Becky looked at where the chandeliers had hung. She could still see their gorgeous brilliance filling the barn with light. “Would you help someone else plan another wedding with a six-week timeframe?”
“Ifyouwere helping me, I would. But I wouldn’t do it with anyone else.”
Becky kissed his cheek. “’Tis a charming thing to say.”
“It’s true. We’re a good team.”
“A good team who like muffins drizzled in chocolate.”
“And picnics in the sunshine.”
Becky frowned. “We haven’t gone on any picnics.”
“But we could. If Mary’s staying with Molly, we could pick up a picnic lunch and have it with her beside Emerald Lake.”
“Molly came into town to look after Mary, so we don’t need to go near the lake. If you’d be willing to have a picnic under an old oak tree, we could go to the park? ‘Tis not far from my home.”
Sean’s smile made Becky pleased he was here. “It’s a date. I’ll stop by the supermarket on my way into town.”
“And I’ll go to the church before I meet you at home. Claire will be disappointed if the things she let us borrow are not where they should be.”
Becky’s cell phone rang. “’Tis Molly. She probably wants me to pick up some decorations for the cookies she’s baking.” Holding the phone to her ear, she smiled. “Would it be pink candy stars or yellow sprinkles you’d be after?”
“Are you still at Todd’s ranch?”
Her eyes widened at the panic in Molly’s voice. “I am. What’s wrong?”
“Mary’s gone and I don’t know where she is.”
Becky’s heart pounded against her chest. “What do you mean, gone?”
“I don’t know where she is. I ran to the houses close to your cottage and asked if anyone had seen her. I even searched the park. Is there anywhere else she could have gone?”
“She never leaves home without me. Have you called the police?”
Sean grabbed Becky’s hand and strode toward the barn doors.
“They’re sending some officers around now.”
“Tell them about Edith. There’s a photo of her beside Mary’s bed. We’ll be back soon.”
As soon as she ended the call, they ran toward their trucks.
“We can take mine,” Sean said as he opened the passenger door. “How long has Mary been missing?”
“I don’t know. Molly’s called the police and they’re on their way.” Becky wiped her eyes, trying to see through the fog of her tears. “I’ll call Adam. He might have more information about Edith. What will we do if she’s kidnapped her?”
Sean’s knuckles turned white around the steering wheel. “Pray she doesn’t get far.”
And, in a shower of gravel, they sped away from the barn.
The next threehours were some of the worst in Becky’s life. The police officers were waiting at her house when she arrived home. After gathering the information they needed, an AMBER Alert was sent to other law enforcement organizations and the media. Text messages, electronic highway signs, and Internet sites all broadcasted information about Mary.
No one could find Edith or any sign of the vehicle she had rented. Her legal team was working with the Milwaukee Police Department, trying to find anything that might tell them where she was.
While the local police went door-to-door looking for any security videos of vehicle movement along the street, Becky called the parents of Mary’s friends. While she was doing that, Sean joined the search and rescue team to look for Mary.
Molly placed a cup of tea in front of her. “Have you heard anything?”
