Ever since CB said some "came up here and lured her away", i have interpreted "up here" to be the general area of their property including areas that are just near their property (such as the road). I don't know exactly what area she meant by that, of course.
I know it is said the dog lost the scent at the road, but there could be some reason for that we don't know about. Maybe there was some other scent (i am thinking of an irritating smell... More like fumes than an odor) that confused the dog.
However, was SW lured away and taken or lured away and lost? We don't know what she saw, heard, and experienced that day.
For much of the day, her decisions were made for her. She rode in the backseat of CH's truck while CB drove around doing various things. Sometimes H was with her, but a lot of time she was alone.
A couple of times she was able to get outside. At the horse pond, she ran ahead and jumped in it and began jumping around. And picking up H, she got out and went into his house.
I really enjoy reading your posts, you put a lot of thought into them. The lured away and lost crossed my mind also. So SW could be a distance from her home, busy doing whatever she was doing and lost. The possibilities are so open for this child.
Imagine you're five. This is a boring day. Except for a little while playing in the water and seeing H for the first time in a while. I suppose going to Sonic might be fun, but otherwise, she just sat in the backseat of the truck.
I am not saying they didn't talk to her, but she's five. She wants to run around and play. From all accounts, she is used to running around outside, playing on her swing, playing with her toys.
I do not assume she ate anything we weren't told about. I do not assume there was food she could eat in the car unless we count the candy scattered beside her. Absolutely trivial things are part of the narrative of the day including getting a piece of candy from CH. Therefore, MOO, if there had been food (even so much as a few chips) it would have been mentioned. Jmo