Calico Horses and the Patchwork Trail (15 page)

“The bike’s fine, but I think from now on we keep it locked in the garage when she’s not riding it. I’m sorry, honey. I thought you threw it by the road. It gave me quite a scare,” he said, leaning down to kiss his daughter. Shannon was frightened to learn that a bike thief was nearby.

“Where’s Brian?” he asked.

“He’s sitting out in the car trying to figure out how to tell you about his surprise,” Jodi said.

“Why do I get the impression I’m not gonna like this surprise,” he said. Shannon went to her dad and hugged him tightly. She buried her head into his soft cotton shirt with the embroidery that read South Jersey Electric Company and just melted with emotions. He looked at his wife with raised eyebrows. She shook her head and walked away. “It’s been a long day in the Miller household,” she chuckled.

Shannon’s dad sat down on his comfy chair and pulled Shannon onto his lap. He didn’t say a word but just held and rocked her gently. She knew somehow her dad would fix everything. That was his job. Every kid should have a father like her dad, she thought, allowing herself to savor and enjoy this moment without Brian pushing her aside. But some kids didn’t even have a dad—like some of the kids in her class—and then her heart gave a little flutter as she thought of Carrie.

Chapter 27

Sam plopped down, exhausted, onto her big leather chair. Her Bed & Breakfast had been turned into a task force station over the past six hours. Every guest had been out searching for Flannel. The police had been called and posters and flyers had been distributed throughout the surrounding area. Brenda and Carrie were still out looking for the missing collie. Carrie blamed Sam and her cat Max. The cat sat cleaning himself as if totally innocent; he stopped and stared at her as if to say,
What did I do?
Sam heard voices coming in the front door and jumped up and hurried into the lobby.

“Well, folks,” said one of the Save Our Mustangs workers, “we’ll start again tomorrow morning at first light. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the pup will be attracted to one of the herds and we’ll find her.” The group said goodnight, yawning their way toward their rooms. Sam walked outside and stood in the moonlight looking at the empty space where Brenda’s car was usually parked. She felt horrible as she knew Brenda didn’t know her away around and was probably searching unfamiliar roads. It’s not like New Jersey, she thought. Most of these roads don’t have any streetlights. She heard a coyote off in the distance and shivered. That poor collie was out there wandering alone. Sam went back inside and decided to make a pot of coffee. It was going be a long night.

A few hours later she was just about to go looking for Brenda when she heard a car pull in. She peered out the window and saw Brenda and Carrie getting out of their car. They walked slowly to the side door that led to the bungalow. Brenda was carrying a leash and a box of treats but Flannel was not with them. Sam’s heart sank as she watched the little girl refusing to go in, not wanting to give up the search. They stood outside arguing until finally Carrie gave in. Brenda promised to start again first thing in the morning as her daughter slammed the door, leaving her standing alone in the dark. Brenda covered her face and hung her head as Sam watched helplessly.

Brenda came into Sam’s office and sat down. She ran her hands through her hair. How could everything have gone so wrong? she thought. The two women sat in silence until Brenda burst into tears. Sam got up and threw a blanket over her friend. The days were hot but the nights turned chilly and Brenda had been out searching for hours in a tank top. Sam went to fetch her a hot cup of coffee. Max approached and licked her hand. Startled, Brenda looked up, amazed as the cat licked her again and rubbed his head nuzzling her. She petted Max and he began purring as her tears began to fade. She was breathing more calmly now and the cat looked up at her as if to say,
You’re welcome
.

The women sat up talking the night away. Brenda’s thoughts were racing ahead to a life with her daughter mourning the loss of her dog.“Hold on,” said Sam. “Don’t give up hope yet. You can’t let yourself get defeated like that.”

“I have to prepare myself for the worst,” replied Brenda. “She’s angry with me over the breakup and the move to Nevada, and now with Flannel…”

“Well, all I’m saying,” answered Sam, “is that you are surrounded by good people here. They may be horse people but that means they’re animal people, too. If anyone can help, they can.”

“They have been so good to us,” said Brenda. “They shouldn’t be getting involved with this; it’s not what they came here to do. They have meetings and agendas with their own organization; they shouldn’t be bothering with all of this. What a mess. I feel horrible this has caused so much trouble.”

“They wouldn’t be helping if they didn’t want to, Brenda. Don’t you get it? This is what they do. They drop everything to try and help horses. Heck, a lost collie is right up their alley, trust me.”

“You think we’ll find her, Sam?” asked Brenda. “Be honest with me. I don’t know this area at all and I heard some of the people talking about snakes and mountain lions and coyotes.”

“Don’t listen to any of that. There’s no use letting your mind go off in all directions. Focus on the positive and let others help you. We can’t control everything in our lives and sometimes we face some storms. But we always learn something from them. Worrying never solved anything—it just gives you wrinkles.” Brenda yawned and Sam nudged her and pointed to the clock. Brenda looked at it with drowsy eyes. They both stood and hugged goodnight.

Dawn broke and the birds were singing outside Carrie’s window. She wanted to go out and call for Flannel but decided to wait until it got a little lighter. She slipped out of bed and wandered downstairs. The bungalow was quiet and all she could hear was the ticking of the clock in the kitchen. She stuck her head into the refrigerator, remembering that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast yesterday. Her stomach growled but nothing appealed to her so she shut the door. She sat down at the kitchen table with her chin propped in her hands, staring out at the mountains. They were just turning pink with hints of gold as the sun was slowly rising. She studied the way the light rippled across the range and thought how different it was from the flatlands back east. She heard her mom going into the bathroom. She quickly got up to get dressed so that she could be ready to search again. As she brushed against the chair she knocked something onto the floor. She picked up the paper. It was some kind of flyer for kids: “Hidden Valley Horse & Art Camp.” Too bad it wasn’t a dog and art camp, she thought, tossing it back on the table. She heard the shower running and knew her mom wouldn’t be ready as quickly as she had wanted. Slowly she climbed the steps back to her room.

“You take the east side and we’ll head over to the west by Falcon Road. Call us if you spot anything and let’s plan on meeting up back here for lunch,” said the president of the Save Our Mustangs group, getting into a big truck with her team.

Carrie opened the window and waved to them but they didn’t see her. Wow, she thought, I didn’t realize so many people are looking for my dog. She shoved some photos of Flannel into her backpack and headed down the stairs. Her mom was sitting in the kitchen tying her shoes. She looks awful, Carrie thought. Her eyes had dark circles and she appeared very frail. Brenda glanced up at Carrie and forced a smile. Carrie waited for her mom to grab her purse so they could get moving, but she just sat there slumped over in her chair. Brenda slowly got up and put the teakettle on. Carrie tapped her foot, unable to stand still, and tried to remain calm. They heard a knock on the door. Carrie opened it, nodded to Sam, and quickly disappeared, running up to her room.

“That kid hates me,” Sam said to Brenda.

“She’s angry at the entire world so don’t think you’re so special. You’re not,” said Brenda, dropping a teabag into a cup.

“I’m not able to run out the door and race around this town searching for a dog until I wake up. Plus, I’m starving. If I don’t get some food in me I’m going to pass out.” She poked her head into the refrigerator.

“Aw, shucks, nothing but cheese, veggies, and fruit. I’m dying for some French toast and fresh OJ.”

“Let’s take Carrie out and grab some breakfast before we start searching,” said Sam.

“How can you leave the B&B? Don’t you have to cover the front desk?’ asked Brenda.

“Of course I can go,” Sam said. “Kelly’s able to run this place all by herself. Come on. Grab your purse and call Carrie. Let’s eat!”

Brenda climbed the stairs and found Carrie in the little room in the back fiddling with a craft. Carrie dropped it and stood up.

“Finally, Mom. Are we going now? I’ll just grab my backpack.”

“Not yet,” said Brenda, hugging her. “We need to go get something to eat first. Sam is joining us. Geez, I imagine you’re just as hungry—you haven’t eaten since yesterday morning.”

Carrie, pulling away, looked at her mother with astonishment. “You want to go out to breakfast?! You promised we would look for Flannel first thing! No, I don’t want to go sit and have breakfast with you and Sam…the owner of that stupid cat!”

“Come on, Carrie,” Brenda replied. “We’re all on edge and I think it would be best if we had a good meal and recharged our batteries. This is not Sam’s fault and you need to get over that.”

Carrie’s face turned bright red. She was angry and disappointed that she was placed in a position to go along with something that was not of her choosing. That’s how it always was, she thought, shaking her head. When would she learn that kids had no say in anything and adults made all the rules? “Pick me up when you’re done eating,” she said quietly. “I’m gonna make myself some peanut butter toast. I get it, Mom, but I want to stay here. Just come get me as soon as you’re finished, okay?” Brenda was too tired to argue. She nodded and gave her daughter a quick hug.

“I’ll be back in a bit. I’ll leave my phone here and you can call Sam’s number if you need me. Kelly’s out at the front desk. See you soon.”

Carrie sat at the picnic table staring toward where she had last seen Flannel chasing Max. If only she could magically wish her back safely right this instant. When she was younger she used to pretend she had special powers and she would close her eyes and wish for things like, “make my mom buy me a toy today” or “make my dad play a game tonight.” Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t, so she was never sure if she really had special powers. She glanced up and peered through the window at the clock. What was taking them so long? Ugh, I hope they aren’t gabbing like usual. How could her mom and her friend spend so much time talking? It used to be on the phone—now it was in Sam’s office or in their kitchen. It kinda reminded her of Shannon and her. Wait a minute…was she like her mom? Nooo way.

Thirty whole minutes, Carrie thought to herself. Thirty minutes is plenty of time to eat pancakes or waffles. Enough is enough. She reached for the phone just as it began to ring and it startled her.

“Hello?” she answered. “Is this Carrie?” a man asked. “Yes. Who’s this?” Carrie replied.

“It’s Mr. Spencer, Milla’s dad. Remember me?” Carrie rolled her eyes.
Like duh
, she thought. “Yeah, I remember,” she said.

“I need you and your mom to do me a huge favor.” Carrie was not in the mood to talk to anyone. She needed to hang up and call her mom to get the search party moving. “I’ll have her call you back,” said Carrie, starting to hang up.

“Wait, don’t go yet,” he said. “I really need your help.”

“What?” she said with a tone that let him know she was in a hurry.

“I need you and your mom to go get me a ham and Swiss sandwich on rye—with mustard, please—and bring it out to my office right away.”

Now Carrie was really angry. Adult or no adult, she didn’t have time for jokes or wacky people. Her dog was missing and this guy was trying to be funny. “I’ll have my mom call you,” she said again.

“And Carrie,” Devon added. “Bring some dog food, too. I have a very hungry collie here who just ate my lunch.”

Chapter 28

Milla sat at the table fiddling with her fork and studying the cold eggs. She hated eggs and Mrs. Adams never even bothered to ask before plopping them on her plate. Now she was faced with either gagging them down or insulting her hostess. She was still brooding over her predicament and refused to say a word to Fern or her mom. Luckily, Foot had slept over his friend Danny’s and Milla didn’t have to face his torment. Not yet anyway.

“What’s the matter?” asked Fern. “Aren’t you hungry?”

Milla just shook her head. She drank some juice and stared down at the plate.

“It’s okay,” Fern said. “You don’t have to eat them. Let’s go into my room and play.” She dumped the remains onto her plate and scraped the cold eggs into the garbage while Milla, still hungry, shoved away from the table.

Fern’s mom was busy hanging wash outside. A radio was playing somewhere and Milla thought the music had that urgent sound they used on TV commercials for constipation. The house smelled overly sprayed with scented room freshener and there was a vase of fake flowers sitting on a living room table. A photo of a man who resembled a cavalry rider wearing a handlebar mustache was framed and hung over the couch. This whole place gives me the creeps, thought Milla. How could her father have done this to her? Why hadn’t he at least discussed this with her? She had tried to talk him out of it, but he wasn’t budging. Stubborn mule, she thought, thinking back to the early morning argument.