His only withness

gh of relief as a s

d her car along the narrow dirt road, pul

riven in

r si

when they'd started out. He'd brought al

es or skateboarding, her son lov

e could think of f

to e

that Tom now fa

g mysteries, He'

until he realized t

ing a

oining in the

d through

him to explain it

her silenc

skin with excitement when Wade c

raveling

her son she'd like nothing more than

o the cabin, cut the ignition and st

., no n

rough her and she

represented protection

ooked over his

peg as fake from a mile away. To

n and bounded

she scrambled after her son. "H

already knew w

d beaten them here

apable of trying to run her son down

keep him from testi

as he hurried after Tom. "Ready

led

ound, waiting as

literally vibrated

. Kerri knew the prospect of spen

g but pure

the cabin, she popped the trunk and

Tom's sleeping bag and

spered through her She should hav

look of the place

ted windowsthe

tender loving care

rked together t

oor, shake out ru

ldn't help but not

explaining every

uraging Tom to par

tleness about

in high school. H

e did his bes

aritable thought

to soften where

if she hadn't se

ightly in a v

r, Kerri flipped t

ad out one of her

rweb-covered broom

were outside tur

ce, their idea of cleanline

e

in spite

or as she was wiping down the

said to try

e sink and cranke

de as they came back to life. Air bu

n wa

om crinkle

d. It ll clea

hands on her s

dn't heard him

s ?"" h

, a grin spreading wi

ch, making a show of moistening t

r hips, took a visual inventory of

ring my sleep

ile, not wanting

s plastered across her so

the door, but Wade reached out

uzzled expression but he shrugg

insides. If Wade thought Tom neede

She moved to the doorway. watching the two as the

en Wade reached over

flooded through

icked together, g

ared neals,

hat in a blink of

give way in a partially cons

as he passed and Kerri instinctive

told her she'd reacted too sharpl

e and she'd neve

h about what had

bout to tell him now or e

an who had attacked Pine Ridge, t

ble to return to life just

eth

on

oked at Wade

the sleeping bag,

for the way it o

be a

t she and Tom wou

e slept on the ba

the bedroom to re

Tom they'd take

, and Kerri had s

the time wh

side to double-ch

e in the living ar

end to the other,

in the corner of

re

er knees and swi

acing when the am

t and hit the fl

ed beneath her b

somewhere safe w

rieve the stone th

's boots entered h

you still have t

is voice rang

he heart and lifted her gaze to Wa

ix of amusemen

you'd remember

into a tight li

weak Smile and c

er of dust from the

his hand and K

palm. A relaxed

s his

of hamburgers to

did

s ?" Amusement d

head. You know

ut kept hold of

palm, scrutinizin

es and facets. I

ty with a bit o

he'd always want

n to stop her. "I

he one to

he words as soo

ently he'd asked himself the

it, if you real

d she mentally chastised

tone, but kept his hand on hers aft

dered what migh

't waited

eaving Wade's. She didn't want to

there was no den

countless times

wonderful father

shouldn't have b

e laughter. More

ween her and Wa

pace between them by lowering his

her hand, nor did he break their kiss,

em, tastin

ead and took a b

tips to her lips a

ere the

onsible for J

ke through Kerri

over a loose floo

the cab

" She fingered t

the urge to th

e he ki

g up John's deat

ng through, in the

issing her would ma

he steps and past

llowing a narrow,

out after her, no

ps behi

o

Word from the man. Not another p

or c

e'd blown it. He had his chance to p

utation by tarnishi

ll slope speed her pace, stumbling a

too much for her

t herself by looping on

in the woods be

ow

ea

cided to follow h

two to say to hi

ing to

ned in the direc

she saw not

de

of what she'd

eme

she re

pivoting on her h

liage ar

sounded again, t

r neck pricked

meonewas defini

ion was w

ction, and he reflexively pressed. ag

wly around, obvio

kled to

easure in pursuing this came from t

e licking fla

the i

g stru

he best cause. The sanc

t they'd told him w

or his ability to deliver the job a

had become his stea

the forest behind

fferent sort of thr

powerfu

her movements as she searched the

es. His body resp

umping throu

take her out, me

Sorenson out

nt as planned, S

woman's aid, lea

care of business

er the prospect bef

Now, he was just

of the witness

n very good wi

iate along to ta

d perf

per

catching hims

de

the woman's voice now. He used the m

h out and stroke

m with her startled gaze, the re

power welling ins

ng o

then made

TER Kerri, knowin

n the hell had

thinking, that

ftening of her f

. His senses had snapped back to h

the past. In wha

kisse

is eyes m

an

osedly focused on

he'd kissed the

s innocence in

ai

cent. John's de

c accident broug

or jud

tugged at Wa

s best friend an

angry-sometimes

ake such an amat

ad been due to

y growing sick

latantly across Ke

oked a

and hard to pro

t of his own. No fau

out to stop

res were doing no

ught so hard to re

ning the phrase

r do such a thi

Never had been.

le W

tone sliced cle

d to find Tom stan

atures twisted

e'd M

nd across his eye

needed to stretch her le

e down followed us here? The bad gu

is pale forehea

she

, and he gave thought to chasing

location would

m's thinking this morning's

uy was trying t

t to scare Mom, but he was coming

estify, right? Jus

ke in m

s real life.

want the kid l

it was an accident." He closed

. "But stick clos

. De

rapped an arm around his slender s

felt for the boy.

oy and hi

ened to either o

hoever hurt them w

and

ouldn't tell M

got enough to

r the top of To

nine-year-ol

uld answer, a scr

wooded surrou

an's

's sc

door, down the

liage before his bra

o

What if whatever had happen

ith Tom, who had obviously

oy's shoulders.

and

hat wa

e, and his pale eyes grew larger

s terr

shake. I'll takecare of your mom, I

nd to Tom's

to say. You were right when you sa

ccid

napped into foc

ide," Wad

ed in the opposite direction and away from the cab

, no scream, no anythin

ankle or hit her head. Maybe the t

than someone o

be, Wade was certain of

he had to do to

y pray he wa