“Vicki is Carol’s mom,”Hanksaid.
“Well I’ll be dammed. I didn’t know she had a daughter,” he said. “Did you see himhither?”
“No,” Hankreplied.
“Does she want to file areport?”
“No,” Carol said,dejected.
“There’s not a whole lot I can do if she won’t report it.” The sheriff glanced at Carol, then stood. “All right, how about I head over there and check things out? If she wants to make a report, I’ll arrest him onthespot.”
“Thank you,” Carol said as she flung her arms around thelawman.
“No need for that ma’am,” he said while giving Hank an awkwardshrug.
“Will you call the ranch later and give us an update?” Carolasked.
“Normally I wouldn’t be able to do that, but since she’s your mother, I’ll make an exception. Just don’t tell anyone,”hesaid.
“I won’t,”Carolsaid.
“You folks head on home and I’ll give youacall.”
“Thank you.” Hank shook his hand and then wrapped an arm around Carol and guided her toward thetruck.
The trip back to the ranch held a somber note. Carol stared out of the window most of the way before turning to gaze at him. He was afraid to ask what she was thinking. At this point, he just wanted to get her home and into ahotbath.
When they arrived at the ranch, he had to maneuver her past Madison, Mack, Cody, and Drew while promising to give them an update later. He followed her into her room. After turning on the hot water in the bathtub, he helped herundress.
“Do you want me to sit with you?” heasked.
“No.”
“Okay.” He tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. “I’ll come back up as soon as the sheriffcalls.”
“Wait,” she said. “Can you wait for me in my room? I don’t want to be alonerightnow.”
“I’ll be right here,honey.”
As she drifted into the bathroom, he dragged a chair to her bedside and sat. As the minutes melted away, he kept glancing at the clock. Other than the occasional splash of water, she’d been silent. He wanted to check on her, but also wanted to give her the space she needed. He couldn’t bear the thought of her sendinghimaway.
She finally emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a fluffy white robe. She looked so little, bundled up in all that cloth. Without a word, she slid into bed. She rolled onto her side to face him and gazed intohiseyes.
“Tell me we did everything we could,”shesaid.
“We did. The sheriff should be calling soon.” He wanted to tell her that everything was going to be okay, but that would have been a lie. He had no idea what was happening back at the cabin. He glared at the phone, willing ittoring.
As if his prayer had been answered, a shrill ring pierced the silence of the room. Carol lunged for thephone.
Chapter9
“Hello?”Carolsaid.
“This is SheriffTanner.”
“How’s my mom?” Her heart hammered in her chest. She held the phone so Hankcouldhear.
“She wouldn’t talk, but I arrested Trevor anyway,”Tannersaid.
