eyed them cautiously.
Linc got immediately to the point. “I understand that earlier today you responded to an incident involving a young pregnant woman. A firefighter named Hutton was mentioned in connection with this call. Is that correct?”
When the chief didn’t reply, Linc added, “If so, we believe that’s our sister.”
The man raised his eyebrows, as if determined not to give out any information.
“She needs her family, chief.”
There must’ve been some emotion in Linc’s voice, some emotion he didn’t even know he’d revealed, because the man hesitated, then excused himself. He returned a few minutes later, followed by a second man.
“This is Mack McAfee. He’s one of the EMTs who took the call.”
“You saw Mary Jo?” Linc asked. He extended his hand, and Mack shook it in a friendly fashion.
“I did.”
Linc’s relief was so great he nearly collapsed into a nearby chair. “That’s great!”
“She’s okay, isn’t she?” Ned said anxiously. “She hasn’t gone into labor or anything?”
“No, no, she had a dizzy spell.”
“Dizzy?” Linc repeated and cast a startled look at his brothers.
“Does that mean what I think it means?” Mel asked.
Linc felt sick to his stomach. “I was twelve when Mary Jo was born and I remember it like it was yesterday. Mom got real dizzy that morning and by noon Mary Jo had arrived.”
“That’s not generally a sign of oncoming labor,” Mack reassured him.
“It is in our family. Dad told me it was that way with each and every pregnancy. According to him, Mom had very quick deliveries and they all started with a dizzy spell. He barely made it to the hospital in time with Mary Jo. In fact—”
“She was born while Dad was parking the car,” Mel said. “He dropped Mom off at the emergency door and then he went to look for a parking space.”
That tale had been told around the kitchen table for years. Once their father had parked the car and made his way back to the hospital, he was met by the doctor, who congratulated him on the birth of his baby girl.
“Do you know where she is?” Linc asked with renewed urgency.
“You might talk to Grace Harding,” Mack said.
“Who’s Grace Harding?”
“The librarian.” Mack paused for a moment. “Mary Jo was at the library when I treated her.”
“The library?” That didn’t make any sense to Linc. Why had Mary Jo gone to the library?
“What was she doing there?” Mel asked.
“That isn’t as important as where she is now,” Linc said. “Mack, do you have any idea where she might’ve gone after she left the library?” He remembered seeing it earlier. The building with the mural.
Mack shook his head. “She didn’t say, although I told her to put her feet up and rest for a few hours.”
“She must’ve gotten a hotel room.” They should have realized that earlier. Of course! If Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes were out of town, that was exactly what Mary Jo would have done.
“I don’t think so,” Mack said. “I thought I’d check on her myself and discovered she isn’t at any of the motels in town.”
“Why not?”
“No rooms available.”
“Where would she go?”
“My guess,” Mack said slowly, “is to Grace Harding’s house.”
“Why her place?”
“Because it seems like the kind of thing Mrs. Harding would do. I have the Hardings’ phone number. I could call if you’d like.”
Linc couldn’t believe their good fortune. “Please.”
The firefighter was gone for what seemed like a long time. He returned wearing a grin. “You can talk to her yourself if you want.”
Linc bolted to his feet, eager to hear the sound of his sister’s voice. He’d been upset earlier—angry, worried, close to panic—but all he felt now was relief.
“She’s at the Harding ranch in Olalla.”
The three brothers exchanged smiling glances. “Is she all right?”
“She said she’s feeling great, but she also said she’s ready to go home if you’re willing to come and get her.”
“Wonderful.” Linc couldn’t have wished for anything more.
“I’ll give you directions to the Harding place. She’s on the phone now if you’d like to chat.”
Linc grinned, following Mack to the office, his brothers on his heels.
This was finally working out. They’d get Mary Jo home where she belonged.
Chapter Fourteen
“No, please,” Mary Jo said, looking at Grace and her family. “I want you to go to the Christmas Eve service, just like you planned.”
“Are you positive?” Grace seemed uncertain about leaving her behind.
Mary Jo had bowed to their entreaties and been their guest for a truly wonderful dinner, but she had no intention of imposing on them any further that evening.
“I am.” There was no reason for them to stay home because of her, either. This crazy adventure of hers was over; she’d admitted defeat. Her brothers were on their way and she’d be back in Seattle in a couple of hours.
“I’d like to meet those young men,” Grace said. “But it sounds as if they’ll get here while we’re at church.”
“You will meet them,” Mary Jo promised. “Sometime after Christmas.” In one short afternoon, she’d become strongly attached to both Grace Harding and Cliff. Her two daughters, her daughter-in-law, their husbands and the grandchildren had made Mary Jo feel like part of the family. They’d welcomed her without question, opened their hearts and their home to her, given her a place to sleep, a meal, the comfort of their company. In this day and age, Mary Jo knew that kind of unconditional friendship wasn’t the norm. This was a special family and she planned to keep in touch with them.
While the fathers loaded up the kids and Cliff brought his car around, Grace lingered.
“You have our phone number?” she asked as they stood by the front door.
“Oh,
