“Told you. I need to get out of the country. That takes money. You refused to help, but I’m sure your boyfriend will be more cooperative. He has more incentive than you did.”
“Neil you don’t—”
He held up his fist to silence her. She pulled Jack a little closer, praying for safety and deliverance from this volatile situation. She prayed for Seth to find them quickly and she prayed for courage.
The car slowed and veered off the road onto a deeply rutted driveway between overhanging trees. When they pulled into the open, she saw the shadow of an old farmhouse. One window held a faint glow of light. She had no idea where they were or how far out of town they’d come. Her fingers wrapped around the phone in her pants pocket. If she could just get a text—even a partial one—sent to Seth, then he could track them down.
Neil stopped the car, got out and came around to her door. He grabbed her arm and she struggled to hold on to Jack as her brother forced them across the uneven ground.
The front door of the house opened and a man stepped onto the porch. “Where you going to put them?”
Neil laughed and shoved her forward. “I got the perfect place.”
It took a moment for Carrie’s eyes to adjust to the dark as they walked beyond the house and toward the trees. She made out the shape of a small shed, its roof sloped or sagging, she couldn’t tell which. What she did know was that Neil intended to lock them inside the cramped old shack. Terror clamped like icy fingers around her throat making it hard to breathe.
Please, Lord, don’t let him put me inside there. Please let there be a light. Please don’t leave me in the dark.
The opening strains of the Downton Abbey theme song split the silence. Her phone. She cringed. She should have turned the phone to silent. Neil cursed, jerked her to a halt and rammed his hand into her pocket. He spewed a string of ugly words, then dropped the phone and stomped on it.
Jack shivered against her.
Neil shoved her inside. The wooden door slammed behind her with a dreadful finality. Cold sweat covered her skin. Pounding on the door, she screamed her brother’s name.
“Miss Carrie, I’m scared.”
Jack’s trembling voice broke through her rising panic. She couldn’t let her fears control her. She wanted to curl up in a ball and cry the way she had when she was a kid and Neil had locked her in that closet. She’d remained in the fetal position, crying for hours, until Neil had decided to return home and let her out. She’d found a place to go in her mind that had allowed her to endure the dark. She didn’t have that luxury now—Jack needed her.
“I know you’re scared. I am, too.” She pressed him close to her side, trying desperately to see in the inky blackness. She remembered noticing a bench when they were shoved inside. At least they wouldn’t have to sit on the floor, though she had no idea where it was. There were cracks in the walls so they wouldn’t suffocate. She could feel the walls, look for a loose board, but that would mean moving around in this dark space. She shivered. She didn’t want to think about what might be lurking in the old shed. Spiders, snakes, rodents. Fear pulled a gasp from her throat, which in turn made Jack grasp her more tightly.
Somehow she had to set aside her own terror to make Jack feel safe. Forcing a calming breath into her lungs, she reached out and felt the door, then slowly turned and took a few steps forward, feeling for the bench. Hands outstretched, she prayed she’d come in contact with something solid and not an icky spiderweb. After three cautious steps, her knee hit something hard and her hand landed on the wall. She was grateful that all she felt was the rough, weathered wood. She brushed the seat of the bench, making sure it was empty, pushing aside a metal object on the end before sitting down and pulling Jack up beside her. “There. Now we’ll wait for Seth to come and find us.”
“I want my daddy.”
Carrie’s heart melted. They’d never gotten the chance to open the letter with the DNA results, but Jack had claimed Seth as his father. Seth would be so happy.
They should have been celebrating right now. She’d envisioned a happy party with special cupcakes for the occasion. If the news was negative she had planned on calling them consolation cupcakes.
Carrie opened her eyes. The darkness tightened her throat. The fierce need to escape overtook her mind and her breath came rapidly.
“Is Daddy coming?”
Jack. She had to think of him first and keep him feeling safe. “I know he is. It just might take a while for him to find us.”
“Will he bust open the door?”
She hugged him close. “He might.”
“Superman busts through doors.”
Carrie continued the game, hoping to downplay their situation. “Maybe he’ll come in the window.” There weren’t any windows but she chose to ignore that.
“I hope he drops through the roof on a rope. That would be way cool.”
“Just like in the movies.”
“My dad catches bad guys, and locks them up and makes ’em go away, doesn’t he?”
“That’s right, but we’ll have to be brave until he shows up, okay?” She prayed Jack’s words would come true.
“Miss Carrie, I’m scared.”
She shifted him into her lap and held him close to her heart. “I know, sweetheart. But Jesus will watch over us. He’s promised to never forsake us.”
“What’s does that mean?”
“He’ll stay right beside us in this dark place until your daddy comes to take us home.”
“I can’t see him.”
“No, but if you close your eyes and talk to him, he’ll hear you.”
Jack relaxed in her arms and she prayed again for their safety. For strength and courage to keep her undercurrent of panic from rising to the surface. She prayed for wisdom to keep Jack from becoming too frightened. She knew firsthand that fear was a contagious emotion. If she grew fearful and gave in to it, Jack would be swept along with her. Please, Lord, show me You’re here.
She opened her eyes, her gaze drawn to a sliver of light. Was she imagining it? Was she seeing things now? She shut her eyes and opened them again. It was still there. A thread of light from somewhere outside the shed. A floodlight? Light from the house? Whatever the source, it was the thread of hope she needed to keep her sanity. The shed was still filled with suffocating darkness. With each breath she inhaled dust and mold and who knows what else. The smell of dirt, rotted wood and oil clung to her nose. The bench beneath them was dirty and splintered, but that one filament of light gave her the strength to keep her own fears tamped down.
“I want Barky.”
“I know. But he’s nice and warm at the house. He’d be awfully cold out here with us.”
She held Jack closer, fixing her gaze on the crack of light like a lifeline. A verse came to mind. One so appropriate it stole her breath. “‘We walk by faith not by sight.’”
There was no way out of the ramshackle shed, and she had no idea of what was beside her or above her. All she had was the determination to protect Jack, the trust that Seth would find them and the assurance that the Lord would be with them.
* * *
Seth stood on the sidelines watching as Neil’s cohort, Stan Richards, was escorted to a patrol car. Thanks to a coordinated effort, they’d nabbed Richards when he’d stepped out of the shadows to pick up the bag full of money, which was actually cut-up newsprint. Unfortunately, he had refused to tell them where Neil was or where Carrie and Jack might be.
Seth grew more and more irritated the longer he stalled. He was a newbie on the force and had no authority to even question the guy. But fear for his family was building rapidly, threatening to explode.
His hopes rose when he saw Phil jogging toward him.
“They spotted Neil’s car at that old farm. He’s inside. They’re waiting for backup.” He grinned. “You and
me, pal.”
Seth sat in the passenger seat of the cruiser as Phil sped away from the drop site. They were traveling at a good clip, but it felt like forever until they reached the farm. They met up with the other officers and sheriff’s deputies and were updated on the situation and the plan to capture Neil.
Every nerve in Seth’s body screamed to charge in, take out Neil and find Carrie and Jack. Being forced to stand by and wait was driving him crazy. He tried not to think about all that could go wrong. Hopefully, they could avoid gunfire, but there was no guarantee. If all went well, they’d surround the house, capture Neil, then rescue Carrie and Jack. His greatest fear was that her brother had locked her in the dark again. He’d seen the stark fear in her eyes the night the lights went out. Jack would be scared, too, but if Carrie lost it... He didn’t want to think what that might do to his son.
And Jack was his son. He’d promised Carrie they’d open the envelope together, but with Jack missing, Seth needed to know the truth. The DNA test proved what he’d already known in his heart: Jack was his biological son.
Time to move. The officers advanced. He and Phil held their position. It was over in moments. Shots were fired, but no one was hurt. Seth pushed through, grabbed Neil by the shirt and yanked him up. The officers escorting him pushed Seth back.
“Where are they? What have you done with them?”
Neil’s shoulders sagged and he jerked his head to the left. “That shed.”
Seth could barely make out the shape of a tiny building nestled in the shade of overgrown trees. And it was dark as pitch. He broke into a run.
* * *
Jack had dozed off. Poor guy was exhausted from the picnic and now this. She had no idea how long they’d been in the shed. It could have been a few minutes or an hour. There was no way of gauging the passage of time by the noises outside. Their only company were the crickets and the owls. Every now and then she’d catch a hint of rustling outside, but she couldn’t tell if it was the breeze moving through the trees or an animal in the brush.
The silence closed in around her and she started to hum. Keeping her mind occupied was imperative to controlling the fear. She felt Jack lift his head up. She stoked his hair. “Do you know the song ‘Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man’?” He shook his head against her chest. “It’s easy. I’ll teach it to you.” Softly she began to sing the Sunday-school song. Jack joined in the second time around. When he grew silent, she gently rocked him, drawing comfort herself from the motion. She was managing to maintain her emotional balance, but she wouldn’t be able to forever.
“Miss Carrie, are you scared?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer. “Yes, Jack. I am.”
He wiggled in her lap and she heard the clink of little cars in his pocket. “You can hold one of my cars, then you won’t be so scared.”
Her love for the child deepened tenfold. He had the same caring heart as his father. She fumbled a bit until she found his little hand and took the small toy. “Thank you, Jack. I feel better already.”
A shout from outside shattered the stillness. She froze. More shouts. Pounding. A commotion. Shots fired. She lowered her head and held Jack. Had Seth come to rescue them or was Neil causing the disturbance?
“Is Daddy coming?”
She hushed him and prayed.
Pounding on the door chilled her blood. Had Neil come for them again? To let them go or... She refused to think of the ugly possibilities.
“Carrie? Are you in there?”
“Seth! Yes, we’re here.”
The shed shook as someone pounded the door. It splintered and burst open, and she shielded her eyes. When she looked she saw Seth coming toward her. Her entire body sagged in relief.
“Daddy!” Jack shifted in her lap as Seth picked him up and held him close.
“You okay, buddy?”
Carrie surfed an emotional swell of relief. Seth took her arm, urging her to her feet and into his embrace. She shared it with Jack and it felt so right, the three of them clinging to one another.
“Let’s get you out of here.”
* * *
Carrie stood beside the paramedic unit watching Seth and Jack. They were a sight to behold. Jack had wrapped his little arms around Seth’s neck and hadn’t budged. Even when the EMTs checked him out, he refused to let go.
The sight warmed her to the core and also left her with a familiar sense of exclusion. She didn’t really belong with them. She was a friend, a convenient babysitter. She knew Seth had developed feelings for her—his kiss had told her that. His pet name, too. But tonight changed everything. Her brother had kidnapped his child and it was her fault. Unintentionally, perhaps, but still, Neil was her family.
Once the relief of finding his son safe had passed, Seth would start to realize that associating with her wasn’t something he wanted for Jack. She couldn’t blame him.
Stepping away, she caught sight of the shed, her gaze searching the darkness. She squinted and looked closer. In the distance, barely visible between the trees, a light shone. Probably a floodlight from a neighboring farm. She smiled and lifted up a thankful prayer. No one would have noticed the light. Its glow was too weak to penetrate the dense woods, but it had been positioned perfectly in line with the crack in the shed wall to illuminate her hope and give her the reassurance she needed. The Lord had indeed been with them. He always was and always would be.
She spun around when Seth called her name. “You ready to go home?”
She nodded. More than ready. The adrenaline sustaining her for the last few hours was fading and fatigue was setting in. As she settled into the dark sedan, the patrol car carrying her brother passed by and she caught a glimpse of him. A sense of sadness rose up from somewhere long ago. He’d been a decent man at one point. Maybe he could be again. She made a vow to pray for him.
She must have dozed off on the ride home because when she opened her eyes, Seth was pulling to a stop in his driveway. He reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Would you mind coming inside while I get Jack ready for bed? I want to talk to you.”
“Okay. I’m not ready to be alone right now, anyway.”
Carrie strolled through the house toward the front windows. She was tired, but too keyed up from the day to truly relax. She was glad Seth had invited her in. Being close to him and Jack gave her comfort and direction. Once she went home, she knew her thoughts would roll and tumble back over the day, her old insecurities would rush out and she’d be fortunate if she slept at all.
She glanced over her shoulder when she heard footsteps in the hall. Seth was walking behind a very sleepy pajama-clad boy. Jack hurried forward and climbed into her lap, resting his head on her chest.
“I love you, Miss Carrie. Thank you for making me not scared.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Oh, Jack, you were the bravest boy I’ve ever known. You helped me, too.”
“Daddy saved us, didn’t he?”
She glanced at Seth who was beaming with happiness. “Yes, he did.”
Seth sat down onto the coffee table holding her gaze. “I wanted to tell you that I opened the envelope with the test results. I know we were going to open it together, but when you and Jack were missing, I had to know the truth.”
She held her breath. “And?”
“He’s my son.” He reached out and smoothed his palm over the boy’s hair.
Jack smiled, his cobalt eyes bright with joy. “He’s my real daddy forever and ever, and I don’t have to go away and I’m getting a puppy.”
Carried laughed and placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’m so glad, Jack.” She shifted her gaze to Seth’s handsome face. “For both of you.”
“Come on, buddy. Bedtime.”
Jack gave her a hug, then padded off with his dad to bed. Carrie’s heart bloomed with joy. Seth could mov
e forward now, secure in the knowledge that no one could ever take Jack away. The boy would know a life of unconditional love and security. Seth would make sure of that.
“I’m sorry.”
She glanced up at Seth as he returned. “For what?”
He reached for her, pulling her to her feet and into his arms. “For not waiting to open the test results together. I know you were looking forward to it.”
She touched his jaw, the normally clean-shaven skin now rough with day-end stubble. “All that matters is that it proved you’re Jack’s father. Was he happy?”
A small chuckle accompanied the nod. “He nearly choked me with a hug.”
“He started calling you Daddy while we were in the shed. I think he’s always known, the same way you did.”
Seth placed his hands on the sides of her face, his thumbs gently caressing her cheeks. “I was so worried. I thought I might lose you both. When I saw that shed and how dark it was, I kept thinking how terrified you must be. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner.”
“No. You arrived at the perfect time.”
“Are you all right? Really?”
“I’m going to be.” He looked into her eyes and she saw his dark eyes soften.
“I don’t want to lose you.” He drew her closer, holding her against his chest like a precious possession. Slowly he shifted, lifting her chin with a gentle touch of his fingers. His lips found hers and she melted against him, aware of the pounding of his heart in time with hers. The terror of the day drained away, and it was replaced with a sense of belonging and connection that she’d craved her whole life.
When he ended the kiss, he continued to hold her as if afraid to let her go. His concern touched her deeply. “I’m fine. In fact, I faced my fears in that shed and overcame them.”
He pulled back. “You’re not afraid of the dark now?”
“Not like I was. I doubt I’ll ever be completely comfortable in the dark, but it’s manageable now. I’m not a slave to it. All I could think about in there was keeping Jack safe. We sang songs and made up stories about how you would come to save us. Jack was convinced you’d bust through the ceiling and come down a rope.” Gently she touched the dimple on the side of his mouth. “Mostly I prayed, and the Lord answered me with a teeny sliver of light through the boards. I finally realized I’d spent so much of my life in darkness. Not from lack of light, but from lack of understanding, and faith. God was with us in that shed every minute. I think He allowed me to be there not only to comfort Jack, but to conquer my fears.”
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