couch, her face in her hands. “No one at the sheriff’s department will take this seriously—not after Abby ran them in circles, not once but twice.”
“Virgil will, and he’s ramroddin’ that outfit. They’ll follow his lead.”
“Once I open this door, there’s no turning back.”
Dad got up and sat next to Kate, his arm around her. “Have faith, honey. God’s got everything under control.”
I wish I could believe that. Kate laid her head on her father’s shoulder and linked her arm with his. “Dad, I know you’re trying to help. And I love you for it. But I had faith, and look where it’s gotten me. So please … let’s not talk about trusting God. Or His plan. His timing. Or His faithfulness. Not now. Not tonight.” She kissed his stubbly cheek. “I need to handle this my way.”
But I’m not handling it! I’m completely helpless to stop this madness!
Kate’s heart raced faster than her thoughts. She got up and walked over to the fireplace mantel and picked up a framed photograph of Abby. She traced her daughter’s face with her finger, her mind assaulted with visions of horror, of all the terrible things that could have befallen her child. She fluttered her eyelashes, the image of Abby turning into a blur. She was aware of her father standing next to her, putting her cell phone in her hand.
“Honey, call Virgil.”
Kate nodded. “I can’t lose her, Dad. I just can’t.”
Abby lay in Jay’s arms, praying for help and glad to finally feel warm.
“You awake?” Jay whispered.
“Wide awake. I’m praying for a miracle. Maybe there’s a way out of here we aren’t seeing.”
“It was stupid of me to think I could just take Ella and go to the sheriff.”
“We still might.”
“Abby … face it. We’re in real trouble here. No one knows where we are or even where to begin looking.”
“God knows.”
“He’s not telling!” Jay loosened his embrace. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. I’m just frustrated. I don’t want to die.”
“Me, either. But I’m not giving up. I’m not letting Isaiah Tutt break Mama’s heart all over again. At least not without a fight.” Abby was quiet for a few moments. “Jay, did Ella seem happy when you saw her?”
“She skipped down the path to the mailbox. So I suppose so. But Mrs. Tutt was stonefaced. Reminded me of my sixth-grade math teacher.”
“I don’t know what I would do if we got the chance to take Ella and she started crying,” Abby said, “and begged us to let her go. She doesn’t know any other life than this one, and leaving it would probably be traumatic.”
“You would rather she end up like Mrs. Tutt,” Jay said, “marrying some backwoods hillbilly and toting a rifle to the mailbox? She belongs at the Cummings house. She has the right to grow up at Angel View. And your mama has the right to have her baby girl back.”
“I know. I just wonder if Ella would ever get over it. If she would ever love us like we do her.”
Abby felt a tear fall on her arm, and it wasn’t hers.
Jay held her tighter. “I’m sorry I brought this on you, Abby. I’m sorry I shot your father. I’m sorry I didn’t know Isaiah had kidnapped Riley Jo. I’m sorry I never told my mom and stepdad. It never occurred to me the little girl with Isaiah wasn’t his daughter. I just never connected the dots until I heard his voice on the phone.”
“Why would you?” Abby said. “And there’s no point in beating yourself up. You were just a scared kid.”
“Old enough to know that I should’ve reported the shooting.”
“And just old enough to be terrified of going to jail and losing your father’s love. You didn’t do anything malicious, Jay. And, if it helps, I forgive you for shooting Daddy. I get that it was totally an accident.”
Jay sobbed quietly.
Abby let herself cry with him for a few minutes, then forced herself to stop.
“It’s important that we stay clearheaded,” she said, wishing she had a box of tissues. “There might be a way out of here if we just think it through.”
Chapter 22
Abby nestled next to Jay, her body aching and sore from having fallen to the ground, and her head throbbing where Isaiah had hit her. She had never been more scared in her life.
Lord, unless You help us, we’re not going to get out of this alive.
How ironic it was that she had grown close to the young man