Chapter 11
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Archer held her hand tightly as the gun salutes echoed one after another. He jumped with each blast, reminding him of the moment he realized his brother didn’t make it. Sadness struck him as Jonah’s mom sniffled into her handkerchief and clung to the folded flag in her arms.
They waited until everyone left and someone escorted Betty to a waiting car. Candace approached the urn and placed a white rose, the color symbolizing forgiveness. She stepped back and took Archer’s hand.
“Thank you for sending Archer back to me. I forgive both of you. You can rest in peace and know I’ll watch over him now,” she said solemnly.
Archer pulled her closer to his side. She felt his body shake. “Goodbye, brother. Thank you for making me promise to find her. You’ll always remain my best friend, and I’m grateful for you giving me this last gift. I promise to cherish her forever.”
When they entered Jonah’s childhood home, everyone greeted them as they spoke in hushed whispers, respectful of the mourning family.
“Candace, thank you so much for coming,” Jonah’s mother sobbed. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“Thank you, Betty. I’m sorry for your loss,” she murmured, hugging the older woman.
“Archer,” Betty said, stepping back and holding her arms out to envelop him in a hug. “Your parents told me you returned stateside and about your injury. I’m sorry.”
“Jonah was my brother. I’ll miss him, and I hope he’s found peace,” Archer returned her greeting. They let the other guests give their condolences to Betty as they mingled with his parents and her aunt.
Candy went into the kitchen to wash dishes and put away the food while the visitors made their goodbyes.
Archer entered and leaned against the counter, drying the last of the glasses. “Everyone’s left. Once we’re finished, we’ll head home.”
“I’m almost finished,” she said, handing him another plate.
They entered the living room, and Betty turned to face them. “I’ve felt guilty all these years about how Jonah treated you. I never understood why you agreed to marry him when everyone knew how you and Archer felt about one another.”
Noticing their shocked expressions, Betty smiled. “Be happy. Jonah would approve.”
Candy’s phone rang and she excused herself to answer it. “Hello,” she greeted.
“Candy. It’s Kassie Winters. The social worker stopped by to get Dakota’s medical records. They have an open bed and wanted to take her. Her doctor already signed off on the paperwork. They went to retrieve her and Dakota’s missing.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “How can she have disappeared?”
“The team reviewed the security footage. It appears she snuck into a delivery vehicle. The driver told Leo he heard a noise and stopped halfway down the mountain. When he got into town for his next delivery, nothing appeared wrong.”
“Then where did she go?” Candy demanded, her voice rising.
“We’re searching the mountain. We only have checkpoints at the entrances and around the base. The team thinks she’s out there alone,” Kassie didn’t hide the fear in her voice.
“Archer and I will leave now,” she said, while motioning to him. “Keep me posted.”
“I will. Don’t worry, we’ll find her,” Kassie assured her.
“What’s wrong?” Archer asked.
“Dakota’s missing. We need to leave,” she said, her voice shaking.
They rushed from the house to drive to Serenity. Archer called the team. “Have you heard anything?” he asked Leo.
“Nothing yet. We have the men spread out, and the town volunteered to walk the mountain for any signs of her. Bear’s watching the cameras, and the team tracked down where the truck stopped and started searching there.”
“We’ll be there soon,” Archer said, hanging up.
“How can she go missing? It’s growing dark. She’ll be out there all alone,” she stressed.
“The team and the town have the mountain covered. We’ll find her,” he assured her, squeezing her hand.
Forty minutes later, Candy bit her nails as the men loaded onto a helicopter to do another perimeter search, hoping to find a heat signature. “Where’s Archer?” Kassie asked.
“He drove down to join the search. Patch said Bear tracks better than anyone, so Taco took over watching the cameras,” she replied absently.
Her phone rang. “Did you find her?”
“No. Bear and I are tracking her. It appears she went deeper into the woods. I don’t want her out here all night, it’s chilly.”
“How can you search? You’re on crutches and have a temporary prosthesis,” she worried.
“I’m not leaving her out here,” he said determined.
The hours dragged on with no news. Candy paced and stared at her phone. Kassie brought her a cup of coffee while the rest of the Serenity women served food to the volunteers.
Rubbing her arms to keep warm, she closed her eyes, hoping they found her soon.