They’d found nothing.
The sun had long since set, and the air turned cold, but Merrick hardly noticed. “He’s left town by now,” he said, the frustration boiling over.
“Impossible,” Wright said. He’d sent word to Caius Hunt, the county sheriff, immediately after Merrick had told him what had happened. Hunt had dispatched deputies to ride out of town to look for evidence that anyone had left recently. And he’d stationed men to ride the boundaries of the town. No one would get out, Hunt had said.
But nothing was impossible.
Merrick kept that thought to himself as Wright knocked on yet another door. Across the road, men moved from a house to the butcher shop. Down the road, he spotted Wiley crossing to a short side road to knock on more doors.
A woman answered Wright’s knock. Merrick barely heard him explain what had happened. The woman appeared appropriately concerned and welcomed them inside to look. Merrick followed Wright inside. The house was only two rooms,and it was a barely a minute before they could tell there was no baby inside.
“I hope you find him,” the woman said. “Please tell your wife I’m praying for you all.”
Merrick inclined his head as his throat tightened. The whole of Crest Stone seemed to want to find Davy. How could it be so difficult?
Unless . . .
No. He refused to let his mind go to such a dark place. Davy was only an infant. And theywouldfind him, safe and sound.
“I’m going to look around back,” Wright said after they stepped out.
Merrick appreciated the man’s thorough search, but he was antsy to move on. He’d taken two steps away from the door when a feminine voice called his name.
“I’m so glad I found you!” Clara jogged to his side, Thea in her arms, and completely out of breath.
“What’s wrong?” he asked immediately. “Is it Eleanor?”
She shook her head, but then said, “Yes.”
He balled up his fists again as fire coursed through him. If anyone had harmed Eleanor, Merrick couldn’t guarantee the man would ever see the light of day again.
“She sent me to find you,” Clara said.
To find him? Merrick pushed aside his fear and anger to remember that he’d specifically instructed Eleanor—and the other two ladies—to remain at the house. “What do you mean? What are you doing out here?”
Clara shifted the baby in her arms. “She thought she might know who took Davy. Deirdre went with her.”
“Where?” Merrick was already walking back in toward town.
“Felicity Inman,” Clara said as she raced to catch up to him. “She’s staying at—”
“The Darbys’,” he finished for her. He didn’t have time to think about why or how. “Thank you for finding me. Now go on home with that baby.”
“Please be careful,” Clara called from behind him. “Marshal!”
Merrick glanced back but didn’t stop as Wright paused to speak with Clara.
“Mrs. Carlisle told me about your wife,” the marshal said by way of explanation as he fell into step next to Merrick. “Why she didn’t wait for us, I’ll never understand. Women are always going headlong into trouble.”
Merrick didn’t respond. He was too fearful about what they’d find once they reached the boardinghouse. Would Inman be there? Did he know? If Eleanor’s hunch was correct . . . How had he spoken with that woman and not seen through her? What would possess her to steal a baby?
“Wait.” Wright laid a hand on his arm when they reached the boardinghouse. “Let me handle this.”
Merrick let out a grunt of disapproval. He was ready to tear the place down board by board if that was what it took.
“Did you hear me?” Wright fixed him with a stern expression.
“Fine.” Merrick took a grudging step back.
