Not by Sight A Novel

CHAPTER 28

Kate walked faster than normal through the hummingbird garden at Angel View Lodge. Beds of wildflowers on either side of the winding stone walkway were raw and natural with hollyhock, Mexican Hat, cardinal flower, thistle, toadflax, and butterfly weed. The arched white trellises were woven with firecracker vine, morning glory, and angel trumpet.

All along the walkway, strategically placed hummingbird feeders hung on shepherd crook poles. A male ruby-throated buzzed in front of her face several seconds before flying off. She smiled despite her heavy heart and spotted Jesse up ahead, standing next to his wagon.

“Hey, Mama.” He flashed a warm grin, his sweaty face dotted with freckles, his fine dark hair falling just above his eyebrows. “I’m just checking the feeders again. I already washed the dirty ones.”

“That’s great.”

“You look sad.” Jesse stared at her questioningly. “Did Sheriff Granger call with bad news?”

“Not exactly.” Kate spoke with a calm, steady voice. “They found Jay’s truck in the woods—empty. And they found Abby’s iPhone not far from the truck. We don’t know yet why Abby went there. They didn’t find anything that looks like the slope she described.”

“Maybe they decided to go hiking or camping.”

Then why didn’t Abby call and tell me? And why did she park my Odyssey a block over from Jay’s apartment? “We’ll see,” Kate said. “The sheriff is using a helicopter to search by air. And bloodhounds to search on the ground. I just wanted you to know before someone hears it on the news and says something to you.”

“Mama, Grandpa and me prayed hard this morning—for a really long time.”

Kate didn’t know whether to smile or cry. How disappointed her son would be when he finally came to the realization that religion was a crutch that didn’t hold you up at all and let you fall flat on your face. Now was not the time to get into the pitfalls of blind faith.

“I have a lot of faith—in Virgil,” Kate said, “to do everything possible to find your sister.”

“And Jay,” Jesse quickly added. “I like him. He’s cool.”

Kate stepped closer to Jesse. “I don’t want you to be scared. This could turn out just fine, but the situation is serious. I want you to be prepared—in case the news isn’t what we’re hoping for.”

Even as she prepared her son, she wondered if there was really any way to prepare for the worst.



Buck sat with Titus at Flutter’s Café, gazing down at Beaver Lake and the vast expanse of rolling Ozark hills. The dining room was empty except for a couple from Kansas sharing a slice of Chef Benton’s Muddy Bottom Pie.

Savannah, her ponytail swinging in time with her cheerful attitude, came over to the table, toting a platter containing a pitcher of lemonade and two glasses filled with crushed ice. “I thought y’all could use some fresh-squeezed lemonade.”

“You’re reading my mind.” Titus’s dark eyes grew wide.

“Mighty nice of you.” Buck looked up and tried to smile, unsure whether he had succeeded.

Savannah set the glasses on the table and filled them with lemonade, then proudly set a plate of what appeared to be pralines between Buck and Titus.

“I promise you’ve never tasted prawleens like these here. My Benson makes them with extra pecans, raw brown sugar, and real cream. They’ll melt in your mouth.”

“Don’t have to tempt me twice.” Titus picked up a praline and took a bite. “Mmm. This is right tasty.”

Savannah lingered a long time as if she wanted to say something. Finally she said, “How’re you doing, Buck?”

“About as well as I can be, under the circumstances. The rumors are hard to handle. Some people already have Abby dead and buried. I try not to listen to any of it.”

Savannah nodded, her blue eyes filled with compassion. “Can’t say as I blame you.”

“Don’t know why folks make things up.” Buck stroked his mustache. “False information isn’t useful to anyone.”

“Except the media folk,” Titus said. “Rumors boost ratings by enticing people to tune in for details.”

Buck blinked to clear his eyes. “Forget ratings. I just want my sweet Abby back home with her mama, safe and sound.”

Savannah squeezed his arm. “The sheriff will find her.”

Buck hoped he would, but Virgil hadn’t been able to find Micah or Riley Jo. No one here was going to come right out and say it, but they had to be thinking the same thing.

The search-and-rescue chopper flew over Angel View Lodge and out over the lake, then circled back to the mountain. An ominous feeling came over Buck.

Lord, no grandpa should outlive his grandkids. It was hard enough with Riley Jo. But Abby and me—we’ve got somethin’ special. I feel like part of my heart’s missin’. I’m askin’—no, beggin’—with everything in my heart and soul that You bring her back to us alive.

Buck looked up into Titus’s kind brown eyes and realized that Savannah had left. “You don’t have to sit here with me. I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do.”

Titus shook his head. “There’s nothing more important, friend. I’m right where I need to be.”

;

Abby walked briskly in single file behind Jay and Ella along the creek bed, her hands clasped behind her head. She could almost feel the cold barrel of Isaiah’s rifle pointed at her back.

She listened to the sounds of water flowing over the rocks, bloodhounds baying, and Ella sniffling. It was all Abby could do not to put her arm around her sister and wipe away her tears. It wouldn’t be long until the bloodhounds caught up to them. Isaiah had to know that. How much longer before he killed them?

The helicopter flew overhead, but Abby couldn’t spot it through the tight canopy that let in only glints of sunlight. Perspiration trickled down her temples, but she didn’t wipe it off, knowing that Isaiah might misread what she was doing with her hand and shoot her.

Suddenly the dogs’ baying stopped. Muffled voices rang out in the distance.

“Well, I’ll be.” Isaiah laughed. “The dang stuff does work.”

“What stuff?” Abby said.

“Just some powders I mixed up. Them hounds’ sniffers’ve been disabled for a while. That’ll buy me some time while I take care o’ you three.”

Abby shuddered at the thought of being fed to the pigs. What kind of monster was he? The temptation to run was stronger than ever. Even getting shot in the back would be less terrifying than what he planned to do to them.

“Pa, can I git me a drink?” Ella’s voice was whiny. “I’m powerful thirsty.”

“Ain’t got no time to waste. Keep movin’. The law ain’t gonna find no trace o’ you when you’re in the belly of them pigs.”

“If you don’t let her get a drink, she’s liable to faint,” Abby said. “Then you’ll have to carry her.”

Isaiah was quiet for a moment and then spit. “All o’ you git over to the creek, down on your bellies, and keep your hands where I can see them. Drink your fill. You got thirty seconds.”



Kate sat in the glider on the front porch of her log house, listening to the distant helicopter and wishing Virgil would call and say he had found Abby safe and sound.

Her mind drifted back sixteen years, to the day Abby made her entrance into the world …

“Come on, honey,” Micah whispered tenderly in Kate’s ear. “Just one more push.” He brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Here we go …”

Kate bore down as hard as she could, her eyes clamped shut, and didn’t realize their baby had been born until it began to cry.

Kate cried too, but her tears were joy spilling over.

Micah kissed her cheek. “You did great.”

“Well,” Dr. Boyer said, “you wanted the baby’s gender to be a surprise.” A smile appeared under his dark mustache. “You’ve got a daughter. She’s a beauty.”

The nurse handed Kate her baby girl, tiny and naked and vulnerable.

“Hello, angel. Oh, my, you’re so beautiful. Your name is Abigail Katherine Cummings. And I’m your mama.” Kate marveled as she looked at her daughter’s face—the child’s fair skin smooth like porcelain, her dark eyes the shape of almonds, her lips a perfect little rosebud. And though her hair was still damp, Kate saw the same red highlights so prevalent in Grandma Becca’s.

Micah snapped some pictures, then knelt down beside them. “Hello, princess. It’s Daddy. I think you already know my voice by now.” Micah’s eyes glistened. “I’m not sure yet what to do with a girl, but I couldn’t be happier.”

“I don’t think you have to do anything differently with Abby than you’ve been doing with Hawk,” Kate said. “Teach her to love the outdoors and let her choose the activities she enjoys. If she’s anything like I was, she’ll idolize her daddy, and wherever you go, she’ll be your shadow.”

Micah held up Abby’s scaly, purplish foot and chuckled. “How can she have such a perfect little face and feet like a lizard?”

“You know that changes quickly.” Kate smiled. “She’s about the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Me, too.”

“We need to get her cleaned up, weighed, and measured,” the nurse said. “I’ll bring her to you as soon as we’re finished.”

“With one of those little pink hats?” Micah said.

The nurse winked. “That’s the one. We won’t be long.”

Kate handed Abby to the nurse and turned to Micah, saying nothing, just relishing the feeling. It was magical …

I miss you so much, Micah. I thought I’d die when you and Riley Jo went missing. I don’t think I can survive losing Abby, too. I really don’t.

Kate sensed someone approaching and turned just in time to see Elliot stop at the bottom of the porch steps.

“I’m sorry to intrude on your privacy,” he said, “but I thought you should know that your dad is handling things in the office. He insisted. I think it’s helping him to cope.”

Kate nodded. “He does better with a lot going on.”

“And what about you?” Elliot said. “How are you coping?”

“Truthfully? I feel as if I’m going to break in two. But I’ve learned that I’m tougher than I think.”

“You’re about the strongest woman I’ve ever met.” Elliot’s face turned bright pink. “I hope you don’t mind me saying that.”

“I’m flattered. I just hate how I earned it.” Kate patted the swing seat. “Come sit with me.”

Elliot didn’t hesitate. He climbed the steps and sat next to her, leaving a respectful distance between them.

“I thought when Micah and Riley Jo went missing I would never recover,” Kate said. “And for a long time, it seemed that way. It’s gotten easier to bear over time. But I just can’t go through it again. I’m not sure I can live through losing Abby …” Kate put her fist to her mouth and choked back the emotion that had formed a knot in her throat.

Elliot took her free hand and squeezed it. “I don’t pretend to know what you’re feeling. But don’t lose hope that Virgil is going to find Abby alive. While we’re waiting to hear, is there anything I can do? Buck seemed right at home in the office and didn’t need me to hang around.”

“You’re already doing it. I appreciate your kindness. You’re a good friend.”

Kate’s cell phone rang. She jumped, her hand over her heart, and glanced at the screen. “It’s Virgil.” Kate breathed in slowly and exhaled, then pushed a button “This is Kate. You’re on speakerphone. Elliot Stafford’s here with me. Please tell me you’ve got good news.”

“I wish,” Virgil said. “The hounds picked up both scents immediately and were off and running, but we hit a snag. The dogs came to a gate in a barbed wire fence. It was unlocked, and the handlers took them through. The hounds got a big whiff of some kind of powder on the other side that seems to be playing havoc with their sense of smell. We’re not sure what the substance is or how long it’ll affect them.”

“Are you giving up?” Kate said.

“Not at all. The dogs proved to us the kids had been in these woods. It’s just going to be much harder to track them without the hounds. I’ve got search teams still moving in the same general direction. We’re looking into who owns the property, but I’m declaring exigent circumstances and proceeding without a warrant.”

“What does that mean?” Kate said.

“Simply put, it means that time is of the essence and we can’t afford to get slowed down by red tape.”