Patience let out a breath, forcing herself to think clearly. “Maybe.” Perhaps he had slept here. Perhaps he’d just gotten an earlier start than she’d expected. Was he, even now, at the livery hitching Jasper and Jenny to the wagon?
If not, if he was already gone…
Well, then she was on her own. Which the only way for her and Anna to catch up with him would be to rent a horse. And catch up with him they would, one way or another.
With Anna’s hand in hers, she spun toward their room. “Let’s get our bags and go see.”
Downstairs, the lobby was empty, the clerk not yet at his post. She left their key on the clerk’s desk, along with a scrawled note to explain their abrupt departure. She could only hope she wouldn’t be dragging Anna back to this place in need of lodging.
She would find Jonah, even if she had to ride all the way back to the Coulter ranch.
With their bags slung over her shoulder, she ushered Anna out into the quiet morning, the first rays of sunlight painting the sky in hues of pink and gold. Where was the livery? She had no idea which direction to go.
A young boy swept the steps of the mercantile a couple doors down, so she called out to him. "Please, can you tell me where the livery is located?"
The lad leaned on his broom and pointed down a side street. "Two blocks that a-ways, ma'am. Cain't miss it."
"Thank you," Patience called over her shoulder, already striding forward as they wove through the awakening town. The town seemed to stretch on forever, each step a painful reminder of how far Jonah might have traveled.
When the livery finally came into view, Patience could barely breathe from running with the bags in her hands.
An older man with a shock of white hair was mucking out a stall near the entrance, but he looked up as they approached, his eyes crinkling with curiosity. "Mornin' to ya, ma’am. What can I be doin' for you and the wee one?"
She sucked in a breath and steadied her voice. "I'm looking for Mr. Jonah Coulter. Did he come to collect his wagon and team earlier?"
The man rested his pitchfork against the stall door, considering her question. "Aye, he did. Left out of here about an hour ago, I reckon."
Her heart plummeted, but she did her best not to show her worries. She would have to go after him. Surely, she and Anna could make up that amount of time. He had a wagon, after all, and they’d be on horseback.
Poor Anna’s expression was filled with fear and uncertainty.
Patience had to fix this, for both their sakes.
Squaring her shoulders, she met the man's sympathetic gaze. "Sir, do you have a horse I could rent? My niece and I need to catch up with Mr. Coulter. " Her voice cracked with emotion, but she refused to let the tears fall. Not yet. Not until she'd exhausted every last option. Even if she and Anna had to ride all the way back to the ranch by themselves.
The man scratched his chin. "Well now, I reckon I could loan you a horse. But you could probably jes' walk on over to the mercantile."
"I…I don'tunderstand."
A slow smile spread across the man's face. "Well now, Jonah said he was headin' to the mercantile to load up a new cookstove. Had a few fellas lined up to help him with it. I'd wager he's still there, 'round back with his wagon."
Relief surged through Patience, so strong her knees nearly buckled.
He hadn't left. There was still a chance.
She squeezed Anna's hand. "Did you hear that, love? Jonah hasn't gone yet. We need to hurry."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you so much."
The old man’s eyes twinkled. “Git on now with you, a-fore you miss him.”
She spun, pulling Anna with her, and they raced back the way they’d come.
Her mind whirled as she tried to picture the layout of the town. There had to be an alley, some way to get behind the mercantile without losing precious time.
There.
A narrow passage between two buildings, just wide enough for her and Anna to slip through.
