“You know me too well.”
“We’re setting up a search crew now, but your sister Faith told me that you’re pretty banged up.”
“I’ll take it easy this time. No fighting bears,” I offered.
“I’ll partner with you and even bring you another can of bear spray, just in case,” he suggested.
“It has saved my life twice now. I think I should buy some stock in that stuff.”
Jimbo chuckled. “Can you drive, or do I need to come get you?”
“I’m walking out the door,” I lied.
My doctor had told me to take it easy even though my stitches had been removed. He hadn’t said I couldn’t help the police. It was the right thing to do.
I drove to the park entrance to find Jimbo talking to some game wardens. He was folding up a map and packing it up as I walked up.
“There she is,” Jimbo said, holding out a can of bear spray for me to take. “Did you bring the picture?”
I unfolded my sketch and handed it over. Jimbo and the rangers studied it, trying to decipher a few of the structures in the scene. I pointed out the things I remembered. The mountains in the distance, the clump of trees, along with an opening in a field.
“What are these?” Jimbo asked.
“Apples,” I answered. “Those were all apple trees.” I pointed to the woman who was beneath the tree. “She’s eating one too.”
“Groves Row,” one of the rangers announced. “That’s a ten-mile hike from here in the middle of nothing but forest. It’s a freak outcrop of apple trees that are out of place.”
“I think you should start there,” I said and watched as they called in the information and everyone disbursed through the trees.
“It’s a long hike,” Jimbo said, handing me a walkie-talkie. “We need someone to stay at base camp in case there are any other reports.”
“You’re benching me?” I gawked.
He handed me the bear mace and was jogging backward, as if knowing the longer he stayed, the better his chances were of getting yelled at. “You’re still helping. Only you’re helping to coordinate. Have some coffee and get yourself something to eat.”
He chuckled as he ran off.
I glanced up at the sky and cursed beneath my breath before stepping under the tent and sitting on one of the tables, the walkie-talkie next to me.
I didn’t know how long I’d been there, but I’d hopped off the table to pour some coffee. My back was to the cars when I heard the crunch of tires. I glanced over my shoulder and turned back to my coffee. I was doctoring the black magic as the sound of crunching leaves indicated someone was approaching behind me.
“If you’re looking for the woman, they went to go get her at the apple groves.”
“I’ve already found my woman, but she seems to be disobeying doctor’s orders.”
The sound of Harlon’s voice made my heart pitter-patter.
“Is that so?” I asked without turning around.
“I’m figuring out she’s kind of stubborn,” he said.
I slowly turned around as a smile split my lips. Even though I was excited he was here, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. “Did you lose your sister again and come back to kidnap me? Because you might want to think twice. Gwen won’t give you a three-day head start.”
His lips twitched as he neared and took my hand. “Sorry I haven’t had time to call.”
“I’m sure you had a lot of things to handle.”
“I made peace with Riley and his dad.”
