“I don’t know. I woke up, and something told me to come outside. Then I saw you…” Her voice trailed off into silence.
“Go back inside. I’m fine.” He didn’t want to talk to her. The one he wanted to talk to wasn’t listening to him anymore.
Her hand flattened against his shoulder and a warmth began to seep into his damp flesh from her touch, spreading down his arm and coursing through the rest of his body.
“I don’t think you’ve been fine for a while, Dean. For years, you’ve given everyone else your strength until you have nothing left for yourself when you need it the most.”
Lucky shook his head. “I turned my back on what gave me strength.”
“My gift left me for a while before it returned even stronger. He doesn’t leave us. My ancestors came across the Appalachian Mountains during the Trail of Tears. It would have been easy for them to give up, but they didn’t. Instead, their beliefs were handed down for generations. They weren’t given an easy path. My grandmother told me stories about how they would look for the moon to rise every night to rest and give thanks for surviving another day. Then they looked for the sun to rise so they could see their way.”
Rachel’s hand tightened on his shoulder as her voice dropped reverently. “Look, Dean, the sun is rising. You can find your way if you just open your eyes.”
Lucky raised his head, seeing the sun’s rays just beginning to break the dark sky. “I don’t deserve to be found.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Dean, I would quote several passages to you that show you how wrong you are, but I’m sure you know the passages better than me. God rejoices when His sheep return home. You were the one lost, not God. He’s been waiting for your return all along.”
The warmth from Rachel’s touch began to burn, as if his soul which had been ripped apart was being welded back together. The sun’s golden rays surrounded him in an abundance of colors.
Rachel gasped behind his back, dropping her hand, while Lucky shakily stood, his turmoil for now quieted.
She crossed her arms over her chest, shivering.
“Go inside. If you get sick, Cash will kick my ass.”
She nodded yet didn’t move. “Cash said you’re leaving for Ohio?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I told Viper I would. Train doesn’t want to go.” Lucky reached out, cupping Rachel’s cheek. “Thank you, Rachel.”
“Goodbye, Dean.”
He shivered as a chill of foreboding swept through him.
They walked back together, each lost in their own silence as they neared the house until several lights in the windows came on.
“Everyone is getting up early for a Saturday,” Rachel remarked.
Lucky began to walk faster. The brothers were usually going to bed at this time, not getting up. Opening the back door, he ushered Rachel inside, finding the members gathered in the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Lucky asked Rider who was sitting at the table, looking hungover as he put on his boots.
“Willa called Winter, asking for Viper’s help. Sissy ran away last night. She found her missing when she got home from the school festival.”
“Shit.”
“Willa’s been out all night, searching for her. She thought at first that she was with friends, but they all say they haven’t seen her.”
“Cal and Jace?”
“Drake says both boys are home and have been all night.”
“Fuck! Willa’s probably terrified.” Lucky wanted to shake some sense in the teenager, but to do that, he was going to have to find her first.
Viper strode into the room, immediately breaking the town into sections to search among the brothers.
“Lucky, you take Jamestown. If she’s been missing since last night, it’s going to be a crap shoot to figure out how far she’s gotten.”
“I’ll get dressed and head that way. I’ll call Stud and ask if the Destructors can start searching.”
Viper nodded grimly. “Be quick. Knox had to alert Child Services when Willa reported Sissy missing. If the girl wanted away from Willa, she’s got her wish now.”
Lucky went downstairs to his room, taking a quick shower after calling Stud who said he would begin the search in Jamestown and offered to have the Blue Horsemen begin searching over the West Virginia line in case she had gone in the opposite direction.
He was tugging on his shirt when a thought occurred to him. Picking up his cell phone, he called Knox.
“Lucky?”
“Yeah. Have a quick question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Willa there or at home?”