Free Counting On It (Hearts for Ransom Book 1) by Georgia Evans Page A

would have jumped at the chance to keep the tents to themselves.
    Abby, silently trailing along, whispered loudly, “I hope Luke doesn’t have a bad temper. I’m afraid he could make mincemeat out of Brody.”
    “Brody’s a grown man. He can take care of himself. They all can…What are we still doing here anyway, Abby? We were here to greet them like Aaron told us to. Now it’s up to the guys. Let’s go to the camper.”
    Abby looked around at the paired up males walking to the campsites and, to Emily’s surprise, didn’t argue. She turned and headed for the motor home. Fast.
    In fact, Emily could barely keep up with her. “Where’s the fire?” They were practically jogging. “Will you slow down?”
    It wasn’t until they were inside that Emily saw the tears running down her friend’s face.
    “What’s wrong? Did one of the boys say something to you? I didn’t hear—”
    “No.” Abby grabbed a tissue from the box next to the couch. “It’s just that some of those boys—did you see the one with Logan? He looks like he hasn’t had a decent meal in God knows how long. And if Seth—Bo’s little brother—hasn’t been beaten, I haven’t been a mental health therapist for three years.”
    Emily silently sank to the couch beside Abby. “Do you really think that’s true?” The thought of anybody, but especially a child, going hungry or being abused made her feel sick.
    “Em, you’re a nurse. You’ve seen enough of it.” Abby looked at her accusingly. “You know it just as well as I do.”
    Abby was right. It was just that Emily didn’t want to know. Of course, these boys didn’t come from perfect homes or they wouldn’t be there. But to think that some of them were abused or neglected, and there really wasn’t anything she could do about it, was just too hard to handle.
    Somebody knocked on the door.
    Abby quickly dried her eyes as Emily walked over and opened the door. Pastor Rhinehart stood on the bottom step.
    “I’m sorry to bother you, Miss Scott, but we need to put the cold food away, and I just realized I have no idea where the kitchen is.”
    “It’s set up in the back of the recreation building—over by the playground. I left a door key to the kitchen on the stove so you can lock it once you’re finished. The other people here probably wouldn’t bother your supplies, but Aaron didn’t want to take any unnecessary chances. There are three coin-operated washers and dryers located in the main part of the building. They’re accessible to anybody camping here.” She just couldn’t bring herself to offer her assistance at the moment and didn’t think she was shirking her duties by not doing so.
    “Thank you.” He started to leave but then turned around to face her. “I know you probably think my method of pairing the men and boys was rather unorthodox. I prayed first, though, and I believe only good will come from this.”
    “I hope so,” Emily told him. Then, as he walked away, she softly repeated, “I hope so.”

Chapter 12
     
    “Because it will be uncomfortable in our tent if we don’t keep it neat.” Jesse was explaining why Austin with an Attitude needed to put his things away in an orderly fashion.
    “We just sleep in it at night. I don’t see the big deal.” Austin sneered at Jesse.
    Jesse’s smile faltered just a little as he firmly responded. “It’s a big deal because we are human beings and don’t live in pig pens. Now, I’ve asked you enough. Get yourself in there and straighten that mess up.”
    Wow. Who knew Stringbean had it in him?
    Muttering some colorful language, Austin did as he was told.
    Logan and Trevor had already put the boy’s meager possessions in their tent. It looked like the young man only had a couple of pairs of jeans, a few ragged looking shirts, and underwear. The church evidently provided him with a care package consisting of a bar of soap, generic shampoo, and can of deodorant. What Logan would give for a store and his