Page 46

Chapter Forty-Six

AJ wriggled her body up, and as soon as her face broke the surface, she sucked in a giant breath before the current dragged her under again. She couldn’t keep this up much longer.

She hoped and prayed the fact Miles hadn’t pushed the button again meant Logan had bested him, but that also meant she was probably going to drown.

Just like Bree.

At least she’d get to be with Bree at last. The two of them could curl up with Jesus and talk for hours.

But Logan.

She was sure she added to the river, probably enough to make the water brackish. But she couldn’t sob, or she’d drown that much faster.

Keep it together, AJ. God, help me.

The rope let out more.

She tried to float. But without her arms and legs free, she couldn’t get her body at the right angle to lay near the surface. Plus her work boots were too heavy. Again she tried to kick them off, but they were laced too well, and the rope around her ankles was too tight.

Propelling herself upward, she took a breath.

A dog barked in the distance.

But she sank back into the water before she could yell for help.

God, am I going to die now? I’m Yours. If this is my time, so be it. Help Logan. Tell Bree I can’t wait to see her.

Logan sat at the front of the boat with Wesson, who continually sniffed the air and barked upstream. A bridge came into view. Was that the bridge Amelia had seen? He probably should have taken a minute to look at it.

But his sense of urgency was growing exponentially by the moment.

“God, help us find her!”

The wind blew through his hair as Megan sped the boat forward. She slowed as they approached the bridge spanning the river, which was nearly a quarter of a mile wide. Where was she?

What if this wasn’t the right bridge? There weren’t too many that crossed this river, so there weren’t many to choose from, but it made logical sense that Miles would use the closest one.

Did Miles know they’d lost their daughter in this river? Is that why he chose it? To be as cruel as possible?

What if they didn’t make it in time? What if she was already gone?

He braced against the boat, willing himself to stay positive. Silently he begged God to keep her alive.

Sweeping the flashlight beam under the bridge, he looked for any clue.

A line coming down from the bridge caught his eye. A black rope.

“There!”

“I see it.” Megan directed the boat that way.

The rope was attached to an elaborate pulley system.

“Logan!” Megan yelled.

He followed the rope down. “I don’t see anything.”

“She’s under the water. I saw her bob up for a second.”

He tossed the flashlight to Megan then whipped off his shoes. It was all he could do to wait until Megan had gotten the boat closer, but as soon as it was, she cut the engine, and he dove in.

The cool water shocked his body, but he ignored it.

Megan shined the flashlight into the water. Thankfully, there hadn’t been a huge rain recently to churn up a bunch of mud, so the water was fairly clear. The coolness stung Logan’s eyes.

AJ.

He spotted her. She was struggling, hands and feet both bound, but her movements were slowing. He needed to get to her quickly.

After surfacing for air, he dove again, straight to her.

He wrapped his arms around her and propelled them both upward. They surfaced.

Splash.

Wesson swam to them. He clasped the rope that came from AJ’s back in his teeth.

“Good boy,” Megan called. “Bring ’em here.”

Wesson swam toward the boat. Logan helped.

AJ was limp in his arms.

Oh Jesus, please! Help her!

He reached the boat, and Megan leaned over the side and hauled AJ up.

Logan got in the boat as fast as he could, and Wesson jumped in the back.

Megan was working to untie the rope. She tossed Logan a knife.

He cut the duct tape, and they laid AJ on her back. She wasn’t breathing.

“AJ!” Logan threw himself down to her and patted her cheek. “Come back to me.”

“Rescue breaths.” Megan’s voice was strong and demanding.

Logan repositioned himself, pinched AJ’s nose, and covered her mouth with his own. He gave her two forceful breaths. He sat back.

Megan did thirty compressions. “Come on, AJ.”

Logan breathed into his wife’s lungs two more breaths.

Megan started compressions again, but AJ sputtered.

Relief filled Logan. They turned AJ on her side, and she coughed up water.

She moved her arms and pushed herself up some, and she continued to expel water from her airway.

He’d almost lost her … and in the same way he’d lost Bree. But AJ was okay. She was breathing. Thank you, Jesus.

AJ looked up at him. So much love and joy filled her eyes.

He scooped her up and held her against his chest. She wove her arms around him.

Megan untied the rope around her legs. “Let’s get you two back, then warm and dry.” She squeezed AJ’s knee. “I’m glad you’re okay, friend.”

AJ let go of Logan for a moment and gave Megan a hug.

While Megan started the boat and turned them back toward where they had come from, Logan took AJ’s face in his hands. “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop. You don’t have—”

“But I do. I could have prevented this whole day. I saw you get in his car. I made wrong assumptions.”

“What do you mean you saw?”

“I wanted to take you to work, because I had a bad feeling. But you were gone, had just left, so I jumped on my bike and tried to catch up.”

“We never suspected Miles. He was supposed to be our friend. And it’s not like I didn’t give you reason in the past to suspect me of such …” She looked down.

He lifted her face until her eyes met his. “You have changed. I know you wouldn’t …”

“But past hurts reared their ugly cheating heads.”

He nodded. “So I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

“Of course. I love you. Forever and always.”

He met her lips with his and kissed her with all the joy, relief, and hope he had.

Breathlessly he came out of the kiss. “I love you.”