Chrystal Bones (Finding Home Book 1) by Billie Jo Hanlin

chattering about his horse ranch and how when he grew up he was going to race horses because he liked to go really fast and horses could run faster than he could. Blue smiled and wrapped him in her energy. “He's a little chatterbox,” she sent to Riley. She felt Riley's answering smile.
    "It didn't take you long to get here. Is he in Lincoln?"
    "A few miles outside of it. It will only take us a couple of hours to drive here. Stay with him until I get back in case the LCA shows up."
    She thought about trying to give the boy some of her energy. He really shouldn't be as tired as he was. She rejected the idea for now. He looked healthy, just tired and dirty. It would be better for him if he went back to sleep until she and Riley could get to him.
    When she got back she hovered over her body long enough for Leo to give her a snort and show his teeth. His way of telling her to quit delaying. It was always wretched forcing herself back in to the confines of a physical form but she took the hint and let her astral self seep into her body.
    She sat up and gave Leo a hug with arms that felt so heavy it took effort to move them. Then she turned to Riley and nudged her at the same time she said, "Time to come back."
    A few minutes later Riley opened her eyes. "He went back to sleep a few minutes ago. I think he will be okay until we can get there.”
    "Call big brother and tell him to use that fancy helicopter of his to get down here. He can meet us in Lincoln." Blue tossed Riley's phone to her at the same time she picked up hers and stuck it in her back pocket.
    They headed out the door with Leo on their heels.
    Blue looked at Leo. "You can go but you're going to have to stay in the car. You know how people get,” she said opening the back door for him. She had removed the back seat of the Jeep Liberty and padded the floor for him to lay on. Leo loved to go for rides.
    When they were speeding down the highway Riley called Cole. She told him what was happening and that they were on the way to pick up Scotty. He sounded genuinely happy but shocked that they had found Scotty so fast. Blue listened as arrangements were made to have the helicopter meet them at a clearing along the road a few miles outside of Lincoln City.
    Riley pushed the disconnect button on the phone with satisfaction. "That will teach him to doubt us,” smugness oozed out of her pours.
    "Uh hmm. Hold the smugness until we actually have the boy." Blue drove as fast as she could down the winding road. Slowing only when going through the few towns between her house and Lincoln City.
    She pulled off the road and hid the jeep in the trees a half mile past the overgrown drive of the ramshackle house. Blue looked closely at every detail, every blade of grass. When she was satisfied that no one had come by in the time it had taken them to get here, she and Riley walked to the front door.
    The door had a padlock on it that was so new it still had the shine on it. Blue kept watch while Riley went to work picking the lock. She was better at anything electronic but in this area Riley was the best. She could pick any lock not electronic that was made. They entered the house cautiously. Making sure to look in every room, every corner before heading for the bedroom the boy was in. This door had a sliding lock on the outside so Scotty couldn't get out. Riley opened it and they entered the room.
    Scotty was sleeping peacefully, still curled up in the sleeping bag. There were a few empty cans of food and bottles of water set neatly in the corner along with a bucket for Scotty to relieve himself in. The room smelled strongly of urine and from the smell of the empty cans of food, Blue thought the boy had been left alone for at least a day, maybe two. One more thing the LCA had to pay for and she would be happy to make him pay.
    Riley knelt next to him and gently shook him awake. His eyes were cloudy when he opened them. He smiled when he saw Riley leaning over him. "You’re here. Can