Chapter Twenty-Six
Cait’s heartthumped into overdrive as she pulled onto the main road going down the mountain. The day was getting darker, and a storm was coming in, according to the radio. She had to get to town and call her family to let them know what had happened to Brian.
Nothing made sense. Brian had just put in new brakes, and the Subaru Outback was the car he usually drove. Why would he sabotage his own car when it was almost new?
Maybe the police report was wrong, or the insurance company didn’t want to pay since she hadn’t spoken to them.
Someone beeped at her, and she slammed on the brakes. More angry honks and beeps sounded. A line of cars snaked down the road behind her, and the guy in the rearview mirror was shaking his fist.
Cait put on her emergency blinkers and slowed down, hoping they’d pass her.
Cold sweat ringed her neck, and her breathing was shallow and ragged, as her heart tried to jump from her chest.
Something white drifted over her windshield, followed by another fluffy flake. It was snowing, and the pavement was rapidly turning white.
Cait didn’t have snow tires on her little Toyota, and Brian had complained that they were almost bald. She slowed to a crawl as a din of horns blared continuously. The man behind her passed quickly, almost slamming into her, and others flashed their headlamps or shook their fists.
The road curved into a hairpin turn up ahead, with a turnout right before it. If only she could reach it without sliding off the cliff. Cars passed fast, and her Toyota shook with the wind. She rode her brakes down to the curve and gritted her teeth when she ran the car off the shoulder onto the gravel turnout.
Her head was light and dizzy and flashes of light zapped under her eyelids. She was unable to catch her breath, and her heart felt hollow and weak.
She had to help Brian. He was all alone, taken to jail, and accused of heinous crimes. Fortunately, the deputies found no sign of Glen at the cabin, and they’d left to chase another lead. But if Brian had continued to contact Glen, he would be in a world of trouble if the boy could not be found.
Cait dug her cell phone from her purse. Still no service. Meanwhile, snow flurries whirled around her and covered the windshield. She turned on the wiper blades and cranked up the defroster. She had to help Brian, no matter how afraid she was.
Knock, knock, knock. Someone rapped on her window.
Cait lowered it and peered at a man wearing a down jacket and a cowboy hat.
“Need some help, ma’am?” the dark-eyed, dark-haired man asked.
“Actually, I don’t know,” Cait stammered. “My husband got taken by the sheriff, and I can’t drive in the snow. My cell phone doesn’t work here, and I have to go into town to call my parents and a lawyer.”
“I can drive you there.” The man opened her car door. “This little car isn’t safe once the roads turn to ice.”
She closed her windows and took the key from the car. Which was more dangerous? Driving in a snowstorm with bald tires down a steep, winding road, or going to town with a strange man wearing a cowboy hat?
“Don’t worry about me,” the man said. He gave her his hand. “I’m Chad Colson, the sheriff’s brother. I believe you must be Mrs. Wonder. Your husband created quite a stir when he told the entire town he’s the late Mrs. Thornton’s baby daddy.”
“Your last name is Colson?” Cait shook the man’s gloved hand. “Do you know Linx?”
“My sister.” His smile was so wide, his teeth twinkled. “I’ll call her when we get closer and let her know you’re coming to visit. You don’t happen to have the dogs with you, do you?”
“I left them at the cabin. I thought it’d be a quick trip.”
“With my truck, we’ll be back before sundown. They have food and water?”
“They do. Has Thornton said anything about the dogs?”
Chad opened the door to his truck and waited for Cait to step up to the passenger seat. “We haven’t seen hide or tail of him, but his caretaker was skulking around the rescue shelter inquiring about two blue chows.”
“Oh, no.” Cait clapped a hand over her chest. “We want to get those dogs back to Glen, not have them be destroyed by someone who doesn’t want them.”
“Agreed.” Chad shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side. After putting his truck in drive, he said, “No one around here much like the Thorntons. They cater to the Hollywood and Silicon Valley elites, killing our water rights and passing land use bills to regulate us out of existence.”
“Does that mean you’ll help us keep the dogs safe?”
“That’s the plan, but right now, your husband’s story is the talk of the town. Word got around fast that day your husband spilled the beans. You know how it is in a small town.”
