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“We’ll do what we have to,” she replied.
“You could call Dal and ask for help,” he said.
She tautened all over. “I’d rather ask the devil himself for aid.”
He raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t comment.
Just as they started down another snow-covered hill, her cell phone went off.
Chapter 6
Meadow recognized the phone number on the call. She’d just used it. The temptation to just let it ring was great, but her fear for Snow was greater.
“Hello?” she said curtly.
“Have you found her?” he asked.
She swallowed. Her lips felt numb. “No.”
“Where are you looking?”
“Harry and I are riding down to Mr. Smith’s place,” she said, and knew he’d understand why without being told.
“Smith’s gone to Oregon for the holidays,” he said. “He’s not home.”
She drew in an icy breath. “His traps will still be there, even if he’s not,” she said shortly.
There was a pause. She heard the feminine voice again. It chilled her heart, as the snow chilled the skin that was exposed to it.
“When did you see her last?” he asked.
“This morning, at breakfast. She went out just before I went to work. I never thought she’d run away . . .” She had to stop. Her voice was choking up.
“I’ll send some of my men over to look around the river bottoms,” he said curtly. “There have been reports of wolves there and near Smith’s place, so watch your step. Are you armed?”
She bit her lip. “No.”
“Is Harry?”
She looked at the man beside her, noted the rifle in its case, and said, “Yes, he is.”
“Tell him to be careful. We’ll start searching.”
“Thanks,” she bit off. She fought tears. “She’s the only family. . . I have left.” Her voice broke. It humiliated her to have him hear that weakness. She just hung up.
“Dal sending men over?” Harry asked.
She fought to stop her voice from cracking again. She swallowed, hard. “Yes. He’s sending some men to help. He says they’ll search the river bottoms.”
“Lots of wolves down there,” Harry said. He noted her fear. “Wolves don’t usually attack without provocation, even when humans go near them,” he said. “They’re part of the circle of nature. We could legally kill them, but we don’t. They belong here. Like the mountains.”
She managed a smile for him. “You don’t think they’d hurt Snow?”
“Not unless they were starving. And there’s still game around.”
“Okay. Thanks, Harry.”
He nodded, pulled his hat lower to protect his eyes from the driving sleet, and rode on.
