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“Just watching the boats out on the lake. It’s a pretty day.”
If only Taylor was ready to put her plan into action. Jon didn’t have a car, and Annie was tied up in the investigation. But wait, why couldn’t it work? She could get Kylie away, then call Lissa. A fake ID shouldn’t take that long to obtain. And Jon would need a few days to come up with the money.
“I was thinking about taking a hike up the mountain. I’d love to take you, but Bree probably wouldn’t let you go. She likes to have all the kids under control.”
“Bree is nice. She’s not mean or anything. She might let me go if I ask.”
“I think it would be better to leave her a note. That way we can make sure we get to go. I thought we’d stop and get ice cream on the way,” Taylor added when Kylie frowned.
“The mountains are a little ways off. You don’t have a car.”
“I have an ATV.” Well, Kade had one in the shed he’d been letting her use. It would be a simple matter to duck in there andzoom off into the nearby forest before anyone saw them. “We might be back before Bree notices you’re gone. It’s a fast ATV. What do you say?”
Kylie chewed her lip, and her blue eyes were worried. “I will probably get in trouble.”
“Sometimes trouble is worth the fun, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know. I hate it when Mommy is disappointed in me. She likes me to obey.”
“I’m sure your mom will understand when she knows the whole story. She wouldn’t want to deny you a fun day, would she? She seems like someone who wants her daughter to have a good time.”
Kylie brightened. “Oh, she does. She’s always thinking of fun things to do. Okay. Do you have paper in your cabin? I’ll leave a note.”
“Sure.” Taylor got up and took Kylie’s hand. “We can leave the note in my cabin, and Bree will find it there. I’ll send her a text and let her know too.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea!”
And Taylor would make sure that note vanished before they left. She’d call Lissa and have her pick them up in her car. Samson could track them on the ATV, and that couldn’t happen.
***
The CT scan showed only a slight concussion, and Jon seemed to be feeling fine, so Annie got him in the truck. “I’ll stop and get Kylie on the way out of town. We can go home and binge watchLittle House on the Prairieall afternoon.”
Jon groaned. “How about football instead?”
“It’s a Thursday afternoon in June. There’s no football.”
“There are reruns. I’d even make dinner if you don’t make me watchLittle House.”
“You’re supposed to be resting. And it would be a good bonding time for you with Kylie. If you’re going to be in a household of females, you need to learn to adjust to our tastes. FirstLittle House, and by the time Christmas season rolls around, you’ll be ready for Hallmark movies.”
He moaned. “Oh, the humanity.”
She grinned and started the engine. Her phone rang with a call from Bree before she pulled out of the hospital parking lot, so she answered it. “I’m just heading your way.”
“Annie, I can’t find Kylie! I’ve looked everywhere. The twins said she went outside while I was throwing a load of towels in the washer, but she’s not anywhere.”
Annie’s heart stuttered along with her tongue. “Wh-what about the beach? D-did you check the water?”
Her greatest fear since Kylie was born was drowning. But her daughter was a good swimmer and knew not to ever go swimming alone.
“Kade and I walked the beach calling out her name.”
“What’s happening?” Jon asked.
“Bree can’t find Kylie,” she told him. “Bree, make sure there isn’t a bathing suit missing.”
“I did already. Hannah has both hers. And there aren’t any clothes missing. Just what she was wearing this morning. I’m getting Samson on her trail, but I wanted to call you first. Naomi is on her way with Charley, and several other team members are bringing their dogs too.”
