Chapter Thirty-Four
On the wayback to town, Grady texted Linx,Whatever’s bothering you. We can fixit.
He didn’t expect a reply, and he didn’t getone.
If Linx’s mother wanted attention, wouldn’t Linx’s cabin and the dog rescue center be targeted next? What better time than when the entire clan was gathered at theranch?
Grady raced back to Colson’s Corner in record speed. As he approached Mountain Dog Rescue, he saw dogs running loose up and down the road and scattering into theforest.
What happened? Had the arsonist set the dogs free before torching theplace?
Grady slammed the door of his truck and ran toward the building, followed bySam.
The front gates were wideopen.
“Linx!” he shouted. “Linx, where areyou?”
Not only were the gates wide open, the cabin door was unlocked. Grady rushed in, but no one wasthere.
Grady called Linx’s cell phone. After four rings, it went to voicemail.
He left a message. “I’m at the rescue center. The front door was unlocked and the gates are open. Dogs are outside. Ginger and Cedar are missing. Did you take themboth?”
He hung up and scanned the empty cabin. There were no signs of anyone pouring gasoline. The weird sculpture still stood on the porch. Sam sniffed around, not scenting anything that raised hishackles.
Whoever it was had been interrupted by him showing up, and they could be watching to see when he’dleave.
Grady went upstairs and checked the loft. The expensive designer wedding dress Linx purchased from Jenna was still on the form, and her clothes, along with her favorite boots and cowgirl hat, were in thecloset.
He opened the nightstand drawer and found the two photographs Linx had shown him. She wouldn’t have left town without them, wouldshe?
Her gun, the one he’d noticed was sitting on top of her Bible, was missing. But then again, she had a concealed carry permit, and she probably took it with her in case the arsonist camearound.
Perhaps she had only gone somewhere to unwind. She certainly had a lot to think about, given what Becca said about the perjury charges she was facing if he decided to go through with the paternity and custodyissue.
Grady checked his phone and opened the photos that had been taken earlier in the morning. Little Jessie and Linx with the puppy. They wore identical grins and matching dimples. Their dark brown gypsy eyes crinkled with mischief, and the love they had for each other waspalpable.
Would he destroy all ofthis?
But heck. She was his daughter—or wasshe?
He had a right toknow.
And thenwhat?
Of course, if she was family, he should take care of her, raise her and nurture her. It wasn’t fair to slough off his own child on anothercouple.
But where would Linx fitin?
Grady walked out the back door to check on the dogs who’d stayed behind and see if he could get the rest back into theirpens.
Old Bob the bulldog wagged his tail, barely lifting his head for a pat. It was a shame such an adorable animal would be left to languish because people preferred younger pets. At least he hadn’t flown thecoop.
Grady opened the box for the gate controls and sectioned off the play yard where several dogs had congregated, making sure they couldn’t join the escapees outside thecompound.
Walking toward the front gate, he spotted a red bandana snagged onto the chain-linkfence.
Grady couldn’t remember if Jessie had been wearing it or not when she came to visit the second time, but he should contact someone to let them know she’d leftit.
