Page 39 of Quinn

“I’ll call Declan.” Aunt Eileen used the land line. In dust storms, cell towers had a way of failing you.

Almost as quickly as Quinn had brought his aunt up to the moment, his aunt had explained everything to Declan. She nodded a few times, then just as quickly wished him Godspeed and hung up. “All right. Declan’s radioing Reed to search for Danny en route to Butler Springs. Then he’s putting out an APB or whatever it is the police do when searching for a missing person.”

The words missing person almost stole Eloise’s breath away.

“He’s also going to call Adam to check all the places in Tuckers Bluff Danny might go to, starting with the café and the pub.”

“Is driving around town safe for Adam?” Catherine frowned.

Aunt Eileen and Uncle Sean looked at each other, an entire conversation seemed to take place with only their eyes until Eileen nodded and Sean answered, “Safer than walking.”

This time Catherine blew out a sigh, bobbed her head and with Connor having come in the back door, she grabbed hold of his hand.

“What about the buses?” Quinn asked. “Any chance he thumbed it to Butler Springs and caught a bus out?”

“I’m sure Declan will reach out to all outlets for Danny to leave.”

“All right. I’ll start tracing his possible steps from here. If he’s still on foot, even in a few hours, he can’t get that far in cattle country.” Quinn squeezed Eloise’s hand before letting go and turning around.

“Hang on.” Uncle Sean pulled a map out of a nearby drawer and spread it out on the coffee table. “Once he’s off the property, he’s got a five-mile walk before he has to choose which direction to go in. Toward Butler Springs—the most likely choice to get to a bus station, the same road into Tuckers Bluff—”

Connor cut his father off, “That is the only route he knows.”

“It may be the only road he’s traveled since arriving,” Ryan faced his cousin, “but Mr. Google could be his travel guide.”

“Ryan’s right.” Uncle Sean tapped at the map. “The third choice is the southern route to the interstate. That’s the longest road so my guess is he won’t try that.”

“He’s very upset,” Eloise interrupted, her mind rushing back to the times she’d find Danny hiding in a closet or living on the streets. “He may not be thinking rationally.”

“In that case,” Uncle Sean folded the map, “we won’t discard any option.”

“Deputy Reed is heading out to Butler Springs, so that route is covered.” Before Uncle Sean could finish his sentence, the kitchen phone rang.

“Yes.” Aunt Eileen had to be upset to answer the phone so abruptly. “I see. Of course. No, we won’t. I know. Declan James Farraday, your father has been combing this land since before you were a twinkle in your mother’s eye… that’s better.” Heaving a deep sigh, she hung up the handset and turned to her family. “The Brady’s truck broke down on the other side of town. Storm’s coming from that direction so Reed needs to do an about-face.”

Everyone waited in silence for their aunt to divulge more.

When no one said a word, not even their uncle, she sucked in another deep breath. “He said no heroics. If the dust storm is as bad as folks are expecting, well, everyone be careful.”

Eloise’s heart tightened as if clamped in a vise. She didn’t have to be a rancher to realize that every person in this room was willing to risk their own safety to find her brother. A man they barely knew. “I can’t ask—”

“You’re not asking.” Quinn spoke at the same time his aunt and uncle opened their mouths, no doubt to say the same thing.

“Morgan and Ryan,” their uncle directed, “you two head for the interstate. If things start to look pretty bad, there are two line shacks that way. Like Declan said, don’t play hero, take refuge.”

The two siblings nodded and turned, seconds before their aunt stopped them.

Aunt Eileen ran into a room off the kitchen and came out with blankets, flashlights, large bottles of water, and what looked like a pair of walkie-talkies like in the movies. She handed everything off to Morgan, then while the two men stood there, cradling the items she’d given them. She grabbed something else, tying a colorful bandana around each nephew’s neck. “It’s no longer a matter ofifthe dust blows, but when. You’ll need these, and there are three more just in case.”

The two brothers nodded again. Ryan taking a second to kiss his aunt on the cheek before they turned and pretty much trotted out the front door.

The back door blew open. Dale, Hannah’s husband, came into the kitchen and with one shoulder, shoved the door closed behind him. “I heard from Declan.”

Hannah lifted her head, her eyes smiling warmly at her husband.

“The horses are pretty much going berserk despite all that Connor and I did to keep things as settled and as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. I’ve tossed several sandbags in the back of the SUV, including emergency and first aid. Which way do I need to go?”

Uncle Sean nodded. “Ryan and Morgan are heading to the interstate. Haven’t heard from Adam yet, he’s checking if there are any signs of Danny in town.”

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