Free Heartland by Sherryl Woods Page B

He refuses to give up hope.”
    Tommy’s eyebrows rose fractionally. “Steven?”
    â€œI had to send for him,” Lara said defensively. “He knows about this sort of thing.”
    Megan shot an irritated look at her husband. “Of course, you should have called on him. Can we talk to him? I want to hear what’s happening with my baby.”
    Lara nodded. “I’ll take you to him.” She grasped Megan’s hand, and with Tommy on the other side of her, they crossed the stretch of land to the rescue site. Steven broke away from the cluster of men as soon as he saw them. He held out his hand and after an instant’s hesitation, Tommy shook it.
    â€œWhat have you done so far?” Tommy asked.
    Quickly and unemotionally, Steven brought them up-to-date on the efforts to free Kelly. “I’ve got someone down there now bringing out rocks. It’s tedious work, and all we can do in the meantime is wait.”
    â€œSurely there must be something more,” Tommy said. “Don’t worry about the expense. We’ll find the money somehow.”
    â€œIt’s not a question of money. Hell, if it were, I’d gladly pay it myself. This is just something that takes time. The last thing we want to do is rush the job and cause a cave-in.”
    Megan gasped at his words. Steven instantly reached out to squeeze her hand. “Don’t worry. It’s not going to happen.”
    â€œCan I talk to her?”
    Steven and Lara exchanged glances. It was Lara who responded. “She’s been asleep for a while now. I think all of this wore her out.”
    Megan’s eyes widened, and for the first time the realization of her daughter’s danger hit her fully. She bit her lip and gazed helplessly up at Tommy, then back at Lara. “Are you sure...are you really sure she’s asleep?”
    Lara swallowed her own doubts and embraced her sister-in-law. “I believe that with all my heart.”
    â€œWhat about Jennifer?” Tommy asked. “Who’s taking care of her?”
    â€œShe’s at my house,” Steven said. “Mrs. Marston, my housekeeper, is with her. You’re welcome to go over there and spend some time with her. It’ll be a while before anything happens here.”
    Megan nodded. “I need to see her.”
    Tommy looked so torn that Lara finally stepped in. She could readily understand Megan’s need to see for herself that her other child was all right. “I’ll take her,” she told Tommy. “You stay here and do what you can to help.”
    He looked at her gratefully. “Thanks, Sis. Tell Jennifer I love her.”
    Outside Steven’s house, Lara found herself slowing her steps. Megan regarded her curiously. “Are you okay?”
    â€œI just never thought I’d be setting foot inside this house.”
    Even though it was well past midnight, Mrs. Marston had apparently been awake. She threw open the front door just then. “Is there any word on the little one yet?”
    â€œNot yet, I’m afraid. I’m Lara Danvers.”
    â€œI recognize you, girl,” she said readily, and Lara assumed it was because she’d seen her around town. It wasn’t until they were upstairs that she realized it was more than that. As Megan went in to sit beside her sleeping daughter, Lara couldn’t resist peeking into the master bedroom to see if it had been built the way she and Steven had planned it all those years ago. What she found took her breath away.
    The bay window had exactly the view they’d envisioned, the window seat deep and padded with comfortable cushions. The bed was large enough to readily accommodate two tall people with a penchant for tossing in their sleep. It was what she found on the stand beside the bed that really threw her, though. In a small silver frame there was a copy of the one picture ever taken of her and Steven together. No wonder the