“I’m sure it was,” Dan said. “That was one of the reasons we had such a hard time tracking him down. But once we had him in custody, we took his fingerprints and discovered he isn’t Gregory Thatcherson. His real name is George Thatcher.”
Levi rolled his eyes. “Not only a scumbag, but not even a very creative one.”
Master Derek chuckled. “I suppose he was worried that if he gave his real name, Sydney might have been able to put the puzzle pieces together.”
Sydney looked over at Master Derek. “How? I don’t know that name either.”
“No, I suppose not,” Detective Forrester said, “But he knew you.”
“I know. I mean, we met online…”
“He knew you before you ever when online,” Dan cut in to say. “He’s known who you were for years.”
“How? That doesn’t make sense?” Roland asked.
“Through her father,” the detective said.
Sydney felt her heart clench. “My-my… father?” For the first time since entering the office, she felt her pulse begin to race as her voice rose.
“Shhh, you’re okay,” Levi said, scooping her up and resettling her on his lap. Roland instantly slid over to take the spot where she’d been sitting, never once releasing her hand.
“Perhaps you can speed this up a bit?” Roland suggested.
Detective Forrester nodded. “I’ve got a Little girl of my own and I know this is scary, but remember, Greg, George, or whatever, that man will never be able to hurt you, little one.”
At the detective’s assurance, and the fact he’d let her know he was also a Daddy, Sydney managed to take a breath and gave a small nod.
Seemingly satisfied that she’d be okay, the detective quickly told the rest of the story,
“Your father’s criminal history began way before he ever stepped foot in South Africa. George Thatcher was one of his partners in crime. They were involved in everything from running guns to selling drugs. As we’ve already ascertained, George isn’t the brightest bulb in the lamp. When your father was captured and imprisoned for your mother’s murder, his student found himself unable to pull off the crimes to keep himself in a lifestyle to which he’d become accustomed. He spent a lot of time in and out of jail and I suppose his ineptness led him to blame anyone but himself.”
“Meaning he blamed the one person who is totally innocent in this whole sordid tale,” Levi said.
“Exactly,” Dan agreed. “Long story short, he discovered you online and saw a chance to make someone pay for the turn hislife had taken. I know it had to be scary to land in Montana and discover you weren’t meeting the man you thought had brought you here, but…”
“If I had, I’d most likely be dead like my mother,” Sydney said, each word spoken a little more forcefully than the preceding one. When Roland opened his mouth, she shook her head, “No, we all know it’s true. Greg… I mean George, drew me here and used Rawhide Ranch as… as bait I suppose. I don’t know why exactly, or how he got the photos or the details he had, but I do know one thing, if I’d wound up anywhere else in the entire world, I’d no longer be here. It’s like Rawhide is… is magical or something.”
Sadie jumped off her Daddy’s lap and ran over to Sydney. Placing her hands over Roland’s and Levi’s, she gave them a squeeze. “It is! I mean, everybody says the Ranch is magical and this is just more proof that it really is. I’m so, so happy that you found us, Sydney!”
Sydney pulled her hands free and the two Littles were soon hugging and dancing around in a circle. Levi and Roland stood and with a shrug, Derek and Dan both grinned and as the circle enlarged to include everyone in the room, Sydney looked up at all of them and said, “I’m so, so glad too!”
Epilogue
Roland
The apartment smelled like vanilla and sizzling butter. A bird trilled somewhere near the open kitchen window, the warm breeze carrying in the scent of pine and blooming wildflowers. Outside, the grass had gone lush and green, and sunlight dappled across the clearing like gold coins tossed from the sky.
Inside, Levi was teaching Sydney how to flip pancakes.
Or rather, he wastrying.
Levi stood beside Sydney at the stove, patient and amused, a hand hovering near the handle of the pan as she prepared to attempt the flip again.
“Ready?” Levi asked, brow raised.
Sydney nodded solemnly. Her tongue poked out at the corner of her mouth in fierce concentration, her pink strawberry-print apron dusted with flour. “Okay. I’ve got it this time.”
Roland, lounging a few steps back with his sketchpad in his lap, bit back a smile. He didn’t want to distract her, but he was definitely going to draw that expression later. The crinkle of her nose, the narrowed eyes. Their little warrior.
