Page 55 of Still Afraid

Thank you, Lord.

She sat near the edge of the crawlspace, close where she had been during the worst of the storm. Sitting by the blocked door seemed silly, but where else was she supposed to go?

Her mind had settled from the panic she’d been feeling earlier. At least for now. She’d take the reprieve. Why did it take so much to remember to use the tools God had given her for dealing with life and all the crazy things it threw at her? He was her refuge, and she needed to run to Him immediately when life went haywire.

A noise outside caught her ear. What was it?

She attempted to listen more closely. Why was her breathing so loud?

After inhaling deeply, she held her breath and listened.

Were people out there?

“Hello?”

Nothing.

“Anyone?”

Why would they hear her? Her voice was hoarse from coughing because of the dust. If only she had a glass of water.

She tried again anyway. “Hey! I’m down here.”

She listened for where the sounds were coming from and moved toward the front of the house.

Calling again and again just left her with a scratchy throat and more exhaustion.

She needed to wait and listen. Perhaps they’d come into her house or closer to the crawlspace entry. But would anyone even think to look in the crawlspace? They had no reason to believe she was in here.

It’s not like she could have done anything to indicate she’d gone in, and even if she had, there’s no way it would have survived the wind and the rain.

What if they didn’t look? What if they never heard her?

Even if her family and Josh came looking specifically for her, they might not be able to find her.

Her head swam with terrible thoughts about what would happen if she had to stay in the crawlspace until she died.

“‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.’ Lord, help.”

Josh knelt in front of Poirot and rubbed the dog’s ears. “We have to find her, boy. She has to be somewhere nearby. Find her, Poirot. Find Chloe.”

In desperation, Josh unclipped Poirot’s leash from his collar.

Poirot licked Josh’s face before barking and trotting away.

Josh had half expected Poirot to take off running, given how much he’d been pulling a bit ago. Josh watched Poirot trot back and forth.

Troy and Gabe had wandered into the rubble that had been Chloe’s house.

“Hey, Poirot. I found your vest.”

Poirot ran to Gabe and let him put the vest on him.

Seeing Poirot in his SAR vest warmed Josh’s heart, but at the same time it made him ache for Chloe even more. Chloe was supposed to lead the dog on the search for the missing. What would they do if the worst had happened? Josh refused to entertain that thought more.

“Where is she, Poirot?”

The lab trotted back toward Josh where he stood in the front yard, then he darted to the driveway. Then back to the house.