Page 26 of North

Aw, she didn’t know where that thought came from. Except maybe the dream from last night still lingered, the memories from Mariposa.

She still woke nearly every night to the image of that man—that kid—he’d shot shaking through her.

She pushed the thought away.

“Here.” James appeared with a boxed flip phone. “Simple to add your SIM card. Do you have your information on the cloud?”

“I can’t accept⁠—”

“Please. It’s just a cheap burner phone. Helping you helped me figure out what to do.” His blue eyes landed on hers.

Oh.

While the clerk helped transfer Selah’s information, Amy wandered back. “Miss Selah? I’m tired.”

“We’ll rest at your grandparents’ house.” Selah lifted the girl onto her hip, ignoring how her bruised ribs protested. “Just a little longer.”

The clerk handed her the phone. Her phone came to life, notifications flooding in. Missed calls. Texts. Voicemails.

Most from North. Huh.

“You’ll want to charge it soon. The battery is almost dead,” said the clerk.

She tucked the phone away, throat tight. She’d call once they reached the Hendricksons’. Once she figured out what to say.

They piled into the stolen—oh, don’t think about it!—truck, and James navigated the country roads with easy confidence, handling the truck’s temperamental transmission like he’d driven it for years. Wind rattled the windows, carrying the smell of rain.

The sky opened up about halfway into the trip, the clouds moving south toward Cashmere. The old wipers barely kept up.

“There.” She pointed as they rounded a bend. “That must be it.”

Mrs. Hendrickson burst through the screen door before they’d fully stopped, her silver hair escaping its bun. “Tommy! Amy!”

The kids tumbled out of the truck and ran to the covered porch. Their grandmother gathered them close, tears streaking her weathered face. “Thank God. Thank God. When we heard about the crash⁠—”

“They’re safe now.” Selah had gotten out behind them, running through the rain and up the stairs. “Any news on Grant and Sarah?”

“Grant is in a stable condition. Sarah is with him.” She gave Selah a hug. Tears glazed her eyes. “I don’t know how to thank you. Maybe an early dinner?”

Mr. Hendrickson appeared on the porch, his lined face creased with relief. “Least we can do.”

“We need to return the truck—” James said.

“Nonsense. Food first.” Mrs. Hendrickson shepherded the children inside. “Amy, honey, what a pretty teddy bear.”

Oh. Okay then. Selah glanced at James.

His mouth made a grim, unhappy line.

The rain had settled into a steady rhythm, drumming against the metal roof. Wind stirred the porch chimes, carried the scent of wet earth.

Selah stayed on the porch and pulled out her phone. She’d turned it off for the ride and now powered it on. Yep, nearly dead. She scrolled past North’s messages—the usual⁠—

North

Selah, where are you? Are you okay?

Just a “yes” text might suffice, but…he deserved a call. Except, as she held up her phone, only one bar of service showed up.