Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

“He must have seen it from the bedroom and came outside to catch it.

“Yep, let’s go.” Moving through the thick brush, they had only gotten a few yards when they heard Dustin’s four-wheeler heading their way.

His younger brother was tense as he cut the motor. “You sure he’s this way?”

“Yeah, we tracked him from the back porch. He must have taken off after a puppy and got lost. The puppy took off in another direction, and Logan went this way.”

“Get on, Greer. Tate, make sure we don’t miss anything.”

Greer jumped on the back of the four-wheeler, his head sticking out to the side, searching for any signs of Logan.

“Stop!” Greer shouted, pointing to a small limb on a bush that was broken.

Dustin turned the four-wheeler in that direction.

“I’m going to whip his ass.”

“You know where he’s going?” Dustin shouted over the motor.

The sick feeling in his stomach became a hard knot. “He’s going to the lake.”

27

“God, please let him be okay,” Holly prayed over and over, terrified for the little boy as she sat on the couch, rocking, her hands clenched into tight fists as she prayed.

Rachel sat next to her, an arm over her shoulders. “Holly, he’s okay.”

“I want my baby,” she pleaded. “Rachel, I can’t live without him.”

“He’s okay,” she reassured her again.

“Call Tate and see if they found him yet.”

“He’ll call as soon as they find him.”

“God, please, please…” Holly sobbed, imagining Logan alone and scared, unable to find his way back. “God, if you let us find him, I swear I won’t let him out my sight again. I swear I will be a better person. God …”

“Should I call the doctor to come out and give her a sedative?”

Holly looked up to see Sutton’s frightened gaze on hers.

“I don’t want a sedative. I want my son!” she screamed at the woman who stared at her helplessly.

“Holly, you have to calm down. Logan needs you calm in case he needs you.”

She tried to get herself back in control, but she lost it again when Diamond came inside with Knox.

Rachel stood up, letting Diamond take her spot. Holly broke down again when Diamond reached out to hold her.

“Diamond, make Knox find Logan,” she begged.

“He will. They already started three search parties, trying to find him. Cash, Tate, Greer, and Dustin are looking for him. They’re the best trackers in the state. They’ll find him.”

“Holly, I know you’re worried, but can you answer a few questions for me?” Knox asked.

She brushed her tears away, nodding.

“Are there places that Logan goes when he likes to play?”

“When I lived at the house, he was always wanted to go to the field with Greer. That’s where we thought he was today when he disappeared.”

“Rachel said when she called that was the direction where Greer found his footprints. Any spot he likes to go from that direction?”

“I can’t think of any. He doesn’t come to Tate’s house that much, so it’s not as familiar to him.”

Knox’s phone started ringing, and so did Rachel’s.

Holly held her breath as they answered their phones.

“They found him,” Rachel mouthed to her as she listened to the voice on the other end.

Holly burst out crying in relief.

“They found him,” Knox told the room. “They found him at Cash’s lake, sitting on his rock.”

Holly started laughing so hard she couldn’t stop. It took Diamond shaking her before she did.

“Is he okay?” Diamond asked for her.

“He’s fine. They’re driving back here now. I’ll call off the search party and take Diamond on home unless you need her?”

“No, I’ll be fine once he gets here.”

“Call me if you need anything.” Diamond released her, standing up.

“I will. Thank you. And, Knox, make sure to tell everyone thanks for us.”

“I will.”

Holly went outside onto the porch to wait for Logan as they left. Over twenty cars and twice as many motorcycles had to be backed out of the driveway.

Cash’s truck pulled into the driveway, and Greer got out, Dustin climbing out after him, reaching for Logan to set him on the ground.

Holly couldn’t help herself, crying in relief at seeing her baby again. As Logan came running, she dropped to her knees, holding her arms out.

“I’m sorry, Holly. Greer said he’s going to whip my ass!”

“No, he won’t.” She held him tighter, rubbing her cheek against his.

“Wanna bet?” Greer groused, coming up to them.

“You’re not going to hurt a hair on my baby’s head.” When she let Logan wiggle away, he jumped into Rachel’s welcoming arms.

She blocked him before he could reach out to take him from Rachel. “We all need to sit down and come up with a reasonable punishment.” She turned to look at Logan. “Why did you leave the house without telling anyone?”

“I saw the cutest puppy. I tried to catch him, but he got away. Can we go look for him, Daddy?”