Page 190 of Three Reckless Words

But shedoeslove her bees to death, and she’s had a taste of those woods.

“I have an idea. I’ll get back to you soon,” I say. “I have to go.”

“Okay! You go get her. Let me know the second she’s safe.” She exhales a long breath. “Oh, and Mr. Rory?”

“What?” I can barely focus on the conversation as I run to the mudroom and pull my shoes on.

“She likes you a lot. You’d better not let her down.”

Normally,I’d be happy to have Colt back on speaking terms.

If I couldn’t see how white and scared his face looks in the glaring light from passing cars, I’d be thrilled. I only gave him the basics, yet he insisted on coming along the second he heard the news. Even so, it’s enough to scare him shitless.

He’s still a kid, but he knows how dangerous the forest can be if you’re lost and alone, and how hard it gets to locate anyone in miles of dark, dense growth.

After Lyssie called, I spent a frenzied hour calling up park rangers and state troopers before heading out, armed with every lantern and flashlight I own. I have to try finding her myself.

Now, here we are.

Patton and Dexter camp out at two different nearby parking lots, scouring the forest. One call and they dropped everything, stunned that I was desperate enough to ask for their help.

If it brings her home, I don’t care.

I head to the lot farthest away from Solitude, not far from that beautiful clearing in the woods. The same place where I let her dream I wouldn’t morph into a total jackass.

No such luck so far, but it’s early.

A ranger told me there’s an old hiking trail that leads into the woods from there.

I don’t have anything better to do tonight. I’m certainly not sleeping.

I’ve been surviving on pure caffeine and adrenaline since yesterday, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to start seeing double.

Still, my nerves are too frayed to let me do anything except keep moving.

Find her.

Fix this shit.

“Dad? Do you think we’ll find her?” Colt breaks the silence that’s been strangling me.

“We will,” I promise roughly. “Even if I have to knock down every tree in this forest.”

He nods and goes back to looking out the window.

I swerve into the parking lot after taking another quick pass through the small winding roads that weren’t gated off.

There are hints of light on the horizon, dawn barely approaching.

The light helps me look for Winnie’s vehicle, ready to be disappointed again.

But there it is, tucked away in the corner by some brush, parked slightly crooked like she just pulled up and only meant to stay a few minutes.

Another sucker punch.

She was so upset by everything that happened.

She wasn’t even thinking straight enough to park properly before she wandered off.

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