Page 38 (2/2)

"Yes, but I think you’re going to have to come to Thunder Point with your fancy equiple h a lot and if I help you, you’re going to have to help me a little"

Then Devon called Scott Grant and asked hi her and Mercy home

Of course he wanted all the details, and he deserved theave him the quick version and then told him that when she recovered, she’d tell hiht now I just need a day of rest and sohed and told her she could have whatever she wanted "Spence ith you," Scott pointed out

"Yes, because he’s that kind of hbor But that doesn’t mean he’s sorted out how he feels about me And Mercy That’s a different story"

There was a football ga she didn’t even know about the game, but she was completely aware and wondered if he looked into the stands, noticing she wasn’t there And she wondered if it would matter to him

She invited Rawley to coht dinner After they’d eaten and Mercy was occupied with one of her DVDs, they sat at the kitchen table over coffee and cookies and talked about their adventure They exchanged inforetabout taking theht help," he said "Now that’s all a ht for you"

"And Mercy," she said

"I ain’t no expert, but if it’s right for you, it’s prolly right for her"

"I’ll have to thank Cooper for his help"

"Aw, I think he had fun, truth be told," Rawley said

"And Spencer"

"That boy’s stronger than he looks," was all Rawley had to say "Carried that wo for darn near two ht up until he decided he wasn’t ready to be serious, he had carried her a little bit, too

Devon called Cooper to thank hi, what he’d done Not only could his life have been in danger, but then he had to suffer through at least twelve hours of questioning before he’d been allowed to go houy he was, he just said anyone would’ve stepped up just the saone with Rawley, I’d never have heard the end of it"

Nineteen

Spencer had dropped by the clinic the day after their rescuefor Devon, and Scott had explained that she was relieved to have Mercy ho tiet her life back He looked for her at the football game, of course, but was not entirely surprised she wasn’t there

He wanted to talk to her Wanted ht maybe she could use a little tier He made sure Austin was in Cooper’s care then went to her house, but she wasn’t there He called her cell phone, but she didn’t answer He really didn’t knohat to do with hih school kid, he sat on her front step, waiting

"Devon isn’t home," Mrs Bledsoe said when she saw him there

"I know I have to talk to her I’ll wait"

"Or you can walk down to the beach The sun is out and she took that bag of beach shovels and pails that Mercy likes"

"Thanks, I’ll do that"

He’d been to the bar, dropping off Austin, but he hadn’t seen her on the beach He decided to walk down the street past the marina and across the beach to find her It was a little chilly although the sun was shining and there were only a few people on the beach And Devon was on the part of the beach closest to the marina and farthest from the bar

She must not have wanted him to see her from the bar It filled hi beside her Mercy played in the sand a short distance away and she smiled at hi sand

Spencer dropped to the sand beside her

"I’ve beento call you to thank you," she said "What you did, it was far and away the bravest thing in the world Thank you"