On the way back to town, Grady texted Linx, Whatever’s bothering you. We can fix it.

He didn’t expect a reply, and he didn’t get one.

If Linx’s mother wanted attention, wouldn’t Linx’s cabin and the dog rescue center be targeted next? What better time than when the entire clan was gathered at the ranch?

Grady raced back to Colson’s Corner in record speed. As he approached Mountain Dog Rescue, he saw dogs running loose up and down the road and scattering into the forest.

What happened? Had the arsonist set the dogs free before torching the place?

Grady slammed the door of his truck and ran toward the building, followed by Sam.

The front gates were wide open.

“Linx!” he shouted. “Linx, where are you?”

Not only were the gates wide open, the cabin door was unlocked. Grady rushed in, but no one was there.

Grady called Linx’s cell phone. After four rings, it went to voice mail.

He left a message. “I’m at the rescue center. The front door was unlocked and the gates are open. Dogs are outside. Ginger and Cedar are missing. Did you take them both?”

He hung up and scanned the empty cabin. There were no signs of anyone pouring gasoline. The weird sculpture still stood on the porch. Sam sniffed around, not scenting anything that raised his hackles.

Whoever it was had been interrupted by him showing up, and they could be watching to see when he’d leave.

Grady went upstairs and checked the loft. The expensive designer wedding dress Linx purchased from Jenna was still on the form, and her clothes, along with her favorite boots and cowgirl hat, were in the closet.

He opened the nightstand drawer and found the two photographs Linx had shown him. She wouldn’t have left town without them, would she?

Her gun, the one he’d noticed was sitting on top of her Bible, was missing. But then again, she had a concealed carry permit, and she probably took it with her in case the arsonist came around.

Perhaps she had only gone somewhere to unwind. She certainly had a lot to think about, given what Becca said about the perjury charges she was facing if he decided to go through with the paternity and custody issue.

Grady checked his phone and opened the photos that had been taken earlier in the morning. Little Jessie and Linx with the puppy. They wore identical grins and matching dimples. Their dark brown gypsy eyes crinkled with mischief, and the love they had for each other was palpable.

Would he destroy all of this?

But heck. She was his daughter—or was she?

He had a right to know.

And then what?

Of course, if she was family, he should take care of her, raise her and nurture her. It wasn’t fair to slough off his own child on another couple.

But where would Linx fit in?

Grady walked out the back door to check on the dogs who’d stayed behind and see if he could get the rest back into their pens.

Old Bob the bulldog wagged his tail, barely lifting his head for a pat. It was a shame such an adorable animal would be left to languish because people preferred younger pets. At least he hadn’t flown the coop.

Grady opened the box for the gate controls and sectioned off the play yard where several dogs had congregated, making sure they couldn’t join the escapees outside the compound.

Walking toward the front gate, he spotted a red bandana snagged onto the chain-link fence.

Grady couldn’t remember if Jessie had been wearing it or not when she came to visit the second time, but he should contact someone to let them know she’d left it.

He herded the dogs that were still hanging around back into the pen and went into the cabin to look for the volunteer list.

A text message chimed and the phone rang at the same time.

Grady picked it up. It was Nessa.

“Nessa?” He wondered if he’d forgotten an appointment he had with her. “What’s up?”

“Have you heard from Linx?”

“No, has anything happened?” His throat tightened and worry thumped in his chest. “She’s not at the rescue center. Is she okay?”

“I don’t know, but she called me asking me to take over the rescue center. It sounded strange, like she was going away and not coming back.”

“Not coming back?” Grady’s breath hitched. “I’m at the center and someone’s opened all the gates. Half of the dogs are missing and I’m about to call my brothers over to help me find the dogs. Linx’s SUV isn’t here and neither are Cedar and Ginger.”

“She tried to invoke client confidentiality, but the more I thought about it, the more worried I got,” Nessa said. “She said she was a fugitive from the law. Has she done anything?”

“Nothing other than a lie she told years ago. It’s not like her brother’s going to arrest her or anything.”

“Anyway, thought I should let you know. She wants someone to take care of the dogs. I’m on my way from San Francisco, but it’ll take me a couple of hours to get there. Sounds like you have a mess on your hands.”

“Yeah, thanks. I better go round up the cavalry.” Grady thanked Nessa and hung up, as text messages and missed calls flooded his phone.

It was his family, probably berating him for bailing out on the dinner with Linx’s family.

But then again, couldn’t Becca smooth it over with them? He wasn’t exactly in the mood for socializing after the bombshell she dropped about Linx’s lies and the possibility he wasn’t Jessie’s father after all.

Grady typed a message to Dale. Need you, Connor, and Brian over at Mountain Dog asap. Gate’s wide open. Dogs are missing.

A siren cut off as a police cruiser tumbled up the gravel driveway.

Well, that was fast. He certainly couldn’t complain about the response time. They showed up before he’d even called.

Grady ran toward the police car, waving at Todd as he stepped out of the car.

“The dogs are missing. We need to get them rounded up and put back in the barn.”

The sheriff pulled a gun. “Stop right there.”

What the hell?

Was he being blamed for Linx’s disappearing act?

Slowly, Grady raised both hands and gaped at the sheriff. “Someone let the dogs out, but there’s no sign of burglary.”

“What are you doing here?” Todd’s eyes narrowed over Grady. “I need to take you to the station to account for your movements.”

“I came over from your father’s ranch.” Grady couldn’t believe he was being given the third degree. “You were there.”

“You left well over an hour ago.” He put his gun down and gestured to his deputy. “Secure the area and call in the search party.”

“Linx isn’t here. I already checked,” Grady said. “She took off.”

“We know that,” Todd said as a minivan pulled onto the driveway and Pastor and Mrs. Patterson tumbled out. “It’s Jessica Patterson. She’s missing.”

“Jessie? Missing?” Grady jumped and felt like his insides were turned out. “What happened? Where?”

“She disappeared from church,” Pastor Patterson said. “We had a festival to kick off God and Country Week. When it was over, Jessie was nowhere to be found. We questioned the other children, and they claim Jessie was talking about getting a puppy.”

“Someone must have taken her from the church property with promises of a puppy.” Mrs. Patterson wrung her hands and wiped a tear. “Have you seen her?”

“No, neither Jessie or the puppy are here,” Grady said. “But her red bandana is caught on the chain-link fence.”

More cars screeched around the corner and bounced onto the rutted dirt lane leading to the barn. It was his family joined by the Colsons.

Todd circled his hands around his lips and yelled, “Stay back. This is a crime scene. Nobody move. Jessica Patterson is missing.”

Shock and consternation fell over everyone’s face. Becca ran toward him and grabbed Grady, shaking him. “What did you do? Why couldn’t you wait for the paternity test?”

“Just because Jessie’s your daughter doesn’t mean you can take her,” Chad stepped forward.

“I didn’t do anything. I came here to check on Linx.” Grady held his hands up.

“Then Linx must have taken her.” Cait sidestepped the sheriff and stood in front of Grady, as if she would protect him. “She left the ranch even before Grady did.”

“What’s going on here?” Pastor Patterson’s booming voice knocked everyone back. “If you two did anything to hurt my daughter, I’ll …”

He cocked his fist and slammed it into Grady. “Arrest him. He kidnapped my daughter.”

Bedlam broke loose and everyone shouted to be heard, as Todd snapped the handcuffs over Grady’s wrists and shoved him into the patrol car.