She shouted for Mrs. Dalton.
They followed.
Fifty yards into the cottonwoods, Anna heard Lily.
"Anna!"
The girl stood beside an old irrigation ditch.
Her dress was muddy.
One knee was bleeding.
But she was alone.
Anna ran to her.
Lily threw both arms around her.
Anna held her so tightly the child squeaked.
"Where is he?"
"Who?"
"The man."
"What man?"
Lily pointed toward the trees.
"Mr. Charles."
Anna went cold.
"He said Daddy sent him."
Mrs. Dalton cursed softly.
"What happened?"
"He asked where Anna kept her suitcase."
Anna stared.
Lily continued.
"I told him I didn't know."
"Good."
"He said you were leaving and needed the papers."
Anna hugged her again.
"Then what?"
"I said Daddy said he was a liar."
Mrs. Dalton muttered, "That sounds like Lily."
"He grabbed my arm."
Anna closed her eyes.
"I kicked him."
Mrs. Dalton almost smiled.
"And Jasper bit his coat."
Lily nodded.
"Then I ran, but I fell in the ditch."
"Where did Charles go?"
"I don't know."
They returned to the ranch just as Thomas rode in.
The moment he saw Lily, he jumped from the horse before it fully stopped.
He crossed the yard in seconds.
Lily ran into him.
Thomas dropped to his knees.
For almost a minute he could not speak.
He held the back of her head.
Checked her face.
Her arms.
Her injured knee.
Then he looked at Anna.
She saw something fierce in his eyes.
"Charles?"
"He found her."
Thomas stood.
"Where?"
"Gone."
"He asked about my papers."
Thomas looked toward the road.
Anna grabbed his sleeve.
"No."
"He touched my daughter."
"I know."
"I'm going to find him."
"And do what?"
Thomas did not answer.
That terrified her.
Anna stepped in front of him.
"Thomas."
"He used Lily."
"I know."
"He could have hurt her."
"I know."
"Move."
"No."
His eyes flashed.
Anna did not move.
"If you ride after him angry and kill him, Lily loses you."
The words struck hard.
Thomas froze.
Anna's voice shook.
"She has already lost one parent."
All the anger left his face at once.
He looked toward Lily.
The girl stood beside Mrs. Dalton, crying quietly.
Thomas closed his eyes.
Then he removed his hat and pressed one hand against his forehead.
Anna whispered, "Let the truth destroy Charles. Don't let him destroy you too."
Thomas looked at her.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then he nodded.
Deputy Harris found Charles the next morning.
He was hiding in an abandoned line shack three miles south.