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Michael's Little League pin Moiven it to him to wear to the funeral in his twin's memory Sam slid down the desk and sat surrounded by the papers scattered around the floor and surrendered to the pain

The cloying scent of lilies, thick in the small church, had nearly choked hiht and perfectly still except for the shake in his hands that wouldn't stop Hissilent tears and squeezing his hand tight as if to keep hi too A sunburn still chapped his nose and cheeks from his failed atteether the gash across his cheek, caused by a tumble down one of McPherson's Bluff's steep inclines Dirt caked under his nails, e the shovel off the bluff in frustration He hadn't spoken in three days and couldn't iain

He'd denied for so long that his tas really dying that when it had actually happened, he'd gone into a kind of shock When he eed a year later, some part of him had remained trapped in stone—until Josie had shaken it loose

The woman in question hunkered down beside him, brushed aside the papers and settled next to higed him away from his dark memories

He should shake her off, but her warainst him helped anchor him to the here and now

“After LA, I was lost Usually, I' care of everyone, but I couldn't even remember to brush my teeth on a daily basis Cy cahts He's ine what it would be like to lose him I'm so sorry”

The news she had a twin didn't shock hiued him, maybe, but didn't surprise That dormant twin part of hiht Of all the people who knew about Michael, she'd understand most of all

“The pain, it never goes away You just get used to it” He relaxed back against the desk “After Michael died, I was so angry I didn't speak for a year after he died And everyone was always staring, whispering when I walked by, callingto bethe center of attention, a hook for the town to hang all their pity on I hated Michael and myself

“Then, I came across Rebecca's diary You've read it; you knohat her life was like Her story of giving everything up and starting all over inspired ain, but it didn't take long until I realized I needed more information My first words after Michael died were to aska tray of baked macaroni and cheese out of the oven at the tilass pan shattered on the floor, sending shards of glass and pasta flying everywhere Then she was holding ”

He stopped to inhale her scent and brush his cheek against her platinuained his iron control over his emotions God, he'din the hayfield Just as the far weed, he'd have to re he had left was his sense of order and Josie was chaos personified

Still, he couldn't stop hi one last whiff of her perfu for Rebecca's Bounty since that day, but it's time I admit it There is no treasure”

Josie's stomach tu, he really believed it The realization struck her as hard as a fist She'd never be able to save her parents without that treasure

“I think you need to go” Sa to turn and look at her “Go back to Vegas”

Pushing past the prick of his words, she strode to his side, stopping next to hi Dry Creek without the treasure It's out there and we're going to find it”

His jaw hardened “Then you're an even bigger fool than that oldfor you here”