Chase nodded, but not because he would—only agreeing that the rangershouldbe told about the envelope. Eventually. But he already knew he wasn’t going to be the one to tell him. Chase was mentally racing through the steps to get that envelope from Frankie and Maisie before they looped in Ranger Rivers. He didn’t want them beating him to it. He swallowed hard, feeling conflicted about leaving Scout alone. But the pull of getting that envelope from Frankie won out. He handed her his water bottle. “Be careful, okay?”
She was quiet for a moment, then said, “Iama ranger.”
He turned and started to move down the trail before she could say anything else, but Scout’s voice stopped him. “Call Ranger Rivers!”
Chase lifted a hand to acknowledge he’d heard her. “I’ll meet you as soon as I can,” he said, still not looking back.
Text conversation of Scout’s mother into the void:
Mother
Magnolia Pearl,you said you’d call. Twodays have passed. Yet here I am,still waiting.
I’m sending you a few items from the shop toenhance the “minimalist” décor of your cottage. I need aspecific address for the delivery.
Also,I want tobook your flight home for the Fourth of July weekend.
Is it so difficult to understand why a mother hasa plain,old-fashioned wanting to have her ONLY daughterhome for a major holiday?
Pimento cheese,peach cobbler,sparklers. Just us. What do you say to that?
Honestly! I might as well be trying to talk to yourfather.
Thirteen
Nature is crafty, but for a good end.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, playwright and philosopher
Tim had barely stepped into the church narthex after the service ended before he slipped his phone from his pocket and saw Naki’s name light up the screen. He tapped the green button to answer. “Morning, Naki. I’m glad you called back.”
“Ranger Rivers, do you happen to know where Scout is?”
Tim was a little startled by Naki’s abruptness, but he liked that kind of communication.Right to the point.“She’s up on Precipice Trail with Chase—”
“Pops, Scout’s not with Chase. I know for a fact that he isn’t with her.”
Tim turned, startled to see Maisie suddenly at his side. She was practically vibrating with excitement. Then Frankie appeared on Tim’s other side, wet and reeking.
Tim recoiled slightly. “You stink to high heavens.”
“Scout’s not with Chase,” Maisie said, “because Chase left her up there to come to us after we found”—she caught herself,took a breath, and then, with dramatic emphasis, said—“theenvelope.”
Tim went still. “You found it?” His voice came out louder than he expected.
Maisie nodded so hard her damp ponytail bounced. “We did. We found it!”
Tim’s brain was already moving ahead, calculating next steps. “So where is it?” He glanced at Frankie.
Frankie’s eyes were on a teenage girl walking past them. “We gave it to Chase.”
Tim’s stomach dropped. He closed his eyes for a beat. “Youwhat?”
“When we saw Chase at breakfast,” Maisie said, “he told us to call him straightaway if we found the envelope. So we did.”
“You gave it toChase Fletcher?” Tim’s voice dropped, but his tone was sharp. “What were you two thinking?”
“He told Scout he’d make sure you got it,” Frankie said, shifting uncomfortably as he glanced at Maisie. “Didn’t he?”
