Face Off Read Free

for that.
    â€”Daddy, I’m not in any danger.
    â€”Da—
    â€”But—
    â€”Yes, Daddy.”
    She handed the phone toward Suzanne. “He wants to talk to you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You have to convince him to let me stay!”
    â€œI … I don’t know much about dealing with fathers,” Suzanne whispered back, taking the phone.
    â€œHello. Mr. Matthews?”
    â€œYes, this is Jake Matthews. Miss … Richards, is it?”
    â€œYes. Suzanne. Suzanne Richards.”
    â€œI’m sorry for our Jessie intruding on you like that. If you could just make sure she’s all right until we can get there, we would really appreciate it.” Suzanne could hear a mixture of anger and worry in the man’s voice as he spoke. “We’ll check on flights, but if we can’t get one right out, then we’ll start out in the car. No matter what, we’ll be there in ten, twelve hours. Would you mind watching after her until then?”
    â€œMr. Matthews, listen to me,” Suzanne answered. “There is a chance, albeit a slim one, that I might be able to help find your Amy. Why don’t you give Jessie and me a few days? Let us see what we can find out. I’ll take really good care of your daughter. I promise.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Miss Richards. I’m sure you believe in that stuff, and mean well, but I’ve already lost one daughter. I don’t intend to lose another.” Suzanne could hear the anguish in Jake Matthews’s voice as he spoke.
    Jessie suddenly reached up, covering the mouthpiece of the telephone with her hand, and spoke excitedly to Suzanne.
    â€œTell him the cow he is looking for is in the ravine just north of the old river road. Tell him she is giving birth and is in trouble—that the calf needs pulled.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDo it! Just do it!”
    Suzanne took a deep breath. “Uh … Mr. Matthews, this is going to sound strange, but the cow you are looking for is…” she hesitated, looking quickly at Jessie.
    â€œIn the ravine just north of the old river road,” Jessie whispered.
    â€œIn a ravine north of the old river road. She is trying to give birth, but is in trouble.”
    â€œThe calf needs pulled, ” Jessie whispered. “Tell him the calf needs pulled.”
    Suzanne rolled her eyes and flung one hand up in question to the girl.
    Jessie nodded, impatient. “He’ll know. Just tell him!”
    â€œMr. Matthews, the calf needs pulled,” Suzanne said quickly.
    She glanced at Jessie, whose forehead was wrinkled in concentration.
    â€œTwins!” Jessie whispered excitedly. “Tell him Sally is having twins and he needs to get to her!”
    Suzanne relayed the message, feeling more foolish by the minute. By the time Jessie’s mother came back on the line, she was certain the Matthewses would contact the police to retrieve their daughter from the madwoman. Instead, the voice she heard was more hopeful than skeptical.
    â€œJake has gone to check, Miss Richards. How did you know he had been looking for Sally for the last four hours? She is our best Holstein, but what with all the horror over Amy’s disappearance, we haven’t paid much attention to the farm lately. Then tonight Jake realized Sally hadn’t come in for the milking and he began searching for her.”
    Surprise registered on Suzanne’s face, and she looked at Jessie with new respect. She covered the mouthpiece with her hand. “Do you want me to tell your mother it was you?”
    â€œNo!” Jessie whispered. “Let them think it was you. Then maybe they will let me stay.”
    Suzanne removed her hand and spoke with a confidence she didn’t feel. “I’m glad I could help, Mrs. Matthews. And won’t you please reconsider letting Jessie stay with me for a few days? I realize you don’t know me, but if there is even the