Chapter 20

 

Car after car pulled up to the trailhead, and Kate was so grateful for her small town and all the wonderful people who lived there. Cooper and Mason came together, followed by her parents and Hadley. She hugged each of them, knowing how lucky she was. Caleb didn’t have a close-knit family to call on, not since his brother died, but Kate wanted to give that back to him. She wanted him to know he was welcome in her world with all the people who loved her. They would love him, too, as if he was blood.

Shay showed up with Terry and Walt. Terry immediately took Kate in her arms, squeezing her tight against her chest. “When we find him, and we will find him, I say we kill him for giving me heart palpitations.”

Despite herself, Kate laughed. “Terry, I think that is a great idea.”

“Soon enough. I even put my flats on so he can’t run from me.” Terry lifted up her foot and pointed at her gold canvas slip-ons with rhinestones.

Sam pulled up next with another local fireman, Chase Marshall. Declan Calhoun, owner of everyone’s favorite bar, joined the crowd as well.

Kate felt the support of the community and it gave her strength, but when Cynthia and Devin, Red Maple Falls EMT’s pulled up in an ambulance, fear wrapped around Kate’s heart.

With everyone there she had managed to push all the negative thoughts to the back of her head, but now, staring at the flashing lights of the ambulance, she couldn’t ignore the possibility that Caleb was seriously hurt.

A warm hand slipped into hers, and Shay gave her a squeeze. “It’s just precaution. Caleb’s tough. Probably just got himself stuck in a rut somewhere.”

“I hope so.” She hugged her best friend tightly. “Thanks for coming.”

“At least someone’s happy I’m here,” Shay said, her eyes cutting to Matt.

“He’s just worried.”

“He’s a pain in my butt.”

“But you love him.”

“I do.”

Kate smiled and though it was forced, the benevolence that was in her heart was still there. The crowd grew, and when the last person made their way down the street, every person turned in wonder. Old Man Simpson, sober as could be, walked toward the front of the group.

“Bert,” Matt said, giving him a handshake and a pat on the back. “It’s good to see you here.”

Kate couldn’t believe her eyes, and from the looks on everyone else’s faces either could they. Old man Simpson rarely left his house. The only time most people ever saw him was when he was drunk driving his tractor down Main Street.

“Caleb’s a good man. If he’s in trouble, I want to help.”

Kate couldn’t stand back a second longer. She stepped forward and smiled at Bert. “How do you know Caleb?”

“He showed up at my house one day, and I haven’t been able to get rid of him since.”

A stunned Kate stared at the old man. Ever since that night she and Caleb watched him driving down Main Street, she saw something in Caleb’s eyes. He didn’t like to know about anyone being alone, because he understood what it was like.

He was out there now, somewhere in these woods, alone, thinking nobody cared about him. But she cared. She looked around to all the volunteers; they cared. She looked at old man Simpson and smiled. He cared.

“Let’s go find him,” she said, linking her arms through his.

Matt stepped to the front of the crowd and stuck his fingers in his mouth sending out a loud whistle that got everyone’s attention. He thanked everyone for coming then went over safety precautions and what they should do if they found themselves in distress.

“My mother has a cooler filled with bottled water. Take one. I don’t need anyone getting heat stroke on me,” Matt said and Kate’s mind went to her grandfather. What if Caleb was out of water? It was a hot humid day, and if he’d been out there in the middle of nowhere over exerting himself…she forced the thoughts out of her mind and focused on the task ahead.

“Good luck. I’m going to stay with the water bottles, but my heart will be with you in those woods,” Shay said and Kate pulled her in for a hug.

“Thank you. When I see you again he’ll be with me.”

“I have no doubts.”

Kate didn’t want to say it but she had plenty of doubts. Too many. But she had to be strong. She thought about her grandmother that day in the hospital and how she held it together. How she found the strength within to be strong for the man she loved. Kate needed to find that strength. She needed to be strong for Caleb.

With a deep breath, she surged forward, finding strength with each step she took.