“Which is why you need me,” Bobbie said. “I can help you, but you have to let me.”

“So I should invite you to stay.”

“Yes.”

“Claim you.”

“Yes.”

“You’ll protect me.”

“And your baby,” Bobbie said, walking toward me. “Let me help you. Let me ensure the safety of your child.”

My pulse surged with a deep knowing that what she said was true. And with that knowing, I began to awaken to a new purpose. Jamie had found his, and there in my room I found mine.

I was in Haven Valley to bring a beautiful new baby into a beautiful new world. And Bobbie was my guide. Suddenly I wanted nothing more than to have her by my side. I decided right then and there that Bobbie had to be an angel.

“Then I invite you to stay.”

My angel’s eyes grew bright. “Now you’re talking.”

Chapter
Sixteen

BEN PULLED THE TRUCK TO A STOP AND PLACED IT in park. The engine died and he sat for a long moment, listening to the machine ticking as it cooled. All the time spent searching, sitting behind this wheel, working through his demons to finally end up at this small town, this tiny hidden corner of the world.

Haven Valley.

The road in had been overgrown and riddled with potholes—anything other than a four-wheel-drive truck wouldn’t have stood a chance. But they’d made it. At least to within a hundred yards.

He felt all his emotions at once. Terror, joy, desperation, guilt, love. All the emotions that had been with him along the journey here. He was trying to release his expectations of what might happen when he entered the town, but it was proving difficult.

A small hand reached for his, and he turned to see Eli looking at him proudly. “We made it,” Eli said.

“Yes, we made it,” Ben replied.

As if to object, his body shivered and he hacked into his hand. The world spun and he closed his eyes to regain composure. He took several breaths, deep as he could, though each draw brought pain.

“You going to drive up?”

“I think we’ll walk from here.”

“Walk? It’s a long way.”

“A car might seem more threatening. We’ll walk.”

“Okay.”

Eli shifted to climb from the truck.

Yes, Ben thought, we’ll walk. He stepped out and made his way to the front of the truck where Eli was standing, staring at the compound nestled in the depression of the earth.

Dated buildings, constructed close together, stood on either side of a single paved road that went nowhere beyond what appeared to be a perimeter of sorts, marked by a thick red rope. Gardens and fields to the east swayed in a gentle afternoon breeze. Some livestock grazed—a few cows and goats. Chicken coops stood nearby. All that was required to support a small community. It looked peaceful. Inviting even.