“Definitely.”
I piped up. “Is Cooper on the ranch?”
“I don’t think so?” Her voice grew a little distant, like she pulled the phone away to check out a window or something. “The little white truck is gone, and I’ve been watching all day to see if he comes back.”
“Have you tried callin’ him?” Tag asked.
“Repeatedly. It goes straight to voice mail.”
“Huh.” Tag frowned, unable to draw any conclusions with such little information.
“All of this happened right after Cooper’s breakfast. He disappeared into the bunkhouse for a while and talked on the phone. When he came out, I questioned him about the call and he got upset with me and told me to mind my own business. Then he went to the barn. It was shortly after that I saw him leave with the white truck. I thought he was doing the feeding rounds, but he hasn’t come back and the horses are acting kind of unusual? I don’t know anything about horses, but they seem…I don’t know. Maybe agitated or something?”
Tag’s expression darkened. “What are they doin’?”
“Well, the one in the first big stall with black hair keeps whinnying and making clicking noises. The one with the bars over his stall—the mean one—keeps hitting the walls over and over. And there are a few in the pastures that have their heads over the fence on the barn side, like they’re waiting for someone.”
Tag softly cussed. “I’ll bet he didn’t feed them.”
Hollie hummed. “That’s what I was wondering.”
Tag said, “It wouldn’t be the first time he’s left without warnin’. Can you check the bunkhouse and see if he took his stuff with him?”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
Hollie kept us on the phone while she walked out to the bunkhouse. “At first glance everything looks normal. Cooper’s camera is on the table.” She paused then there was a rolling sound. “And his drawers still have clothes in them. Well, I’m assuming these are his drawers.”
“Nothing looks off?” Tag asked.
“No, nothing.”
“Hollie, you sure you can’t remember who he was talking to? The name he said?”
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been trying to remember all day.”
“I’m scared to ask…” Tag’s face warred with anxiety as he pressed his lips together. “Surely it wasn’t…Greg?”
“Oh my gosh! Yes!Greg! It was Greg!”
“Shit.” Tag repeated the curse in quick succession. He handed methe phone, and I relieved him of it as he jammed a hand into the top of his matted curls, pacing away from me.
I took over the conversation for him. “He shouldn’t even have his phone number. If Cooper left after talking to Greg, that’s not a good sign.”
“Why? Who is that?” Hollie’s voice held a note of panic.
I sighed, wondering what would happen next. “That’s Cooper’s dad.”
“Is he…not good to Cooper or something?”
“That’s putting it lightly.”
Her voice fell quiet. “Oh no. What do I need to do?”
Tag paced back, hand still gripping the top of his hair. He whispered, “She’s gotta feed the horses. I need to call Coop.”
“Hollie, you need to feed the horses. Can you do that?”
She sucked a loud breath, the sound doubt-laced and hesitant. But she said, “Yes. I think so. Will you tell me what to do?”
