The Lost and Found Read Online Free

the cabinet in his tiny kitchen, pulled out a mug, and quickly filled it.
    The small room was lit only by the first rays of sunlight coming over the tree line. Josiah carried his mug to the large window overlooking the mountains, watching as the sun rose slowly. Looking down he saw a buck and three doe as they scampered into the trees. Tipping his head back he finished his first cup of coffee and contemplated a second. Setting it down for a minute, intending to get dressed, he glimpsed the photo lying on his coffee table and picked it up, his dark blue eyes roving over the platinum blonde.
    She was at the beach, standing in the surf up to her thighs, splashing water at someone off camera. The sun touched her skin turning it golden, making her hair almost seem white. She wasn’t looking at the camera, but off to her right, sort of over her shoulder. He could tell she was fit, could see the muscle tone. Her frame was slender, almost petite. Her swimsuit was modestly cut in grey and hot pink, and she wore some kind of cover up item in a lighter shade of grey — the material had slipped off her shoulder, leaving several enticing inches exposed — it was a lovely shoulder, he reflected. She was smiling, laughing really. It was her smile that had first caught Josiah’s eye.
    There was such happiness on her face that when Josiah had seen the photo on Billy’s desk last year he’d picked it up without hesitation and just stared at her. Josiah had felt the warmth trickle through him, quickening his nerves, his muscles, his heart, his head. Her happiness made him happy. Without being aware of it, a smile had begun to tug at the corners of his mouth. When Billy had offered to give it to him, Josiah had been a little surprised, a little unsure. He looked to the older man in question.
    “She’s my granddaughter, Crimson Sage. You’ve probably seen her photos around the house.”
    Of course Josiah recognized her. Billy had numerous pictures of her and her brother around his big ranch house. Though he’d never caught her name until now. He held the photo out to Billy, intending to return it. “She’s cute. Seems nice.”
    “Keep it,” Billy told him, a knowing look flashing in his eyes.
    Josiah had taken the photo back to his apartment and set it on his coffee table; not a day had gone by since that he didn’t pause for a moment and smile with her.
    A sharp knock at his door had pulled Josiah from his thoughts that morning. He set the photo down and walked to his door. Opening it he found Kelly, one of the younger boys at the ranch.
    “Billy needs you! Something happened,” Kelly wheezed as soon as the door had opened.
    Josiah figured Kelly must have run all the way over from the big house. He left the door open and turned to his dresser. “Let me throw on some clothes and I’ll be right there. He at the house?”
    “Yeah, his office.”
    Josiah quickly pulled on his knit shorts then his jeans; he grabbed a t-shirt and slid his feet into his boots, not bothering to lace them. He’d tried to imagine what the emergency was. Had one of the boys gone missing? Was there a fight? Was someone hurt? He’d followed Kelly back down the stairs and then they’d sprinted toward the big house. Josiah easily passed the younger boy.
    He found Billy seated behind his desk; it looked like he’d just slumped there. The older man’s face was pale, his breathing shallow and hitched — he held his head in trembling hands. Josiah pulled up when he saw him; shock registering in his body. Had Billy had a heart attack? Did he need to call an ambulance? He didn’t know what he’d do if something happened to the old man.
    “Billy?” he asked, his voice raw with concern.
    Billy raised his head, looked at Josiah with pain-filled eyes. “She’s gone. She’s gone,” he whispered brokenly.
    Josiah leaned over the desk, not sure what to do for the older man. “Who’s gone, Billy?”
    “My Theresa,” he said through trembling lips. “My