that’s what I’ll do,” Stacy vowed. She held out her hand. “Friends?”
Before she could answer, Clark and Graydon broke through the thick stand of trees at a run, startling everyone. The instant he spotted the child he let go of the leash and opened his arms. “Missy!”
Squealing, she ran into his embrace. “Uncle Gray!”
He scooped her up and spun around in circles. Pure joy filled the clearing. The sight of the usually formal man hugging the dirty waif brought fresh tears to Stacy’s eyes. This was what her job was all about.
He spoke lovingly, without reproach. “Where have you been, Missy? I was worried sick! We all were.”
“I don’t wanna go back to Mark’s.” She buried her face in his collar.
“You don’t want me for an uncle?” he asked.
“Course I do.”
“Well, I can’t be your uncle if you aren’t Mark’s daughter.”
She raised her head and studied him. “You can’t?”
“Nope. That’s how it has to be.”
Stacy could tell from Missy’s expression that she was thinking hard. There was no telling what kind of temporary living conditions the motherless child had been subjected to. It was natural for her to be afraid. Of everything.
Approaching them slowly, Stacy patted Missy on the back and spoke soothing words while Gray continued to hold her.
He gazed down at Stacy over the child’s shoulder and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome.” Stacy stepped away and reached for the handheld, two-way radio she carried. “I’m going to call in the good news and get everybody headed back into camp.” She glanced at the sky. “We’d better get a move on, too. It’ll be dark soon.”
She saw Graydon close his eyes for a moment as he nodded acknowledgment. Clearly, he cared about this child. Finding her so quickly had been the first miracle. Realizing that any Payne had a loving bone in his or her body had been the second. The third would probably be getting Clark to walk calmly back to camp without taking off to chase squirrels or rabbits.
She watched her two dogs tussling while she used the radio. Lewis usually put up with Clark’s exuberance with stoic grace until the pup got too pushy. Then he simply growled a warning and the younger dog backed off. Too bad people weren’t that smart.
Stacy smiled to herself as she considered her impromptu helper. For a stuffy businessman in a silk suit and Italian loafers, he’d conducted himself quite well.
Of course he did, she countered. He wanted something from me. “Something I was more than happy to give,” she whispered. At least this time, Graydon Payne hadn’t asked her to walk away from love.
Other ecstatic searchers mobbed them as they entered the campground. Nearly everybody was shouting and cheering. Some wept.
Graydon still carried Melissa. Stacy fell back and let him precede her into the camp.
Lanterns glowed everywhere. News cameras with blinding lights illuminated the area as brightly as a summer day. Mark Payne stood in the center of the circle of well-wishers. His arm was around the shoulders of a woman who looked as if she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Every dark hair was in place, her nails were long and polished, her makeup was flawless and she was smiling demurely. A perfect couple in a perfect world.
That was what bothered Stacy the most. While Graydon had shouted and run to Melissa the moment he saw her, the child’s prospective parents were just standing there, waiting for her to be delivered. Like a package.
Purposely avoiding Mark, Stacy veered away from the crowd. She wasn’t angry with him or sorry he’d married someone else. Not anymore. She simply had nothing relevant to say to him. Besides, her job was over. She and the dogs had done what they’d come for. Now, all she had to do was find Judy and Angela and arrange for one of them to drive her home to Cave City in the morning.
Judy met her halfway to the camp office that also doubled as living quarters. Hugging Stacy, she grinned foolishly. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks. Where’s Angie?”
“She went to bed with a migraine and missed all the excitement.” A wistful smile replaced the wide grin. “I thought I was going to cry like a baby when I saw that kid again. You did a great job. You’re a genius.”
“I don’t do the sniffing, the dogs do. But thanks, anyway.”
“Well, okay. So you hang out with geniuses. Hairy ones.” She bent to ruffle Clark’s ears, then gave Lewis a more gentle pat on the head. “This one looks kind of droopy.”
“I know. He’s tired. I’m going to retire him soon. He’s not as young as he used to be. You’d never know it, though, when he’s hot on the trail.”
“Speaking of being hot on somebody’s trail…” She cocked her head back toward the gathering of rescuers, reporters, cameramen and celebrants. “Look. Here comes you-know-who.”
“I don’t have to look,” Stacy said, making a face. “It’s getting so I can sense when he’s around. The hair on the back of my neck prickles.”
“Uh-oh. Sounds serious. Let me know if he starts to give you indigestion. That’s a sure sign you’re interested.”
Stacy’s silly expression became a grimace and she rolled her eyes to exaggerate her sentiment. “Don’t be ridiculous. You know I had my fill of Payne men a long time ago.”
“True. But you never know what intriguing surprises God might have in store for you.” Judy leaned closer, cupped her hand around her mouth, and added, “You haven’t been praying for a husband, have you?”
“Certainly not! And if I had been, Graydon Payne would be the last man—” The direction of Judy’s glance and her widening grin told Stacy it was time to stop talking. Maybe past time.
She turned slowly. Graydon was smiling down at her benevolently. “Did I hear my name mentioned?”
“Not on purpose, you didn’t,” Stacy said, quickly changing the subject. “How’s Missy doing?”
“She’s too tired to cause much of a ruckus.” He held out his business card. “Give me a call and I’ll be glad to fill you in on her progress. In the meantime, I want to thank you for all you’ve done.”
“It’s my job.” Stacy took his card reluctantly.
“Nevertheless, I’d like to shake your hand.”
She had no good reason to refuse such a request. Nor was she sure why she felt so hesitant. The man had been a perfect gentleman while they’d been in the woods. Not that she’d expected any less from him. After all, he’d once told her that her social station was so far beneath his and his family’s, he wouldn’t be able to stoop that far down if he’d tried.
Remembering their past unhappy association brought back Stacy’s professional air.
