?

Carson gives Misty a squeeze, proud of her that though scared, she’d be returning with him. “Thanks, Misty.”

Finally letting her go, he turns to Lockheart. “We’d better get back as soon as possible. I don’t want Nate getting in too much trouble before we get back, and…better to face the music and get it over with rather than dreading it for several days. But…we’ll definitely stay to eat lunch so we don’t die of starvation on the way back.”

Dani stands to the side for a moment, her own mind reeling. “Can I go back with you?”

Carson turns and thinks, then shakes his head. “I don’t want you involved unless absolutely necessary. If you’re there, that will just give someone a foothold to hound on you. The quieter this thing is, the better.”

“But what if I don’t care?” Dani’s voice raises slightly. “You can’t just walk back and let them take you in like that…I can’t let them do that!”

“I don’t want you in the thick of it,” Carson emphasizes.

Tears well up in Dani’s eyes. She never considered herself an emotional person…a sad movie might move her to cry, but otherwise, she was usually very strong. But these last couple days had taken her on such a rollercoaster ride, that now the tears seemed to come too freely. “I don’t want to lose you again.”

Carson gives a little sigh and moves to her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “You won’t, alright? Now that I know where you are, I promise we’ll be in touch.”

“But…please let me come?”

“Dani…I want you to stay here.”

His sternness drives her to look down and swallow hard. She moves away a couple steps, sinking into a kitchen chair where lunch was being prepared.

Carson’s heart feel like it’s being stretched too far, but he doesn’t back down. Instead, he moves to sit as well, having Misty sit beside him.

Lunch is fairly quiet. Talk is kept relatively light, despite the circumstances, and before anyone wants it, it’s time to go.

Standing at the door, Carson gives his sister a big hug, even though it’s not returned with quiet as much enthusiasm as before. Backing off, he promises he’ll see her again soon, then nods to Lockheart. “Okay…take us to Misty’s car… we’ll get back in the middle of the night, but I have a feeling Reese and Brown will be awake.”


Scott lets himself fall into Katie’s embrace and kiss, feeling as though nothing else in the world mattered at all. He holds her close to him, loving the way she felt, the way she smelled, the way she held him. He loved her…and never wanted to leave.

Just letting the moment last, Scott doesn’t care when someone walks by and sees them, or when Domino begs for his attention too by pawing at his leg.

Finally though, he draws away just a little to look into those eyes again…oh, those eyes that sent shivers up and down his spine. His hand combs her hair, loving the softness. His fingers slide down the side of her face, his touch light and gentle.

Scott leans in just a little to rest his forehead against hers, his heart starting to race. He hated words…words messed so many things up. But sometimes they must be spoken. And in this moment…this moment that wasn’t how he had imagined, but so much more in so many different ways…he needed to know.

“Katie…” His voice whispers, his eyes locked with hers. “Marry me?”