Read Online Anyplace But Here (Oklahoma Lovers Series Book 5) by Callie Hutton - Free Book Online
Authors: Callie Hutton
Ads: Link
When you find her, you can tell her she’s been fired.”
Telling himself punching the obnoxious man in the nose would only serve to slow him down, he slammed out of the restaurant and headed to the police station. He filed a report, but the officer on duty who took his information hinted that it had probably been some type of lovers’ quarrel and she ran out on him.
What was especially vexing was the small amount of information he had on Emily. The officer’s smirk grew as Hunter explained that Emily was from Louisiana, had no family to speak of, never spoke of friends outside of her current job, and seemed to be running from something. Even the fact that she’d left without a word to anyone and without retrieving her possessions from the boardinghouse held no sway with the officer. Hunter was sure the report made it into the garbage pail as soon as he left.
The only thing he could do at this point was wait until the restaurant closed, then talk to the waitresses who were on duty last night. One of them had to know something.
He returned to his vehicle and laid his head against the seat cushion, blowing out a frustrated puff of air.
Emily, what happened? Did your past catch up with you?
“She’s gone.”
Jesse and Tori looked up from where they sat on the sofa in the parlor, sharing the Sunday newspaper. None of the family had arrived yet for Sunday dinner.
Hunter stood, legs braced apart, panting from anger and frustration. “Emily never arrived at the boardinghouse last night after her shift at the restaurant.” He ran his fingers through his hair and started to pace. “The very unfriendly woman there was no help, and neither was her supervisor, Mr. Tinsdale. Instead of being concerned a young woman had disappeared, they only wanted to make sure I inform Emily when I find her that she’s been fired and no longer has her lodgings.”
His insides tightened with fear. Emily was in trouble, he knew it. Why hadn’t she confided in him? Whatever it was, they could have worked together to resolve. With his Ranger’s background and contacts he could have protected her from anything she’d left behind. He should have pushed her more, watched her closer.
“What about the police?”
He blew out a deep breath. “I filed a report, but from the way the officer smirked at me I’m sure he thought we had some type of a falling out and she left town.”
“But you don’t think so.”
“No,” he snapped. “And what I do think has me scared to death.”
Jesse put the newspaper aside and glanced at Tori. “Care to explain that to us, son?”
Emily opened her eyes and blinked as sunlight streamed through the small window, unsure for the moment where she was. She was lying in a narrow bed that was moving.
Moving?
She groaned as her memory returned, along with an overwhelming sense of dread. Louis had found her. Not only had he found her, but had promised to make a scene if she didn’t turn around from the table where he sat and immediately leave the restaurant through the back door where he would meet her.
Defying him would have not only resulted in an embarrassing scene, but useless since no one was likely to help when they learned he was her husband. Wives had no rights.
She shuddered as her mind drifted back to the scene the night before.
With her heart pounding so hard it had almost made her sick, she had turned and left the restaurant building. She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Louis yanked her arm from behind and whispered to her. “I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry you will be for this.”
Her knees buckled and he all but dragged her to a waiting taxi, one of the new vehicles recently seen on Guthrie streets. He shoved her into the automobile and instructed the driver to take them to Oklahoma City.
“I have my things at the boardinghouse.” A truly foolish thing to say, but maybe if she was able to return there she could leave a note for Hunter.
“Your things can just
Telling himself punching the obnoxious man in the nose would only serve to slow him down, he slammed out of the restaurant and headed to the police station. He filed a report, but the officer on duty who took his information hinted that it had probably been some type of lovers’ quarrel and she ran out on him.
What was especially vexing was the small amount of information he had on Emily. The officer’s smirk grew as Hunter explained that Emily was from Louisiana, had no family to speak of, never spoke of friends outside of her current job, and seemed to be running from something. Even the fact that she’d left without a word to anyone and without retrieving her possessions from the boardinghouse held no sway with the officer. Hunter was sure the report made it into the garbage pail as soon as he left.
The only thing he could do at this point was wait until the restaurant closed, then talk to the waitresses who were on duty last night. One of them had to know something.
He returned to his vehicle and laid his head against the seat cushion, blowing out a frustrated puff of air.
Emily, what happened? Did your past catch up with you?
“She’s gone.”
Jesse and Tori looked up from where they sat on the sofa in the parlor, sharing the Sunday newspaper. None of the family had arrived yet for Sunday dinner.
Hunter stood, legs braced apart, panting from anger and frustration. “Emily never arrived at the boardinghouse last night after her shift at the restaurant.” He ran his fingers through his hair and started to pace. “The very unfriendly woman there was no help, and neither was her supervisor, Mr. Tinsdale. Instead of being concerned a young woman had disappeared, they only wanted to make sure I inform Emily when I find her that she’s been fired and no longer has her lodgings.”
His insides tightened with fear. Emily was in trouble, he knew it. Why hadn’t she confided in him? Whatever it was, they could have worked together to resolve. With his Ranger’s background and contacts he could have protected her from anything she’d left behind. He should have pushed her more, watched her closer.
“What about the police?”
He blew out a deep breath. “I filed a report, but from the way the officer smirked at me I’m sure he thought we had some type of a falling out and she left town.”
“But you don’t think so.”
“No,” he snapped. “And what I do think has me scared to death.”
Jesse put the newspaper aside and glanced at Tori. “Care to explain that to us, son?”
Emily opened her eyes and blinked as sunlight streamed through the small window, unsure for the moment where she was. She was lying in a narrow bed that was moving.
Moving?
She groaned as her memory returned, along with an overwhelming sense of dread. Louis had found her. Not only had he found her, but had promised to make a scene if she didn’t turn around from the table where he sat and immediately leave the restaurant through the back door where he would meet her.
Defying him would have not only resulted in an embarrassing scene, but useless since no one was likely to help when they learned he was her husband. Wives had no rights.
She shuddered as her mind drifted back to the scene the night before.
With her heart pounding so hard it had almost made her sick, she had turned and left the restaurant building. She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Louis yanked her arm from behind and whispered to her. “I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry you will be for this.”
Her knees buckled and he all but dragged her to a waiting taxi, one of the new vehicles recently seen on Guthrie streets. He shoved her into the automobile and instructed the driver to take them to Oklahoma City.
“I have my things at the boardinghouse.” A truly foolish thing to say, but maybe if she was able to return there she could leave a note for Hunter.
“Your things can just
Similar Books
