CountryCore Series: The Ranch Hand (WLW)

Chapter Eighteen

Chris' phone rang for the third time in the last hour. She hadn't needed to stop aside from filling up her truck's gas tank on occasion or to grab some food, stopping to eat it. If she had kept driving nonstop all the way to Wichita, it would have only taken her about eight hours, maybe nine to get there, but with needing to stop every now and again, she'd only made it to Ardmore, Oklahoma, just past the state border.

It was around six-fifty-four and she was tired. All her energy had gone into trying to think of anything else but Hayley. However, it had been a particularly unsuccessful endeavor. She sighed and rubbed some sleep from her eyes as she pulled into another gas station. She needed coffee and to call back whoever kept bothering her. Everyone knew she hated answering her phone while driving so it must have been for a good reason.

One call was from Hayley and she had left a voicemail. She smiled at this, knowing it was just Hayley's way of making her feel better on the long, lonely road. How did this woman already get that she might be needing this at some point in the day?

She opened the voicemail and listened.

"Hey, sweetheart. I know you hate people calling when you're driving, but... Well, I just wanted to leave you a quick message. We got rained out so aside from our indoor work, we weren't really able to do much today. Such a bummer 'cause I really needed something to keep me busy. Otherwise...I'd think of you constantly. And our date. Not that I haven't, by the way." She paused and let out a breathy giggle. "That has not been easy. I hope you're safe and you aren't going to drive while tired. I bet you're getting your evening sleepiness right about now, aren't you?" She giggled again and Chris smiled at the harmoniously tender sound, letting her happiness flood her chest. "Anyhow, as you say, I'll let you go. I'm going on a walk with Aubrey in just a bit." Chris' happy feelings disappeared and were replaced by a solemn pulse in her ears. "I know you said she worries you, Chris, but I want to give her a chance. So, I'll call again once I'm back from our walk and you'd better be in a hotel resting by then, okay? I hate to think of you driving when you're too sleepy. I love you. Later, then."

Chris could see her anxiety as her hand shook while she brought her phone down from her ear. She looked at the other two voicemails and read that they were from Lee. With unsteady fingers, she opened the first.

"Chris! Call me back. We heard a scream from the woods and can't find Hayley or Aubrey! I'm so, so sorry. I only let her out of my sight for one damn second. Then she was gone and at The Barracks. By the time I got there after several people stopped me to help with random things, she wasn't there anymore! There's somethin' wrong, Chris! Call me back!"

She hurriedly moved to the next voicemail and pressed play.

"What the hell, Chris? I know you said you hate answerin' the phone while drivin', I get that, but you need to pick up! We can't find either of 'em anywhere! We searched the woods and Hale's ain't there, Chris! Call me back, dammit!"

Chris turned her truck back on and slammed on the gas. She hit the redial button and waited for Lee to answer.

"Where the hell are they? What happened?" She yelled as soon as the phone was picked up.

"I don't know, Chris! We've looked everywhere except the far woods at the back of the property...but Hales hasn't gone in there before, has she?'" Lee's voice was raspy and scared.

"Yes! But only once! She knows that if she makes it back that way, she'll reach the cottage eventually!" She turned onto the highway and blasted past the cars that weren't going fast enough for her. "Did ya check my cottage? I gave 'er a key an'--"

"Chris! We'll find her, 'kay? Just get back home safe and as fast as you can! Some more workers came back to help us look! I have to go now!"

"'Kay, but call me if there's any news! I ain't stoppin' until I get back home!" Chris didn't wait for Lee to reply.