When Love's Gone Country

Chapter Twenty-Five



Bart and Red had several short conversations during the next hour and a half. When the chickens had been fed and all the eggs had been gathered, there was nothing left for Bobby and Jeremy to do, but leave the chicken coop.

“Now what?” Jeremy asked.

“Second shift.”

“Huh?”

“We leave, so as not to arouse suspicion and we get two more people to watch Red and Bart.”

“Oh, I see. Who should be next?”

“Whoever is finished with their chores.”

When they reached the ranch hand quarters, Brad and Courtney were sitting on the leather sofa, Brad was massaging Court’s feet.

“You need to rest some more or can you go back out?” Bob asked.

“What happened?” Courtney asked.

“Red and Bart talked a lot, but they never left the chicken coop area.”

“So, we failed,” Court said.

“Not necessarily. They could just be biding their time. It would look funny if they just up and left in the middle of chores.”

“You think we should sashay our cute behinds toward the coop?” Court asked.

“If you’re game.”

Courtney looked at Brad. “I am if you are.”

“Put your shoes on and let’s go.”

“What about breakfast?”

“We’ll save some for you,” Jeremy said.

“Somehow I feel like we’re getting the short end of the stick.”

“Stop your belly aching. We’ll be back before you know it.”

“Said the man who ate two apples while we were in the orchard this morning.”

“It’s not my fault you didn’t seize the opportunity.”

Courtney elbowed Brad as they headed through the doorway. “We’ll be back.” She threw the words over her shoulder.

“Don’t be too obvious,” Bobby said.

“Hey, look! They’ve got chocolate covered doughnuts. Can I have one?” Jeremy asked.

“Sure.” Bob could hear Meg’s voice telling him that letting the kids load up on sugar was a bad idea, but since she wasn’t here… “Hand one to me, too.”

Jeremy obliged gladly.

Meanwhile, Courtney and Brad held hands as they traveled the familiar path toward the chicken coop. When they came within spitting distance, they surveyed the area.

“No one’s here,” Brad said.

“Should we head toward the river?”

“Do you know where it makes a double y?”

“No. Do you?”

“No. I figured I’d follow them and they’d show us the way.”

“That’s what I thought, too. I feel pretty stupid about now.”

“Me, too.”

“We could ask Frank.”

“That’s a good idea. Where do you suppose we might find him?”

“Could be anywhere. Let’s start looking. Should we split up?”

“We’d cover twice as much ground.”

“We just came from the orchard not more than half an hour ago and he wasn’t there.”

“We know he’s not at the chicken coop.”

“What’s that leave?”

“More than three-quarters of the ranch. He could be riding fences or roping wayward cattle.”

They stared at each other, wondering how none of them had even considered the fact that they didn’t know where the double y in the river was.

“Meet back here in an hour,” Brad said, glancing at his watch.

Court did the same. “Okay.” They shared a quick kiss, then went their separate ways.

Courtney headed toward the sheep paddock and Brad headed toward the fire pit, the last place he’d seen Frank that day.

Brad ran into Alex and Purity as they were making their way back from chores.

“Have you seen Frank or Emma?” Brad asked.

“Nope. Did Red take the bait?” Alex asked.

“We’re not sure. No one can find him.”

“I thought Bob and Jeremy were watching him.”

“They were, until the chores were done. They couldn’t hardly stick around and watch, not when we’ve all been chomping at the bit to go eat breakfast after chores.”

“We can help look. You think Red headed for the river?” Purity asked.

“That’d be my guess. Do you know where the river is?”

“Hmm. No. We never asked. Is that why you were looking for Frank or Emma?”

“Yeah.”

“I know someone who’d know,” Alex said. “Charlie said he was in charge of the clean-up after the hoedown. I’ll give you odds he’s at the big, red barn. He knew about the hot springs and I’m sure he’d know where the double y in the river is.”

“What are we waiting for?” Pure asked.

They all began heading toward the big, red barn. Halfway there, a golf cart came whizzing by. It only came to a stop when the driver veered off the path and ran into the fence.

“Courtney! Are you okay?” Purity said when she realized the driver was her friend.

“Stupid cart! How hard can it be to press on the brake?”

“Here, let me help you,” Brad said, helping her disentangle her body from the passenger’s side where it had been thrown.

“They’re on their way to the river and I know how to get there. Hop in.”

“Why don’t you let me drive,” Brad said.

“Nonsense! I’m gettin’ the hang of it now.”

“Court, let Brad drive. We want to get there in one piece.”

“I’d argue, but we’re wastin’ time. Bart and Red are on their way to the river.”

“How do you know?” Alex said as he and Purity got in the back seat and Brad maneuvered the cart back onto the path.

“I ran into Charlie Mankins. He’s such a nice guy. Did you know he’s engaged to Sam? They met right here on the ranch.”

“We know. Focus,” Purity said.

“Oh, yeah, well, Charlie said he saw Bart and Red headed toward the wheat field.”

“That’s not unusual,” Brad said.

“Charlie said that’s the way to the river. You go past the wheat field, follow the road to where the two big ol’ oak trees flank another path. You follow that one through the woods and on the other side is the river.”

“And the double y?” Pure asked.

“Yes. And, the waterfall.”

“Sounds like it’s a pretty good distance,” Alex said. “Were Bart and Red on foot?”

“I didn’t ask, but I got that impression.”

“Better slow up a bit then, Brad. We don’t want to get too close.”

“I’ll keep an eye out.”

When Brad came to the end of the wheat field and was about to turn right, Courtney said, “Watch that brake. It’s tricky.”

Brad rested his foot on the brake pedal and turned the corner.

“What the hell?” Brad felt the cart tilt to the right and the wheel underneath him become airborne.

“Hang on!” Courtney yelled.

Purity and Alex grabbed the poles on either side of the open exit doors.

“What happened to the brakes?” Alex yelled.

“I don’t think we have any.” The cart resumed its normal position with all four wheels touching the ground.

“You thought I was just a bad driver, but it really wasn’t me, it’s the cart, I tell ya!” Court said.

“You’re right. I’m going to go slower. I don’t want a repeat of that again.”

“Probably a good idea anyway, Red and Bart can’t have had that much of a lead on us.”

“When we get to the oak trees, maybe we should ditch the cart,” Court said.

They all agreed.

Brad pulled as far off the dirt road as he could get and let the cart roll to a stop.

“Is that them?” Court asked, ducking down below the dashboard.

“Where?”

“By the edge of the forest.” She peered over the steering wheel. “Just to the right a bit.”

“I see something,” Purity said.

“Isn’t this enough evidence?” Brad asked. “They’re obviously headed toward the river. There’s nothing else over here.”

“Purity, you stay here and try and get Frank or Emma on your cell and tell them we’ve spotted Red and Bart. We’ll follow them.”

“Okay.” Purity retrieved her cell phone and began making the call to the Double Y Ranch number.

“I don’t see them anymore, they’re undercover of the woods,” Brad said.

“Good. We’re far enough behind them that we don’t have to be too quiet,” Alex said.

“Good thing. Quiet isn’t my specialty,” Courtney said.