Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Squeezing my eyes shut, I refused to believe that this Donald guy and the man in the basement could harm me any more than he already had. But the warning in my gut came with the sinking feeling that I was still in danger, and now I had dragged Liam and the rest of the guys into this mess, and it scared me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Liam
After explaining everything to Billy about what Randy had found, we headed to the barn while Mallory and MaryAnne talked about some quilt that they both wanted to start making. I had tried to reassure Mallory not to worry, but I could see it written all over her face, she was terrified.
“Okay, so have they tried to find this Donald guy?” Billy asked.
“If that’s even his name,” I stated. “I don’t know what to think anymore. Was Mallory brought here because of some sex traffic thing? Maybe she was closer to Billings, and that’s the way she came from. I don’t know!” I pushed both my hands through my hair.
“I’m sure Randy and Jonathon are doing the best they can, Liam. They don’t have much to go on except this guy now. I’m sure they are looking into all the land around here.”
I nodded. “I know they’re doing their best; it’s just I have all these thoughts swirling around in my head. I sent Chad a text and asked him to call me once he got back to Montana.”
“You don’t think your brother has anything to do with this, do you?”
“No, I mean, at first I might have been worried with him going to Chicago, but it really sounds like he goes all the time.”
“Plus, Jonathon was there with him last month.”
“Yeah, that’s true. It’s just the odds of him being there are so strange to me. And why was Emily’s necklace in this basement?”
“Well, if it is a sex trafficking thing, then maybe she was kidnapped for that.”
The thought made my stomach cramp. “Shit, I hope not. The thought of her living that kind of life…I can’t bear to even think it.”
Billy nodded. “Yeah, I hear ya. Listen, why don’t you and Mallory go into town, or even Billings. I think you both need to get out and live a little. I’m sure Mallory being stuck on this ranch is slowly driving her insane.”
I exhaled. “You’re right. I think we’ll head into town.”
Billy hit me on the side of the arm. “Good. How about we make it a double date. The four of us can grab dinner.”
“Grass Range or Lewistown?” I asked.
Billy laughed. “Let’s do Lewistown, since she’ll blink and we’ll be out of Grass Range.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
After heading back into the house and informing both women of our plans, Mallory decided she needed to head back to our place and change. I thought she looked beautiful, but I wasn’t about to rain on her parade.
I was sitting in my office when Mallory walked in. She was wearing a long flowy dress with flat shoes. Her hair was pulled up and piled on top of her head with a few ringlets hanging down to frame her face. She had put some makeup on as well as perfume that smelled like roses and vanilla.
“Wow, you look beautiful, Mallory.”
She spun in a circle and said, “Thank you! I’m a little nervous about going out, but I think it will be good for both of us to get out and off this ranch.”
I stood and made my way over to her. Lifting her chin, I bent down and kissed her. “I couldn’t agree more. Let me text Billy we’re on our way.”
A wide smile appeared on Mallory’s face as she bent down and gave Piper some goodbye kisses.
“Ready?” I asked as I held my arm out for her to take.
“I sure am!”
Once we picked up Billy and MaryAnne, we headed into town. The girls chatted nearly non-stop, but as we got closer into town, Mallory grew quieter.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her.
Her eyes were looking out into the distance.
“Mallory?”
“Old Baldy,” she softly whispered.
“What?” I asked as I pulled into a parking spot.
“I saw a sign that said Old Baldy and another one that said Highway 238. I just remembered that. Um, there was something called Half Moon Canyon.”
Turning to Billy and MaryAnne, I asked, “Mind taking a drive?”
“Not at all,” Billy replied.
I pulled out of the parking spot, and we started down Highway 238. “Tell me if anything looks familiar.”
As we drove down the country road, I watched Mallory wring her hands together.
“Everything looks the same everywhere you look,” she whispered.
MaryAnne reached for Mallory’s shoulder from the backseat. “Don’t stress if nothing looks familiar.”
I pulled out my phone and called Randy.
“What’s up?” Randy asked.
“We drove into town and something sparked Mallory’s memory. She remembers seeing a sign for Old Baldy and for Half Moon Canyon.”