Jolie lifted a shoulder in a small shrug and flashed a tired smile. She leaned against Cord's arm as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll go get CJ, 'kay?"
He nodded and reluctantly released her hand. Chance stepped up beside him as they watched Jolie climb the stairs. "We'll make this right, Cord. One way or another. And don't worry about the old man's threats. He can't do a thing. I've made sure he can't touch any of us."
Overcome with emotion, Cord grabbed his brother in a bear hug. "You've always had my back. You know I'll always have yours, right?"
Big John appeared with a broom and dustpan and cleared his throat. "Better get this mess swept up before the young 'un comes down."
Miz Beth arrived a moment later, dragging a large trash can behind her. Chance hurried to relieve her of it and bent to help John. The older woman touched Cord's arm. "Your father is a mean ole son of a gun, Cordell. Thank goodness you boys didn't fall close to that tree. I was ready to box Cash's ears when he walked in with CJ."
A quick laugh burst from Cord at the thought of tiny Miz Beth giving Cash what for. "At least he brought CJ here, Miz Beth, where you and Big John could look after him." And wasn't that what Cash had been trying to tell him? He'd been too pissed to listen.
Miz Beth used a corner of her apron to dash away the moisture gathered in her eyes. She was rising on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek when Jolie screamed Cord's name. Miz Beth scrambled out of his way as he raced to the staircase and took the steps two at a time, Chance and Big John hard on his heels. He careened into CJ's room expecting to find blood-splattered walls or worse.
"Jolie? Jolie, baby. What's wrong?" Cord hauled her against his chest, checking out the room over her head. The bedclothes were rumpled but there was no sign of CJ. John checked the bathroom while Chance checked the closet and under the bed. CJ was nowhere to be found. John checked the window. It was closed and locked.
"Where is he, Cord?" Jolie seemed to clamp down on her panic. She gazed around the room. "Where's Ducky? Where's his backpack? Mrs. Corcoran said he'd had both with him when Cash took him."
"We'll search the house, Jolie. He can't be far."
"Do you... Would they...?" She was unable to finish her thought, but Cord knew what she was thinking.
"No. There's no way Cyrus or Cash could have taken him. He's here somewhere. Maybe he woke up and heard the yelling, got scared. He's probably hiding in the house."
They split up and searched the house from top to bottom, which took far longer than Cord wished. As they gathered downstairs in the kitchen, Big John appeared, a hangdog expression on his face. "Back door in the utility room isn't closed all the way. I'm sorry, Cord, but it looks as though he got out of the house." The older man glanced over his shoulder. "And it's starting to snow."
Nineteen
The weak winter sun poked at the clouds riding low on the eastern horizon and touched the light dusting of snow with a handful of sparkles. The serene scene did nothing to alleviate the tension in the kitchen. Dark shadows bruised the skin around Jolie's red-rimmed eyes. Her face was drawn and pale, and she looked as exhausted as Cord felt. Cassie sat next to her, attempting to get her to eat some of the eggs and bacon Miz Beth had cooked.
With Kaden's help, they'd searched the barn, all the farm equipment and the stables. They'd awakened the ranch hands and checked each of the cottages. There'd been no trace of CJ, nor had he answered their desperate shouts. They did discover that Dusty was missing, too. Cord tried to take some comfort in that. The dog was big and furry and hopefully keeping CJ warm overnight.
A local newscast droned in the background, and when the morning weather forecast came on, Big John turned up the volume. The prediction wasn't good. A big storm was due by noon, with plummeting temperatures and ice. They had to find CJ and find him now. Cord regretted calling off the search in the dark hours before dawn, but Chance, Kaden and Big John had all convinced him that stumbling around in the dark wasn't smart. With daylight, they could find tracks, follow them. And search teams would arrive.
The back door opened and heads swiveled, hope plastered on every face, only to be let down when Cash walked in. He held his hands at shoulder level, palms forward as if he was surrendering. "You may not want it, but I'm here to help, Cord." His gaze snapped to Jolie and he squared his shoulders. "I'm sorry, Jolie. This is my fault. I saw CJ at the top of the stairs last night, watching what was going on. I didn't say anything."
Cord made a fist, ready to take another swing at his younger brother when Chance's hand clamped on his shoulder. "Breathe, Cord. Last night is done. We need all the help we can get to find CJ before the storm hits."
Cord inhaled sharply, his gaze never leaving Cash's face until he heard Jolie move. He glanced at her and her eyes met his. She tucked her chin a bare inch, her expressive face filled with a rush of emotions. She broke their connection with a flick of her eyes toward Cash but returned to capture his gaze once more.
"Yes," she said, her eyes still boring into his, but her words meant for his brother. "It is your fault." Cash winced and stepped back. "You should have said something. You should have not taken him to begin with. I..." She balled up her fist and pounded the granite top of the breakfast bar.
Cord grabbed her hand, wrapped her up in a hug. He knew her frustration. He wanted to put his fist through a wall. Or his brother's face. Again. But Cash was here. Apologetic. Wanting to help.
"Jolie?" Rand called to her softly from the doorway. Cord was glad Jolie's father had finally arrived. He let her go and she ran to the other man. Rand patted her back and he murmured soft endearments to her, but his gaze remained first on Cord and then on Cash.
"I have a team with me, Cord, and two more on the way. If the weather clears, I can get at least two helicopters in the air. Hell, I'll put them up even if the weather doesn't." Cash still didn't step farther into the room. "Just tell me what you want, what you need."
Jolie pushed away from Rand and faced Cash. "You're still a royal jerk, Cash, but thank you. We can use your help." She stepped toward Cord, and he closed the distance between them, sweeping her into his arms. "Bring him home, Cord. Bring our baby home."
Controlled chaos followed her plea. Cash opened the back door to usher in some of his security team. Cooper Tate and his brother, Bridger, tromped in carrying boxes of electronic gear. Cash waved them into the dining room. Deputies from the Logan County Sheriff's Office arrived, along with members of the volunteer fire department. The table that had been the scene of a family Thanksgiving just weeks ago now became their "war room."
Cassie watched the weather on TV while she helped Miz Beth make coffee and food. Jolie stood at the wide window overlooking the backyard. Cord appeared behind her and circled his arms around her middle. "We'll find him, Jolie."
"I'm scared, Cord. He's just a little boy."
"I know, baby. But us Barrons are stubborn cusses."
The strangled noise she made was either choked laughter or a sob. He stood with her, letting the babble from the dining room wash over him. When he heard doors opening, he hugged her, kissed the top of her head and disengaged. It was time to find CJ and bring him home. "I'll be back, sunshine. With our son."
He left her standing there. She looked frail, but looks were deceiving. She was one of the strongest women he knew. Words formed on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't spit them out. Not yet. Not until CJ was safe. Then he'd tell her. He'd be able to say the words then.
The search teams had their assignments and spread out, going to work. Cord joined the team leaders on the front drive. He wanted to go, but Chance and Cash both overruled him.
"Stay with Jolie, Cord. She needs you. We'll find him." Chance's breath fogged the air until the brutal north wind shredded it. The temperature kept dropping, the sun a pallid circle behind thick clouds. His brothers pivoted and marched off to join their assigned teams.
Growls from ATVs drowned out shouts and excited barks from the search dogs. Close to fifty people milled around, getting sorted out, ready to do their jobs. Rand appeared at his shoulder and Cord spared him a glance. The older man looked as exhausted as Cord felt.
"I'm sorry, Rand."
"For what, son? You didn't make your daddy a jackass. And I probably should apologize to you. I knew about CJ. Knew he was yours. But Jolie-"
A wry chuckle escaped before Cord could cut it off. "Yeah. Jolie is a lot like her father. She wants to do things her way."
Rand slapped him on the back. "That she does, Cordell. That she does. Gonna take a special man to win and keep her."
"I'm workin' on that, sir. I surely am."