We were on our way back to the stable when Cross rode up.
"I thought you were supposed to be with Lily and Olivia," Rye said.
His expression was grim. "I can’t find her," Cross said, and my heart sank. "I can’t find Lily."
"What?" I shouted.
"She cut herself—"
"Holy fuck. How hard is it to keep two women safe inside a house?"
"I’m sorry, Rye. Keane." He looked from him to me. "Truly. But we need to find her. She cut herself peeling a potato and, when Olivia went to get some salve for it, she ducked out the back door. I checked your place, and she’s not there, either."
A cold sweat washed over me, and Rye continued to swear.
Cross nodded toward our prisoner. "Something strange going on around here, huh?"
"Yes." I turned my horse and galloped back toward the stables. We had to find Lily.
The others caught up to me. Rye was unconcerned with whether or not Timothy Wentworth had a smooth ride. I’d have preferred to drag him behind the horse, but we might need him for some answers when he finally came to. Fucker.
I fought against panic. I was a trained soldier. Battle tested. And I’d never been so scared in my whole life.
13
RYE
* * *
By the time we got to the stables, word had gone out, and a large group of men were gathered. Some had already mounted, and all were armed. Grim faced, just like Keane and me.
We’d planned for this. Run drills. All the women were barricaded inside one of the cabins, a perimeter of armed men prepared to kill or be killed in their defense. It was an oath we’d all sworn, hoping the day would never come when we’d have to follow through.
That day was today. We could not fail. Dared not come up short.
I tossed our unconscious prisoner to the ground, and he landed with a satisfying thud. "Somebody tie him up and keep an eye on him. If anything happens to Lily, I’m going to kill him."
I’d never been more serious. I glared at the men who were waiting, but
not one of them objected to my plan. They’d all do the same. Cross stepped forward and hog-tied Timothy Wentworth then dragged him toward the stable.
"This man"—I nodded toward the scumbag as he traveled over the dirt on his belly like the snake he was—"is part of a group in Butte who want to destroy Bridgewater. Think it should be burned to the ground. And one of its most prominent members is Lily’s former employer."
"That man you kneed in the balls at the hotel?" Simon said to Keane.
"Yes, and I’ve got much worse in mind for when I get hold of him."
"We need to start searching right away. Has anyone seen anything out of the ordinary today?" Though not a trained soldier, I had taken on a commanding role in the search for our bride.
Everyone shook their heads. How could we all have missed it? Our opponent might be more skilled than I had at first imagined.
"It’s going to be full dark soon," Simon said. "I’ll take a group to the west. That all right with you, Rye?"
Our bride was missing. We were in command, regardless of experience or rank. We had the most at stake.
"Yes, do that, Simon. If you find anything, fire two shots into the air."
Another group headed east. Keane and I, along with a few others moved toward the cabins and barns. On a ranch like Bridgewater, there were many places to hide. If they’d left the ranch already with Lily... well, I could not allow myself to think that.