“Can’t you look into your crystal ball and see for yourself?” Hank blurted.
Snickers.
Harrison could see that Rose was truly worried. “I don’t know. I don’t have any information on the extent of damage to property. I know Hawke’s crew is fighting hard to save our town and they’ve got help. Whether it will be enough, I can’t say. Kenzie and I are on our way back up to join the rest of the Team to search Camp Mato Sapa as soon as it’s safe.”
“God bless you!” someone called.
“Stay safe!”
“Thank God for the Team!”
Harrison acknowledged their good wishes with a nod and rejoined Kenzie.
Joe stepped up to the mic once more. “The Timberline Mudbugs will be playing a special free show tonight, performing their new single, ‘My House Burned Down, But I Still Got You, Babe.’ As I’m sure you’ve heard, two of the band’s members have lost their homes, but they’re going to play for us anyway. How’s that for keeping Scarlet strong?”
Whistles and applause.
“Some local charities are joining with Knockers to provide meals tonight. A church group is offering to house families with small children and to provide toiletries to those who need them, so we’re grateful for that. Esri Tsering is offering free counseling for people who are feeling shaken up. And now Father Penberthy has asked to say a few words.”
The priest stepped forward. “We stand here today as children of Scarlet Springs, united in a time of trouble, as our ancestors were when fire threatened them. Now, as then, we turn to each other and to God for strength.”
He paused a moment, bowed his head. “Let us pray.”
Kenzie wasn’t Catholic, but she bowed her head, too, her fingers twining with Harrison’s.
“God, our Father, give us the strength to think not of ourselves during this trial, but of our neighbors who are suffering. Keep the men and women fighting this fire safe from harm, and guide them in their noble work. We pray especially for those who’ve been injured in the line of duty and ask for swift healing for Austin Taylor, Eric Hawke, Brandon Silver, and the others who crashed in the helicopter whose names are unknown to us.”
When Father Penberthy had finished—he went on for some time—Kenzie and Harrison whispered “Amen” in unison.
Harrison gave her hand a squeeze. “Ready?”
“Yeah.”
They turned to go.
“Bear!”
He stood not far behind Kenzie, looking like a child on Christmas morning, a broad grin beneath his beard. “I flew in the air.”
Kenzie hugged him, joined almost immediately by Rain.
“I’m so happy to see you.” Rain slipped her arm through his. “Are you hungry?”
Bear nodded.
Rain led him away.
The question came suddenly to Kenzie. “How do you think he managed to survive? Austin had to take shelter in a lake.”
“Bear knows that country better than anyone. He must have a few tricks up his sleeve to have survived all these years.”
They walked to Harrison’s SUV, Gizmo following at their heels. When the dog was in his crate, they drove in silence back toward the canyon to do a job both of them were dreading—searching for the bodies of missing friends.
Libby pacedaround the periphery of the waiting room, stopping to make herself a cup of tea that she didn’t drink.
What if they wouldn’t let her see Brandon? What if Brandon didn’t want to see her? What if she had finally succeeded in pushing him away just like she’d done with every other boyfriend she’d ever had?
No, she couldn’t let that happen.