Page 67 of The Nanny's Homecoming

Protect him, Lord. I feel so helpless.

By the time he entered his yard cars and people lined the drive, the adjacent street and half the lawn. For once he was glad bad news travels fast.

Gabe went immediately to the sheriff standing beside the police car. The lawman would probably be relieved to retire and put these past few weeks of trouble behind him. As yet, there was no one to replace him, a worry for Gabe and all the citizens of Clayton. Today just proved how badly the town needed law enforcement.

“Anything?” Gabe asked, voice tight with checked emotion.

Diggers pocketed a radio. “Not yet, but half the town is out looking. We’ll find him.”

“Do you need a photo?”

The sheriff gave him a long look. “This here is Clayton, son. We know the boy. He’s one of ours. Not a soul will rest in this town until he’s found.”

Something broke inside Gabe at the sheriff’s words. He slid to the ground by the cruiser and put his face in his palms. A heavy hand clamped on his shoulder. The support was all he needed to pull himself together.

“Sorry.”

“No need. Now, tell me everything you know.”

Gabe repeated Brooke’s story.

Sheriff Diggers frowned. “Someone knocked but no one was there. Hmm.” The officer hitched his pants. “Funny goings on around here lately. Guess I better speak to Brooke.” He nodded toward the forlorn figure coming across the field.

“Right.” Gabe pushed to a stand, unwilling to face Brooke just yet. “I’ll head the other direction. Call me if you hear anything.”

Sheriff Diggers held out a hand. “You stay put. If the boy wandered off he might come wandering back.”

“A.J.’s not even three years old. He’s too small to go far.” He blew out a frustrated gust of air. “That’s why this makes no sense. If what Brooke says is true, she wasn’t away from him more than two or three minutes. How far can a toddler stray in such a small amount of time? She would have been able to find him immediately.”

The sheriff removed his hat and scratched at his head. “Well, I wasn’t going to bring up the possibility just yet, but you’ve had your share of troubles at the Lucky Lady. And someone painted up the side of Brooke’s house after she’d been with you. Seems to me, someone wants that mine shut down pretty badly. Desperate people do desperate things.”

The idea had been rolling around inside Gabe’s head ever since Brooke’s call, but he’d refused to let it form. Now, he couldn’t hold the thought at bay.

“You think A.J.’s been—” The word “kidnapped” stuck in his throat.

“I’d say it’s a possibility we can’t ignore, given all we know. You’re a wealthy man.” Diggers replaced his hat, giving the brim a careful adjustment. “Figure you better stick close to the house, just in case.”

In case a kidnapper called or sent a message. The unspoken statement burned through Gabe like a flaming arrow, sharp and hot. This was far worse than the car accident. At least then he’d known A.J. was getting the best care possible. Now, if someone had him, he could be scared, hurt…or worse.

Sweat broke out on Gabe’s body. Chills prickled the hairs on his arms. He prayed, half-baked attempts to calm the unwanted images flicking through his mind.

Car doors slammed. More people arrived. He recognized some. People from church. Store owners. The vet, a Brit everyone called Tweed because of his ever-present tweed cap. A handful of cowboy types.

Gabe’s foreman hopped out of a company truck and strode across the lawn, followed by other mine workers. “We shut down. Figured you needed us here.”

Touched, grateful, he said, “Thanks, Tim. I do.”

A man of few words and plenty of action, the burly redhead gripped Gabe in a quick hug. A lump formed in Gabe’s throat. These were good people, fine men.

“What’s the baby wearing?”

Gabe repeated the description he’d been giving everyone. “Red shirt, jean shorts, green Crocs.”

“Best get started.” Tim gave quick, short directions to the gathered crew. “I’ll search Chickadee Drive. Jed, you head east. Shane, take the creek.”

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