Page 2 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

"No!" she said hotly "Please, no! If you could just give hway"

He held up a callused hand "Shh," he said "Devon, I know you’re from there I don’t knohy and you don’t have to tell me, but it’s pretty clear you needed to be out of the place if you’d drag your kid out in the dark of night and walk over a mountain" He frowned "She is your kid, ain’t she?"

"Of course!" She looked down "I got a ride over the "

The child looked like her"Just sit I can help you out here You and the little one would be safe while you figure things out You don’t have to be out on the highway, takin’ your chances"

She just looked at hihter continued to move Frosted Flakes around in her bowl, apparently oblivious to the conversation "Why?" she whispered

"I told you why You need details? There was this war you’re too young to even know about and I came home a mess and no one wanted any part of et or get the noise in our heads to stop We had the VA but folks didn’t even kno to help Vietnam vets Like I said, I took a lot of charity I worked some here and there, slept on the street soot a house and a job That’s irl--we’re gonna have to es ’cause I knehere you came froot pretty round at that, but she remained ets in here and decides to start work for the day, I’ll take you soet clothes that don’t just holler commune-for-Christ or whatever that is you come from"

"The Fellowship," she re to keep a low profile around here it wouldn’t hurt to cut off that braid or soood idea?"

She chewed her lip a little bit, thinking this over When she did speak she said, "I know about Vietnaain she said, "Maybe I’h away Froht come lookin’ for you?"

She shook her head "I don’t know I don’t think so, not really They’re not bad people But"

Rawley let that hang a minute "But?" he prompted

"They didn’t wantback," she added vehemently

He cleared his throat "Then we play it safe If you see any of ’em snoopin’ around, you better sound the alarm I’ve been in this town almost every day for over four years and no one from that place ever came here My house is in Elmore, a thirty-minute drive frouess there’s a chance some folks from around here have been to that produce stand, or what you call the co yourself a new look onna have to do to make it work"

"What’s that, Mr Goode?"

She reht and was probably worn to a nub

"Gonna have to trust a stranger, aze "Last tiure that ht that place was safe A refuge Bent on charity and good works But if it was a good and decent place, you’d have left in daylight with money in your pocket I’m old and I’e and it saved et you some Walmart clothes and I’ll take you and the little miss here to my house You’ll have a safe and warht wanna pretend to be kin--like hter I didn’t have no direct family"

Devon actually sht wanna call ood measure"

"Rawley," she said "I’ers right now It ain’t safer thuuaran-daive you ti it"

Spencer Laas new to Thunder Point He’d taken the job of Athletic Director and coach at the local high school and he and his ten-year-old son were living in Cooper’s fifth wheel while looking around for a place to rent He had to adht on space, especially in the bathroom, it was not only convenient but it was a pleasure to wake up every day and see the bay He didn’t have much of a kitchen in the RV, but then he wasn’t ht next door, Cooper had the equivalent of two kitchens and a nice big outdoor gas grill

Spencer had been up for a while With coffee still in his cup he decided to wander next door to Cooper’s place He left Austin, sprawled crossways, asleep in the big bed They’d been sharing a bedroo with Austin was like sleeping with the entire fourth grade Most nights Spencer escaped to the sofa in the living room As he walked across the deck toward the open doors of the bar, he heard voicesa woman’s voice as she said, "No! Please, no!"

And he stopped He heard Rawley shush her and say, "Devon, I knohere you’re froive me details and I don’t have to knohy"

Spencer saw Cooper and Sarah out on their boards, ski across the bay smoothly, the movement of their paddles synchronized Quietly he took a chair outside the opened doors, sha on the conversation In fivewoman with a child who had run away froious order And Raas not only going to help her, but he would help her keep it secret While he was dying to walk into the bar and get a look at this young runaway, he didn’t want the

A fewin off the water They stowed their boards against the dock and untied the dog from it Hamlet made a beeline for the deck This was Spencer’s cue He stood and waited for theorous head and ear , Ham?" Sarah and Cooper strolled leisurely up the stairs to the deck

"What’s going on?" Cooper asked Spencer