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“I suppose they could have gotten down to the railroad and hitched a ride on the freight train. It stops there to off-load goods sometimes, and they might have taken that opportunity to sneak into one of the empty boxcars,” someone suggested.
Someone else countered, “If that’s the case, they could be well away from here by now.”
“Aaron.”
He turned to see Jim Jensen. “Oh, Jim!”
The two men embraced.
“I heard about Isabella Garcia and decided to come see what I could do. Have you figured anything out yet?”
“No. We can’t find tracks or even a hint at which direction they might have gone. I figure Diego Morales had something to do with this, but so far there’s been no sign of him either.”
Jim nodded. “Well, I’ll try to help you figure it out.”
“Thanks, Jim. You’re a godsend. I don’t know what I’ll do if something’s happened to her.”
“Whoa, now. Sounds like she’s not just the boss’s ornery daughter anymore.” Jim grinned.
“No, she’s not. She’s the woman I love and intend to marry.”
Jim let out a laugh. “If that don’t beat all. The last time we talked, you said—”
“Forget what I said. I just didn’t know my own heart, but now I do. I don’t want to lose her.”
His friend sobered. “So what do you know so far?”
“Not much. She was taken yesterday just as the sun was setting. I was up here at Garcia’s, getting Mr. Garcia ready to take down to the party. He had been resting and was supposed to attend the supper and give a speech. We got back to town, and supper was served, but Isabella was nowhere to be found. The station manager at the depot found her hat with a ransom note pinned to it.”
“What did that say?”
“They demanded one-hundred-thousand dollars be dropped off at Garrison’s Chute in the middle of the night. Sheriff Jones went around through the back country to come up on it from the east so no one could see him. He’s still lying in wait, as far as I know. He’s good at what he does, so I think he’ll be able to catch whoever comes for the money.”
“Good. Then maybe we can find out where they’ve taken her.”
“I hope so, Jim.”
Jim put his arm around Aaron’s shoulder in a brotherly fashion. “You know God has this under control. I’ve been praying for her and for the entire search. Others are bound to be doing the same. We’ve got to keep the faith, Aaron.”
“I know, and I’m doing my best. I just didn’t realize how much she meant to me.”
“Aaron, Daniel is asking for you,” Helena Garcia said, coming to join the two men.
Aaron made the introductions. “Helena Garcia, this is my good friend Jim Jensen.”
“Mr. Jensen, it’s good to meet you. Will you be here long?”
“I came to help with the search for your daughter.”
“Oh, thank you. I cannot begin to tell you how much it means to me that everyone has come to help. Do you have a place to stay?”
“No, I just arrived and haven’t yet looked for a room in town.”
“Then you must stay with us, since you’re Aaron’s friend. I insist.” She turned and called for the housekeeper. “Maya, please show Mr. Jensen to one of the guest rooms. He’s come to help in the search.”
“Go with her, Jim,” Aaron encouraged him. “I’ll speak to Daniel and return here to find you.”
Jim nodded and picked up his bag.
