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  “Don’t worry, Beck.” She patted the younger girl’s hand in a gesture reminiscent of Winnie. “Put your trust in the Lord. He’ll take care of us.” Again, Lexa was surprised at how easily the words came, and how comfortable she felt saying them.

  Lexa glanced over at Rebekah and then back down at Sheila’s diary. “Unfortunately, that was the last entry. Why don’t we see if we can find the guy who saw Howard dragging Sheila away from the camp and see if we can get any more clues.”

  “Good idea, but first I’ve got to go make a quick stop in the other room,” Rebekah told her with a sheepish look. “Be right back.” A moment later, Rebekah burst back into the main room.

  “That was quick,” Lexa teased.

  “Come in here a minute,” Rebekah called, motioning with one hand. “There’s something that doesn’t make sense, and Sheila might have done it.”

  “Done it?” Lexa repeated, hurrying into the bathroom behind Rebekah. Staring in the direction where she pointed, Lexa spied a small pink heart in the lower right-hand corner of the mirror above the tiny sink.

  “What in the world . . . ?” She walked closer to inspect it, touching the heart, smearing it on the mirror. Lexa rubbed her fingers together. “It’s lipstick.”

  “Sheila doesn’t wear lipstick.” Rebekah shoved aside the plastic curtain in the shower stall and poked around the sides of the toilet.

  “Maybe that’s a clue in itself.” Lexa rifled through the various cosmetics left in the bathroom by the other girls. “I’m sure none of the other girls made this heart. They’d have no reason. Let’s think about it for a minute.” She turned around, searching for any other possible clue, her mind working overtime.

  “Suppose Howard surprised Sheila here in the dorm. She’s usually here, anyway, unless it’s time for work, dinner or the bonfire. She claims she has to go to the bathroom or else she runs away from him and shuts herself in here.” Lexa’s eyes focused on the pink heart. “Not knowing what else to do, Sheila makes this small drawing of a heart, hoping Howard won’t notice it.”

  “But hoping we would,” Rebekah chimed in, raising a brow.

  Lexa frowned, silent for a long moment. “The only problem is, what in the world does it mean?”

  Chapter 38

  That small pink heart was a clue, a sign, a plea for help from Sheila. It had to be. But Lexa felt helpless, not comprehending its meaning. “I don’t know about you, but I find this all very maddening.” Her hands rested on her hips. “It’s the worst feeling in the world, not knowing what to do or how to help her. I hate to think about where that man’s taken Sheila. She didn’t do anything to deserve this kind of treatment. All she’s trying to do is protect her daughter.”

  “Howard is her father.” Rebekah shifted position, crossing her arms. “I hate to get in the middle of a nasty custody fight.”

  Lexa’s glance was sharp and direct. “This is more than a mere custody fight.” Her hands dropped to her sides and she released a long sigh. “Maybe I should tell you what happened to prompt the watch over Sheila in the first place. It was more than a mere threat. I happened to come into the dorm and surprise Howard once before. Sheila was scared to death. The fear in her eyes was almost palpable. I had to tell someone about it.”

  “Sam.” Rebekah’s eyes softened in understanding. “It makes sense since he’s the TeamWork director. So, that’s why you asked us to keep an eye on Sheila and to watch out for Howard. I wondered what that was all about since you didn’t give us many details. We didn’t question why. We knew you had Sheila’s best interests at heart.”

  “Sam didn’t feel comfortable telling everyone the circumstances,” Lexa explained, “but we knew she might be in danger. Sam told me he’d discussed Sheila’s situation with the board, and they made the joint decision to leave her here in the TeamWork camp.” She frowned. “He might regret that decision now.”

  “So, she was hiding out.”

  “This guy has a record, and he’s assaulted a woman before. It’s more than a nasty custody fight. I don’t think we should take Sheila’s disappearance lightly. He could be planning something sinister, and we can’t take any chances. We have to do what we can to find Sheila before . . .” Lexa’s voice trailed.

  Rebekah chewed her lip. “Are you sure you’re not just being melodramatic?”

  Lexa stared back. “Do what you want, but I’m going to Sam and tell him what we’ve discovered. Maybe he can figure it out.”

  “Okay, okay,” Rebekah grumbled, following behind Lexa and out the front door of the dorm. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help. Sorry. You’re right. Of course, we have to do what we can to help Sheila.” She shook her head. “I suppose after what happened with Josh, I should believe anything can happen. This is all pretty surreal, though. This whole camp has been full of surprises.”

  Lexa couldn’t agree more.

  A few minutes later, after listening to what they’d found, Sam shook his head in exasperation. “A single heart drawn on a bathroom mirror with lipstick? That’s our only clue? No names, phone numbers, addresses, anything? You couldn’t find anything else?”

  “No, and we looked over all her things,” Lexa assured him, her defensiveness rising. “Do you have any idea what it means?”

  “I haven’t a clue.” Sam threw down his pen in disgust and crossed his arms. “A heart can symbolize so many things, especially love. From all appearances, there’s certainly very little love in Sheila’s relationship with Howard, so that puzzles me greatly.” He closed his eyes to concentrate, two fingers on his creased brow. “Let’s try to think of every possible angle.”

  They all tossed out ideas until they looked at one another with helpless expressions. One by one, the leaders of the search parties came back to Sam’s office to tell him they’d come up with nothing. No clues, no trace of Sheila. It was like she disappeared into thin air.

  “Maybe we’re all jumping to conclusions and imagining the worst?” Amy suggested as she, Winnie and Natalie joined them in the office a short time later. “It’s not like Sheila really had any close friends here in the camp. Maybe she just decided to take off since it’s almost the end of the project anyway.”

  “I don’t think so,” Sam answered. “She wouldn’t have left her things, and I don’t think she’d be the type to wander off by herself. Anyone who’s seen Sheila knows the woman’s practically afraid of her own shadow. I seriously doubt she’d make a phone call by herself, much less leave.”

  “I think Sheila’s stronger than you give her credit for,” Lexa interjected.

  Sam looked up at her in surprise. “Go on.”

  “I’ve gotten to know her a little bit, perhaps better than anyone else here at the camp. She’s got a firm inner resolve. Let’s look at the facts. She ran away and hid herself in the TeamWork campsite, thinking she was safe from Howard. She managed to somehow successfully hide their daughter, at least until now. I don’t know how, but he found her anyway. It took strength and determination to do what she did to protect her child. I think we need to give Sheila credit for more than simply being a quiet, timid doormat.”

  “I’m not saying that,” Sam protested.

  “Why don’t we pray about it?” Lexa hated the feeling of helplessness. She couldn’t sit still, knowing Sheila was out there somewhere, needing their help. It was enough to drive her crazy, but she felt powerless to do anything. “It’s probably the best thing we can do for Sheila right now since we have no idea where she is. But the Lord knows, and I’d say an appeal to Him is in order.”

  Sam looked back up at Lexa with a gleam in his eye. “That’s an excellent idea. Why don’t we go round up the others and have a corporate time of prayer? In this case, I think there might be greater power in numbers.” Lexa nodded and followed Sam outside as they made the rounds of the dorms to gather up all the volunteers.

  Soon, they had a majority of the men and women gathered. They silently filed into the bonfire area where they sat together, their heads bowe
d. One by one, they lifted their petitions to the Lord, beseeching the Almighty for watchcare over one of their own.

  “Dear Father,” Lexa prayed when it was her turn. Her voice was shaky with nerves. It was the first time she’d ever prayed out loud. “Help Sheila find her way home. I don’t just mean to us. I mean to find her way out of this situation. I don’t know what the answer is, Father, but you do. You know what’s going on in the hearts of both Howard and Sheila right now. You know where they are. Keep Sheila safe, Father, and help Howard see the error of his ways. And, if it’s in your will, help us to somehow find them and bring them back safely so that this situation can be resolved peacefully.”

  After everyone else departed the circle to head toward the dorms for the night, Lexa and Sam sat huddled together. “Go get some sleep, Lexa. Maybe it’ll all become clearer in the morning.”

  Lexa glanced over at Sam in exasperation. “How can I sleep? I can’t possibly,” she murmured, shaking her head. “I feel so useless. I want to help Sheila, but feel powerless. I want God to tell me what to do, where to go . . .” Eyes fiery, she looked back over at him. “I’m not mad at God, but I’m mad at this feeling I have. I hate it!”

  Taking Lexa’s hand in his own, Sam squeezed and held on tight. When she resisted, he increased the pressure of his fingers around hers.

  “You’re starting to hurt me,” Lexa protested, trying to wriggle free from his grasp.

  “That’s how the heavenly Father holds you in the grip of His love.” Sam relaxed his grip but still held her hand. “Sometimes He squeezes tight—so tight you feel like you’re suffocating from the circumstances in your life crowding you in. But it’s in times like that when we feel the power, the strength of His love, and know how very much He cares for us, how much He loves us. God loves Sheila and Howard, too. He won’t allow anything to happen that He hasn’t preordained or allowed to happen. Maybe that will give you some small comfort tonight as you try to sleep.”

  Lexa leaned her head on Sam’s shoulder. “Maybe, but I doubt it,” she told him, her eyes wide. “I appreciate your trying to comfort me. None of this makes any sense, does it?”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Sam agreed, stroking her hair. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of things in our lives that don’t make sense. Part of the mystery of life, I suppose,” he murmured, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

  “Any more ideas on the missing money?” Lexa asked as they walked away, hands clasped together, fingers intertwined.

  Sam shook his head and released a heavy sigh. “No. With all the commotion surrounding Sheila’s disappearance, I haven’t had a spare minute to think about the money.”

  “Do you think it’s all connected somehow? I mean, first the money’s missing, and then Sheila.”

  Sam looked thoughtful. “It’s possible, I suppose, but I don’t really see how. Unless Sheila somehow convinced Kevin or Josh to give her the combination to the safe. And you and I both know Kevin Moore is as honest as the day is long. Like I said before, I know in my gut that Josh is honest.”

  “But unfortunately, Josh probably had his way of being persuaded,” Lexa said, not daring to look over at Sam. “I hate thinking such a thing, but you and I both know it’s true. The safe wasn’t tampered with or broken into, was it?”

  Sam shook his head. “No. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t know the money was missing for so long. Whoever took the money from the safe knew the combination.”

  “Do you have the combination written down somewhere? Could someone have gotten hold of it that way?”

  “No. It’s only written up here,” Sam answered, pointing to his head. They looked at each other, knowing the other was thinking the same thing. Sheila might have taken the money, and used Josh to do it, knowing of his weakness with women.

  “Oh, Sam,” Lexa muttered, hanging her head, “I don’t want to think such things about anyone.”

  “Sheila probably panicked and didn’t know what else to do,” Sam told her, opening his arms and drawing her to him. “A woman in desperate straits like Sheila might have slept with someone to get what she wanted. She probably didn’t have anyone to turn to, and knew she could get her hands on some extra cash from the safe by cozying up to Josh.”

  “I don’t think Sheila’s a thief, but it makes no sense otherwise.”

  “I know, baby. I know,” he told her, leaning his head against hers. “This is why I want you beside me.”

  Baby. Lexa always thought the term derogatory, used by a rough-cut kind of guy who clenched a cigarette between his lips, cursed frequently and sported a tattoo of a naked woman on his arm. But coming from Sam, she adored it.

  Focus, Lexa. Raising her head, she met his eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean,” Sam said, his voice quiet, cupping her face between his two strong hands, his thumbs making sensual circles on her cheeks. “I mean,” he repeated softly, “I love you, Lexa Clarke. I want you beside me, talking things through, helping me make decisions and determining what course of action to take. There are so many times when I make the wrong choice about something because I’m quick-tempered and impulsive . . .”

  What?” he asked, laughing as she looked at him as though he was crazy.

  “Would you mind repeating what you just said?” Lexa nearly choked on the words. The words she’d been waiting to hear.

  “You mean the part about being impulsive . . .” Sam stopped when she playfully swatted him. “I said I love you, Lexa. Madly. Completely. Forever.” Drawing her closer into the welcoming circle of his arms, Sam’s tender, inviting mouth claimed hers again and again as he deepened their kisses.

  “What are we going to do?” In this man’s arms was where she belonged. She never wanted to leave.

  “I don’t know.” Still holding her, he graced her with a glance so loving it warmed her all over. “You could start by returning the favor.”

  She smiled. “I love you too, but I can’t ask you to give up your dream.” Lexa stood on tiptoe to kiss the place where those incredible smile lines deepened. She loved that spot, and gently traced it with a soft finger.

  “And I can’t ask you to give up your life in Houston.” He looked lost and forlorn, like a little boy who’d lost his way home. “It’ll work out, Lexa,” he assured her. “I don’t know all the details yet, but it will. Like I said, a year’s not the end of the world and . . .” his voice faded. They stood together in quiet silence for a long time, wrapped in one another’s arms.

  Oh, love does funny things to a person. Lexa couldn’t help but wonder why, when she’d found the love of her life, he had to globetrot across the world. Sam had given his heart first to the Lord and then to her. It wasn’t a competition, it wasn’t a choice. It was a clear case of Sam Lewis following the Lord’s leading in his life.

  Lexa knew she had to let him go. What is it they say about the butterfly? Set it free, and if it comes back to you, it’ll be yours forever. She’d hold Sam’s heart forever, and he hers, but she had to let him follow his dream first. Then they’d have the rest of their lives together.

  “Sam?”

  “Hmm?” he asked absently, still holding her a short time later, the comfort of his arms warming her, making her heart sing.

  “I’ll wait, you know. I never had any doubt.”

  “I know, Miss Clarke.” Lexa’s heart swelled so fast she thought it might burst. “I never had any doubt, either.”

  Chapter 39

  “I’ve got it!” Lexa sat bolt upright in bed. Flinging aside the sheets, she wiggled out of her nightgown and tugged on her shorts before pulling on her bra and cotton top as fast as possible. Her hair was tousled from sleep, but she didn’t have time for grooming.

  Lexa shoved her feet into her tennis shoes and bolted out the door of the dorm, sprinting to Sam’s quarters across the camp. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons on her shirt as she ran. She didn’t know what time it was, but it must be sometime
in the wee hours of the morning, judging by the position of the bright moon in the sky.

  At first, Lexa knocked gently on Sam’s bedroom door. “Come on,” she mumbled, knocking louder with increasing urgency until she heard movement inside.

  “Hold on a minute!”

  She giggled as she heard him stumbling around inside, followed by a small crash. Leaning her ear closer to the screen door, she heard him mutter something unintelligible before he made it to the door. He flung open the inner door without looking. Turning away and running his hand over his face, Sam retrieved a light blue T-shirt draped over a nearby chair. His yawn was loud.

  Lexa gulped, trying not to ogle this man’s ripped, entirely masculine chest with unabashed fascination. It was obvious he expected one of the men to be standing on his doorstep at this unearthly hour of the morning. Closing her mouth with conscious effort as she opened the screen door and stepped inside, Lexa gave him a look that must defy description. That cover model on the romance novel could only hope to look as good as Sam did. She swallowed her grin.

  Tugging the T-shirt down over his head, Sam’s eyes widened in surprise when he realized it was Lexa standing on the doorstep. “Lexa! What brings you here at this hour?” His voice was groggy with sleep as he pulled the T-shirt down over his stomach with both hands. “This isn’t exactly the proper time for a social call,” he teased, stepping aside nonetheless. She noticed he left the door ajar in case anyone happened to be walking by. Sam needed to keep up appearances, after all.

  “Nice digs,” Lexa told him in appreciation, darting a quick glance at the room. Not the time, Lexa. Get on with it.

  Sam snorted. “Did you just say nice legs?” He cocked a brow.

  Lexa laughed. “No. Clean out your ears. But, now that you mention it,” she said, eyeing him askance, “they’re not half bad. I was complimenting your humble abode.”