“My favorite pastor was with me, and I know he was praying.”

He put his hand on hers and smiled. Tess loved his smile . . . his green-gray eyes . . . everything, really.

“I got more than I bargained or prayed for. Livie—or should I call her Heather?—is now free, just like Chevy.”

“Yep, she is.”

“What a big secret she’s kept all these years.”

“True, but she proved something that I think I may add to my rules list.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“Big secrets never stay buried.”

EPILOGUE

It took time for things in town to settle down again, but the people of Rogue’s Hollow got a good start when Tami was released from the hospital. Shot twice, but somehow neither bullet hit anything vital. She had a lot of scrapes, scratches, and bruises from her trip downriver, but everything would heal.

Oliver threw a coming-home party for her at the church. She thanked Tess for ending the life of Jim Smith.

“He gave me no choice, Tami. But do me a couple of favors?”

“Sure, what?”

“First, don’t let Smith occupy your thoughts or life for another second. I think Oliver would agree with me. You need to let go of any anger or hurt; it will only affect you and your life, not Smith’s.”

Tami’s eyes misted, but she held Tess’s gaze. Finally she said, “Okay, Chief, I promise I’ll try. Maybe Pastor Mac can help.”

“I’m sure he would.”

“What’s the other favor?”

“Promise me that you’ll never go down the Rogue River again without a raft.”

Tami burst out laughing and gave Tess a hug. “You have my word.”

A month later, Tess could say that things in town were back to normal. Cyrus Beck had been remanded to federal custody, where he was going to be kept despite his plea to be released back to an ankle monitor. The judge was having none of it. At the bail hearing, bail was denied. It would still be a long time before the trial, but everyone in Rogue’s Hollow was happy to hear that Beck was behind bars and he’d stay there.

One night while watching an old movie, Tess pressed Pause and turned to Oliver. “Would you work with Cyrus Beck like you worked with Don Cherry?”

“That’s a little random, isn’t it?”

“Not to me. I’m still struggling with redemption. You told me to keep asking questions.”

He shifted on the sofa to face her. “If he asked me, yes, I would.”

“Still think he’s redeemable?”

“Not on his own, no. But with God, all things are possible, and everyone is redeemable. Does that bother you?”