Before he could speak again, the kitchen door burst open. In the doorway stood Faith, covered with snow, face washed with tears. Ignoring the wet she brought in with her, she ran to Jason. “Clara,” she managed to stammer.
When he took her arms, he felt the shudders. Terror flowed from her into him. “What’s happened?”
“She’s missing.”
CHAPTER 9
“They’re going to find her.” Jason held her arm as they both stumbled through the snow to her car. “They probably have already.”
“One of the kids said he thought she and Marcie went behind this farmhouse to look at the horses in the barn. But when they went back, they weren’t there. It’s dark.” Faith fumbled with her keys.
“Let me drive.”
She gave him no argument as she climbed in the passenger side. “Lorna and Bill called the sheriff from the farmhouse. Half the town’s out there looking for them. But there’s so much snow, and they’re just little girls. Jason—”
He took her face in his hands, firmly. “We’re going to find them.”
“Yes.” She wiped away tears with the heels of her hands. “Let’s hurry.”
He couldn’t risk more than thirty miles an hour. They crept down the snow-covered road, searching the landscape for any sign. The hills and fields lay pristine and undisturbed. To Faith they looked unrelenting. But while fear still overwhelmed her, she’d conquered the tears.
Ten miles out of town the fields were lit up like noonday.Groups of cars crisscrossed the road and men and women tramped through the snow calling. Jason had barely stopped when Faith was out and running toward the sheriff.
“We haven’t found them yet, Faith, but we will. They won’t have gone far.”
“You’ve searched the barn and the outbuildings?”
The sheriff nodded at Jason. “Every inch.”
“How about in the other direction?”
“I’m going to send some men that way.”
“We’ll go now.”
The snow was blinding as he weaved through the other cars. He slackened his speed even more and started to pray. He’d been on a search party once in the Rockies. He hadn’t forgotten what a few hours in the wind and snow could do.
“I should have made her wear another sweater.” Faith gripped her hands together in her lap as she strained to see out the window. In her hurry she’d forgotten her gloves but didn’t notice her numb fingers. “She hates it so when I fuss and I didn’t want to spoil the evening for her. Christmas is so special for Clara. She’s been so excited.” Her voice broke as a ripple of fear became a wave. “I should have made her wear another sweater. She’ll be—Stop!”
The car fishtailed as he hit the brakes. It took every ounce of control for him to deal with the swerve. Faith pushed open the door and stumbled out. “Over there, it’s—”
“It’s a dog.” He had her by the arms before she could run across the empty field. “It’s a dog, Faith.”
“Oh, God.” Beyond control, she collapsed against him. “She’s just a little girl. Where could she be? Oh, Jason, where is she? I should have gone with her. If I’d been there she—”
“Stop it!”
“She’s cold and she must be frightened.”
“And she needs you.” He gave her a quick shake. “She needs you.”
Struggling for control, she pressed a hand to her mouth. “Yes. Yes, I’m all right. Let’s go. Let’s go a little further.”
“You wait in the car. I’m going to walk across this field for a bit and see if I spot something.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I can move faster alone. I’ll only be a few minutes.” He started to urge her toward the car when a flash of red caught his eye. “Over there.”
