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"Then why?"

His eyes darkened; his brows hooded them "I wanted to That simple I really, really wanted to"

Oh My

"Listen," Devon said "We should probably put our energy into a friendship I think reat deal to overcome"

"I know I do," he said Then he stood suddenly, whistled and shouted to Austin "Too far! Get back here!" Then he sat down again "I really don’t knowand ed "Maybe you’ll tell me about it one of these days"

"Tell you what?"

"Where you really came from Who Mercy’s father is What you’re worried about Your friends can’t help you unless they understand"

Unco enough for her to catch sight of a black SUV with darkly tinted s driving down the road froasped She covered herat the edge of the bay not fifteen feet away, digging deep holes and filling their buckets et sand She looked back at the car And she started to treripped his wrist "Oh, no," she said "Oh, God"

"You’re afraid of that car"

"I have to go I have to--"

"Are they here for you? Looking for you?"

"I have to" She stood "I have to"

"Stop," he said "Just stay right here Sit down and don’t o see who they are, what they want Don’t run--just keep an eye on the kids and Austin"

"I knoho they are," she said, her face white as chalk "I knohat they want"

"Then know this You’re safe when you’re withhi hiht back Then he took the stairs two at a ti from the deck just as alot Cooper was not in sight, probably busy with his fa, and Raas behind the bar He sat down on a stool at the bar

The -sleeved shirt, although it was summer His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his hands and forearms bore a few thin scars, what you would expect from a farmer or rancher

"Help you?" Rawley asked

"Yes, sir I’ for a woman, sir She’s kind of tall Blonde Around thirty-five or so She’d have a seven-year-old boy and a pregnant girl with her"

Rawley frowned and shook his head "She got a name?"

"Reese," he said "Boy’s nairl is due to have a baby real soon They’refrom where?" Spencer asked

The man didn’t answer immediately "Near Myrtle Creek Farged "More or less I’ve known her a long time I work the far?" Rawley asked

He shook his head "She didn’t take a car I think she got picked up"

"Got a number we can call if we see her around?"

"You haven’t seen them, then?" he asked

"Hasn’t been anyone new around here in a long tih a divorce, ye see, but she’s gone back to Texas Anyway, she’s way over thirty-five You worried they been snatched?"

"We’re worried in general"

"You talked to police?" Rawley asked

"It’s family business," he said "If you haven’t seen her, I’ll just"

"Wanna leave that nuone?" Rawley pressed

"It’s just been a day or two, but there’s no reason they should go anywhere Especially without saying where they were going It’s a lad to keep an eye out--I’uy--he’s in town ever day You’ll watch for her, eh?" he said, looking at Spencer

"Of course Yes"

"Now That number?" He pushed an order pad and pencil toward theturns up, I’ll give you a call, Mr"

"Johnson," he said "Na about this place, Mr Johnson--it’s real small One main street, no apartments for rent, no jobs--most folks are either fishermen, local workers or they hold jobs out of town There ain’t nothing going on I been here for years A couple of woot tourists, mostly for the beach And I watch over the beach If your people pass through, I’m bound to notice"

"Thank you, sir," he said politely "Appreciate it"

Seconds after the door closed, Rawley looked out the back door and Spencer went out to the deck He was hoping Devon wasn’t watching the black SUV--that ht tip the the children and Austin, who paddled by theht

Rawley came back behind the bar and wrote down some letters and nu eyes "Devon tell you about herself?" he asked

Spencer shook his head "That first ht her here, I heard you and her talking I’ve never said a word to anyone"