Choosing Hope -Moss Bluff Series Book Two

Chapter 22

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Chapter 22

Leo

I don't know where else to look. I've been all over the place between the city and Moss Bluff. I've been looking through cabin windows, searching diners, hotels and restaurants. I haven't gotten even a shred of a trail on Lindsey.

But I'm not done yet. I'm not going home to Quinn empty handed. I'm going to find Lindsey and I'm getting Hope back.

The text from Georgia came just as I reached the county line once again. She wants me back at the Inn. Quinn isn't handling things well. And I'm needed. I don't think Georgia is used to hearing the word "No" from anyone but she's going to be hearing it now.

Before I could send my reply she was lighting up my screen. "I'm not coming back without Hope." I didn't even give her a chance.

"I appreciate your sentiment and I understand how you feel. But, sugar, Quinn is a wreck. She's been crying all day and poor Beckett took quite a lashing from her. I hate to say it, Leo, but I think you're the only one who is going to get her through tonight. She needs you." Georgia doesn't play fair. Of course I want to be there for Quinn, but I know she's only going to feel better if Hope is safely in her arms.

Damn it! She's too good with the damn guilt trips.

"Georgia, I can't face her until I have Hope. I should have known Lindsey would do something like this. And I agreed to lie to Quinn about that shit from this morning. Excuse my language. I should have told Quinn to stay put with Hope today instead of getting her to go to the courthouse. I have to make this right." The deafening silence on the other end of the call had me wondering if she hung up on me.

Then I heard it. The heartbreaking sound of a woman crying her heart out. I can't feel any worse than I do now. Hearing those heavy sobs and knowing it's Quinn who is in so much pain, man, she just wrecked my argument. Georgia might as well have packed up my balls, tucked them away with my man card and shove them in her bottomless purse, where every woman who knows how to tug a man to his knees keeps those kinds of things.

"Alright. Alright, your point is made. Damn it, Georgia. I'm trying to do the right thing for her. Why'd you have to make me hear her crying like that?" The woman is evil, that's all there is to it.

"I'm sorry, sugar. I didn't hear you. I was trying to help Quinn settle down. What was that you were saying?" Oh, she's good.

I'm stuck now. I can't tell her that I'm not coming home after that. Wicked! That's what these women are! "You're a wicked woman, Georgia Bradford. You know that?"

"I've been told I've got a little devil in me. I don't see that as a bad thing, do you? I was always told a woman who wasn't a little naughty once in a while wasn't worth calling a real woman." And there's that naughty side again but in a whole other way!

"How does Jim keep up with you?" She has me completely flummoxed now. I don't know how to respond to this.

"He just lets me drive and enjoys the ride, sugar. Just like any good man would do. Now I know you're a good man and I know you want to be the one who finds Hope. And sugar, I sincerely hope that you do, because if I do, you might just have to post my bail." And right there is exactly why Georgia is who she is. And at that moment I think I felt my heart fill for her.

"I've got your back and I'll hold your coat if need be, but you might have to post mine too." I can't say that I won't be charged with attempted murder when this is said and done.

"I've got you covered. Now I'm fixing everyone a nice chicken and dumpling dinner. Food is always a good way to get through these kinds of things, you know. We'll eat, settle in for the night and get an early start in the morning. We won't make any progress if we aren't firing on all cylinders." She has a point but I still won't be settling in for the night. I'll go back check in, see if anyone got any leads then I'm right back out here searching.