Grave Concerns (12 page)

“What’s wrong?” Kelly didn’t like the grim tilt of Maddie’s chin. She looked worried. After finding a child, Kelly would’ve thought she’d be relieved. Maddie’s stance reflected nothing of the sort.

“We need to take her back to the campground,” Maddie said, squinting as she studied the tree line.

“I don’t understand,” Kelly said. “If you want to wait here with her, I can go back and get Nick. He’ll know what to do.”

“We can’t separate,” Maddie said, forcing a smile as she glanced down at the terrified child. “Are you hungry? Let’s go back and get some food, shall we? I’ll bet someone is looking for you.”

The girl finally opened her mouth … and wailed. “I want my Mom!”

“We’re going to get you to your mother,” Kelly said, her heart going out to the scared child. “I promise.” Kelly turned back to Maddie. “I’ll stay here with her if you want to go back.”

“No one is staying here,” Maddie said, furtively studying the trees again. If Kelly didn’t know better, she would swear the woman was tracking someone with her eyes. There was no one there to watch, though.

“You’re kind of freaking me out,” Kelly admitted. “I … do you see something over there?”

Maddie lowered her voice. “I think someone is over there, Kelly, and I don’t think it’s someone we want to talk to. I can’t explain it right now. We need to stay together, and we need to get back to the campground. Do you understand?”

Kelly wanted to argue. Heck, it was in her nature to argue. Nick and her father’s words came floating back, though, and Kelly resolutely nodded instead. After all, Maddie found a lost child in the woods. She’d earned respect. “Let’s go.”

Maddie grabbed the girl’s hand on one side and Kelly followed suit on the other, both women buffering the child as they moved in the opposite direction of the trees Maddie was so bothered by. Kelly didn’t miss the fact that Maddie kept glancing over her shoulder. She was watching the space behind them in case someone tried to move in on them. Kelly had no idea what was going on, but Maddie’s hyper-vigilance was enough to keep her on task.

“It shouldn’t take us more than twenty minutes to get back to camp,” Kelly said, her voice bright as she bolstered the girl. “Then there will be tons of people who want to feed and take care of you. We also have two police officers there, and they can find your mom.”

The girl didn’t reply, although she appeared happy with the news.

“What’s your name?” Maddie asked, tearing her eyes away from the trees.

“Jessica.”

“Jessica what?”

“Jessica Blake.”

“Well, Jessica Blake, I think things are going to work out for you today,” Maddie said. “You’ll be out of these trees in no time.”

“Good,” Jessica said, relaxing a bit as her trust grew. “I don’t ever want to see another tree again. They’re horrible. They look like monsters in the dark.”

Kelly jolted. “Were you out here all night alone?”

Jessica bit her lip and nodded. “I … .”

“It’s okay,” Kelly prodded. “You’re not in trouble. Tell us what happened.”

“I wasn’t supposed to walk around by myself,” Jessica said. “I did anyway because my brothers were being buttheads and said I was a baby. I wanted to prove I wasn’t a baby.”

“All brothers can be buttheads,” Kelly soothed. “They never outgrow that.”

Maddie snorted, but otherwise remained quiet. She was alert, letting Kelly keep up the conversation while she kept track of their surroundings. Kelly found something comforting about the blonde’s diligent nature.

“I got lost,” Jessica said. “It was sunny out when I went into the woods, but then it got dark. Do you think my mom and dad are going to yell at me?”

“I think your mom and dad are going to be so happy that you’re okay they won’t be able to yell,” Kelly said. “They’ve probably been looking for you all night.”

Maddie furrowed her brow. “Shouldn’t we have heard if someone was looking for a missing child? I would think they would come to all of the campgrounds and notify everyone.”

“Maybe she didn’t go missing from our campground,” Kelly suggested. “Plus … well … none of us was hanging out where people would approach us last night. Maybe they did make the rounds and we didn’t notice.”

“Maybe.”

“Speaking of that … .”

Maddie glanced at Kelly, her blue eyes sympathetic. “It’s fine, Kelly. I know you’re sorry. You don’t have to apologize again.”

“I feel like I should.”

“It’s really not necessary,” Maddie said. “I’m fine. You’re fine. Jessica here is definitely going to be fine. I think we should just put it behind us.”

Kelly was both relieved and reluctant. “I would feel better if you yelled at me.”

“I think Nick has yelled at you enough for the both of us,” Maddie said, her expression rueful. “Let’s just agree that it’s in the past. Hopefully we can move forward from here.”

“I … I’m still worried that you’re going to leave again and crush Nick,” Kelly admitted. “He won’t survive losing you a second time.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that,” Maddie said. “I’m not leaving again. Nick is my home. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

Kelly wanted to believe her, but something inside refused surrender the notion that Maddie would hurt Nick. “I hope so.”

“I know so.”

“OKAY,
Jessica, your parents are on the way,” John said an hour later, kneeling in front of the girl as Sharon plied her with fresh pancakes and juice. “The state police found them and they’re very excited to see you.”

Jessica didn’t look convince. “Are they going to yell at me?”

“I think they’re probably going to hug you.”

“Then are they going to yell at me?” Jessica was more worried about getting in trouble than her ordeal.

“I think you’re probably going to get a lecture about taking off on your own,” Nick offered, moving in front of Jessica. “After that, though, your parents are probably going to be so relieved to find you that you’re going to get whatever you want out of them.”

“Milk it,” John suggested. “Ask for ice cream.”

Jessica giggled. Even though Maddie was the one who saved her, she took an immediate shine to John and practically clung to him once they got her to the campground. Maddie wasn’t offended. She was merely glad the little girl would be safely reunited with her parents.

“What campground were they at?” Maddie asked.

“Jellystone.”

Maddie rubbed the back of her neck. “That’s quite a hike for a kid,” she said, running the geography through her mind. “She must’ve walked miles in the dark.”

“She also crossed a slow-moving creek,” Nick supplied. “They had search dogs out and that’s where they lost her. They didn’t think it was possible for her to make it this far so no one alerted anyone over here about what was going on.”

“Well, at least she’s safe.”

Nick’s studied Maddie’s face for a moment, ultimately grabbing her by the elbow and leading her far enough away that prying ears couldn’t hear. “Was she the one you heard crying in your head, love?”

Maddie nodded. “I had a dream about her last night. Well, I didn’t know it was about her. I knew someone was crying in the trees. That’s why I went for a hike this morning. I was convinced something would lead me to her.”

Nick frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve gone with you.”

“You had other things on your mind,” Maddie reminded him. “I thought it was more important for you to … settle things with Kelly.”

“How did you two run into each other out there?”

“I … well … I was talking to my mother,” Maddie admitted, keeping her voice low. “I didn’t even see Kelly until she came up behind me.”

“Did she hear you talking to Olivia? What was your mother even doing here?”

“She just popped in for a visit,” Maddie replied. “I don’t think Kelly knew I was talking to anyone. I think she thought I was talking to myself. It’s probably preferable for us that she thinks I’m crazy instead of psychic.”

“I’m kind of upset that you didn’t tell me what was going on, Mad,” Nick said. “It had a good ending, though, so I’m going to let it go. Did Kelly say anything to you before you found Jessica?”

“She apologized for what she said last night about Granny,” Maddie answered. “Oh, and Mom has been watching Granny. Apparently her party let out early because Granny had to be in bed by eight.”

Nick snorted. “I saw that coming. Still … you should’ve told me what you were going to do. I don’t like the idea of you wandering around in the woods by yourself. Something could’ve happened.”

“Well, in the interest of telling the truth, I have something else you’re not going to like,” Maddie said. “Mom said someone was watching Jessica from the other side of the clearing where we found her. She didn’t think it was a good person. I obviously couldn’t question Mom further because Kelly was there and she would’ve definitely thought I was crazy if I started talking to a ghost in front of her.”

Nick rolled his neck, cracking it. “Did you see anyone?”

“No. I did … feel … someone there. Someone was definitely watching us.”

“Who do you think it was?”

“I don’t know,” Maddie replied. “I’m hoping Mom stops by later to tell me what she saw. After telling me to get Kelly and Jessica out of there, she went after whoever was hiding in the trees. Hopefully she’ll have information when she gets back.”

“I don’t like this,” Nick muttered. “Why would someone be watching a small girl who disappeared in the woods? If it was someone who wanted to help … or just stumbled upon her like you … why not make his presence known?”

“What if it was someone who wanted to hurt her?”

“Then why didn’t he grab her before you showed up?” Nick asked.

“Maybe because I beat him to it,” Maddie suggested. “I don’t have an answer for you. For now, all we can do is be thankful Jessica is going home and wait for my mom.”

Nick pulled Maddie in for a hug, kissing her softly as he rocked her. “You’re a hero again, my Maddie.”

“I’m not a hero. I did what anyone would’ve done.”

“You’re definitely a hero, Mad. You’re my hero.”

“Well, I guess it’s good that you’re my hero so we balance each other out,” Maddie teased.

“I guess so.”

KELLY
watched Maddie and Nick embrace from across the campsite, her emotions churning. She’d never seen her brother this happy. Whenever he was in close proximity to Maddie he practically glowed. She could feel the love wafting off of them.

She was happy for him and yet worry still niggled her mind. No one got a truly happy ending anymore, did they?

“What are you looking at?” Sharon asked, sidling up to her daughter. “Please tell me you’re not plotting something else against Maddie. She just found a lost child in the woods. I think she’s earned a reprieve.”

Kelly scowled. “Is that how little you think of me? Do you really think I would go after Maddie after what she did?”

“I have no idea,” Sharon admitted. “I wouldn’t have thought you would hide Maddie’s kayak … or say the truly awful things you did about Maude.”

Kelly sighed. She deserved her mother’s ire. “I apologized for what I said about Maude. It was uncalled for and unfair.”

“Did you apologize for the kayak incident?”

“Kind of.”

“How about bringing Sydney here to tempt your brother while the woman he lives with was present?” Sharon pressed. “Did you apologize for that?”

“I know you don’t believe it, but I am sorry for all of this,” Kelly said. “I just … I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“You refuse to be happy,” Sharon shot back, not missing a beat. “You’re not going to let this stuff go until you give yourself permission to be happy again.”

“I’m trying, Mom,” Kelly said. “It’s not as easy as I would like it to be.”

“Then try harder,” Sharon said. “I want all of my children to be happy. Nick is there. He’s never going to get happier than he is now … well, until they have children. I’ve been informed that’s still a few years away, though, and I’m not to bug Maddie about it.”

Kelly snickered. “You just want another baby to hold.”

“I can’t help it,” Sharon said. “Can you imagine a little Nick running around?”

“What if it’s a little Maddie?”

“Then I’ll be just as thrilled,” Sharon said. “I miss the days of dressing up a little girl. Hayley is well past that stage.”

“She is,” Kelly agreed, making her mind up on the spot and turning to her mother. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on with Maddie?”

Sharon stilled, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“I found her in the woods talking to herself and she was adamant she heard someone crying,” Kelly replied. “The problem is, Jessica wasn’t crying when we found her. She was just sitting there.

“Then Maddie kept watching the woods and she said she thought someone was in the trees and that whoever it was could be dangerous,” she continued. “I didn’t see anyone. I didn’t hear anyone.”