In this charming novel, Kat Martin brings readers back to the town of Dreyerville for another compelling story of love, loss, hope, and second chances...

“Something’s come up,” Reed said. “Might be a kidnapping.”

Marly’s face went pale. “Oh, my God.”

Reed turned to Barney Andersen, the owner of the restaurant, a big blond Norwegian whose family had settled in the northern part of the state in the old logging days. “Hey, Barn, can you take Marly home? I’ve got an emergency.”

“No problem, Sheriff.” Barney tossed his rag up on the bar and started toward them.

“And put the word out, will you? Little Timmy Carter is missing. He was taken from his mother while they were in the mall. See if you can round up some volunteers to help with the search.”

“You got it.”

“Is that your friend Emily’s son?” Marly asked as she rose from her chair.

Reed grimly nodded.

“I’ll help, Reed.” She looked over at Barney. “I’m going with Sheriff Bennett to help with the search.”

Barney nodded. “I’ll close up here, gather as many folks as I can, and be out there as quick as I can get there.”

“Thanks, Barney.”

The big Swede pulled his apron off over his head. “You just find that little boy.”

Sitting in the passenger seat of Reed’s car, Marly rode anxiously toward the shopping mall, where the little boy had disappeared. As they pulled into the parking lot, one of his deputies walked over and Reed rolled down his window.

“We’re getting the command post set up,” the deputy told him, an attractive man with a slightly crooked nose, hazel eyes, and brownish red hair, “and we’ve sealed off the area.”

“Nothing turned up on your preliminary search?”

“We canvassed the mall. The boy wasn’t there. We found some footprints on the trail leading into the forest, but they disappeared in some rocks. We’re ready to go back in as soon as we’ve got a search grid.”

“What about the media?”

“Timmy’s photo has been shown on the local TV stations and the search has been announced on the radio so we’re getting a good turnout of volunteers. We’re trying to get hold of a picture of the woman who took him.”

Reed tilted his head toward Marly. “Patrick Murphy, meet Marly Hanson, Winnie Maddox’s daughter.”

“Nice to meet you,” Patrick said.

Marly leaned toward the window. “Same here.”

Reed parked the car and they climbed out. A number of people had already arrived in the parking lot. Men and women milled in front of folding tables where maps were spread open and search grids were being laid out. More cars showed up by the minute. Half the town of Dreyerville seemed to be there to volunteer for the search.

When someone needed help, everyone pitched in. But then that was the kind of town it was. Marly had almost forgotten.

As the three of them crossed the lot, she spotted her mother’s old white Buick easing into one of the spaces. Her mother and her daughter, Katie, climbed out and walked back to the trunk of the car. With help from one of the men, they carried a big blue plastic thermos over to one of the tables, hot coffee, Marly figured, for the volunteers.

Her mother seemed so different now, no longer afraid to be out among people. She had truly become part of the community, something Marly never would have expected. Winnie had always been too worried about what people would think, what they would do if they discovered the truth about her abusive husband.

Winnie and Katie waved, and Marly waved back.

“Emily went in to try on a dress,” Patrick said as they crossed the lot. “She was only gone a few minutes. The woman—Anna McAllister—volunteered to watch Timmy but when Emily came out of the dressing room both the woman and the boy were gone.”

Deputy Murphy’s worry was apparent. Marly remembered Reed telling her the deputies all watched out for Emily after her husband died. It was obvious she meant a good deal to Patrick Murphy.

Reed rested a hand on the deputy’s shoulder. “We’ll find them, Pat.” Reed turned his attention to Marly. “I need to talk to Emily.”

“Of course.”

Worry lines dug into his forehead as he headed for the woman sitting in a chair near one of the tables, petite and dark-haired, slender and pretty. Marly expected to feel a stab of jealousy but it never came. Reed had said they were only friends and she believed him. Instead, she felt a sharp pang of concern for Emily and her son. view abbreviated excerpt only...

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