Love Redeemed by Kelly Irvin Page B

voice was respectful but firm. He cleared his throat. “I don’t want to leave my daughter out there overnight…alone.”
    Thomas shook his head, one hand smoothing his beard. “Silas, Mr. Dover is right. We can’t go stumbling around in the dark. Someone is bound to get hurt or lost.”
    â€œLydia could be hurt.” Silas stopped. The only signs of his distress were the pulse beating in his temple and his gritted jaw. He swallowed. His Adam’s apple bobbed above the collar of his blue shirt. He glanced around as if looking for something or someone. His gaze met Michael’s and then bounced away. “There’s wildlife out there. Bears. Cougars. She’s four years old.”
    â€œShe’s a smart girl, Daed.” Simon slipped in between Thomas and the park ranger, Martin and Elam crowding behind him. “If any little girl can survive the night out there, she can.”
    â€œWhat we can do now is pray,” Luke said. “We’ll start out again at daybreak.”
    â€œYou have to keep looking.”
    The high, tight voice came from behind Michael. He swiveled. Thewomen were huddled together near the playground, some standing, some sitting on blankets, babies sleeping against their chests or at their feet. Several, including his mudder and his aenti, looked as if they were praying, hands clasped tightly in their hands, heads bowed. Katie had spoken. She took two tottering steps. “You’re thinking we’ll all go to bed and sleep? While my baby’s out there in the dark?”
    â€œFraa.” Silas broke away from the group. He strode past Michael without looking at him and took his wife’s arm. “Come into the tent.”
    â€œYou have to keep looking.” She glanced around as if embarrassed at all the faces watching them. She bent her head and leaned into her husband. “I can’t bear it.”
    She whispered the words but Michael heard every syllable—and the terrible fear in each one.
    â€œWe’ll find her tomorrow.” Silas leaned close to her. He put his arm around her shoulders. “She’s in Gott’s hands. What happens now is up to Him.” His rough, hoarse voice turned to a soft whisper. “Come.”
    Without looking at the others, he led Katie toward the last tent, guiding her as he would a blind woman. As they passed Michael, she looked up at him. Her gaze clouded, but she didn’t speak. She nodded and allowed Silas to pull her along.
    Michael couldn’t stand it. He couldn’t stand Silas’s sagging frame and Katie’s tottering shuffle. He’d done this to them. “I’m sorry.” He blurted the words, not thinking. “I’m sorry.”
    Silas halted. Without letting go of Katie, he turned back. “Your apology is accepted. We forgive you.”
    Katie nodded her head, up and down, but the tears that spilled down her lined cheeks told another story.
    Michael’s throat closed as they slipped into their tent, alone with their distress and fear and uncertainty. All caused by him. He had done this. He would accept the consequences, come what may.
    â€œMichael.”
    He forced himself to look up at the small whisper. It came from the shadows on the other side of the playground. It didn’t matter how soft or how far, he would’ve heard it and recognized it.
    Phoebe.
    He strode toward the sound of his name.
    â€œPhoebe, I’m so sorry.”
    She seemed to fold into herself, tiny and scared. She sat cross-legged on the grass. “We did this.”
    â€œI know.”
    She gazed up at him. “If she doesn’t come home…”
    â€œI know.” He dropped to his knees and laid a hand on her shoulder.
    Her expression horrified, she shrank from his touch. “Don’t.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault.”
    â€œWhile you were…kissing me, Lydia was…”
    â€œWe didn’t know.”
    â€œWe