“What?” she asked.

“I always wanted to go on one of those cattle ranch weekends with the guys. You know, live on the range for a few days.”

“Like that movie… oh what was the name of it?” She pictured the lead actors but not the name of the film.

“There’s one thing… only one thing,” Trent said in his best cowboy voice.

“You only have to find out what that one thing is,” she finished for him. “Who would you go with?”

“My brothers. They’d hate it.” His chest moved with his laugh.

“Why?”

“They’re the corporate type. Good guys, don’t get me wrong, but they both like the office more than the outdoors.”

“Stuffy?”

“No, no… just suited for the city. They didn’t get why I moved here.”

“Why did you move here?”

He took a deep breath, blew it out. “After my parents died I needed something new. I don’t know, something different.”

“Did you feel trapped when they were alive?”

“No. Not that. I just needed something else.”

Monica ignored the warmth under her shirt and the sweat under her hair and closed her eyes as they spoke. “And now you’re ready to go home?”

“Past time,” he said.

Home sounded good. Really good.

Chapter Sixteen

They flew in search and rescue teams from Texas and California. The California team had members of the fire departments surrounding the hospital in which Monica worked. Several of the men knew her personally. Jessie was overwhelmed by their support and desire to drop everything in aide of finding her sister and Trent. Unfortunately, that support didn’t find them instantly. It took hours for the teams to arrive and devise a plan.

While Jack and Jessie set up camp on Trent’s property, which included actual tents for the company of men and women on the search, Glen and Jason flew in Blue Paradise Helicopters and did aerial searches.

There were over a dozen friends of Trent’s, and a few new friends of Monica’s that were on foot or in cars looking for the missing couple.

A new face pulled up in an old jalopy that rivaled the car she owned before she met Jack. The man parked beside the house and jumped out of the car. Jessie welcomed the new arrival, in fact she welcomed anyone willing to help.

“You must be Monica’s sister,” the man said.

“I am.”

“I’m Walt. I work with Monica.”

“One of the doctors?”

“Yeah. Dr. Eddy.”

He ran a hand through his short brown hair. His hazel eyes looked as tired as Jessie felt. Jessie remembered a few conversations she’d had with Monica about Dr. Eddy, and for some reason never thought he’d be a young attractive man.

“Have we heard anything?” Dr. Eddy asked.

Jessie shook her head. Jack was on foot, somewhere, Gaylord at his side. Jessie stayed behind to help direct traffic and keep those who helped fed. Ginger barked at the newcomers until they greeted her with a pet.

“Not a word.” Jessie looked beyond the doctor, half expecting him to arrive with more people. “Are there others coming?”

“Dr. Klein is still at the main hospital. The rest of the team has already left the island or are leaving in the morning.”

They needed a village. “You’re staying?”

Dr. Eddy kicked the dirt off his shoes. “I’m the one who introduced Monica to Borderless Nurses. I’m not leaving until we find her.”

His conviction came through with a tight voice. Jessie couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Dr. Eddy had deeper feelings for Monica.

“You know she was last seen with Trent Fairchild, right?”

Dr. Eddy shook his head, a small smile on his lips. “Yeah. Nice guy. They seemed to be getting along… well, getting along.”

“And you’re OK with that?”

“Me? Oh… you think Monica and I?” He shook his head, dismissing any thought in Jessie’s mind about a romantic attraction. “Oh, no. Monica’s like a sister to me. She doesn’t put up with anyone’s shit, she’s the best damn nurse I’ve ever worked with, and if something’s happened to her—”

She held up her hand, stopping him. “We’ll find her, Dr. Eddy.”

“Walt.”

Jessie smiled.

She bent over a map of the island and pointed out where the current searches were taking place. “The helicopters are coming down with the sun. My husband and team one are concentrating their efforts here, team two is here.” She pointed to places along the road.

“This is the clinic. Did anyone get beyond this point?”

“Not yet. Reynard thinks Trent would have stayed on the south side of the island because of the water damage. So far there’s nothing along the shore to indicate they are there.”

“The island is full of waterfalls, pools… Trent might have taken her someplace like that.”

Jessie sighed. “Someplace romantic.”

“Exactly.”

“Yeah, we’ve thought of that. The locals are checking out the hot spots for romance. Most are met with clear roads and no signs of Trent’s car.”

“I’m guessing that he didn’t take her to a house… a hotel.”

“The hotels aren’t taking in guests.”

“And Monica is too dedicated to her job to toss her responsibilities to the wind for an island fling.”