A Forever Christmas - By Marie Ferrarella Page 0,54

woman rushed in. “I can’t find Jason,” Diane Lake cried without any preamble.

Dinner—what there was left of it—was instantly forgotten as Rick rose to his feet and crossed to the woman. The latter looked as if she was on the verge of falling apart.

“It’s going to be all right, Diane,” Rick said gently, trying to calm her down. “When did you last see Jason?”

It took Diane a moment to remember. All her thoughts were apparently scattered. “A couple of hours ago. He came home from school and wanted to play in the back before supper was ready.” There was fear in the woman’s brown eyes as she turned them on Rick. “He’s gone wandering off in the woods, I just know it. I told him not to—I always tell him not to—but he was mad at me…”

“Why was he mad?” Gabe asked. All three deputies had risen and closed ranks around the distraught woman, unconsciously forming a tight circle, as if the very act could somehow comfort her.

“I told him if he didn’t get his grades up, we wouldn’t get a Christmas tree this year.” Her voice nearly broke. She struggled to continue. “That the one in the square would be enough.” Tears were now sliding down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them. “I think he went to get one. Jason’s just eight,” she cried as if everyone in the room—except for Angel—didn’t already know that fact. “He’ll get lost.”

“We’ll find him,” Rick promised firmly. He addressed each of his deputies. “I want you to spread out. Hit the diner, the Emporium, wherever you find more than just a couple of people. Round up every able-bodied man and woman you can get,” he ordered. “We’re going to comb those woods and get that boy back to his mother before daylight.” He looked at the shaking woman. “It’s going to be all right,” he repeated firmly, willing her to believe nothing less. “Just hang in there.”

“I’ll come,” Angel instantly volunteered as she pulled on Gabe’s arm to get his attention.

Gabe flashed a smile at her. She didn’t know the terrain the way they all did. It was incredibly easy to take a wrong turn and get lost—or fall off a cliff that’s edge had been hidden by brush.

“Stay with Diane,” he advised. “She’s going to need someone.”

Angel had a better idea. “I can take her to Miss Joan,” she suggested. “That way, I can help search for the boy. Besides, Miss Joan’s so much better than I am at this kind of thing.”

Gabe really didn’t want to say yes because he didn’t want to risk her getting lost, as well. But he saw a stubborn expression enter Angel’s eyes and knew it was useless to stand in her way. So, reluctantly, he agreed. “Okay, we’ll take her to Miss Joan’s together. I’ll handle asking for volunteers at the diner,” he told Rick, raising his voice to get the sheriff’s attention.

Rick nodded, already hurrying out the door.

They left Jason’s frantic mother in Miss Joan’s capable hands.

“I’ve got just the tea for you,” they heard the owner of the diner saying to Jason’s mother. “It’ll soothe your nerves. Kids are always running off,” she said matter-of-factly, as if it was a fact of life that happened every day in Forever. “They’ll have him back before you know it.”

“When Miss Joan says it, it sounds like gospel,” Gabe commented as he walked out of the diner right behind Angel.

Once outside, though, he forgot all about Miss Joan and looked at the only woman who had come to matter so very much to him. “Here are the rules. I want you around me at all times,” he told her.

Under other circumstances, she would have readily agreed. Agreed and flirted a little, as well. But there was a small boy missing right now and every moment counted. And every moment they weren’t out there, looking, was a moment lost and one less that Jason possibly have left.

“But shouldn’t we spread out?” she asked. “We can cover more ground that way.”

That simple fact was not enough for him to agree and let her go off on her own. He’d tie her up before allowing that to happen.

“In case you haven’t noticed, it’s already dark outside—and it’s a lot easier to get lost in the dark. I’m not taking a chance on you disappearing like Jason. Now, if you give me an argument,” he concluded seriously, “I’m sending you home.”

She watched him for a long moment. He’d surprised