“I’m not sure. About five minutes, or so.” The woman swiped at her tears.
“Jace, you go that way, and I’ll take this side. Holler if you see anythin’.” His brother nodded and rushed away. Reece turned to Rowena. “I’m not finished with you. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay put,” he growled. The woman flinched, then he dashed off.
A few minutes of searching proved futile; he found nothing. Reece stopped to catch his breath. He’d uprooted just about everything he came across. The thick snow wasn’t helping. It got colder and darker. That worried him.
“Reece!” Jace’s sudden shout bolstered him into action. He rushed toward the sound.
Around the next clump of trees, he shone his flashlight in front of his brother.Fuck no.Reece hovered, breathing hard. His pulse raced. Prisha lay on the ground. Scared shitless, he dropped to his knees. “Jesus, what’s wrong with her?”
“She’s not breathing.” Jace moved swiftly. He tilted her head and began mouth to mouth. “Anythin’ I should know?” His brother puffed air once more into the child’s mouth.
Reece shook his head and grasped her cold hand. Panic seized his heart in a deadly grip. He fought for calm. At least Rowena had the sense to dress the child in warm clothes. “Please, Jace, don’t let anythin’ happen to her.”
His brother cast him a solemn look as he applied pressure with one hand to her chest then counted. Grateful for his brother’s medical expertise, Reece sent up a silent prayer.
Another couple of compressions and Jace stopped. He leaned forward, his ear close to her mouth. “She’s breathing.”
With a sigh of relief, Reece moved to pick her up, but his brother gestured for him to wait. Jace turned her on her side. Reece removed his jacket, covered Prisha, and stood. He stepped aside to give Jace room to work. His brother checked her pulse and breathing once more. “She’ll be fine. We need to get her checked at the hospital.”
Suddenly, Prisha sat up and coughed. “I want my mommy,” she cried out with another soft cough.
“It’s okay, Pri—”
“No. Go away. I want my mommy.” Jace’s words were cut off by another sobbing howl.
“Sweetpea?”
Her head snapped up. “Reece?”
“Yes, sweetheart.” At his answer, she jumped up into his open arms and bawled into the crook of his neck.
Emotion, warm and weighty, rose into his throat. Reece’s eyes watered as he held the child tight. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe now.” He caressed her hair softly and caught his brother’s surprised shake of his head as Jace stood.
“Didn’t figure you for the father type.” His brother grinned. “Glad she’s taken to you, or God knows how long we’d be stuck out here.”
Reece tucked the jacket around her body to keep her warm. “And I’m glad you were here. Don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t.”
“No sweat.” Jace moved and listened to Prisha’s breathing. “She’s got a slight wheeze. Nothing to worry about. Let’s go.”
Reece followed Jace quickly. At the cabin, Rowena surprisingly, still paced outside while her hands twisted what looked like tissue. She stopped when she spotted him. “Oh, thank goodness.” Hands raised, she stepped forward to take Prisha.
Reece shook his head. “You ain’t touching her.”
“You’re coming with us to the Sheriff’s office. Get the keys to your car.” At Jace’s harsh words, Rowena’s eyes widened in fear, but she hurried inside the cabin. “Reece, take Prisha in the pick-up. I’ll follow in Rowena’s car. Crank up the heat to keep Prisha warm.”
“Will do.” Reece shifted a now sleeping Prisha into a comfortable position and hassled back to the pick-up.
Two hours later, after a visit to the hospital, and sure she was okay, Reece left an exhausted Prisha with Jace and Samantha. He joined Cody at Banes’ office to question Rowena. When Reece entered, she sat on one side of the desk while Cody and Banes occupied seats on the other side. He declined the Sheriff’s gesture to sit.
Eager to learn Aria’s location, he pounced on Rowena. “Where’s Aria?” The woman bit her lower lip but said nothing, her gaze downcast.
Banes glanced at Reece. He cocked a brow as though asking for permission to question her. Reece nodded.
“Rowena?” Banes’ gentle tone shifted her attention. “Listen, right now you’re in a heap of trouble. My suggestion is to come clean while you still have a chance. You don’t want to make this worse than it already is?”
As though she understood she had no other option, Rowena shook her head. “Jay and my brother were cellmates. I met him during one of my visits and we became friends. Not long after, he asked for my help. He told me his wife had an affair, that she tried to kill him. When the attempt failed, she claimed he abused her, and that led to his imprisonment—” she stopped when Reece cursed loudly.
“So, you had no idea of Aria’s abuse?” Cody asked. Rowena shook her head.
