Delta's Dawn

checked in yet?”
Melody checks her computer and looks up at Daniel. “No, sir.”
“Odd.” He paces around the desk and snatches the phone. Thinking she must have slept in, he dials the number for her cabin and gets no response. “Thanks, Mel. If she shows up, send her outside.” He walks outside with the picnic basket and sets it down on the front porch to think. Her SUV was parked in front of the house when he left so, she couldn't have gone anywhere on her own.
 “Sorry, Daniel, but Delta got delayed,” Melody whispers and giggles as she hurries to help the morning customers. Zach owed her and Delta doesn't even know where he works or who he is. She won't be able to explain what happened. If the damn bear didn't scare her away, this definitely would do the trick. Nothing like being lost in the mountains to scare a city girl. Convinced her plan will work, she happily goes about her morning.
Chase pulls out front of the main lodge and finds Daniel sitting outside. “What’s going on? I thought you and Delta had a date?”
“So, did I. Somethings up. She's over an hour late now. I'm gonna drive home and see if she's inside. Call me if she shows up here. Can you watch Abby?”
“Of course, she’s at her riding lesson. I’ll pick her up. You go check on Delta.” Chase watches as his son jogs to his truck.
Thirty minutes later, Chase greets Abby as she finishes up with her lesson. “Are you hungry? Ready for a snack?” He asked, smiling hopefully.
“Always, Gramps. How about a veggie smoothie?” His face falls, and she giggles. “Just kidding, how about a shake?”
“You shouldn’t mess with an old man like that.” After visiting the restaurant, they settle out on the front porch with their treats, just as Daniel pulls back in.
“Hi, Dad,” Abby calls, and Daniel kisses her on the head.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Any luck?” Chase asks.
“No, and her car is still there. I knocked, and she didn't answer. I didn't see any signs of Sasha either.” Daniel is really beginning to worry now.
“It is possible that she changed her plans and forgot. Maybe she had a hot date?” Chase teases. Daniel glares at him.
“Delta left this morning, Dad. I saw her ride by in a red jeep at about eight,” Abby announces.
“What? Are you sure?” Daniel asks in surprise. “Could you see who it was?”
“Yep,” she frowns struggling to think of the boy’s name. “Oh, I can’t remember his name, but he works here.”
“How do you know that Abigail?” Chase asks his granddaughter.
 “It had that funny sticker on the bumper. The flute-playing guy.” Abigail sees the concern on both men’s faces and stops drinking. “Why, did something happen to Delta?” She asks softly.
“We don’t know, sweetheart. But this is important. If I drive you around can you point out the jeep to me?” Daniel asks.
“I think so.” She jumps up at the same moment Chase does. They toss their drinks into the trash and hurry to the truck.
Daniel doesn’t argue, he recognizes his father is worried for Delta. Soon they are in his king cab truck and driving out of the lodge parking lot to the private part of the ranch. “Daddy, Go back to the stables. I’ve seen the jeep in the back parking lot.”
Quickly, Daniel turns and heads two miles down the road. “When I ride, I’ve seen the jeep out back.” Abby is leaning out the window as he slowly snakes in and out of the parking lot. “I don’t see it.”
“There it is, Daniel,” Chase points under a tree noticing that the jeep is backed into the parking space. They park and jump out to look at the rear bumper.
“Hatchetman?” Daniel murmurs. “Zach!” He quickly tries the front door and finds it locked. The passenger side in the back is not locked. When he opens it his stomach drops. There on the floor is Delta’s purple backpack from yesterday. Inside is her wallet, phone, and gun! She wouldn't just leave that behind.
“Stay with Grandpa, Abby!” He zips it closed and heads inside the barn.
Chase takes Abby and urges her to get back inside the truck. Murmuring a prayer for Delta, he wonders where she could be. It's almost noon, and she has been gone over four hours now. Grabbing his cell phone, Chase calls the head of security for the lodge and demands they get over to the barn and hold Zach for questioning. It is only a three-minute drive from the main lodge.
Daniel has a different idea. He's just gonna beat the answer out of him. “Where's Zach?” He snarls as soon as he sees the first trainer. A white-hot rage is boiling inside of Daniel, tempered with fear for her safety.
“Stalls boss. He's on clean-up duty today.”
Zach is hosing down the stalls and doesn’t hear Daniel behind him until he grabs him and flips him around. The water hose drops shooting water into the air.
“I’m going to ask you one time. Where is she?” Zach drops the hose and stumbles backward against the wood wall. Daniel lifts the purple bag and shows it to him. All the color drains from his face, and he stammers out the answer.
“She wanted to go on a hike. I dropped her off at the top of trail thirteen.” Daniel punches him in the gut, and the force of the blow causes him to drop to the ground.
“Wrong answer. Delta wouldn't go without her bag, Zach. Where is she?” He roars.
“I, I, told you,” he coughs, “she went for a hike.”
Daniel growls and moves back in to hit him again when security grabs him from behind. Two men in front and two men behind grab Daniel's arms struggling to keep him contained.
“Hold him, boys,” Chase yells.