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“We can’t dismiss any possibility right now. For all we know, they could be running a con game. They take the money, then never show up with the children.”
Ellie shook her head at the thought, then muttered that she saw his point. “Or they could have lined up multiple interested parties and promised them the same child.”
“And sold her to the highest bidder.”
Seventy-Nine
Somewhere on the AT
She watched the angels dance across the stage, wings fluttering as they flapped their arms and formed a circle amidst the golden halo shining down as if from heaven. Tiny pinpoints of white lights flickered across the performers like stars, and a hand-painted mural of a snow scene served as a backdrop for the show.
One, two, three… ten in all. All beautiful little girls with shiny red bows in their hair and ballerina shoes, the dance choregraphed by the local instructor.
But the star of the show was her very own daughter. Piper, with long golden hair that looked like corn silk and a smile that lit up a room like a sunburst. Piper, who was so beautiful people stopped her on the street to compliment her.
Piper, her sweet little angel.
The little girls whirled around, spinning and dancing on their tippy toes as they sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. Their voices taunted her with such precious memories, and then Piper stepped up in front of the microphone for her solo, singing “Here Comes Santa Claus”.
The audience began to clap as Piper spread joy with her lyrical voice and mesmerizing sky-blue eyes.
Her heart sang along, emotions overcoming her, and she reached out and touched the TV as if she could somehow touch Piper again, pull her from the video, and wrap her in her arms.
But the screen was cold and slick and Piper disappeared, floating away from her just like a feather in the wind.
Choking back a sob, she closed her eyes and imagined waking up and chasing Piper into the living room to find Santa’s toys on Christmas morning. She would squeal in delight as she ripped open the packages and they’d make hot cocoa and blueberry waffles for breakfast and stay in their pajamas and play with her toys all day long.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes, went to the closet in her craft room and pulled out her sewing kit, white fabric and glittery ribbon. Tonight, she’d make all the girls angel costumes and in the morning they could perform a show just like the one the little angels performed at Crooked Creek.
The girls would love it…
The sound of crying in the other room yanked her from her thoughts, and a seed of fear sprouted inside her. Becky.
Knowing the child needed her, she filled a kids’ water bottle, then hurried down the hall to the room where she’d moved her. Panic seized her as she stepped inside and saw her thrashing at the covers. The little girl was growing weaker every day. Becky coughed and clenched the covers as she shivered, her complexion as milky-white as the bedsheets.
“Mommy…” Becky’s voice was so weak and low it sounded a mile away.
She took a damp cloth from the nightstand and brushed it over the girl’s clammy skin, then sat down beside her and buried her head against her. Becky had to be all right.
She couldn’t lose her all over again…
Eighty
Silas gave Becky the injection, his thoughts as turbulent as the gathering storm clouds outside. She did not look well right now. She needed a hospital.
He wanted to save her. He wanted to save them all.
But he hadn’t been able to save the one he loved the most.
His wife hated him for it. He hated himself.
The sound of Becky’s labored breathing rattled in the air, and he closed his eyes. Instead of Becky’s face though, his little girl’s blond hair and bright eyes flashed in his mind.
“Come on, Daddy,” she sang. “You promised we’d see the cattails.”
He took her hand. He had promised. “I don’t know if we’ll find them today,” he said. “The ground is frozen.”
“But you promised, and we drove all the way up here to Cattail Cove,” she said with a tug of his hand. “You said they’re in the marshy parts. There’s a pond over there.”
