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“Trouble here?”

I thought it was an officer, someone keen to sniff out family drama that could have contributed to foul play, but I turned and blinked with bewilderment at the tall, dark stature of Arthur Winter. I knew it was Arthur only because his smiling face was on the website in black and white next to the number to call to book Winter’s Teeth. Everly and I had agreed he was the most handsome venue owner we ever laid eyes on.

With thick, chocolate locks coiffed perfectly, trimmed brows, a close-shaved beard, rich eyes, and arms as thick as tree trunks... He looked born to be a romance novel cover model. The shirtless kind.

“No,” I said softly, finally pulling my arm away and feeling tingles in my hand as blood flow resumed. “I’m going out to search for my sister.”

“Of course. Stick close to the troopers. They know their way around the woods and can keep you safe.”

“Are the woods dangerous?” Dad asked in an accusing tone.

“Of course,” Arthur said, letting my father’s arrogant tone roll off him like water on a duck’s back. “It’s icy, lots of places to trip and fall, and there’s wildlife in there that isn’t used to human presence. Bears, coyotes, the like.”

More reason for me to get out and find Everly as fast as possible. I whirled away and strode across the snow-crusted field, past the forgotten chairs and verdant decorated arbor to catch up to the group of troopers and groomsmen heading into the forest.

“—fan out about twenty meters and keep your walkies on,” the trooper leading the search finished as soon as I joined them.

Brett welcomed me into his group with a grim smile, the two of us silently agreeing the situation was dire and there was no time to be wasted on words. Everly was barefoot, for goodness sake.

Some wedding day this turned out to be...

As we trudged into the forest, I hoped, Just let us find her in less than an hour so that this can be a crazy story we tell for years to come. Nothing more.

***

THE ALREADY GRAY-CAST day faded to a hazy sunset around five. Search parties thinned out and headed in, complaining of numb toes and frost-bitten noses.

I nearly screamed at the top of my lungs every time a group turned back.

Everly was still out there, probably barefoot in a wedding dress, and people were giving up because they were cold?

I didn’t care if darkness was nearly upon us. I didn’t care if it was pitch-black. I didn’t care if the tracks had disappeared and it was too far to keep going in these conditions.

A little after five, Brett dragged me back against my will, tricking me with false promises to get his car and drive further to pick up searching in another part of the woods.

Stopping dead in my tracks when he headed up the porch steps instead of to his car, I gasped, “Don’t tell me you’re giving up, too.”

Brett’s shoulders hung low, his head angled at his feet. Without turning around, he said in a small, broken voice, “The troopers said they’re getting a helicopter out in the morning.”

“She might not have until morning!”

Faces peeked out the windows at the pitch of my shriek, but no one came out to help. No one interfered. No one continued the search.

Am I the only one who hasn’t given up?

“Just come in and eat,” Brett said with a hunched frame. “Change your wet socks, get a hat before your ears fall off. We’ll take the car out after.”

How anyone could eat or warm up for more than a second while Everly was outside freezing or dead astounded me. I scoffed, certain Brett would never deserve my sister now. Not after today.

Nonetheless, I trudged up the steps, following him inside. If I had to play the game, then so be it. Ten minutes, and then I was heading out again, with or without help.

In the dining room, the Winters put out the spread of food that had been meant for the wedding reception. Better it didn’t go to waste, but now it was a meal for tireless search parties that had once been wedding guests. Women in dresses and men in suits clumped together in scattered groups, speaking in somber, hushed tones.

I stuffed a brisket sandwich down my throat and chugged some water, then I hovered by Brett’s table, waiting for him to head back out with me.

He wearily set down his beer. “Rae...” he started, and I instantly bristled.

“You promised,” I snapped.