Jason had never seen Sandy out of control inany situation and they had worked together for going on ten years.He knew Sandy to be a sturdy, strong, independent man—this thingwith Lily had knocked the stuffing out of him.It was obvious thatSandy was coming apart at the seams.
“Listen, don’t worry about the guys.I’lltake care of ‘em—soothe some ruffled feathers.I’ll also take careof the immediate shipment and anything else that comes up thisweek.Why don’t you knock off for the rest of the week?”
“What the hell am I going to do if I don’twork?”
“You’re not working now, you’re in a fog.Stop…Take a deep breath and go find her.The ranch will be herewhen you get back.I’ll mind the store.”Jason winked at him.
Sandy looked at him for a long minute.“You’re absolutely right.Jason, thank you.”With that Sandysmiled, his first in a long time, turned his horse into the windand galloped back to the house.Jason was right—he had to findher.
* * *
Sheriff Moody was checking cars and givingout parking tickets when he saw Sandy coming out of the elementaryschool where that cute girlfriend of his worked.He watched Sandylook all around his car and then start checking through hispockets, and hat.What was he doing?
“Hey Sandy!”
“Hey Bud…”
“…How’s that cute little gal of yours?I hopeher head is better after knocking herself out in my office.I tellyou, that got my heart started.”Bud laughed until he saw Sandy’sface.His laughter died.Uh-oh…something’s wrong.
“Hey, you all right?I say something Ishouldn’t?”
“Listen, Bud.I’ve got to get going, if Icould just find my damn car keys.”
“Would those be the keys in your hand, bysome chance?”This guy was losing it.
Sandy looked down at his hand, rolled hiseyes.
“Shoot, there they are!Thanks, Bud,” And heturned to open his car door.
“Sandy, hold up a minute there.Of course,this is none of my business, but are you all right?Youseem….distracted.”
Sandy glanced at the school and back to Bud.“I don’t know where Lily is.I just spoke with Mrs.Nolan at theschool and she doesn’t know where Lily is either.She asked for atwo-week leave of absence and that’s all Terri knows.”
Bud thought that over for a minute.“Well, ifyou ask me, and I know you didn’t, if there’s one snoop in thistown who can find anything or anyone, it would be your mother.Haveyou asked her?”
Sandy brightened like the light was turnedback on.“Thanks, Bud.Later…” He got in his car, started theengine and drove off fast, almost running over Bud’s toes.
“Hey!”Bud stepped back breathlessly.“Healmost got me that time.He and that gal of his are quite the pair.The wedding should be fun.”Bud’s eyes twinkled as he laughed,heading back to his office.“Yep.Lots of fun.”
* * *
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ah, San Francisco!
Lily yawned and stretched out her armsgetting out of bed in the luxurious suite she’d rented at theFairmont Hotel on Nob Hill.It was always her favorite place whenshe lived in San Francisco and she decided to pamper herself.Whenthings are falling apart, have pie in San Francisco!Okay, so maybethat didn’t make too much sense, but then Lily wasn’t trying tomake sense of anything right at this moment.
She was just trying to breathe.
High in the west tower of the Fairmont, shewas able to do just that.Lily had flown to San Francisco theMonday after returning home from that dreadful trip to Sonoma.Getting away from everyone and everything seemed like the best ideafor now.And it was “getting away” and “not running away,” thankyou.She had to recharge her batteries to tackle what lay beforeher.
And it was there—that big elephant waiting tosit on her soon.What would she do about her dad?What would shesay to Sandy?Nope… Not today.
She was sleeping at night again and herappetite picked up.Lily and her friend, Page, whom she knew whenshe lived in the City, were going shopping and then to lunch inChinatown this fine day.She stretched again.Man, oh, man, thatfelt good… It was nice to have fun again.She and Sandy had a lotof fun when they….Nope—not going there yet.
Her phone was off all week.She glanced at itwhile brushing her teeth and noticed she had twenty plus messagesto return.Sandy and Sam were both probably going nuts worryingabout her.They needed to sort a few things out by themselves, shehad decided.Thus, her flight to San Francisco.
She had called Jeanne on Tuesday to let herknow where she was, so someone knew.But Lily had sworn her tosecrecy.Sooner or later, she knew Sandy would worm it out of her,but not today.Nope.Not yet.She also didn’t want Jesse worryingabout her, so she told Jeanne she could tell him, if he asked.Sandy would never suspect that Jesse knew anything.
