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“Oh, hi, Asher.” She waved at his daughter. “Hey, Harper. Sorry. I can’t let you guys through here. No one, other than emergency personnel, is allowed beyond this point.”
“But my family—” His gaze shot in the direction the bomb squad truck had already disappeared.
She shook her head. “The whole Colton Oil staff has been evacuated, using local school buses. You can be reunited with your family members at the Affirmation Alliance Group Center.”
“Why there?”
She shrugged. “They have the facilities, and they offered.”
“Makes sense.” The group had been helping the community a lot lately, particularly following the earthquake. It was great to see local organizations doing some good.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“Sorry. Any official announcements need to come from Sergeant Colton.”
“Spencer wouldn’t mind if you shared details with me.” He was a distant cousin, after all.
“I like my job. I plan to keep it.”
“Fine. Thanks.”
Asher returned to his truck and buckled Harper in. He forced himself not to speed as he drove to the Affirmation Alliance Group Center. Sure, he’d heard that his brother and sisters were fine, but he needed to see it for himself.
A yellow school bus remained in the center’s lot when he pulled in and parked. About a dozen people chatted in groups outside the building’s front door, a fair, blonde woman he recognized as Affirmation Alliance founder Micheline Anderson milling among them. He could only hope that his family members were inside.
He carried Harper to the entrance. His sister, Marlowe, pushed open the door just as he reached the curb. Her face ruddy, her long, light blond hair falling forward over her face, Marlowe looked nothing like the unflappable Colton Oil CEO he knew. She cradled her rounded belly as if trying to protect her child.
“Marlowe,” he called out as he rushed toward her.
His one arm closed around her, his wiggling daughter sandwiched between them. He pulled back but still rested his hand on Marlowe’s arm.
“Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”
Despite her red face, she smiled. “I’m fine, big brother. We’re fine.”
“Well, you don’t look so good. You should sit down.” He guided her to a park bench
farther down the walk. “Did you call Bowie?”
“I just got off the phone with him.” She awkwardly lowered herself onto the wood and then gestured for him to join her. “A good fiancée wouldn’t let him find out about this on the internet, would she? Speaking of which, how did you find out?”
“I saw all the police cars.”
“You saw them from the ranch?”
“I was in town.”
He stopped at that. His sister was already worked up enough. He could share his own story with the family later.
“So, what happened?”
Marlowe held her hands wide. “Someone called in a bomb threat to the main office line.”
“To Dee Walton? What did she do?”
“Dee was the perfect admin hero.”
She waved to the olive-skinned woman with short brown hair. Dee waved back.
