Free The Rivals by Joan Johnston Page B

“She had to leave. Duty called.”
    â€œDuty? What kind of female are you bedding these days?”
    Drew grinned. “This one’s a deputy sheriff.”
    Clay put two and two together and said, “Her name wouldn’t be Sarah Barndollar by any chance?”
    Drew’s grin disappeared. He started to frown, then winced and put a hand to his bruised forehead. “How did you know?”
    Clay took a breath and said, “Kate’s missing. The detective came by to ask some questions and pick up Kate’s picture.”
    â€œMissing?” Drew sat up abruptly, then gingerly touched his head.
    â€œHow’s your head?” Clay said. “You seeing double or anything?”
    â€œIt’s just a bump,” Drew said irritably. “Tell me about Kate.”
    Clay crossed to sit in a cowhide and burled-wood chair near the crackling fire. “Don’t know much. She called Libby to say she was coming home, then left the Mangy Moose this afternoon with some stranger, and we haven’t heard from her since.”
    â€œLet me get my hands on the sonofabitch, and he’ll be sorry he touched a hair on her head,” Drew said.
    Clay had been forced to tell Drew that Kate was his daughter because they both vacationed at Forgotten Valley, and he wanted Kate to be able to visit him there. Kate had taken an instant liking to Drew—most females did—and the two of them had become fast friends.
    â€œWhy aren’t you out looking for her?” Drew said, sliding to the edge of the bed and reaching for his shorts.
    â€œYou’re not going anywhere until I’m sure you don’t have a concussion,” Clay said.
    â€œTo hell with that. She could be lying hurt by the side of the road.”
    Clay’s hands tightened on the arms of the chair. “There’s nothing we can do until it gets light. I’m meeting Libby for breakfast at Bubba’s. You’re welcome to join us.”
    â€œYou’re damn straight I’m going to join you!” Drew staggered, then sat down. “As soon as this damned headache is gone.”
    â€œHave you taken anything for it?”
    â€œI’m not supposed to take anything,” Drew mumbled as he got back into bed and pulled the covers up over himself.
    â€œGet some sleep,” Clay said.
    â€œI’m not supposed to sleep,” Drew muttered.
    Clay slid his tuxedo jacket off, then slumped down into the chair. He didn’t think he could sleep himself. But he needed to get some rest if he was going to spend tomorrow hunting for his daughter.
    He was almost asleep when he remembered he hadn’t called Jocelyn to tell her what he’d found out about Kate’s abrupt departure from boarding school. His wife’s sister had been a great comfort over the past year since Giselle had died. He and Jocelyn had been dancing at a British Embassy ball when Clay had gotten the call on his cell phone from Libby that Kate was missing. He’d taken Jocelyn’s hand and sought out his father to tell him he had to leave.
    â€œThere you are, Clay,” his father had said when he saw him. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
    â€œIt looks to me like you and your partner have been enjoying the music,” Clay said, glancing at the attractive woman dancing with his father.
    Clay still had trouble making himself say his stepmother’s name. He’d hated her for too many years when she was the wife of his father’s mortal enemy, Jesse Creed, to feel comfortable being cordial to her. She shamed him by smiling up at him with genuine affection.
    â€œI’m having a wonderful time, Clay,” Ren replied.
    Though she was well into her sixties, Lauren Creed—for the past twelve years Lauren Blackthorne—was still a beautiful woman. His father had loved Ren his whole life, even while he’d been married to Clay’s mother Eve. The doomed love triangle had