Free Desperate Rescue by Barbara Phinney Page A

at humor. “No. I panicked. Never mind.”
    A cold breeze found a break between his collar and his neck, driving a chill down his spine. Could Noah be that close? No way. He’d have triggered the explosives while they were still in the house, not waited until they’d escaped over the fence.
    “It was probably just an animal. Raccoons can make quite a racket for their size.” He unlocked the passenger door. “Let’s go.”
    The drive home was long, excruciating and deathly silent. Out of all she’d said, even that she’d thought he was Noah, one thing lingered in Eli’s mind throughout the drive. That she thought that trusting in God was horrible. Or even teaching someone such. Sure, the method she’d mistakenly thought was being used was just plain wrong, but still, the dislike of even trusting in God had been harshly evident in her tone.
    Any advice, Lord? I sure could use it now. His casual prayer sounded impudent and he cut it off sharply.
    Lord in Heaven, guard my thoughts. Give me the words I need to minister to Kaylee.
    All he felt in the quiet of the car was a sense of patience trying to reach into him. Wait, the Lord seemed to say. Patience.
    Patience with Kaylee? Or for finding Phoebe?
    But for seven years, he’d been patient. More now? With Phoebe gone who knew where? He didn’t feel like being patient anymore.
    It was well after dark when Eli finally turned off the highway to head into Riverline. They passed the motel where he’d taken a room. But the edge to the evening told him that he wouldn’t sleep there tonight.
    He’d be watching Kaylee’s house instead.
    “I’m sorry you didn’t find Phoebe,” Kaylee told him softly as he pulled into her driveway. “What are you going to do now?”
    “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll stick around for a few days. I have some calls to make and it’ll be easier if I stay in one place.”
    “Suit yourself.” She climbed out, grabbing her small knapsack and eyeing him with caution as he thrust his own door open. “I just know that I’m planning on sleeping a whole lot better knowing that Noah is far away.”
    He walked her to her front door, contemplating whether or not he should remind her of what he’d said back there in the police station about Noah wanting her dead, as well. Should he ruin one decent night’s sleep for her?
    Instead, he asked, “How do you feel now that the whole compound is gone? The buildings, house, everything?”
    “Relieved. Plain and simple.” She studied his face. “Why? How do you feel? I’m sorry I said that stuff about Noah killing the rest of them.” She tried a smile. “But we, I mean, the police dog, didn’t find any bodies.”
    “Thank you.” The night breeze had picked up a chill from the river and he knew he should let her go inside.
    But being here with her…felt normal. And for a long time, nothing in his life had felt that way. Suddenly, a part of him didn’t want to remember that Noah may not have fled south.
    He cut off the thought. No. He had to stay very aware of that fact.
    “I’m glad that there was no one in the house,” he answered quietly.
    “But you’re not happy that Phoebe’s gone.”
    “True. She’s still alive, though. I’ll find her.” He stepped back onto the narrow sidewalk leading to her little house. “Will you be at church on Sunday?”
    “You weren’t planning on staying that long, were you?”
    He lifted an eyebrow and watched her cheeks redden in the glow from the streetlight above his car. “It may take me a few days to get the information I need, and I’d like to see your church.”
    She hastily unlocked her front door. “It’s not my church. But of course, they’d welcome you. I tease Lois that she’s always looking for fresh blood.”
    He smiled and she returned it immediately. He could feel how relaxed she was and wished he felt the same.
    He should remind her of his concerns. “Kaylee, there’s something you should know.”
    Immediately, a dog