Rock Harbor Series - 01 - Without a Trace (37 page)

“You light up everything around you just like this tower,” he
whispered into her hair. “I’m thankful God brought you into my life.” His lips brushed hers in a feathery kiss full of promise.

Then his cell phone trilled.

He sighed and dug it out. “Hello.” He listened without interruption. “I’ll be right there,” he said. He clicked off the cell phone. “It’s Lauri. Her car died over by the high school. I’d better go get her.”

“Come by in the morning for breakfast.”

He smiled and brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. “You’re really something, Bree Nicholls.”

“So are you, Ranger Matthews.” She pressed her cheek against his hand. “See you tomorrow.”

“I’ll let myself out. The rest of the family will be descending any minute, so take advantage of your time with Davy.” He hugged her and quickly walked toward the steps. She followed him as far as the second-floor landing, then waved as he went on down to the front door.

Back in Davy’s room, Bree had just placed the last of his books on a shelf when she heard the patter of his feet down the hall. The click of Samson’s nails on the hardwood floor accompanied him.

“Mommy?” He stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. As his gaze wandered around the room, his eyes widened. “I forgot about my room.”

She held out her arms, and he ran to her. “I kind of forgot you too, Mommy. Why did I forget?”

“You’d been hurt, sweetie.” She smoothed the hair back from his forehead. “We have lots of time for you to remember everything.”

“I’m glad to be home, Mommy.” His small face sobered. “Can we go get Daddy and bring him home too?”

Bree’s exhilaration faded. “Do you remember the crash, sweetheart? The plane crash.”

Davy’s eyes grew wide, and he nodded slowly. His green eyes filled with tears. “The plane hit the trees. Daddy yelled.”

Bree struggled with the tears that burned in her eyes. “Daddy was hurt really bad. He can’t be with us anymore. He would if he could.”

Davy buried his head in her lap and wept. “I miss Daddy. She said he was in heaven. Can we go to heaven to see him?”

The floodgates of Bree’s tears opened, and she wrapped her arms around her son. Their tears mingled as she cried for her lost husband in a way she’d never been able to before. Her stomach knotted with pain as she wept for the years they could have spent together watching Davy grow up, and for the male role model Davy would never have. Soon she would bring Rob home too, to rest in the Rock Harbor Cemetery with his grandparents.

Davy’s tears finally stopped, and Bree’s as well. She gathered him into her arms. “We’ll see Daddy again someday, but not for a long time. Daddy wants you to grow up to be a fine man, one with integrity and the same kind of strength and honor he had. Someday I’ll tell you all about what kind of man your daddy was. All that matters now is that God brought you home, where you belong. Let’s thank him for that.”

“We have to thank Sam too.” Davy reached out and patted the dog. Samson’s tail swished eagerly at the attention.

Bree petted the dog. Her own personal “hound” had followed a bit of heavenly intervention and found Davy. He would always be her earthly reminder of how God had searched for her and found her, even as she wandered in her own wilderness.

R
EADING
G
ROUP
G
UIDE

1. Each of us can easily name people whose influence made a big difference in our lives. Bree had a good influence in her mother-in-law, Anu. What about her mother-in-law helped her face the trials in her own life?

2. We can all recall bad influences in our lives as well. Bree’s sister-in-law Hilary caused Bree some problems. What about Hilary’s attitude affected Bree?

3. Rachel has both good and bad desires, as we all do. Which do you think was the strongest? Can you give instances of both sides of Rachel?

4. Naomi had issues with her mother in this novel. What could she have done differently to take control of her own life?

5. At what point did you realize “Sam” was really Davy? How did that make you feel?

6. Bree blamed God for taking her husband and son. Have you ever blamed God for something bad that happened in your life or in the life of a loved one? How could you encourage someone in that situation?

7. Kade felt responsible for everyone, and sometimes the weight of such responsibility dragged him down. Should he have assumed all the responsibilities he did? Why or why not?

8. Rebellion is a common teenage problem. What was Lauri’s main difficulty? How could she have handled it better?

9. What drove Palmer to commit murder?

10. The poem “The Hound of Heaven” is a running theme throughout the book. In what ways does Samson illustrate that kind of relentless love?

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

I
t was a life-changing day at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference when I sat on the floor outside a workshop and first pitched the Rock Harbor series to editor Ami McConnell. She went back to her office, found the proposal in her stack, and bought that first book,
Without a Trace
. The rest is history, and here I am, still with my dream team at Thomas Nelson.

I can’t imagine writing without my editor, Ami. I crave her analytical eye and love her heart. Ames, you are truly like a daughter to me. Marketing and Publicity Director Katie Bond is a dear friend after all these years too, and I wouldn’t get far without her great ideas and constant support. Publisher Daisy Hutton is a dynamo who has taken the fiction team to a new high, and our souls were immediately knit together. Fabulous cover guru Kristen Vasgaard works hard to create the perfect cover—and does. You rock, Kristen! My entire fiction team has had a role in my career: Amanda Bostic, Becky Monds, Jodi Hughes, Ruthie Dean, Laura Dickerson, Kerrie Potts, Heather McCulloch, and Dean Arvidson. You are all such a big part of my life. I wish I could name all the great folks at Thomas Nelson who work on selling my books through different venues. I’m truly blessed!

Julee Schwarzburg is a dream editor to work with. She totally “gets” romantic suspense, and our partnership is a joy. Thanks for all your hard work to make this book so much better!

My agent, Karen Solem, has helped shape my career in many
ways, and that includes kicking an idea to the curb when necessary. Thanks, Karen, you’re the best!

Writing can be a lonely business, but God has blessed me with great writing friends and critique partners. Hannah Alexander (Cheryl Hodde), Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter make up the Girls Write Out squad (
www.GirlsWriteOut.blogspot.com
). I couldn’t make it through a day without my peeps! Thanks to all of you for the work you do on my behalf and for your friendship.

I’m so grateful for my husband, Dave, who carts me around from city to city, washes towels, and chases down dinner without complaint. As I type this, he has been free of prostate cancer for almost two years, and we’re so thankful! My kids—Dave, Kara (and now Donna and Mark)—and my grandsons, James and Jorden Packer, love and support me in every way possible. Love you guys! Donna and Dave brought me the delight of my life—our little granddaughter, Alexa! She’s talking like a grown-up now, and having her spend the night is more fun than I can tell you.

Most important of all, I give thanks to God, who has opened such amazing doors for me and makes the journey a golden one.

A
N
E
XCERPT FROM
T
IDEWATER
I
NN

ONE

L
ibby Holladay fought her way through the brambles to the overgrown garden. She paused to wave a swarm of gnats away from her face. The house was definitely in the Federal style, as she’d been told. Palladian windows flanked a centered door, or rather the opening for a door. The structure was in serious disrepair. Moss grew on the roof, and fingers of vine pried through the brick mortar. The aroma of honeysuckle vied with that of mildew.

She stepped closer to the house and jotted a few impressions in her notebook before moving inside to the domed living room. The floorboards were missing in places and rotted in others, so she planted her tan flats carefully. She could almost see the original occupants in this place. She imagined her own furniture grouped around the gorgeous fireplace. She’d love to have this place, but something so grand that needed this much repair would never be hers. The best she could do would be to preserve it for someone else who would love it. She itched to get started.

Her cell phone rang, and she groped in her canvas bag for it. Glancing at the display, she saw her partner’s name. “Hey, Nicole,” she said. “You should see this place. A gorgeous Federal-style mansion. I
think it was built in 1830. And the setting by the river is beautiful. Or it will be once the vegetation is tamed.” Perching on the window seat, she made another note about the fireplace. “Nicole? Are you there?”

There was a long pause, then Nicole finally spoke. “I’m here.”

“You sound funny. What’s wrong?” Nicole was usually talkative, and Libby couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard strain in her friend’s voice. “Are you still in the Outer Banks? Listen, I heard there might be a hurricane heading that way.” She dug into her purse for her jalapeño jellybeans and popped one in her mouth.

“I’m here,” Nicole said. “The residents are sure the storm will miss Hope Island. The investor is really interested in this little town. And we have the chance to make a boatload of money on it. It’s all in your hands.”

“My hands? You’re the one with the money smarts.”

Nicole was the mover and shaker in Holladay Renovations. She convinced owners to dramatically increase the value of their historic properties by entrusting them to Libby’s expertise. Libby had little to do with the money side of the business, and that was how she liked it.

“I think I’d better go back to the beginning,” Nicole said. “Rooney sent me here to see about renovating some buildings in the small downtown area. He’s working on getting a ferry to the island. It will bring in a lot more tourism for the hotel he’s planning, but the buildings need to be restored to draw new business.”

“I know that much. But what do you mean ‘it’s in my hands’?” Libby glanced at her notes, then around the room again. This was taking up her time, and she wanted to get back to work. “We’re doing the lifesaving station for sure, right?”

“Yes, I’ve already seen it. We were right to buy that sweet building outright. After you get your hands on it, we’ll make a bundle
and
have instant credibility here. I’ve started making notes
of the materials and crew we’ll need. But I’m not calling about the renovations. I’m talking a lot of money, Libby. Millions.”

That got Libby’s attention. “Millions?”

“I stopped by the local attorney’s office to see about having him handle the paperwork for our purchase of the lifesaving station. Horace Whittaker. He’s got both our names on the paperwork now.”

“So?”

“The secretary gasped when she heard your name.”

“She knew me?”

“The attorney has been looking for a Libby Holladay. Daughter of Ray Mitchell.”

“That’s my dad’s name.”

“I thought it might be. I’d heard you mention the name Ray, but I wasn’t sure of the last name.”

Libby rubbed her head. “Why is he looking for me? My father has been dead a long time—since I was five.”

“He died a month ago, Libby. And he left you some valuable land. In fact, it’s the land Rooney thought he had agreed to purchase. So we’re in the driver’s seat on this deal.” Nicole’s voice rose.

Libby gasped, then she swallowed hard. “It’s a hoax. I bet the attorney asked for a fee, right?”

“No, it’s real. According to the secretary, your father was living in the Outer Banks all this time. And Horace has a box of letters Ray wrote to you that were all marked
Return to Sender
. It appears your mother refused them.”

Libby’s midsection plunged. Throughout her childhood she’d asked her mother about her father. There were never any answers. Surely her mother wouldn’t have
lied
. Libby stared out the window at two hummingbirds buzzing near the overgrown flowers.