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Troy Davis nodded "You tell your sister she shouldn’t have worried you like this"

"Oh, I’ll tell her," Linc pros he intended to say to her, too

After receiving directions to the fire station, they ju so of satisfaction It was just a ht up with her

It didn’t take the to locate the fire station

Rather than repeat their earlier mistakes--or what Linc considered , understand?"

"Okay," Ned agreed quickly enough

"Mel?"

"Oh, all right"

They walked into the station house and asked to speak to the duty chief The ot immediately to the point "I understand that earlier today you responded to an incident involving a young pregnant wohter named Hutton was mentioned in connection with this call Is that correct?"

When the chief didn’t reply, Linc added, "If so, we believe that’s our sister"

The ive out any information

"She needs her family, chief"

There must’ve been some emotion in Linc’s voice, some emotion he didn’t even know he’d revealed, because the man hesitated, then excused himself He returned a few minutes later, followed by a second man

"This is Mack McAfee He’s the EMT who responded to the call"

"You saw Mary Jo?" Linc asked He extended his hand, and Mack shook it in a friendly fashion

"I did"

Linc’s relief was so great he nearly collapsed into a nearby chair "That’s great!"

"She’s okay, isn’t she?" Ned blurted out "She hasn’t gone into labor or anything?"

"No, no, she had a dizzy spell"

"Dizzy?" Linc repeated slowly and cast a startled look at his brothers

"Does that mean what I think it means?" Mel asked

Linc felt sick to his stomach "I elve when Mary Jo was born and I reot real dizzy that enerally a sign of onco labor," Mack reassured him

"It is in our fanancy According to him, Mom had very quick deliveries and they all started with a dizzy spell He barely made it to the hospital in time with Mary Jo In fact--"

"She was born while Dad parked the car," Mel said

"He dropped Moency door and then he went to look for a parking space"

That tale had been told around the kitchen table for years Once their father had parked the car and made his way back to the hospital, he was ratulated hiirl

"Do you knohere she is?" Linc asked with renewed urgency

"You ," Mack said

"Who’s Grace Harding?"

"The librarian" Mack paused for a moment "Mary Jo was at the library when I treated her"

"The library?" That didn’t one to the library?

"What was she doing there?" Mel asked

"That isn’t as important as where she is now," Linc said "Mack, do you have any idea where she one after she left the library?" He re with the h I told her to put her feet up and rest for a few hours"

"She otten a hotel room" They should have realized that earlier Of course! If Mr and Mrs Rhodes were out of town, that was exactly what Mary Jo would have done

"I don’t think so," Mack said "I thought I’d check on her myself and discovered she isn’t at any of the motels in town"

"Why not?"

"No roouess," Mack said slowly, "is to Grace Harding’s house"

"Why her place?"

"Because it see would do I have the Hardings’ phone number I could call if you’d like"

Linc couldn’t believe their good fortune "Please"

The firefighter was gone for what seerin "You can talk to her yourself if you want"

Linc bolted to his feet, eager to hear the sound of his sister’s voice He’d been upset earlier--angry, worried, close to panic--but all he felt noas relief

"She’s at the Harding ranch in Olalla"

The three brothers exchanged s great, but she also said she’s ready to go hoet her"