Starr looked at him, without aplomb. “He saved you?”
“Absolutely. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.” He clamped the senator on the shoulder. “He’s exactly the hero you hoped he would be.”
Then he turned to Carrie, his smile fading.
“Before you start, Deputy,” she said, “you should know that Josh told us how Willow and you saved them—”
He did?
“And we’re going to ask Willow to come back and volunteer—”
“And I think she should politely decline.”
Shock flickered in Carrie’s eyes.
“Willow deserves a job—as another youth leader. These kids need more than Josh. They need someone who knows how to inspire. Who lives with light pouring out of her, even in the darkness. Someone who won’t give up trying to figure out how to help them triumph. And I’m not just talking in the woods, but in their life, in their faith.”
“I can’t—”
“Oh, I think you can, Carrie. I’m a long-time member and I see the budget reports. The right people just need to recommend it to the board.” He looked at the senator. “Right?”
Starr gave him a slow smile. “Ever thought of running for sheriff?”
“I have a job,” Sam said. “And still have some official business, so if you’ll excuse me.”
“What was that all about?” Willow asked when he returned. She was leaning over the booth, Gopher jumping up to love her.
“Hey, Gopher, wait your turn,” Sam said, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck. Willow laughed, and the sound was like music.
He walked over to Pete, who was now picking at a basket of curly fries. “So,” Sam said, cutting his voice low enough for the chatter of the crowd to cover it, “what are you going to do about Jess?”
Pete glanced over his shoulder at Ty, then back to Sam. A slow smile worked over his face. “Get her back, of course. I’ve got a strategy. Just sit back and watch the master, bro.”
“How about if I watch the incident commander?”
Pete’s smile slacked into a look of disbelief. “Really?”
“I already talked to Chet, and he agrees we need someone to fill in if Miles isn’t available. I’ve already filed the paperwork.” He held out his hand, and Pete took it.
“No new truck, though. And forget the big raise. I’ll let you make an extra ham sandwich on your shift.”
Pete was just nodding, and for a second looked away. Sam was probably mistaken, but he thought he saw his brother’s eyes glisten.
Next to Pete, Ian glanced over to his cell phone buzzing on the counter. He grabbed it, stared at the number with a frown.
He set it down, clearly letting it go to voice mail. When it vibrated again, he put the phone to his ear, listening, pressing a hand to his other ear. Sam guessed that Ian probably vetted all his calls.
It was the expression on his face, the sudden slack of his jaw, the way he looked up and met Sam’s eyes, that made Sam still.
Ian motioned him over.
“What?”
Ian’s hand trembled as he handed the phone to Sam. “Listen.”
Sam put the phone to his ear. The voice that came over the line, recorded just moments ago, turned his entire body cold.
Then, of course, hot, as he realized who was speaking.
Please, Uncle Ian, you have to stop looking for me. I’m fine, I promise. But I won’t be if you keep trying to find me. So for my sake, please—don’t. I love you.
Ian had stepped away from him with the palms of his hands pressed to his temple, as if trying to keep his head from exploding.
Well, Sam too.
Alive. Finally, proof, because even Sam could recognize her voice. Soft, with the slightest Texas accent. Esme Shaw.
Sierra came over to Ian, clearly still tuned to his station. “What is it?”
Ian drew in a breath, shook his head.
So Sam spoke for him. “Esme just left a message.” He could hardly believe his own words. “She’s alive.”
Sierra blinked at him, then turned her gaze back to Ian.
She wore so much compassion in her eyes that Sam knew.
Of course Sierra could never have loved Sam. Not when she so clearly loved Ian.
Ian glanced down at Sierra, then at Sam.
Offered a sad, bewildered smile.
Sierra put her arms around Ian in a rare but appropriate moment of comfort between them, probably a long time coming.
Willow came up to Sam, put her arms around his waist. “You okay?”
He closed her in an embrace. Slowly nodded.
Very okay.
On the stage, Ben stepped up again to the mic. “We need all the couples on the floor—this one’s for you.”
Willow smiled up at him. “Is that us?”
Oh baby. Sam leaned down then and kissed her, just a soft, sweet kiss, a hint of everything he felt, all the light stored inside him.