Page 36 of The Rough Ride

Nick pacedthe long kitchen and sent an inquiring text to Hilde. She hadn’t answered her phone, and the voicemail was full.

Hilde, are you on your way?

He’d already frantically read the eight full pages of notes Angie left behind, brewed coffee in the security office, performed the necessary security scans on the property, and let Precious out to relieve herself. He checked his messages. There was no reply from Hilde yet and he made sure the phone volume was up high. No sounds drifted from the baby monitor on the counter and neither of the girls had padded down the wide curved stairway.

Until now.

Out of the corner of his eye, a little hand trailed the bannister one step at a time.It had to be Natalie.

Nick stuffed his hands in his pockets.God help me.All he had to do was appear calm, like this was an everyday occurrence. The kid was sharp. She’d probably notice that he’dbroken into a cold sweat, but he’d never let her know his heart pounded like a sprinter after a race.

He waited in the kitchen, his feet frozen in place. She’d turn into the long hallway any second now.

Blue fur slippers, cartoon nightgown, and every-which-way-curls. She clutched a pink bear, stopped dead in her tracks, and stared at him.

The scene eerily reminded him ofShootout at the OK Corral.

“Where’s Mommy?”

“She left with your dad for Texas. They’ll be back in a few days.”

“Where’s Hilde?”

“She’s not here yet.”

“Where’s Mr. Mason?” She crossed her arms and cocked a hip.

“He had to report for duty with the National Guard. He’ll be back in a week or two.”

She let out a long sigh. “Can I hold your hand?”

“Uh, sure.” He strode down the hallway. She slipped her hand in his, tugging him toward the bathroom.

“The light, pwease.” She set the bear on the counter.

He flipped the light on. She reached under the cartoon nightie, dropped the panties to her ankles, and held up her arms.

“Lift me up?”

In the far corner of the powder room sat one of those little kid toilets. “Why don’t you use that little chair over there?”

Her face contorted into a grimace of abject horror. “That’s for babies. I’m a big girl. I don’t use it anymore.”

“Oh. Okay.” He lifted and set her on the big seat. She was light as air.

“Don’t look,” she shrieked.

He closed his eyes and stood by the sink—waiting.

“Nooo. You have to go out there,” she pointed. “I need p’ivacy, pwease.”

“No problem.” He stepped into the hallway, pulling the door behind him.

“Nooo. Leave the door open.”

“Okay, I’ll wait out here.” He crossed his arms and whistled. He pulled out his phone, checked for a message from Hilde. Nothing.Shit.The sweat soaked his fresh-pressed dress shirt.

A few seconds later, Natalie started talking.

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