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  “The Carsons are a nice young couple,” Bill says. “Bailey is a very spirited six-year-old. I’m sure he’s just fine, but we must find him before nightfall.”

  Sam leans out slightly and looks up at the sky. It’s late June, so the sun doesn’t set until around nine, but she knows it gets dark earlier in the woods. They should have at least three hours of daylight left. Hopefully, that will be enough.

  While the old trail from the inn to the lake took more than an hour to hike, the gravel road cuts the time to less than fifteen minutes. Even walking it would be faster than the hike since it’s a more direct route. Sam’s fear over the missing boy is temporarily replaced with excitement when the first of the new guest cabins comes into view. She knows there are four of them, but they fly by so quickly that she doesn’t get a chance to study them.

  They’re back into the trees momentarily, and Sam draws in a deep, calming breath. The air is still warm and tinged with the sweet scent of pine. It reminds her of home, although the woods are much drier than the ones on the coast of Washington, and they lack the dense undergrowth or ferns.

  Ally grips Sam’s upper arm as the cart launches out of the trees and onto a wide, sandy beach. “Oh!” Ally gasps, although she’s already seen the lake before.

  Sam turns to smile briefly at her best friend before they both get out of the cart. Florence Lake is even more beautiful than they remembered. It’s obvious her aunt and uncle invested a lot in this part of the property’s renovation. Hundreds of yards of white sand are spread out over what used to be a rocky beach. A new wooden dock has two boats tied to it, and there are four kayaks staked to the ground just beyond it, next to a large covered gazebo. But in spite of the great beach, the best part is the lake itself. It encompasses several acres and is surrounded by ragged, majestic mountains. Heavy woods stretch down to the water’s edge, home to numerous types of wildlife, including a bald eagle gliding through the sky nearby.

  Sam’s awe turns again to fear as she thinks of the six-year-old boy lost and alone in the vast wooded area. Squinting, she strains to see where the Carsons have pulled their boat up on the shore.

  “There!” Ally says, pointing to their left.

  They’re currently standing on the far eastern end of the lake, and Sam finally spots the yellow pedal boat on the opposite shore, almost at the tip of the lake. It’s a fair distance away, and she’s impressed they made it that far.

  “Let’s go,” Bill says, already moving down the dock. He stops at the largest of the boats, a twelve-foot aluminum fishing vessel. It has a small trolling motor that quickly kicks to life with the first attempt. “We don’t normally allow motorized boats on the lake,” he says to the girls as they step down beside him. “This is an exception since it’s electric and not gas. Here,” he continues while turning and opening the top of a bench seat. “Put these on.”

  Sam takes one of the life vests from her uncle and hands the other to Ally. Although both of them are great swimmers, they know that it doesn’t matter when it comes to being out on a lake.

  The little motor is surprisingly powerful, and they speed quickly across the water, reaching the other side in minutes. A young blond woman with red-rimmed eyes rushes out of the trees to greet them.

  “Mr. Clark! Thank you for coming. My husband and Tori are already out looking.”

  “Don’t worry, Cindy, we’re going to find him,” Bill reassures the lost boy’s mother as they all climb out of the boat. He drags it a short distance onto the shore before retrieving the backpack. “This is my niece, Sam, and her best friend, Ally. They’re going to help us look.”

  Sam offers a small smile to Cindy, unsure of what to say. She’s relieved when her uncle pulls out the map and starts talking again while spreading it out on the ground.

  “We’re right here,” he says, marking the spot with a small rock. “Now, as I told you before, although we got this map when we purchased the property, we simply haven’t had the time to come over here and explore. I’m unfamiliar with the topography and not sure if there are any hazardous areas. Can you show me what direction your husband and Tori took?”

  Cindy points at the trees directly behind them, due east.

  Bill rubs his chin, thinking. “Okay. You stay here to meet the sheriff while the girls and I head south.” He emphasizes this by pointing to their right, with the lake at their backs.

  Cindy nods in agreement. “That sounds good. I’d rather stay here anyway in case Bailey comes back.”

  Bill doesn’t waste any time gathering the map back up. “Come on, girls. We’ll form a line. Let’s start about twenty feet apart. I’ll be closest to the water and will call his name every few minutes. We need to be quiet between shouts so we can listen for his response. Understand?”

  “Okay, Uncle Bill,” Sam answers for them both. They spread out and begin slowly walking forward. Sam is on the left with Ally in the middle. She makes sure she can always see her friend’s red hair through the trees, knowing that Ally is keeping Uncle Bill in sight. He calls out the boy’s name every few minutes, and after half an hour, the situation is starting to feel more desperate.

  They’ve wandered away from the lake, deeper into the mountains, and are now at what appears to be the beginning of a ravine. The trees are dense, making it harder to keep each other in view, and Sam is certain her uncle will have them stop soon. A knot has been growing in her stomach as time has continued to slip by. The sun is lowering faster and faster.

  “Hello!”

  Freezing, Sam tilts her head, uncertain if she has really heard the faint sound of a woman’s voice!

  3. YES, MA’AM

  “Is anyone there?”

  There it was again!

  “Hello!” Sam yells back. “We’re over here!”

  “Sam?” Bill shouts. “Did you hear something?”

  There’s a crashing of underbrush as Bill comes running, and soon he and Ally are at Sam’s side.

  “I heard a woman’s voice,” Sam explains quickly. “She was calling out.”

  “Hey!” Bill hollers, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Follow my voice.”

  Soon the sound of several smaller footsteps reaches them from the direction of the ravine.

  “Hello, are you missing a little boy?” The voice is closer now and much more distinct.

  “Yes! Keep coming this way,” Bill directs. Pulling one of the flashlights out of his backpack, he begins flashing the light on and off. Although there are still over two hours until sunset, it’s already shadowy in the thick forest.

  Ally reaches out for Sam’s hand as they eagerly watch the woods, squeezing tightly at the first flashes of movement. “There!” Ally shouts, pointing excitedly. “I can see them!”

  The neon-orange of Bailey’s life vest is most prominent as he and a young woman emerge from the foliage. His dirty face is tearstained, and his big blue eyes are wide with fear. “Mommy?” he chokes out around rising sobs.

  “Your mom is with the boat, Bailey,” Bill says. His usual coarse voice is instead soothing. “Come here,” he directs, holding out a large hand. “Come with us. We’ll get you back to your parents. Thank you, miss—” He shifts his focus to the woman.

  Suddenly shy, the rescuer jams her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and shifts nervously from foot to foot. As she looks down at the ground, her straight black hair partially hides her attractive features. Sam would guess she’s in her mid-twenties and is curious why she’s out alone so deep in the woods. Where did she come from?

  “I’m Kat,” the woman finally answers. Her words are light and timid as if she’s sharing a sacred secret. “I found Bailey at the other end of the ravine,” she explains, furtively glancing first at Bill and then Sam before giving her head a jerk toward the gully behind them. “He’s quite the explorer.”

  Bill studies Kat for a minute before answering. “Are you from the Stepson, umm … community?”

  Kat flinches at the words but then nods. “I’m sta
ying at Anthony’s place. Anyway,” she quickly adds while starting to turn away, “he’s lucky I heard him crying. I don’t normally go this far on my hikes.”

  Sam’s confused. Who is Anthony and what is the Stepson community? She looks to her uncle for answers, but he’s got such a big scowl on his face that Sam takes a step back instead.

  “I didn’t realize the property border was this far west.” Bill’s voice is decidedly less friendly, and it causes Kat to pause.

  “Oh! No, it isn’t. You must be Mr. Clark from Hollow Inn?” Kat attempts a smile. “I was just beyond the property line when I heard Bailey. He told me he came here on a boat with his parents, so I figured we’d head west until we hit the lake. Seemed the easiest way to get him back where he belonged. I’m sorry for trespassing.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Bill counters, his voice softening. “We appreciate your help. You’re welcome to hike over here whenever you’d like. I just need to make sure none of my guests do their own exploring. I know your friend Anthony Stepson doesn’t have the same… generous attitude.”

  “He’s not my friend,” Kat mumbles. She then turns and flees into the woods before anyone else can respond.

  The walk back to the boat would be silent if not for Bailey’s constant rambling about his “big adventure.” Sam smiles at his antics, but inside she’s spilling over with unasked questions. As they approach the water and Bailey’s parents run up to meet them, Ally pulls at Sam’s arm to stop her.

  “Where did Kat come from?” Ally asks, clearly as curious as Sam.

  Sam shrugs. “I don’t have a clue. But it sounds like Aunt Beth and Uncle Bill have a neighbor. One they don’t get along with.”

  After an emotional reunion, Bailey’s mom gently dries the boy’s tears before taking him by the shoulders. “This is why you have to listen to Dad and me,” she says sternly. “I don’t know what I’d do if we lost you!”

  Nodding solemnly at first, Bailey then breaks out in a huge smile. “But Mom! I found a dragon!”

  Shaking his head, Bailey’s dad crosses his arms over his chest. “Bailey, what have we told you about making up stories? It’s bad enough you wandered off.”

  A tall woman around the same age as Aunt Beth takes that moment to step forward. She’d been hanging on the fringes of the group, and Sam assumes she must be the new caretaker, Tori.

  “I’m just relieved to have a happy ending,” Tori says, placing a hand on Mrs. Carson’s shoulder.

  “It might not have been if it wasn’t for the woman,” Mrs. Carson replies. “Who was she?” she asks, turning to Bill.

  Spreading his hands wide, Bill gives his head a quick shake. “She didn’t say much, other than her name was Kat and she lives at the Stepsons’ place, my neighbors there to the east. They tend to… um, keep to themselves.”

  “What did she look like?” Tori says slowly while placing her hands on her hips. “How old was she?”

  Bill rubs at the stubble on his chin. “I’d say she was in her late twenties, maybe thirty. Dark hair pulled back and a fair complexion. Why?”

  “Oh, no reason,” Tori answers nonchalantly. “I think I might have seen her near the lake before. Which I find somewhat ironic, given how particular Mr. Stepson is about his property lines.” She turns to Sam and Ally, changing the subject. “I’m Tori. I understand you two are being entrusted to my keen eye for the week.”

  Sam and Ally exchange glances before moving in close enough to shake Tori’s hand. Sam is the first to take it and is surprised by the firm grasp. Looking up into Tori’s intelligent gaze, she understands her aunt’s unusual gesture of placing trust in someone she barely knows. Tori has an air of authority and confidence. Her short black hair is perfectly in place. While she has some laugh lines on her pleasant face, it’s hard to tell just how old she is.

  “I’m Sam,” Sam replies, returning the strong handshake. “And this is my best friend, Ally,” she continues while gesturing to her friend. “Thank you for offering to chaperone us so we can stay in the cabins.”

  “Not a big deal,” Tori says. “I used to run a full squadron when I was a captain in the Air Force. I think I can handle two teen girls.”

  Laughing, Bill slaps his hands together. “I don’t know, Tori. You’ve never met Sam before.”

  Sam starts to blush but then relaxes when Tori gives her a playful wink. Stealing a look at Ally, she sees that her friend is smiling at the joke too.

  “I like her,” Ally whispers, moving in close as the adults turn their attention to the boats.

  “I do too,” Sam says. Watching as Tori pushes the pedal boat off the shore for the Carsons, she frowns slightly. “But why is a retired Air Force captain working as a caretaker at a remote vacation spot in Montana?”

  4. CABINS ON THE LAKE

  The sun is setting behind them, casting streaks of golds and reds onto the water as the three boats head out across Florence Lake. All the questions Sam has for her uncle fade away as they slide through the glass-like water. It doesn’t feel right to speak at the moment, not with the incredible display laid out in front of them.

  The mountains to their left, on the opposite side of the lake from the cabins, are tipped with snow even in the heart of summer. The alpenglow along their crests is magical, a purplish haze that Sam has seen before in even harsher terrain.

  Ally points at the craggy peaks, her blue eyes sparkling in the fading light. “It’s incredible,” she whispers.

  Bill only smiles and nods in agreement. It’s clear that he appreciates what he has and enjoys sharing it. “The Rocky Mountains are a world all their own,” he says. “Both majestic and dangerous at the same time. I don’t want to end up organizing a search party for you two while you’re here, so can you please do your best not to add this trip to your growing list of adventures?”

  Sam looks at her uncle and is relieved to see the lopsided grin on his face. He has always been a kindred spirit. “Sure, Uncle Bill. It’ll be nothing but leisurely hikes and swimming in the lake.”

  Narrowing his eyes, Bill looks unconvinced. “While I’d never question your intentions, I’m going to ask that you always carry one of the handheld radios with you.” Digging in his backpack, Bill produces a radio identical to the one he has clipped on his belt. “Since there’s no phone reception out here, these are the only way we can stay in contact with each other. I know you’re getting older now, Sam, but I still expect you to always let an adult know where you two are.”

  “Of course, Mr. Clark,” Ally answers for them both. “We understand. Thank you so much for having us back to Hollow Inn.”

  Sam takes the radio from her uncle and smiles in agreement with Ally. As the boat bumps up against the dock, she examines the walkie-talkie in the twilight. It’s bright orange, with a rugged exterior that gives her the impression it’s waterproof and can stand up to a lot of abuse. It’s a great idea to have them. She knows that the more expensive ones can reach up to a couple of miles, even in the mountains.

  Tori glides up on a kayak by the time they have the boat tied up and are standing on the dock. The Carsons are still a ways behind on the pedal boat.

  “Come on, girls!” Tori announces after staking the kayak. “If you have your things with you, I’ll show you your cabin. You must be exhausted after your long bus ride and all this excitement.”

  “How about dinner?” Bill asks. “I don’t want anyone going to bed hungry.”

  “Mrs. Clar— I mean, Aunt Beth made us a sandwich,” Ally says. “I’m good.”

  “There’s plenty of leftover BBQ in the main cabin,” Tori offers. “The girls can get settled while I start a fire, and then we’ll chow down on whatever they want. Maybe throw some s’mores on there if you and Mrs. Clark want to join us?”

  Checking the time on his watch, Bill looks first at the Carsons, who are approaching the dock, and then back up the trail. “I appreciate that, Tori. I know Sam and Ally are in good hands. As much as I’d like to join you around the campfi
re tonight, the sheriff is still up at the inn and has a couple of questions that need answering. We also have a family due to arrive any minute, and our other guest is missing his supper.”

  “I’m sure Mr. Appleton will understand,” Tori says. “He might be a bit odd, but I don’t think he’ll hold a late dinner against you. Mr. Appleton is an author,” Tori explains to Sam and Ally. “He requested the third-floor suite, and we’ve only seen him a few times since he got here on Wednesday.”

  “We’re going to get our things packed up and turn in early,” Mr. Carson announces as the young family approaches. Bailey is already sound asleep in his father’s arms. “It’s a long drive home, so we’ll be making an early start in the morning. Thank you again, Mr. Clark. We apologize for all the excitement.”

  Tori shuffles the girls down the trail toward the cabins while the men continue to talk. Sam is thankful for the sweatshirt she tied around her waist earlier and eagerly pulls it over her head. There’s already a chill in the air, and the mosquitos are making an impressive appearance.

  “These vampires will eat you alive,” Tori says, waving at the air around them. “I hope you brought some repellent.”

  “Two bottles,” Ally answers. “We’ve got plenty of mosquitos at home, but I remember how big they are here!”

  Slapping at a sting on her thigh, Sam wishes she already had her jeans on instead of shorts. Thankfully, the cloud of bugs dissipates as they get farther away from the water. By the time they approach the clearing, they’re almost gone.

  “That’s the main reason your aunt and uncle chose to put the cabins a safe distance from the water,” Tori says. “Not to mention the lake rises several feet at other times of the year. Here, this is the cabin you’ll be in.”

  They’ve stopped in front of a small log cabin that reminds Sam of the one she and Ally stayed in the summer before at Camp Whispering Pines. Pulling at the screen door, she steps inside and finds the light switch. The whole room is about twelve by twelve, with bunk beds on two opposite walls. A third wall has a small love seat, and a small table with two straight-backed chairs fills the middle area. It’s perfect.