Her few minutes had turned into more. Amelia couldn’t begin to guess how long she’d been gone.
“Did you see him anywhere?” Her question carried the sound of her desperation.
“Don’t you think I’d say if I did?” Kat shrugged, an angry gesture. “He’s not in the barn.”
“I have to find him.” Amelia paused, half hoping Kat would offer to look. She didn’t. “Taking Poppy will slow me down.” Again, she waited.
Kat regarded her with narrowed eyes. “I can watch Poppy.”
“You promise you’ll stay with her?”
“Of course, I will. Give her to me.”
What choice did she have but to trust the girl? Amelia shifted Poppy into her arms. Praying for the child’s safety and for direction in finding Pa, she hurried away.
The trees first. She slowed her steps, not wishing to startle the man if he was there.
He wasn’t.
She made her way to the left, searching trees, looking for him behind boulders. Nothing. She reached the barn. Unless he’d slipped in unnoticed since she left Kat, he wasn’t there.
A glance toward the house assured her that Kat and Poppy were safely on the porch, so she moved on.
The field of flowers was next. Pa didn’t sit on the brow of the hill. She moved closer to see into the hollow. Pa sat in the midst of the weary flowers, his slouch every bit as weary.
Her breath whooshed out.Thank You, God.
Humming to alert the man to her presence, she made her way toward him. At his side, she sat down. “Hi, Pa.”
“Evelyn came here.” His voice quavered.
“I know.” Would her soft voice comfort him?
“She prayed for us.”
“Yes.” Uncertain what direction his thoughts headed, she waited for him to say more. This place would be full of bittersweet memories for him.
“Who will pray for us now?”
“Oh, Pa.” She edged closer and clasped his hand. “You can pray, and so will I.”
“Right now?”
“Of course.”
They bowed their heads. After a few seconds, she realized he waited for her, so she began. “Our Father which art in heaven?—”
He joined her in repeating the Lord’s Prayer. “Amen.” He chuckled. “That was nice.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” A moment of silence. “Are you ready to go home?” Worry about Poppy twisted through Amelia’s head. But she waited for Pa to make the first move. “Poppy was asking for her gampa.”
“Let’s go.” He rose. “I’m glad you’re here until Evelyn gets back.” Humming, he trotted away, thankfully in the right direction.
Poppy and Kat stood hand in hand in front of the house, watching them approach.
There was one more thing Amelia had to do. “Kat, I apologize for being so cross with you. I’m sorry.” She would not weaken her apology with reasons for her crossness—like worry.
Kat stubbed the toe of her boot into the ground, raising little puffs of dirt.
