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“Are you just playing coy, or are you really that clueless?”
“Why do you answer questions with a question?” Chloe asked.
Gabe failed in his attempt to suppress a chuckle. “Maybe it’s time you finally admit what’s really going on.”
Chloe’s heart quaked. “Nothing’s going on. He’s just a good friend. Poirot and I are fine on our own.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Gabe, you know I can’t get serious with anyone. It doesn’t matter that Josh is amazing and such a great friend. It’s just not gonna happen.”
Gabe placed his hand on her shoulder like he was going to say something serious, but he was quiet.
She waited and tried not to squirm like a little child who’s hoping her parent doesn’t actually realize what she did wrong.
“Chloe.” Gabe met her eyes. “You trust God with your salvation and eternity. When will you trust Him with your life?”
Under the weight of Gabe’s words, she sank. Why did her brother have to be so perceptive? She wanted to trust God with her whole life, didn’t she? Or did she?
Chapter Two
JoshparkedhisRAV4beside Chloe’s burgundy Pilot and headed to the command center. He’d gotten home from Hazel Hill late last night, only to be woken up this morning at five for a search and rescue call. Multiple teams had been called in to look for a pair of missing hikers who hadn’t come home last night after their Christmas afternoon hike. Since they had been out for only a short hike, they didn’t have any of the supplies they would need to survive very long, and it had gotten cold last night.
In stark contrast to the black woods beyond, the streetlight on the edge of the parking lot cast an orange glow in a small circle beneath it. A group of people gathered beneath it, and the light allowed Josh to spot Chloe. But Poirot saw Josh first. Despite being in work mode, Poirot’s tail wagged so enthusiastically his whole body joined in.
Josh walked to him and waited to pet him until the lab nudged his hand. “Hey, buddy.” He knelt and gave Poirot an affectionate rubdown that earned Josh a face full of licks.
Chloe tucked her lips in as if to hide a smile.
“Good morning.” Josh stood.
“Hey.”
He asked about her Christmas, and while they waited for their assignment, they chatted about their families and the antics of their nieces and nephews. He absolutely loved the way Chloe’s face lit up as she talked about the little people in her life. She would make an amazing mother. He struggled to understand how she hadn’t already gotten married and started a family.
A tall, burly woman with a kind smile came over to them. “Is this Poirot?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Chloe said.
The lady introduced herself as Kristinn and gave them their assignment but kept looking at the two of them with a strange expression. She finished her instructions, and then said, “I’m sorry. But you two look familiar.”
Josh didn’t recognize her. “I’m not sure our teams have worked together before.”
“No, I think y’all were probably with the team that looked for my brother Peter when he got lost.”
Josh half shrugged. “It’s possible. We’ve both been part of many searches over the years.”
“Peter Bortsov?” Chloe’s voice was soft with a hint of . . . was that regret?
“That’s him.” Kristinn nodded. A cloud of sadness fell upon her.
“I’m so sorry. We were the ones who found him.” Chloe gave him her get-me-out-of-here look.
Josh searched his memory. Who was Peter Bortsov?Oh!The hunter who died of a heart attack only an hour before they’d found him. “That was my first search. Is that why you’ve gotten involved in search and rescue?”
Kristinn nodded. “My other brother, Elliot, too.” She pointed to a burly man with a deeply set scowl, recording names of the different teams.
Chloe’s expression softened as if she understood, but she didn’t say anything more. Just pointed across to the parked cars. “Lance is here.”
