Rescue Me(4)

She loved where Terri and the kids—and soon her father—lived. A small home, yes, but on a street with other tiny ranch houses, each housing a family. Minivans in the driveways, a couple bikes propped up against garages, neatly clipped lawns. Lights glowed from over the doors, leaves blanketed the yards, the scent of pine stirred the air. And along the far horizon ran the jagged edge of the Rocky Mountains.

This was the kind of house, the kind of neighborhood she’d dreamed of growing up in. With welcoming porch lights, warm cookies after school, scary carved pumpkins on the stoop, and Christmas lights ringing the rooftops. And in the summer, sprinklers spraying emerald lawns, and kids running from one yard to the next playing Kick the Can.

Safe.

Willow tucked her arms around herself against a slight nip in the air. “C’mon, Gopher, do your duty.”

The pup sniffed at her feet, then around the yard, probably revisiting old accomplishments. He’d found the proper place for his job when headlights cut down the street, then into the driveway.

Her father’s truck.

Gopher chased it in, yipping. Willow lifted her hand, wanting to give Terri and her dad a minute to themselves, and headed inside, calling Gopher, who barreled in, nearly taking her out at the knees.

Thea leaned up, creases from the couch drawn in her cheek. She turned and looked out the window. “Mom’s home!”

Willow held Gopher’s collar as Terri and her father came to the door.

Willow liked Terri. Dark sable brown hair, not unlike her father’s, with deep amber eyes and a wide smile, Terri worked at the church office, where Jackson part-timed as a handyman.

Although, to Willow’s eyes, her father looked more war hero than handyman, with wide shoulders, strong hands, his brown gaze resonant with dependability and strength. He’d taken his breakup with her mother hard.

No wonder he’d run away to the military.

“Well?”

Terri flashed a solitaire diamond in a platinum setting that Willow knew set her father back about a month in pay. “Your father did it!”

He grinned at Willow, gave her a wink.

Thea had come off the sofa, the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. “Mom, does that mean you and Jackson are getting married?”

“It does, baby,” Terri said and caught her daughter as she flung her arms around her waist.

Even Royal stood up, pocketed his phone, and walked over. He looked at Jackson, and a hint of a smile edged his face. “Cool.”

He lifted his hand in a high five, which Jackson smacked.

See, that’s what happened when you waited for the right man. Even after the tragedy this family had endured with the loss of their father three years ago in a wildfire, God healed wounds, offered a fresh start.

Willow just had to wait. Her happy ending was out there. After all, her sister Sierra, too, was proof of that. Who could be a better catch than Sam Brooks? Solid, strong, devastatingly handsome with his brown hair laced with the finest gold threads when he came in from the sun, and blue eyes that crinkled around the edges. His laugh was hard-won but oh, so worth it, rippling down right to a girl’s insides.

His smile too. Gentle. Sincere.

And, not to mention, hot. Willow had nearly melted into a puddle when he showed up on the porch in a black T-shirt that outlined all those hours he spent at Ian Shaw’s personal gym, pounding away on his heavy bag.

However, she loved it best when he wore his PEAK Rescue team uniform—brown jacket, Gore-Tex pants, boots. Capable and exuding the sense that if you were lost, he was the one to find you.

Yes. Rescue me.

Shoot. Even she knew that thought was inappropriate. Because, hello, Sam belonged to Sierra.

Full stop. Amen. And frankly, hallelujah, because Sierra deserved a man like Sam after pining for her aloof and unavailable billionaire boss, Ian Shaw.

So now, Sierra just might be the luckiest woman on the planet.

Next to Terri.

And maybe herself, because finally, Willow too was getting a family.

Gopher yipped at her feet, clearly wanting to join in the fun. In his excitement, he piddled on the linoleum.

“Oh no! Goph!” Terri picked him up, holding him out like he had a disease. “Really, Jackson. I think this is an outside dog.”

“No, Mom!” Thea shrieked.

But Terri put the dog outside and headed to the kitchen for paper towels.

“He’s too young—” Willow started, but then noticed her father returning with the puppy in his arms.

“He can come home with me, honey,” Jackson said. “Don’t worry. We’ll get him house-trained. He’s just excited.”

Terri dropped paper towels on the floor. Stepped on them and looked at Jackson, her mouth a grim line. “I don’t know, Jack . . .” And then her face curved into a smile. “Should we ask them?”