only one thought and that was to find Charlotte.
She shoved all thoughts of another time out of her mind, another missing girl. Her best friend. She couldn't allow herself to dwell on Becky's outcome. This time would be different. It had to be.
With adrenaline surging through her veins, Heather glanced at the dogs by her side, Holly, Scout, and Benny, dogs she'd trained herself to find lost people. This was their job. They were excellent at it. Their tails were alert, their noses to the ground, ready to follow any scent that might lead them to Charlotte.
“Benny, find Charlotte!” she urged, watching as the Labrador flared his nostrils, catching the swirl of scents in the air. Holly and Scout followed suit, proving the professionals they were becoming.
Benny bolted ahead, his instincts kicking in as he tracked Charlotte's scent, the familiar mix of sunscreen and little girl sweat that always clung lightly to her skin. Holly and Scout were right behind him, each of them attuned not only to the mission but also to Heather’s clear, concise commands, even though they were laced with emotions not usually conducive to life saving tasks like this.
“Let’s keep moving,” Lyle said, his voice calm yet terse. But Heather could see the worry in his eyes, a reflection of her own. “She has to be nearby.”
“Try to think of any place she might have gone,” Heather said, her voice barely above a whisper even as they pushed forward. “Any place special you've taken her?"
"I'm afraid we haven't gone that many places. At least not here on the ranch. Just the barn and some of the surrounding cabins."
They navigated through the tall grass and scattered trees, calling Charlotte's name intermittently, hoping for the faint sound of her voice in return. But silence enveloped them, each second dragging out an unbearable weight of dread.
Kenny and Joe had already set out on horseback, circling the perimeter of the ranch, radios in hand, their steadfast determination evident in their voices as they updated everyone on their movements. Mike was going through every one of the guest cabins on the property.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Heather murmured, shaking her head. “She shouldn’t be able to wander far on her own. She’s just a child.”
“She’s tough,” Lyle countered, his grip tightening on his walkie-talkie as he continued to scan the area for her familiar, effervescent energy. “And she knows how to listen to her instincts. Just like Benny and the other dogs.”
In the distance, they could hear the faint hum of Quentin's plane flying overhead. They all craned their necks skyward, the silver fuselage glinting in the fading sunlight. The radio crackled to life. “Quentin here. I can see stretching fields and a creek. No sign of the girl. Try to stay along the tree line. Call out often.”
“We’re on it,” Kenny replied, his voice steady despite the tension. “Everyone’s joining forces down here. Neighbors are gathering. Anyone who can help has come.”
“I can see that from up here. Maybe a few people can help Mike go through the cabins,” Quentin suggested. Most of the neighbors monitored the same radio frequency they were using.
A swell of gratitude washed over Heather, knowing the community spirit was rising to the occasion. The people around them were willing to fight for each other, just like she had been taught the importance of family and support when she’d first arrived at the ranch.
