Santa in a Stetson Page 3

  Jen kept her head bowed. “She made me promise not to tell.”

  “Tell what?” Colt asked, trying to remain calm.

  “Yesterday she told me she wouldn’t be at school today. She said she’d be back the next day and asked me to do her a favor, so I did.”

  “What favor?”

  “When our homeroom teacher took roll this morning, I—I told her Allie was in the restroom and would come in with a late pass,” she stammered. “That’s why the school didn’t call you.”

  “Jennifer Wagner!” Reed exploded.

  “I know that was wrong, Dad. I’m sorry, Mr. Brenner. Allie said that in case you called here, I should get Chelsey to tell you all the girls had gone to a movie. But Allie was positive you wouldn’t phone.” Her voice wobbled, producing another moan from her parents.

  Colt’s body shuddered in reaction. “You have no idea where she went?”

  “No. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have agreed to help her.” She started crying.

  “It’s not your fault, Jen. My daughter put you in an impossible position. For that I’m sorry.”

  Matt’s stricken expression set off another alarm bell. “Maybe you should call the Greyhound bus depot and find out if she got on a bus this morning.”

  For his son to tell him that… “What do you know about this?”

  His gaze didn’t flinch. “Nothing, but last week when Rich and I went to the Bozeman Bowl after school, I thought I saw her going in the bus depot. Rich said I was just seeing things because a lot of girls wore North Face parkas. That night I asked her about it. She said she hadn’t been downtown, but she got mad about it. I thought that was kind of weird for her to be upset about a simple question.”

  Colt whipped out his phone to call information. The minute he was connected to the depot, he told the person who answered to put him on with the manager. “This is an emergency.”

  “Just a moment, sir.”

  He felt as if someone had just sucked all the air out of his lungs.

  “This is Mr. Padakis, the manager. How can I help you, Mr. Brenner?”

  “My daughter’s been missing since seven this morning. I thought she went to school, but I now believe she may have taken a bus today, probably this morning. Her name is Allison Brenner. She’s fifteen. Before I call the police, can you find out if she purchased a ticket? Any information you can give me would be helpful.”

  “I’m sorry to hear this. Give me a moment. I’m looking in the system now. Yes, here she is. A. Brenner, Circle B Ranch. She bought a round-trip ticket to Salt Lake City.”

  Salt Lake? Allie didn’t know anyone there. They had no family there.

  “The bus left at 7:40 a.m. She’s due back tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.”

  He gripped the phone tighter. “What time does that bus start back to Bozeman?”

  “Let’s see. 8:30 a.m.”

  That made it an eight-and-a-half hour trip. He checked his watch. She would have arrived in Salt Lake by four today. It gave her fifteen, sixteen hours to do whatever she planned to do in that amount of time. The stone in Colt’s throat made it nearly impossible to talk.

  “Thank you very much, Mr. Padakis.”

  “I hope everything’s all right.”

  “So do I,” he whispered in shock and hung up. In the next breath he reached blindly for Matt and hugged him hard. “You weren’t wrong. She went to Salt Lake on a bus this morning.”

  Matt’s head flew back. “You’re kidding.”

  “I wish I were, but that gives the police something to go on.”

  A dozen questions filled Colt’s mind.

  The Wagners looked pained. “What can we do to help?” Wendie asked.

  “Thanks for offering, but this is a matter for the police. I want them to find out how many other passengers on that bus were headed for Salt Lake. Maybe she has a boyfriend who talked her into going.”

  “No.” Jen shook her head. “She would have told me.”

  “I thought she told me everything, too, Jen.” Colt’s features turned grim. “The fact that none of us, including her own twin, knew her agenda, let alone that she asked you to lie for her, tells me my daughter has some deep-seated problems. Come on, Matt. Let’s go home. I’ll phone the police on the way.”

  The Wagners walked them out to the truck. Colt gave Jen a hug before he drove off with Matt and made the call. He didn’t hang up with the chief detective until they’d reached the ranch.

  As he shut off the motor Matt turned to him. “Are they going to look for her?”

  Colt nodded. “They’ll make inquiries, but he told me not to be too worried since she bought a round-trip ticket. The Salt Lake police will be at the bus depot in the morning when she shows up, so he told me it would be a waste of my time to fly there.”

  “But we’re going to go anyway, right?”

  He’d never loved his son more than at this moment. “Right.” They walked around back and entered the house. “We’ll have to leave for the airport at five. That’s not very far away. I’ll wake you in time.”

  “I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep.”

  “Try. We’re going to need all our energy tomorrow.”

  Matt paused at the foot of the stairs. “Your birthday’s a week after Thanksgiving. Maybe she went to Salt Lake to get you a special present.”

  He rubbed the knot in the back of his neck. “Don’t I wish that were the reason.”

  Matt’s expression closed up. “Why do you think she went?”

  Since Mr. Padakis had first mentioned Salt Lake, Colt didn’t want to admit—let alone put a voice to—an uncomfortable thought working its way through his psyche. “I don’t know, Matt.”

  And because he didn’t know, he wasn’t about to speculate about something that could destroy the world he’d created for his children. He’d always believed he’d raised them in a happy emotional environment.

  But if Allie’s disappearance, even for a forty-eight-hour period, had anything to do with what he was thinking, then it meant he’d built his house on sand and it was too late to hold back the dreaded flood.

  Matt started up the stairs. Colt watched him go. There’d be no sleep for either of them tonight.

  He wandered into the living room, gravitating to a picture of his daughter on her first horse. The image blurred.

  Did I fail you, Allie?

  Was that what this was about?

  “KATHRYN?”

  “Hi, Cord. Sorry to phone you this late, but the hospital called me in on a teen runaway case. I’m going to have to cancel our ski plans for tomorrow.”

  “I won’t pretend I’m not disappointed. I’d rather ski with you than anybody.”

  “I feel the same way about you. But since Kit’s expecting again, she’ll be thrilled to have you all to herself. Give her my love.”

  “I will. When you get a chance, I want to hear about your case.”

  “Of course, but not tonight. Get a good sleep.”

  Kathryn rang off, then made a call to Maggie. The moment she answered Kathryn said, “Forgive me for calling you so late. I’d like to ask a favor of you, but first I need to know your plans for tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Jake and I were going to stay home and play with Robbie. Kamila might come over with Jared. Why?”

  “I need to take a missing teen back to her family. She’s in the hospital getting over the flu and can probably go home tomorrow. But she lives in Bozeman, Montana, and—”

  “You’d like me to fly you there?” she finished for Kathryn. “That’s not a long flight. I’d love to do it. Meet me at the hangar at twelve-thirty. I’ll have you there by two. Robbie will nap while I’m gone.”

  “You’re the best, Maggie,” Kathryn said. “I’ll call you in the morning if the doctor decides she should stay in the hospital another day. Otherwise, plan on it.”

  “Sounds good. Do you know something?”

  “What?”

  “You’ve become a workaholic. That’s h
ow I used to be before I met Jake.”

  “Yeah, well, we all can’t be as lucky as you.”

  “You could have married Steve.”

  “I could have, but he only proposed to me because he couldn’t have you.”

  After a long silence, Maggie said, “What are you talking about?”

  The time for honesty had come. How strange that this was the moment. “Kit’s brother was already clerking for you when I arrived on the scene. It was you he loved. You were the reason he left California. When he asked me to marry him, I told him I was flattered, but I didn’t want to be your substitute. He got all red in the face, but he didn’t deny it.”

  “I had no idea.” Her sister sounded shocked.

  “Of course not. That’s because you were so in love with Jake, you didn’t know if you were coming or going. I can’t say I blame you. Jake Halsey’s the kind of man who is so attractive he gives every woman a heart attack. Unfortunately, there’s only one of him. If I didn’t love you so much, I’d scratch your eyes out.”

  Maggie laughed, then sobered. “Honestly, Kathryn, I love him so much, it scares me.”

  “Steve saw it, too. That’s why I told him that until he went back to California to get away from you, he’d never be happy.”

  “So that’s the reason he suddenly left.”

  “Now you know the whole truth. When I told the family I couldn’t marry him because I loved him like a brother, I meant it.”

  She heard Maggie clear her throat. “Your turn’s coming, Kathryn.”

  “No. I’ve had plenty of possible turns, but I’ve discovered I’m not the marrying kind. I crave my freedom too much. Maybe being a captive at Skwars Farm for twenty-six years made me claustrophobic over the whole institution. My psychiatrist says we need to explore it, but that’s for another day. Talk to you tomorrow. Love you.”

  After she hung up, she left the empty isolation room and crossed the hall to check on Allie. The teen was asleep. Her long bus ride and the flu had left Allie on the verge of exhaustion when she’d left the depot.

  Whatever had caused Allie to leave home had worn her out, physically and emotionally, but her vital signs looked good. She could be released tomorrow, but would have to stay in bed at home for another night at least till the flu had left her system.

  Without wasting any more time, Kathryn slipped back across the hall to make the most important phone call of the night. It was quarter to twelve. If Allie’s father suspected nothing and still thought his daughter was at her best friend’s house enjoying a sleepover, then he was in for a huge shock.

  But if he’d discovered she was missing and was frantically looking for her, then it was past time to end his anguish.

  Allie had painted a picture of a loving family. Like Kathryn, Allie had put her father on a pedestal no other man could hold a candle to. She was an exceptional girl. It meant she had an exceptional father. There’d been no mention of a mother.

  Kathryn reached for her note pad where she’d written down the phone number Allie had given her and punched in the digits.

  WHILE COLT WAITED for the detective in Salt Lake to call him back, he went up to Allie’s bedroom. He’d already given the police a description of what she was wearing when she’d left for school, including her backpack. Colt hoped that a thorough search of her room might reveal a clue to help him out. Anything…

  She always stashed her money from odd jobs and babysitting in a drawstring purse hanging in the closet. None was there. Naturally she’d used it to buy her bus ticket. To his dismay, he found her cell phone in the bottom drawer of her dresser. She’d turned it off, killing that one glimmer of hope she might call him.

  His daughter had been planning this for a long time. The pit in his stomach yawned wide.

  Expecting to hear from the detective, he was ready to answer when his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and clicked on. “Detective Martinez?”

  “No,” sounded a female voice. “Are you Mr. Brenner?”

  He blinked. “Who’s this?” Colt knew he sounded terse, but couldn’t help it.

  “I’m Katy McFarland.” Katy was the nickname she used with young people. “The first thing you need to know is that your daughter Allie is fine, but she’s asleep right now. She gave me your phone number so I could call you.”

  Adrenaline gushed through his veins. “Where is she?” he cried out. “Who are you?”

  “I’m a medical caseworker for North Avenues Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was called in when your daughter was brought here around four-thirty this afternoon. She became dizzy after getting off the Greyhound bus. A passerby saw her on the ground and called 911. There was no ID on her. An ambulance picked her up and brought her to the E.R. Your daughter has the H1N1 virus, but it’s not a serious case.”

  Colt staggered to the bed and sank down.

  “She’s really all right?”

  “I wouldn’t lie to you, but I have to tell you her biggest fear is that you won’t be able to forgive her for what she did. In case you didn’t know it, she worships the ground you walk on, so that makes a girl nervous to disappoint the most wonderful father in the whole world.”

  She’d imitated Allie’s way of speaking to perfection, charming Colt, who was close to speechless at this point. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “You just did, so don’t think about it anymore. We’ve got her on an IV to treat her flu symptoms. If she continues to improve, she can probably be released tomorrow provided she gets nursing care at home for another day.”

  Colt jumped to his feet. “My son was the one who figured out she’d taken the bus somewhere. The police are attempting to locate her in Salt Lake right now. Matt and I will fly to Salt Lake on the earliest flight out of Bozeman in the morning. We want to be with her until she’s out of the woods.”

  “You don’t need to do that. To be frank, your daughter didn’t want to stay here tonight. She has begged me to let her go home tomorrow. In the event that she’s well enough, I’ve made arrangements through the hospital to fly her to Bozeman by private charter in the afternoon. I’ll accompany her and take care of her for another day until she’s up and around.”

  “I can’t let you do that.”

  “It’s my job.”

  “No one has a job like that,” he argued. “No wonder our hospitals are in financial trouble.”

  “The patient advocacy department is funded by a private donor, so it’s not a concern. More importantly, your daughter made a deal with me. She would tell me your name and let me call you if I nursed her till she was better. We shook on it.”

  Good grief.

  Allie, Allie. What was going on inside her? After a certain age, she’d only wanted Noreen around and Colt hadn’t hired another nanny. Yet in her vulnerability today, she’d reached out to a stranger. Why?

  Colt wanted to ask this woman if she knew what had driven Allie to do what she did, but now wasn’t the time. It was enough to know his daughter was safe in a hospital, getting treated for the flu of all things.

  He took a deep breath. “How soon can I talk to her?”

  “As soon as she’s awake. Housekeeping has brought me a cot so I can stay with her tonight. If she should wake up, I’ll let her use my phone to call you. Otherwise, call my number in the morning and I’ll put her on.”

  He pursed his lips. “I may phone you before that to find out if you’re real or if I’m having an out-of-body experience.”

  She laughed quietly. A husky kind of laugh that resonated inside him. “There’s nothing more terrifying than not knowing where your child is. Until you can hug her and kiss her, I know you won’t quite believe you have her back.”

  Whoever this woman was, she could read minds. It gave him goose flesh. “Ms. McFarland?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  “You’re welcome, Mr. Brenner. We’ll talk in the morning. Good night.”

  She hung up first, leaving him daz
ed.

  When he gathered his wits, he left the room and walked down the hall past the guest bedroom to Matt’s room. His son had fallen asleep, but after what they’d been through, he decided to wake him up.

  “Matt?” he called softly to him.

  He made a sound and turned toward him. “Is it time to go?”

  Colt sat down on the side of the bed. “We don’t have to go anywhere. Your sister’s been found.” In the next few minutes, he told him about the phone call.

  Matt reached over and hugged him. “Do you think I’ll catch it?”

  He hadn’t seen that question coming. “I don’t know. Let’s not worry about that now. Go back to sleep.”

  “They’re really going to fly her home?”

  “That’s what the nurse said.”

  “Whoa. Well, good night, Dad.” Matt laid back down and punched his pillow to get it in the right position.

  Colt eyed his son for a moment. The biggest care on Matt’s mind now was whether he would come down with the virus. Would that the flu was all that plagued Colt. Unfortunately for him, this new knowledge was only the tip of an enormous iceberg.

  After leaving Matt’s bedroom, he headed for his study again. He called both detectives and left messages that Allie had been found. Following that, he e-mailed the Wagners to tell them the good news. There was no one else to inform.

  Wired and restless, he went to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. Caffeine was the last thing he needed, but it was the only drink he wanted.

  His premonition that something was wrong with Allie had borne fruit. Two times he’d experienced this. Both times there’d been bad news. He dreaded the thought of it ever happening again. His heart might not be able to take it a third time.

  Noreen was going to be surprised when another woman besides herself would be waiting on Allie. Colt had gotten the surprise of his life when a Ms. McFarland, rather than the detective, had phoned to let him know his daughter was in hospital. Sick, but safe.

  The woman had sent an essence through the phone line he couldn’t describe. He had to confess that his curiosity had been aroused. For several reasons, he knew it would be a long time before tomorrow afternoon rolled around.