The Unexpected Wedding(53)

“Good idea. I’ll meet you there.” The phone went dead in her hand. She dialed the sheriff and explained the situation then headed back to her house, stopping at more businesses on the way.

The rain let loose before she made it home. It poured in cold angry drops, pelting and soaking her. Her clothes clung to her and her hair hung in wet clumps. She raced for her home, hoping against hope that Scotty would be there.

~ * ~

Cal stood on the front porch and watched as Becky Lee came running down the street in the pouring rain. She looked like a bedraggled doll that some child had left out in the storm. She stepped up on the porch, out of breath.

“He’s not here?”

“No.” Cal’s heart pounded in his chest and fear gripped him. He’d promised TJ he’d keep Scotty safe. He reached for Becky Lee, but she stepped away. “I’m going to go put on some dry clothes. I’ll make some phone calls, too.”

“I’m going to go back out looking.” Cal didn’t know where to look, but he knew he couldn’t just stand here and do nothing.

“Let me get you an umbrella. Not that it will do much good in this storm.”

As if in agreement, thunder crashed again, shaking the house.

Cal grabbed a jacket and the umbrella and headed back out into the storm. He walked up and down street after street, calling Scotty’s name. The rain soaked his clothes and shoes. At one point he stood under a big elm tree when the sky started to pelt down hail. Each ping of hail reminded him he hadn’t kept Scotty safe. What was Scotty doing in the storm? Had he found shelter? Was he out in this hail?

Had his father taken him? That was his biggest fear. His father would stop at nothing. Then he realized that wasn’t his biggest fear. He’d no idea if his father had snatched him, or worse yet, maybe it was whoever was after Becky Lee’s aunt. How could he have failed Scotty so spectacularly?

Just then his phone rang. He grabbed it from his pocket. “Hello?”

“Cal? This is Gil. From the Feed and Seed. I have Scotty here with me.”

His heart soared and he dropped to his knees in relief, no longer able to stand. “Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. Found him out back under some wood I had leaned against the building. He’s pretty soaked, but I have him inside getting warmed up.”

“I’ll be right there.” Cal stood up, heedless of the hail, and raced down the street. He stopped for a moment beneath another tree and dialed Becky Lee.

“He’s at the Feed and Seed with Gil.”

“I’ll be right there.” Becky Lee’s voice choked.

He ran the rest of the way to the store and pushed through the front door. A bell jangled overhead. He stood dripping in the doorway. Gil handed him a towel. “Here. Looks like you can use this. Scotty’s in the back with Penny and her mom.”

Cal walked to the back of the store, taking deep breaths to calm down. He spotted Scotty sitting with Penny and her momma dog, and his eyes filled with tears. He stood for a moment and choked back the tears filling his eyes. Scotty was safe. That was all that mattered.

“Hey, kiddo.” Cal walked over and knelt down beside the boy and the dogs. Penny jumped up and licked his face.

“Uncle Cal, Penny got out the gate and ran down the street. I ran after her to catch her, but then I got lost-ed. I think Penny wanted to see her mom though. I think she misses her…” Scotty’s voice cracked. “Just like I miss my mom.”

Cal sat on the floor, pulled Scotty into his lap, and wrapped his arms around the boy. “I know you do. I’m sorry I can’t fix it for you.”

“But you’re gonna make it so I don’t have to go live with my grandfather, right?” Scotty looked up at Cal, his eyes bright with worry.

“I am trying my best, kiddo.” Cal hugged the boy closer. “But you know, you can’t go running off like that. Even if Penny gets out. You come get me or Becky Lee, okay? We were so worried.”

“I was worried, too. It got dark with the storm and I couldn’t figure out which street was the way home. Then Penny led me here, but I couldn’t get the door open to the store.”

Gil came over and handed them two steaming mugs. “Hot chocolate. Figured it might help warm you two up. Good thing I came back tonight to get my laptop. When I pulled in, I saw Penny in the headlights. Brought them both inside and called.”

Cal stood up and shook Gil’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough.”

The bell jangled in the front of the store and Becky Lee came rushing over. She leaned down and scooped Scotty into a hug. “Oh, Scotty. You’re okay.” She stroked his hair, holding him close. Tears streamed down her face and she did nothing to hide them. She stepped back with a hand on each of his shoulders and looked at him closely. “You are okay, aren’t you?”