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  “My impression was that you felt I had ulterior motives for wanting to keep Lucy and Brittany,” Willow said, intentionally interrupting the blast of Sandi’s monologue.

  “I was wrong, okay? I’m just so worried about them. Now I’m afraid to leave them alone for a minute, or that DFS woman will come tromping into our home and try to take them away, and I can’t—”

  “I’m sure that won’t happen without good reason,” Willow said.

  There was a short silence. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Sandi demanded, her voice suddenly even more shrill.

  What was wrong with her? “Those people are already so overworked, it isn’t as if they’re searching for children to snatch from their parents,” Willow explained.

  More silence, then, Sandi said, “The girls ask about you a lot, you know.” Once more, Willow found herself scrambling to keep up with the racing emotional roller coaster Sandi seemed to be on. “They keep wondering when you’re coming back to sit with them again. They miss you.”

  Willow missed them, too. “Last I heard, you felt that I was dangerous to them,” she said.

  “Okay, but I wasn’t thinking straight. You’re obviously not a mother, or you’d know how hard it is to raise two little girls alone.”

  Willow felt the sharp edge of Sandi’s words. “You’re right, I can’t possibly understand. So why did you even bother to call me?”

  “Because they like you a lot, Willow. A whole lot. They keep talking about you, and they ask about you, and wonder where you are and why you don’t ever come to see them, and I don’t know what to tell them because you never call us anymore.”

  A chill slid down Willow’s spine. Why was Sandi chattering and repeating herself? And why would she expect me to call her?

  Willow closed her eyes, her hand gripping the hard plastic of the cell phone. What kind of person were those children living with? “Sandi, where are the girls now?”

  “What do you mean? They’re at school. Where else would they be? Brittany’s in kindergarten this year, and I’m trying to work when they’re in school, but I can’t make a living just working days, and those people—”

  “Did you drive them to school this morning?”

  “No, the bus picks them up, and I try to be here when they get home, but sometimes I can’t because you know how the traffic is, and—”

  “Are you on some kind of medication?” Willow asked.

  There was silence.

  “Sandi, what’s really going on with you? Are you okay?”

  More silence.

  “Look, if you called me to—”

  The line went dead.

  Willow shoved her phone into her purse, mystified and clueless. Why had she even bothered to talk to the woman?

  She knew the answer, of course.

  Those two little girls. If it was within her power, she couldn’t allow anything to happen to Lucy or Brittany.

  Graham gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove the sharp curves of Highway 76 toward Branson. He had called and left a message at the hospital for Preston to have Willow contact him as soon as she arrived.

  If she ignored that message, she wouldn’t have to worry about her stalker catching up with her, because Graham was going to personally strangle her. How inconsiderate to needlessly worry people who cared about her.

  “Graham, you’re going to break that steering wheel in half,” Ginger said beside him. “What’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing. I’m just a little tense.”

  “You mean you’re still stewing over that fight with Willow this morning?”

  He glanced sideways at his sister. “You were eavesdropping?”

  “Nope, but it sure didn’t take a genius to read your body language.”

  “Willow’s ignoring my calls. That woman is the most stubborn, self-sufficient person I’ve ever met.”

  “Last I heard, self-sufficiency wasn’t a sin.”

  “No, but it’s extremely rude to ignore a helping hand from someone who wants only the best for you. I had to tell her this morning about hiring Larry.”

  “Well, maybe if you’d been up-front with her to begin with—”

  “Thank you, Miss Manners. I’ve been through that routine three times already this morning. Don’t start it again.”

  “Three times?”

  “Once with Willow, once with Larry, once with myself. Now she won’t answer my calls.”

  “Well, relax and slow down or you’ll get us killed on this next curve.”

  Graham eased his foot slightly from the accelerator. “I realize now I should have told her, but I didn’t expect her to freeze me out completely.”

  “You’d be upset if you were in her situation,” Ginger said. “You know she values her independence, and yet you didn’t respect that.”

  “I did apologize.”

  “Fine, then give her a chance for the apology to sink in. And stop being so controlling. What’s she supposed to make of your behavior? She’s never seen you falling in love before.”

  The words hung in the air unchallenged for a long moment as Graham navigated an S curve. “Don’t start with me this morning.”

  “I’m not starting a thing. I’m just commenting on what I see, and what I see is quite interesting.”

  “I give Willow the same respect I hope someone would give you in the same situation. You call that interesting?”

  “Very. I see the way your gaze seems drawn to her every few moments during dinner at night when we’re all home, and the way you try hard not to act as if you’re interested.”

  Graham couldn’t prevent a grin. “You’re a hopeless romantic.”

  “I can cut the attraction with a steak knife around the house lately, and the fact that you avoid being in the same room alone with her on some occasions is, to me, very revealing.”

  “Attraction is a dangerous thing. It can make you do dangerous things, make dangerous decisions.”

  “Attraction is a vital part of a promising relationship,” Ginger said.

  “Need I remind you that we’ve both made some bad decisions based on attraction?”

  “I learned from those stupid blunders. You have, too. You just don’t trust yourself. Deal with Dena so you can get on with your life.”

  “I’ve dealt with her, thank you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I called Dena and apologized. Last week, in fact. I did it just to get you off my back. So get off my back.”

  “So you do realize Willow is special.”

  “I’m not blind. She’s struggling with a lot right now. She doesn’t need further complications in her life.”

  “You wouldn’t complicate it,” Ginger said. “You’d make it better.”

  “You know that for a fact?”

  “I sure do,” Ginger assured him. “Being around you has made my life better. Give yourself some credit.”

  Graham turned left on Highway 76 in Branson West. Fifteen more minutes, and he would see for himself if Willow was safe at the hospital.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The volunteer information clerk looked up from his place at the reception counter when Willow entered the hospital lobby. “Mornin’, Miss Willow. How’s that brother of yours?”

  “Hi, Harry.” She stepped over to the desk, where the partially bald, fiftysomething man greeted newcomers and regulars alike as if they were long-lost friends. “He’s almost healed and ready to get out of this place.”

  “I heard he’s hoping to get sprung today, tomorrow at the latest,” Harry said. They had discussed Preston’s condition at length in the past weeks, as well as the latest news about the best music theaters in town, the best places to eat, the state of the economy. Harry knew a little about everything and everyone.

  He motioned for her to come closer. “Word’s out that you and Dr. Vaughn are sweet on each other. Is that just a rumor, or should I be looking for a wedding gift?”

  Her smile grew wooden even as she fel
t the blood rush to her face. “Now, Harry, where did you hear something like that?”

  “Carl from the lodge is the one who said something to me about it.”

  “Well, that just goes to show never trust rumors.”

  Harry looked disappointed. “Too bad. That Dr. Vaughn’s a fine man.”

  She forced her smile back into place and winked at him. “Does he pay you to say that?”

  Harry chuckled as she walked away.

  She nodded to three more familiar faces as she stepped down the hallway toward the bank of elevators. Though Clark was a large state-of-the-art hospital, it had a small-hospital atmosphere, and she had become acquainted with several of the staff who attended to Preston.

  She had discovered, visiting with Mrs. Engle, that the older lady was quite popular. This meant Willow often encountered neighbors from the apartment complex both when she was visiting Preston and when she was with Mrs. Engle. She had encountered the Jasumbacks twice, Mary Ruth Blevins once, and Carl Mackey made it a point to visit with Esther Engle and Preston every time he pulled a shift in the pharmacy, which was three times a week.

  Willow stepped into an elevator to find a man already there—another familiar face. Rick Fenrow.

  She’d become more acquainted with him in the past week, encountering him in the hallways or in Preston’s room. She had come to look forward to his quick smile and encouraging words.

  Today he carried a set of patient charts under his arm. The smile was in place, as always. In fact, today, as had been the case for the past week, the smile was a little friendlier.

  “What a great way to start the week,” he said. “Riding in the elevator alone with the prettiest woman in Branson.”

  She laughed. “Rick, you know how to turn on the charm.”

  “With a face like this, a guy’s got to have an alternate plan to woo the ladies. Preston might be sleeping. He was up half the night last night, probably too excited to go to bed. He wants out of this place as badly as I do this morning.”

  “Maybe tomorrow.”

  They reached the fifth floor just as Willow’s cell phone beeped from her purse. She grimaced. There were signs telling visitors to turn off their cell phones in the hospital, and she usually complied, but this morning she’d been preoccupied. She’d forgotten. But since she knew she wasn’t in an area of the hospital where cell phone activity could interfere with medical equipment, she checked the tiny screen, saw it was Sandi and answered as she stepped out of the elevator.

  “Sandi, why did you hang up on me?”

  “I’m sorry.” Now the woman’s voice was wobbly, as if she were crying. “I’ve ruined everything. This is all my fault.”

  Willow’s steps slowed automatically. “What do you mean?”

  “Can we talk in person?” Sandi asked. “Will you meet me somewhere?”

  Willow glanced back toward the closing elevator doors and gave Rick a wave. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Sandi gave a watery sniff. “Please,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. I can’t stand this anymore. I n-need help. I’ve got to talk to somebody. I was going to talk to you before, but…but he warned me not to.”

  “He? Who are you talking about?”

  “He’s the one who took the girls. I know that now. It wasn’t you.”

  Willow’s hand tightened on the phone. “Sandi, if you know who took them, why didn’t you tell the police?”

  “I couldn’t face it. Don’t you see? I wanted you to be the one who took them. I knew you wouldn’t hurt them.”

  The woman was living in a fantasyland. Either she was high on drugs at this moment or she was psychologically unstable.

  “Sandi,” Willow said more gently, “tell me who took them. Why couldn’t you face calling the police?”

  “Because…I couldn’t. I don’t have proof, and if the police checked him out or took him in for questioning, he’d know I was the one who called. It’s all falling apart.”

  “What is, Sandi? What’s going on with you?”

  “Not on the phone. I’m so…scared, Willow, and I can’t do this alone anymore. He doesn’t want me talking to you. He hated it when you were staying with them at night, and if he finds out I’m talking to you right now he might take the girls again. This time we won’t find them.”

  “If you’d just tell me what’s happening to you, maybe I can find a counselor or someone to help—”

  “No! No, please, can I meet you somewhere? Where are you now? I could drive to wherever you are.”

  “I’m at the hospital visiting Preston,” Willow said. “Do you want to meet downstairs in the lobby?” That way they could talk in full view of others.

  “Not the hospital,” Sandi said. “Too many people. I can’t take the chance we’ll be seen.”

  Willow hesitated. Tell her no, Willow. She’s up to something. She’s tricking you. But she sounded genuinely frightened.

  “Please?” Sandi said softly. “There’s something you need to know about…about the fire. And about some other things. I can’t talk any more over the phone. I can’t risk it. I think he might have some kind of bug in my apartment.”

  “Where are you calling from?”

  “I’m in my car on my cell. Willow, this is bad stuff, and it’s getting too scary.”

  Sandi couldn’t possibly be confessing to arson, could she? “Like what?”

  “Meet me at the marina at Big Cedar.”

  “There will be people there, too.”

  “Tourists. Not locals. Just meet me, okay? And please, don’t bring anyone with you. I don’t trust anyone, and you’re the only one I’ll talk to.”

  “No,” Willow said. “You’re not the only person in danger here, Sandi.”

  “I know. You are, too. But the marina is out in the open, and it’s busy. I can’t risk…anything else. I’ll be there at ten this morning.” She disconnected, and Willow found herself standing outside Preston’s room, wondering how on earth she’d allowed Sandi to believe they would meet.

  What did Sandi know about the fire?

  Graham dropped Ginger off at his clinic on Fall Creek Road and drove on to the hospital. As a licensed physician’s assistant, Ginger could open up and see the first scheduled patient for him, though the first patient wasn’t due for another twenty minutes.

  At his request, Ginger had tried once more to reach Willow on her cell phone as they’d traveled into town, and it was busy.

  At the hospital Graham spotted Willow’s dark red Subaru Outback in the covered parking lot. Relief washed over him. He’d been more worried than he had allowed himself, or Ginger, to realize.

  When he stepped to the open door of Preston’s room moments later, Willow was sitting at her brother’s side, her voice soft and urgent.

  “I never said our hardships just suddenly disappear when we believe in Christ. Look at my life, Preston. Would I believe something like that?”

  “Mom and Dad said it enough,” Preston grumbled. “I grew up being told God hears our prayers and cares for us, and yet I watched Mom fight to retain her sanity for as long as I can remember.”

  “I know. I had a hard time with that, too.”

  “So tell me how you can keep hanging on to faith in a God who allows you to go through what you have.”

  Graham knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop, but he certainly couldn’t interrupt them right now, and if he retreated they might be distracted from a very important conversation.

  “Because there have been too many times when He was all I had,” she said softly. “I believe what I read in the Bible, and though it does say God loves us and blesses us, I haven’t found a single verse taken in context that convinces me God will prevent me from experiencing life’s trials. He’s there with me through them, though. And He continues to be with me.”

  “How do you know?” Preston’s gruff voice was gentle.

  “You’re alive, aren’t you? And God placed Ginger and Graham in our lives at just the right time.” Her
voice wobbled, and for a moment there was silence.

  “Why does God have to come into that? They’re just good people who are supportive friends.”

  “Of course they are,” she said. “But their presence in our lives is no coincidence. Nothing is coincidence.”

  “You mean like the fire? Or Travis’s death? God decided to let those things happen?”

  “Yes,” Willow said. “These past two years, there’ve been so many times that I’ve awakened in the middle of the night wondering how I could go on, but I would recall certain times when God sent something or someone special into my life at just the moment I needed to be reminded I wasn’t alone. Though I was often angry with God, I knew He was there, and His Spirit was with me in the darkness. I knew there was more than just this miserable life. I have an eternal future.”

  Silence, and Graham was just about to knock on the threshold and announce his presence when Preston said, “You never told me before that you were angry with God.”

  Willow took her brother’s hand. “I didn’t want to shake what faith you had with my own doubts. But I’ve discovered in the past couple of weeks that, in spite of my anger, He pursues me with this supernatural, relentless love that I can’t escape. Now I’m not so afraid to be angry, or to talk about it. And I’ve found that when I do that, my anger isn’t nearly as harsh.”

  Graham cleared his throat then and stepped into the room. “So you’re saying that what you’re going through has increased your faith?”

  Both brother and sister looked around at him in surprise, Preston with a smile of welcome, Willow simply startled.

  “Graham?” she said. “I thought you had clinic today.”

  “I do. I’m sorry, I truly didn’t intend to eavesdrop.”

  “No problem,” Preston assured him. “It was getting a little too serious for this early in the morning.”