Rescue on the Run
Author
Jaycee Bullard
Reads
16.5K
Chapters
1
EPILOGUE
Cal looked around the restaurant, his heart overflowing with love and gratitude to all his family and friends gathered together today. There was Isobel, chatting with Abby’s brother, Gideon, and his wife, Dani, whose baby bump was just beginning to show beneath her flowing dress. Isobel was holding baby Calvin Marshall, who at six months was beginning to roll over and scoot. Looking at the little tyke in his green overalls, grinning and proudly showing off his two teeth, Cal found it hard to believe that he was the same child who had seemed so small and fragile just a few months ago.
Clustered on the other side of the tables were his four sisters who had arrived earlier in the week with their families in tow. His nieces and nephews were currently chasing one another around the private dining room, dodging through chairs and the other guests, while his brothers-in-law stood behind their wives, monitoring the children. In theory, at least. His own parents were in the corner, deep in conversation with his former police captain from Saint Cloud and Mayor Hovland. They all seemed to have quite a lot to say.
His eyes continued to scan the crowd. Was that Mr. Ratten beside Linette? And the entire paramedic squad still wearing their uniforms? Between Abby’s extended family, coworkers and friends, it seemed as if almost all of Dagger Lake was squeezed into the pizzeria. The only one missing was Abby’s mother. Abby and Gideon had tried to talk her into attending, but she had dismissed the invitation, claiming she had something better to do.
“Tomorrow’s the big day, huh?” A hand clapped him on the back.
Cal turned around to see Gideon, Abby’s younger brother. “I had to break away from the females. Isobel and Dani have begun comparing pregnancy notes and discussing the best baby food and when to start introducing solids. I say, let’s just wait until the little guy arrives before we worry about what we’re feeding him.”
Cal smiled at Gideon’s comment. Gideon might pretend to be uninterested in his wife’s condition, but he knew full well that his friend was overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a dad.
“Speaking of females,” Gideon continued, “where is that sister of mine? She owes me a dance tonight before I give her away tomorrow.”
“Thanks again for doing that,” Cal said. He understood and appreciated the significance of Gideon’s role in the ceremony and why it was so important for Abby to have her brother walk her down the aisle. For a long time, it had been just the two of them taking care of each other. And it was right and proper that Gideon should stand in the place of their father.
“The thing is, she was the one who always looked out for me. She had to play Mom and Dad as well as provider when she was still just a kid.” Gideon brushed the back of his hand against his eye, pushing back some mistiness. “I’m glad she found you. It’s time that there was someone to finally take care of Abby.”
“You know that I’ll always do my best by her.” Cal’s voice sounded thick to his own ears. If he couldn’t get through tonight, how was he ever going to make it through tomorrow?
“Didn’t I tell you?” Gideon jabbed him in the ribs. “I always knew that you and my sis would make a good team.”
Too true. All the matchmakers had been proven right.
“There’s my sister.” Gideon pointed across the room. “I’m going to go and claim some time before you come in and steal her away.”
Cal watched as Gideon walked toward Abby, who was standing by the buffet, talking to one of the servers. His breath hitched as Abby turned and caught his stare. She was so beautiful. Her dark hair hung loose down past her shoulders, skimming the top of her ivory sundress. Her mouth formed a warm smile as she gave a little wave in his direction before turning toward her brother and pulling him into a tight embrace.
How could God have blessed him so abundantly? Cal felt humbled and unworthy when he thought back to the many gifts that God had granted in the days and weeks following the bank heist and failed kidnapping. There was, of course, the health and well-being of Isobel and her baby. It still struck him as amazing that Abby had delivered little Calvin Marshall in the break room of the bank and that the newborn had withstood a trek through a blizzard, a treacherous ride on a sled and a snowmobile, not to mention a couple of narrow escapes. And yet somehow God kept him safe from harm.
But there would be no happy ending for Isobel’s now-ex-husband, Ricky. Cal made it a point to keep tabs on the case, and the last he heard, Max and Martina were negotiating a plea deal, agreeing to testify against their boss on the charges of attempted murder and kidnapping. And now Isobel would no longer have to fear the long shadow of Ricky as she struggled to make a new life for herself and her son.
Blessings abounded. And then there was Davey. Abby’s application had been granted and Davey had been able to move out of the temporary shelter and into Abby’s home a few days after their escape. The adoption had been made official just last month. And tomorrow Davey would stand beside him as the best man in their wedding. It was only right that the little boy would play a major role in the ceremony since he was such an essential part of their life. Right now, he was legally Abby’s son. But the day after the wedding, Cal would be filing his own petition to the court to formally adopt Davey as well. The papers were already drawn up, and he had explained to Davey how much he wanted to be his father in name as well as deed.
His eyes skimmed across the crowd of family and friends, looking for the little boy. Although Davey had adjusted well to life with Abby, he sometimes retreated into himself when he felt overwhelmed. A large gathering like this was just the type of situation that might cause him to slip away into a quiet corner for a moment of solitude.
Cal circled back around the restaurant, but there was no sign of Davey anywhere. A jolt of anxiety crashed through his veins. Where could the little boy be? He had seen him less than fifteen minutes earlier over by the counter, lining up for dessert. Wait a minute. The toe of a familiar, navy blue Croc peeked out from under the table. Cal lifted the white cloth covering and checked underneath. And there was Davey, finishing off a crumbly piece of chocolate cake.
“How are you doing, buddy?” he said, scooting down on his knees to join him under the table.
“Pretty good.” The little boy licked the last of the icing off his fingers and shrugged. “But I keep thinking about what I’m supposed to wear tomorrow to the wedding.”
“Your tuxedo? What about it?”
Davey frowned. “It makes me look like a penguin.”
Cal hid the smile forming on his lips. “I never thought of that. But I’m wearing the same thing, so I suppose I’ll be looking like a penguin, too.”
“Sheriff and Davey Penguin.” An arm twined around his waist as Abby slid next to them on the floor. “I kind of like the sound of it.”
Davey nodded, his eyes serious. “Yeah. I guess it’s okay since Cal and I are going to match. I’m still a little hungry. Is it okay if I get another piece of cake?”
“Just a small one.” Abby smiled at the little boy as he pushed himself up from the floor and watched as Davey walked over to the buffet table at the other end of the room. She then turned to Cal. “This time tomorrow, we’ll be husband and wife. Can you believe it?”
Believe it? He’d only been waiting the last six months for this moment.
“It’s about time,” he growled back, his lips grazing her jaw in a quick kiss.
Abby laughed and pulled away. “Your family is wonderful. I can’t believe so many people came out for the rehearsal dinner.”
“So much for limiting it to family and out-of-town guests,” Cal pretended to grumble. “Now I’m starting to worry that we won’t have enough food for tomorrow.”
“Oh, there’ll be plenty,” Abby said. “How did your fishing expedition go this morning?”
“Well, Davey and my dad were the only ones who caught anything. And they sure enjoyed rubbing it in.” Cal laughed, remembering the boy’s look of surprise and pride when Davey had reeled in the first catch of the day. “I snapped a couple pictures of the two of them showing off their success.”
A warmth spread across his chest as he thought back to his “bachelor” party of a few hours ago. The men in the two families had woken up while it was still dark, trekked down to the lake and then hung their rods in the water and watched the sunrise. How unbelievable to think that just a few months ago he had planned to go ice fishing and ended up locked inside the bank with Abby instead. He hadn’t caught any walleye or perch that weekend, either.
No. Instead he’d snagged something so much better. And there was going to be no catch and release. He’d finally found the woman of his dreams and the family he had always hoped for.
If you enjoyed Rescue on the Run,pick up these other thrilling stories from Jaycee Bullard:
Framed for Christmas
Fatal Ranch Reunion
Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from Deadly Cargo by Jodie Bailey.
