LAKE BELTON (September 24, 2009)–The frantic search for a missing Bell County woman ended in relief for one Central Texas family.

Tanya Nicole Tanner Bullard was reported missing Monday evening, but turned up safe and sound Wednesday with a friend in Fort Worth.

The 26-year-old mother was attempting to start a new life.

Tanner Bullard's family reported her missing after they say she left work early but didn't go home.

Tanner Bullard sent a text message to her supervisor around 8:30 p.m. Monday stating she had to leave her post at Frank’s Marina on Lake Belton for a family emergency.

A witness told her family they saw her lock up the boathouse early, get into an unknown car and drive away.

It was the last time anyone heard from her until she resurfaced late Wednesday afternoon in North Texas.

The Frantic Search Begins
Early Monday evening, Tanner Bullard sent her husband, Wes Bullard, to the store for a list of items to purchase.

Bullard, also employed at the marina, tried unsuccessfully to contact his wife on her cell phone after he had completed his shopping task.

Jamie Moon, Tanner Bullard’s mother told News 10 that Bullard became increasingly worried for his wife after the marina supervisor answered the office phone.

The supervisor told Bullard his wife had left work because of a family emergency, Moon said.

Further calls to Tanner Bullard’s cell phone went unanswered.

Because no one in the family knew of an emergency, Moon said her biggest fear was that someone had abducted her daughter.

According to a law enforcement source, Tanner Bullard was actively involved in an on-going county corruption case.

Moon told News 10 that she feared for her daughter’s life because Tanner Bullard had turned state’s evidence in the lawsuit involving a hate group in northern Texas.

Tanner Bullard’s brother, Ronald Edward Tanner, hit the streets around Lake Belton on foot Tuesday night searching for any signs of foul play while other family members took to the phone lines calling any and everyone they could think of that had ever had contact with Tanner Bullard.

“A Carefree, Easy Lifestyle”
It was later learned that a fight with her husband and the promise of a "carefree, easy lifestyle" in North Texas drove Tanner Bullard to run away earlier in the week.

Her parents say that Tanner Bullard had called a friend to take her to Fort Worth where she planned to start a new life, but after seeing a report on News 10, she realized her family's concern and called to tell them where she was.

Tanner Bullard is now at home in Belton with her family.

Bernadette Flores contributed to this story.