Brice and Darren drove the snowmobiles into the courtyard between the large ranch house and one of the many barns on the huge property that bordered his. Snow piled on the roof in a thick blanket to match the layer on the steps leading up to the door. Brice surveyed the surrounding land, the tracks leading from a back door and across the yard to the barn, tire tracks leading from the barn to the hilly pasture where black cattle huddled together, their backs coated in a thin layer of ice as they fed from two racks holding hay and grass.

The two men tending the herd hopped in the truck and headed back down to meet him and Darren.

Only a single light showed in the house. No drapes or shadows shifted. He didn’t see anyone peeking out a window. He didn’t see Ashley or Adam. He didn’t feel her here, but had to tamp down his frustration and anxiety. He needed to be sure.

The truck pulled up and both men got out, eyeing them. Brice took off his helmet and raked his fingers through his hair.

“Well shit, look who we have here. I never expected to see the likes of you in these parts.” The driver smiled, recognition dawning easily in his eyes.

Brice was used to everyone knowing him on sight. It got old, but in this case he hoped it worked to his advantage. He went with the same good ol’ boy neighborly charm. “I hope you don’t mind my stopping by unannounced. My property borders yours.”

“I thought that big ol’ house belonged to some celebrity.”

Brice smiled and nodded. “It’s mine, but let’s keep that between us.”

Both men grinned and nodded, their eyes narrowed with understanding that they’d been let in on the secret.

The other man stepped forward, his hand extended, “Joe Gordon. This is my place.”

Brice shook the man’s hand. “Brice Mooney, but I guess you knew that.”

“What can I do for you, Mr. Mooney?”

“Oh, just call me Brice. All my friends do.”

Joe stood a bit taller, thinking Brice had let him in the inner circle, letting him call him by his first name and in on the secret that he lived next door.

“I’m hoping you can help me out. Have you seen a young woman with dark hair and a boy with light blond hair last night or this morning?”

“What were they driving?”

“I’m embarrassed to say the lady and I argued and she ran off with the boy. I’m terribly worried about them.”

“You think they ran off on foot in this weather?” Joe glanced around at the deep snow covering everything for miles. His heavy sigh came out in a cloud of white that quickly disappeared on the persistent wind that seemed to suck the heat right out of Brice’s face. If not for his thick coat and gloves, he’d be a frozen Popsicle by now.

He didn’t want to think about Ashley, cold and lonely and missing him out in the frigid temps and frozen landscape.

“My hope is that she found a kind rescuer and they took her and the boy in for the night while she calmed down and thought better of doing something so foolish. Petty arguments always seem less important after one calms down.”

Joe and the driver nodded.

“I hate to think her impulsive act has caused her any harm.”

“I’m sorry to say we’ve had no visitors. My wife and two little ones are up at the house, a couple of the other guys are staying out at the bunkhouse farther on the property. I spoke with them both a little while ago. They had a quiet night and didn’t report seeing anyone. I can give them a call to be sure if you like.”

Brice knew they’d have said something if they found Ashley. No way they kept their mouths shut about finding her.

“As you said, they’d have said something if they saw them. I’m not even sure she came this way.”

Darren handed over his card. “If you see them, or hear anything about them, please give us a call.”

“Have you contacted the authorities? They can help you search.” Joe’s mouth drew into a grim line. “If they were out in the weather last night and this morning . . .” He shook his head in dismay, knowing they would never have made it.

“I don’t believe things are that dire,” Brice assured him, though it wasn’t easy to pull off the unconcerned tone. “My guess is we’ll find her safe and sound in a cozy warm motel drinking hot chocolate.” He hoped that pretty little picture eased Joe’s and the driver’s mind. He walked a fine line trying to find her and not get caught up in an all-out search and rescue with the cops where he’d have to answer questions that were no one’s business.

Joe held up Darren’s card. “I hope you do. We’ll keep a lookout for her and the boy as we check on the cattle and property today.”

“I thank you kindly,” Brice said, giving the men a bright smile like he didn’t have a care in the world. They didn’t have her. They didn’t know anything. They were of no use to him now.

He pulled his helmet on, seated himself on the snowmobile, started the engine, and with a friendly wave drove back down the mostly plowed driveway.

He stopped near the road, out of sight of the ranch house and the two men they left behind.

Darren stopped beside him and flipped up his helmet visor. “She’s not there.” His words echoed Brice’s thoughts.

“We’ll check the other neighbor, then we’ll need to alert the authorities and follow through with tracking down the boy to get to her.”

“I think that may be the only way to find her.” Darren’s eyes filled with a gleam of mischief. “Asking the judge to declare you Adam’s legal guardian was a stroke of genius.”

Brice hadn’t asked. He’d ordered the judge to do his bidding, knowing the judge had to comply or risk his job and reputation if the pictures of him with an underage prostitute snorting coke off her nipple were leaked to the press. Now Brice had the legal authority to claim Adam as his responsibility and find him and get him back. Which meant he’d draw Ashley out and right back to him.