She had to get out of this place she had once seen as a refuge, a sanctuary from the everyday problems of life. She refused to wait much longer.
* * *
After a quick breakfast at the Hungry Bear, Skye climbed into Edge’s black Nissan for the drive out to the Children of the Sun compound.
Determined to see Callie with or without Henson’s permission, she felt her adrenaline pumping, her heart beating a little too fast. She didn’t realize she was clutching her leather shoulder bag in a death grip until she heard Edge’s deep voice.
“Take it easy, okay? We’re going to talk to her today—one way or another. We won’t leave until we do. All right?”
She relaxed a little. Edge didn’t make promises he didn’t intend to keep. “All right. But Callie can be stubborn. She might not agree to see us.”
“I guess we’ll find out.” The trip seemed longer today, the dirt road bumpier. Still, Edge managed to navigate the uneven roadbed and arrive ten minutes early.
The same red-haired, bearded, broad-shouldered guard came out from behind the fence to talk to them.
Edge rolled down his window. “We’re here to see Callie Delaney—same as yesterday. You going to let us in?”
“I need to see some ID,” the guard said.
They pulled out their driver’s licenses instead of their PI badge wallets and showed them to the guard.
He read their information. “Denver, huh? You’re a long way from home.” He handed back the licenses.
“You gonna open the gate?” Edge pressed, irritation in his voice.
“You’ll find Reverend Henson in the church. You can see the steeple from here.” The guard sauntered back to the gatehouse. A motor groaned as the wrought-iron gate rolled slowly open. Edge drove through and continued down the dirt road toward the church. He parked in front, and they got out of the vehicle.
There were people around, both men and women, walking toward the church, the women in long printed dresses, the men in jeans and colored T-shirts. Skye could see a couple of pickup trucks moving around, hauling bales of hay and fence wire.
They climbed the wide front steps to the arched front doors and went into the chapel. Henson came out from behind the pulpit and strode toward them. In his long white robes, a glittering gold sun on the front, he was an impressive figure, a tall man with sandy brown hair and a handsome face.
Henson stopped directly in front of them. “You must be Mr. Logan and Ms. Delaney. I’m Reverend Daniel Henson. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Henson offered a handshake both of them reluctantly accepted. After the rumors they’d heard in town and being turned away yesterday, Daniel wasn’t one of their favorite people.
The reverend’s gaze slipped over Skye’s body, and she caught a hint of male interest. Edge must have noticed it, too. His shoulders went straighter, and hard lines appeared beside his mouth.
Henson smiled at Skye. “I understand you’re Callie’s sister. I appreciate your concern—admire it, even. Callie’s lucky to have someone who cares about her enough to drive all the way out here.”
“When can I see her?” Skye asked.
“Well, that’s the unfortunate thing. We have a strict non-communication policy that applies to any new disciple. It isn’t fair to the others to break the rules for Callie. I hope you understand.”
“I’m sure you have rules, but Callie’s mother is worried about her, and I promised to come down and make sure she’s all right. I’m not leaving until I talk to her. Once that happens, we’ll be on our way.”
Henson sadly shook his head. “I’m sorry. Your sister is of legal age. She made the decision to come here of her own free will. She agreed to accept the conditions. In a few more months, she can call you—or you can call her. Until then, there’s nothing I can do. Now I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Skye’s stomach tightened as her concern for her half-sister escalated. “Can I at least see her? That way I’ll know nothing bad has happened to her. I can tell her mother I saw her and she was okay.”
Henson looked over Skye’s head and motioned to someone behind her. Skye turned to see the big red-haired man from the gate standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.
“If you’re that determined,” Henson said, “Dutch will drive you out to the vegetable garden where Callie and some of the other women are working. That is the best I can do.”
Skye flicked a glance at Edge. His intense blue eyes looked fierce. She knew him well enough to understand he was holding onto his temper by a thread.
“All right,” she said. “I guess that’s better than nothing.”
“Come with me,” Dutch said. Turning, he started striding up the aisle toward the door, and Skye fell in behind him. Edge started after them, but Henson’s sharp command stopped him.
