Free What the Heart Knows by Margaret Daley

without a word, he headed toward the grove of trees. Kathleen linked her trembling fingers together as though she was praying. Yet no words came to mind. She’d forgotten how to ask God for help, wasn’t sure if He would even listen to her now.
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    â€œI won’t do it! Leave me alone!”
    Mark’s plea echoed through the dense trees and propelled Jared to a quicker pace. He scanned thedark shadows looking for the boy, but he wasn’t sure which way Mark had gone.
    â€œGo away!”
    The shout, almost to a hysterical level, urged Jared to the left and deeper into the trees. His heart pounded against his chest, matching the sound of his tennis shoes pounding against the hard-packed dirt.
    Who was bothering Mark? Someone in the youth group? Questions raced through Jared’s mind as he raced toward Kathleen’s son. He should have come sooner—not talked with Kathleen for a few extra minutes.
    Pushing through some thick underbrush, Jared paused to listen for any more sounds. All that greeted him were birds chirping in the treetops and a scurrying noise behind him. Nothing else. Squinting, he searched the shady expanse before him. Finally slumped against a large elm, curled into a tight ball, he saw Mark.
    Jared tore through the forest, ignoring a branch as it slapped against his chest. An eternity later he squatted in front of the teenager, his breathing coming in gasps.
    â€œMark, are you all right? Did someone hurt you?”
    The boy remained still, only a slight tensing of the shoulders indicating that Mark might have heard him.
    â€œMark,” Jared said more urgently.
    Kathleen’s son seemed to shrink into a tighter ball.
    Jared’s concern escalated. He laid his hand on Mark’s shoulder and shook him gently. “Please let me help you.”
    Mark unfurled his lanky body and raised his headto spear him with half-closed eyes. “Dr. Matthews, why are you here?”
    â€œI heard you yelling at someone. I thought maybe you were in trouble.”
    Mark shoved to his feet, nearly sending Jared backward. He stood, too, noting the boy’s disheveled appearance; he looked almost as if he had wrestled with someone on the ground. Again Jared wondered who had been bothering Mark in the woods.
    â€œWho were you talking to?”
    Mark turned away. “No one.”
    â€œIf you’re having a problem with someone, maybe I can help.”
    â€œEverything’s fine.”
    â€œAre you—”
    â€œI’m hungry. When’s lunch?” Mark started back toward the lake, not looking around to see if Jared followed him.
    Jared let Mark go, giving him some space. He peered into the trees around him and saw no one else. Yet the boy was keeping something from him. So often teenagers think they can solve their problems alone, he thought, finally heading back toward the others. Jared made sure he kept Mark in sight at all times. It was obvious the boy had had a run-in with someone.
    When Jared emerged into the sunlight, the lake only a hundred feet away, Mark was back with the others, off to the side, observing Aaron reeling in a fish. The coolness of the forest vanished to be replaced with a warmth that should have made him feel better. He didn’t. Mark was a deeply troubled teen.Was it because of his father’s untimely death or something else? Was he taking drugs? Or was he ill?
    Kathleen strode toward him, her short auburn hair reflecting the rays of the sun, the look in her dark-brown eyes troubled. The worry etched into her features only reinforced his own concern. He wanted to help her. In the brief time he’d known her that had become important to him. Maybe if he helped her, he would feel he had atoned for not being there for Alice. Whatever the reason, Kathleen and her son were part of his life now, and he intended to discover what was wrong with Mark, then correct it.

Chapter Five
    â€œI thought you were gonna be here a half hour