Buck took Abby’s hand and steadied her as she walked over to him and stood facing the wheel.
Buck put his hands around her waist, holding her tightly as she pushed fearlessly on the throttle, sending the boat into high gear. She giggled above the sound of the motor, her pigtails fluttering like flags in the wind.
“Whoa, girl. Let’s not get in too big a hurry!” Buck pulled the throttle back to a respectable cruising speed and turned the boat so they were headed straight for the island and away from other watercraft.
“All right, Cap’n,” he said. “Let’s go fishin’.”
Abby’s tiny hands gripped the wheel as the pontoon seemed to glide over the light chop, the wind blowing in their faces. “Look out, fishies,” she hollered gleefully. “We’re gonna catch you!”
Buck let go and allowed his granddaughter to take the helm, her expression pure bliss. He memorized the moment, hoping that one day she, too, would look back, remembering the magic of their time together …
Buck felt Halo rubbing his leg and was startled back to the present. The possibility that Abby might not come home suddenly overwhelmed him. He wrapped his fingers around the railing, his heart pounding. That girl was something special. He loved all his grandchildren, but he had a powerful connection with Abby. He couldn’t imagine life without her.
Lord, help us. You know where Abby is. Please bring her home to us. Don’t let any harm come to her. I’m trustin’ You know what’s best. But this is hard.
Buck thought about all the times he’d faced adversity and how God had been his Rock, his source of strength. Whatever happened, Buck could count on the Lord to see him through. But what did Kate and Hawk have to lean on? And Jesse’s newfound faith was still fragile. Would he be turned off to God if his prayers weren’t answered the way he hoped?
Lord, I’m not tellin’ You how to do Your business. I’m just askin’ for a little help down here. We got us a mess on our hands. I don’t mind sayin’ that I’m feelin’ mighty helpless.
Buck reached down, picked up Halo and set her on his shoulder, then walked back toward the lodge. He spotted the yellow scarf Kate had tied on the railing of the umbrella deck to express her own quiet hope that Abby would be home soon. How much longer would it be there?
Virgil’s cell phone rang. He put it to his ear. “Sheriff Granger.”
“Hey there, handsome,” said a female voice.
Virgil smiled. “Hey, yourself. What’re you doing this afternoon?”
“At the moment, I’m standing outside your door with a Flutter’s double cheeseburger and crispy shoestring potatoes. But if you’d rather I go away …”
Virgil jumped up and opened the door.
“That was quick.” Jill Beth’s infectious laugh echoed in the detective bureau.
He took the sack, the delicious aroma wafting under his nose, and let her inside, then shut the door behind him. “Let’s sit at the table.”
Virgil had the contents of the bag out and opened in a matter of seconds. He took a bite of the cheeseburger. “This is so great. How did you know I hadn’t eaten?”
“You never remember to eat lunch when you’re immersed in a case.”
“Didn’t you bring something for yourself?”
Jill Beth shook her head. “I had a Caesar salad hours ago. If I eat now, I won’t want any of the honey-baked chicken I’m fixing for dinner. Not that I’m under any illusion that you might miraculously appear at the dinner table. I invited the boys, but only Reece can make it. He’s coming at seven after he gets off work. I told him I wasn’t sure about you.”
Virgil smiled. “Stranger things have happened.” He grabbed some shoestring potatoes and stuffed them into his mouth. “Maybe I’ll come home and have dinner with y’all, and then come back here later. Then again, maybe we’ll get lucky and find Abby and Jay before that.”
“How’s Kate?”
“Hanging by a thread. She was just starting to get a handle on her grief, and now this has her on the edge again.”
“You think foul play is involved?” Jill Beth said.
“Too soon to say. We don’t have much to go on.” Virgil gave her a quick overview of what they knew for sure. “Shoot, Kate doesn’t even know where the slope is.”
“How many grassy clearings are there on Sure Foot Mountain?” Jill Beth’s puppy eyes were wide and questioning. “That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”