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Owen Shaw couldn’t be involved. Blake turned the information over and over in his head as he drove to Nova Cambridge, but

no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t see what motive Owen would have. Blake parked the truck at the curb. “Let’s

go talk to Owen and see if he can clear any of this up. I can’t stay long—I need to make preparations at the park for the

storm.”

“There’s probably a good explanation.”

“I hope so.” Blake reached the door and stopped at the sign on the window. “Closed for lunch.”

He glanced at the sky. The greenish-black clouds had begun to gather low on the horizon, and the air held the taste of a storm—humid

and breezy. “I don’t have time to wait. I want to grab some cases of water while we’re here and some extra sandbags. I have

some in the barn, but maybe not enough. They’re passing them out at the town hall.”

“You grab the sandbags while I pop into the grocery store and buy some cases of water.”

He nodded, and she went across the street to the market while he drove the truck to the town hall. Half an hour later, he pulled the truck into the grocery’s lot and shot her a text to let her know he was out there.

Almost ready. Could use some help.

He got out and started for the front of the market when he spotted Owen coming out of the drugstore. He paused long enough

to shoot Paradise a message that he would be a few minutes, but when he looked back up, Owen was gone. And the office was

still closed.

He continued into the market and grabbed three cases of water from Paradise while she wheeled a cart full of canned goods

toward the truck. “Not taking any chances, are you?”

She shook her head. “I got some canned cat food too, just in case we were low. And plenty of stuff for the boys. I hope we

don’t have to leave. The thought of holing up at the park with the animals and the boys sounds fun. We’ll make fudge and caramel

corn while we play games and watch cartoons. It would be a perfect couple of days.”

He eyed the glowering sky again. “I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about this storm. The radar is intense. They’re saying

we could get hit with dozens of tornadoes. I’d guess we might lose power, and our generator will only be enough to keep the

well water going and the freezer.”

She studied the sky too. “I don’t mind wind and rain since we’re in a drought, but tornadoes wouldn’t be good. You have a

basement?”

“A storm cellar just out the back door. I should make sure it’s cleared of spiders and snakes.”

She shuddered. “I’d appreciate that.”

“I saw Owen just before I came in. That’s what delayed me. But he disappeared and I didn’t see where he went. It’s going to

have to wait for a better time.”

“Do you want to hang around and see if he opened up the office again?”

“Better not. There’s a lot to do.” He loaded the water and groceries in the back, and they climbed in for the short drive

home.

The lot was nearly deserted when they arrived back at the park. Only a few vans and cars dotted the usually clogged parking

lot.

“What can I do to help?” Paradise asked when he drove through the lot to the house.

“Pray.”

“I’ve been doing that.” She hesitated. “I never realized having the resource of prayer was such a big deal. It’s somehow comforting

to know events are outside my control and that’s okay. It makes me realize I never had the control I thought I had.”

He leaned over and cupped her face in his palms. “Some Christians go their whole lives and never articulate that.” He brushed

her lips with his before releasing her. “Let’s unload this stuff and I’ll start piling up sandbags.”

“Can I help with that?”

“Sure. The boys will want to help too. It takes both of them to drag one sandbag, but they’ll love it anyway. They should

be finishing their schoolwork in Mom’s office if you want to grab them.”

“I’ll be right there. Where are you putting the sandbags?”

“There’s a low spot by the lions and a bigger one by the hyenas. Let’s try to bulwark that as much as possible. I’m going

to get them into their shelter before the storm hits too. There are high shelves and spots for them to hang out if the water

manages to come in. I’m praying there’s no flooding though. That’s the worst-case scenario.”

She got out and grabbed several bags of groceries to take with her, while he carried the flats of water into the garage. He wasn’t worried—not yet. But he had a strange feeling tonight would not be the cozy scenario Paradise had in mind. He hoped and prayed he was wrong. A fun evening of treats and games with the boys would be welcome after the stress of the past few weeks, but their safety was his job. And not just their safety, but the welfare of the whole park depended on him.

Preparing for the storm seemed like a huge job right now. If the park had to be evacuated, how would he protect the animals?

A few years ago several storms and flooding had forced a local zoo to evacuate the animals, but Blake had no idea how he could

do that. He didn’t have enough trucks or even a place to take them where they’d all be safe.

All he could do was depend on God to protect them—and that was the best thing anyway.

***

Nearly bent over and faces red, the boys each carried one end of a sandbag toward the line of defense Paradise had pointed

out to them. Her muscles were already sore from hefting countless bags herself, but the barricade in this area was nearly

done. No rain had fallen yet, but the forecast had grown more and more ominous throughout the afternoon. The taste of rain

was in the air, and greenish-black clouds billowed on the western horizon.

She helped the boys place the final bag. “Good job, guys! You worked hard. When we’re done, who wants to help me make fudge?”

Isaac’s hand shot up and Levi’s did a moment later. “Can I stir in the butter?” Isaac asked. “It’s my favorite part.”

“You sure can, and Levi can help spread it in the pan.” She stretched out the kinks in her back and glanced around for Blake.

The last glimpse she’d had of him was a distant view of him checking fences and opening gates to bring the animals out of

the weather. Even the safari animals like the antelopes and zebras had lean-tos to shelter in. She turned and scanned the

area near the back of the house and saw the storm shelter doors were open. Moments later he emerged with a broom. It might

be safe for her down there if they had to seek shelter. She eyed the mounting clouds again. It might be necessary in the night.

“I think we’re done here, boys. Let’s get cleaned up and head for the kitchen.”

“Yay!” Isaac scampered ahead of her and Levi, who took her hand and walked with her.

“I’m glad you’re here, Paradise. Don’t ever go away, okay?” he said.

She squeezed his fingers gently. “I’m glad to be here too, big guy. Being with you and your family has been the best thing

that’s ever happened to me.”

She made no promises about never leaving. While she was hopeful about the future with Blake, she’d learned early in her life

that circumstances might flip on a dime and upheaval could follow. It would make her happy if she never left this little corner

of the world again and could watch Levi and his brother grow to manhood, but that was out of her hands.

They headed straight for the bathroom and washed up. She changed her clothes and had the boys do the same so none of them tracked sand through the house. In the kitchen she got out a heavy pan and the ingredients for fudge. She set Isaac to buttering the square glass dish while Levi helped her measure out sugar, cocoa, and milk. The sweet chocolaty aroma began to fill the kitchen.

A door slammed and Blake entered the kitchen. Cobwebs draped across his hair, and his grimy face told her what a mess the

storm cellar must have been.

He held up blackened palms and acted as though he was going to touch her. She squealed and danced back with the wooden spatula

in her hand. “Oh no, don’t you dare touch me with spidery hands. Are there spiders in your hair?” With sick fascination she

watched for anything crawling on his dark hair.

“I don’t think so. I tried brushing anything living off me, but I’m going to take a shower.”

“I think that’s a very good idea.”

“I stocked the place with water, clean cots, and blankets just in case. And a few snacks as well. I put everything in spider-proof

tubs and plastic bags so we’re all set for the storm season. I didn’t remember you were so scared of spiders. You face down

all kinds of large creatures but run from spiders.”

She shuddered. “I can’t explain it, but I hate them. Thanks for making sure I can go down there.”

Isaac put a wet hand on her arm. “Me and Levi will protect you, Paradise. We’re good at squashing bugs.”

Blake nodded solemnly. “They are indeed. I taught them myself.”

His phone sounded, and he gingerly pulled it out. “This thing will need a bath too.” He frowned at the text message. “It’s

Hez. He says Greene wants to interrogate me again, but that he’s putting it off until after the storm.”

He typed in a response. “I asked him if there was any news from Nora’s evidence collection.”

Paradise stirred the bubbling fudge. “Greene is a menace. I don’t know how you’re going to get off his radar.”

“I don’t think it’s possible.” Another message sounded and he read it, then glanced at the boys. “Hez says the evidence matched.”

So the blood on the knife was a match to Danielle Mason. “Did you tell Hez what Quinn said about Owen?”

“I did. He didn’t know what to make of it. I still want to talk to him, but it will have to wait until the storm mess is over.”

He pocketed his phone. “I’ll shower and come help with dinner. What does everyone want to eat tonight?”

“Tacos!” the boys said.

Blake ruffled Isaac’s hair. “My specialty. I’ll need some help.”

“We always help,” Levi said. “You don’t even need to say it.”

“Point taken, big guy.”

Paradise watched him leave, then checked the fudge. “It’s at softball stage. Get the butter ready, Isaac. Levi, grab the spatula

and get ready to spread. It’s a finely tuned dance to make sure it’s not too hard and not too soft.”

And wasn’t that like life? There were hard places and soft ones, but the trick was remembering it didn’t ruin the delight.