“Where can he be?” Rachel’s voice was thick with emotion.
“We will find him. You have to believe that.”
His frustration was growing. Where could the boy be? They were only a mile or so from town and they hadn’t seen or heard anything. Was it possible he hadn’t headed to the ranch?
“Rachel, does he have other friends whose house he might have gone to? We’re assuming he came to the ranch, but maybe not.”
She shook her head. “No. He has a few friends but I checked with them before I came to your place. You’re the one he missed, the one he prefers to live with. Not me.” She dragged the sleeve of her dress across her eyes.
They reached the edge of town, the only sounds coming from the saloon. The tinny sound of a piano, the sultry voice of a woman singing, and loud conversation spilled out onto the street. The other businesses had closed for the day, giving the main street an eerie feeling.
Rachel turned to him. “I’m scared.”
So was he, but he didn’t want her to know that. They should have heard or seen something by now. “Let’s go back to the boardinghouse and see if he’s gone home.”
She nodded her agreement and they directed their horses away from the town center and rode toward Elm Street where her boardinghouse was. When they reached Elm and Seventh, they both slid off their horses. Rachel hurried up the steps, Rusty right behind her. She burst into the door, glancing quickly around the parlor at the women sitting, reading newspapers, doing needlework, and gossiping. As one, they looked up in surprise.
“Is Will here?” Short of breath, the words barely escaped.
“No, dear. I thought he was with you.” Mrs. Beamer came down the hallway, wiping her hands on a towel and frowning.
“Has Ellie returned from her meeting yet?”
“Not yet. She usually comes in right before curfew. What’s wrong, dear?”
“I thought if Ellie was here she might help us search.”
“Is Will missing?”
Rachel dragged her palm down her face. “Yes. He didn’t go to school and I thought he had gone to the ranch, but he hadn’t.”
“Goodness. That’s terrible.” Mrs. Beamer seemed to notice Rusty for the first time. “Oh, hello. I’m sorry, are you a friend of Mrs. Stevens?”
“Mrs. Beamer, this is Rusty McIntyre. He is the new owner of the Lazy Sunset Ranch.”
She smiled at him, and then wagged her finger. “Oh, you’re the gentleman that Will is always talking about. He is sure crazy about you.”
Rachel groaned and then burst into tears. She turned away, her hands covering her face. Rusty pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Beamer, Mrs. Stevens is quite upset right now. Since Will is not here, we will continue our search.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“A few prayers wouldn’t hurt,” he tossed over his shoulder, noting the women in the parlor who’d stopped what they were doing to watch them. He led Rachel out of the house, her sobs turning to slight shudders as she leaned against his chest.
“What are we going to do now?” She clung to him like a small lost child.
“Well, we certainly aren’t giving up. We’re going to backtrack and return to the ranch. It’s quite possible he’s safe and sound with Amelia right now. But in any event, we will search all night if we have to, and in the morning we’ll contact the sheriff and have him help.”
They mounted their horses and continued on. Going even slower this time, it took them more than three hours to make the trip back to the ranch without finding any sign of Will, stopping to call and listen. Rachel was pale as the moonlight and she shivered against him as they hurried together through the front door.
Amelia met them at the entrance, her eyes swollen and red. “Did you find him?”
Rachel slumped against Rusty, who shook his head at his daughter.
“Where can he be?” Amelia wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. The last thing he needed was two hysterical females on his hands.
He tugged on Rachel’s hand and led her into the parlor. Sitting her down on the sofa, he said, “Right now you should try to get some sleep. You’re exhausted and if Will is somewhere between here and town, he’s most likely hiding or asleep. If you get a couple hours rest we’ll start again as soon as the sun comes up. It will be much easier to see what we possibly missed tonight.”
She wrapped her arms around her middle, stubbornly shaking her head. “I can’t sleep knowing my son is out there. I have to keep trying to find him.”