Page 136 of Into the Mist

There was a movement several yards from them, and the moonlight illuminated the silhouette of a woman by the creek. She stood perfectly still on a little rise in the land. Her back was to them as she stared into the distance.

“Who’s that?” Mercury asked.

“Imani,” Ford said. “She went out just after you did.”

“She didn’t go to the bathroom area with me. I wonder if I should take the lantern to her.”

“I don’t think so. Gemma said she’s been doing that every night.”

“Doing what?” Mercury asked.

“Just staring. Gemma says she goes out by herself, turns to the southwest and stays like that—sometimes for hours. Do you have any idea why?”

“She’s facing San Diego, where she had two kids—babies really—and a husband she loved very much. She’s looking toward them.”

“Damn. That’s tough,” Ford’s voice was rough with emotion. “I didn’t know.”

“Imani acts like she’s okay, but she’s not,” Mercury said softly. “I hope someday she will be, though.”

“So do I.”

They stood side by side in silence until Mercury realized why Ford must have been outside the cave.

“Oh, did you come out here for the lantern?” Mercury lifted the dark lamp.

“No, I came out here so I could say goodnight to you before you went to bed.”

Mercury lowered the lantern and looked up at him. “You couldn’t say goodnight to me inside?”

“No,” Ford said softly. “Not like this.” He stepped closer to her and reached out to cup her face between his hands. Then he bent and gently pressed his lips to hers. The kiss wasn’t filled with passion; it was filled with promise. He whispered against her lips, “Buenas noches, Bellota.I am very glad you didn’t die.” He took the lantern from her suddenly limp grasp. “And I do appreciate this lantern.Gracias.”

As Mercury watched him disappear into the darkness, her fingers lightly touched her lips.

CHAPTER

40

“MERCURY! WAKE UP!”

“You’ve got to come outside and watch the sunrise!”

Mercury cracked her eyelids open just enough to see Gemma, Georgie, and the twins staring at her like she was a package under the tree on Christmas morning.

“The sun is just rising?” she asked as she reached for the bottle of water she’d remembered to fill and put beside her sleeping bag.

“Yeah, you won’t believe the colors!” said Georgie.

Cayden nodded and put his little hand in hers, tugging gently.

“Okay, okay!” She smiled at the boy. “I’m coming.” Mercury pulled on her jeans and then her boots and followed the kids, who were almost dancing with excitement.

As soon as she exited the cave, she understood why. Sometime during the night it had rained, and the rising sun cast rays the yellow of bright, perfect daffodils on the Painted Hills, changing their colors from the rich tones they’d witnessed the evening before to a brilliant watercolor pallet of coral and butter and moss green.

“Totally worth getting up early for, right Acorn?” Stella said as she joined her at the mouth of the cave.

“Totally,” Mercury agreed.

“Oh, good! You’re awake.” Ford’s smile was warm and intimate and sent little shivers of delicious anticipation down Mercury’s spine.