A high-pitched squeal sounded through the phone, and Jeremy yanked it away from his ear until the noise died away. Kellie would have recognized her sister’s excited scream anywhere, and she laughed with relief. Anna was really all right.
“Great, Anna. Now I’m deaf.” The marshal’s voice said he was teasing, and his laughter sounded almost intimate. Or was Kellie imagining there was more to their relationship than witness and protector?
“Okay, okay. I’ll let you talk to them, but remember, not a word about where you are.” Jeremy placed the device on the table, turned to Kellie and mouthedten minutesas he hit the speaker button.
“Oh my God! Kellie? Charlie? I didn’t think I’d ever talk to you again.” Her voice breaking, Anna quieted.
Kellie strode to the table and sank into the chair the marshal vacated as he headed outside to join MacGyver and Travis. She tried to speak but had to clear her throat of the huge lump that had formed at hearing her sister’s voice. “Anna, how are you? I’ve missed you.”
“Is it really you, sweetheart?” Pop’s eyes weren’t dry either.
“It’s really me. I’m so sorry for what I’ve put you through. I hated leaving like that, but Jeremy said it was the only way to keep all of us safe. It worked too, until you decided to try to find me. You’re crazy, Kellie, but I love you so much.”
Kellie couldn’t stop the tears that ran down her face, and, for once, she didn’t try to hide them. “It seemed like a good idea at the time, but thanks for sending in the cavalry.”
Chip stood at Pop’s elbow, his head cocked to the side, tail wagging. Suddenly, he barked once, sharp and loud.
“Is that Chip? Hey, boy! I’ve missed you too.”
They all laughed, and Pop scratched the dog’s ears with an affectionate smile.
Safe topics of conversation—those that wouldn’t give away Anna’s whereabouts—were harder to find than Kellie had imagined. She wanted to know everything about her sister’s life. Where she worked. Had she finished college like Kellie had encouraged so many times? Did she have friends who cared about her? In the end, it was enough to simply hear her voice, filled with joy and life. Kellie’s ten minutes were almost up, and who knew if she’d ever get another chance to talk to her?
“Are you happy, Anna?” As the words left her mouth, the screen door banged shut behind her, and Jeremy strode toward them.
“I am now,” Anna said.
“It’s time.” Jeremy spoke into the momentary silence, and Kellie’s world came crashing down around her.
No. It wasn’t enough time.It was so unfair to have finally found Anna, only to have the dream jerked out from under her. The need to fight for more time filled her to bursting, but she wouldn’t do that to Anna—leave her with sadness as though their conversation had meant nothing.
Pop evidently noticed her plight and reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Anna, we have to say good-bye now, but I refuse to believe it’s forever. We’ll be together some day, you mark my words. And if Marshal Dahl doesn’t take good care of you…well, you remember how to get home.” A faint smile played around Pop’s mouth, but clearly he was serious.
“Charlie, you’re going to make me cry again.” A long pause stretched, and Kellie struggled to hide emotions that wouldn’t help the situation. “Thank you for being my dad—our dad. Nobody could have done it better.”
“The marshal and I are going to give you and Kellie a minute. Come on, Jeremy. Grab us a couple beers.” Pop motioned for Chip to stay and patted Kellie’s hand before he followed Jeremy outside.
“I like your marshal, Anna, even though we sort of got off to a rough start. I can see he cares about you, but if you ever need me, all you have to do is call. I’ll be there.” Kellie laid her hand on the phone’s edge, feeling her connection to her sister coming to an end.
“I know. You’ve always been there for me, even when I was too bullheaded to listen. I’m sorry I got us into this mess, Kellie.”
“Aw, sweetie. It wasn’t your fault.”
The screen door banged again.
Kellie’s shoulders slumped. “Listen, I have to go. I love you, Sis, but I’m not going to say good-bye. I’ll talk to you soon. Okay?”
There was a pause before Anna replied. “I’m not going to say good-bye, either.”
Kellie tensed as the beep sounded to signal Anna had ended the call.
A warm hand settled on the back of her neck. “Are you okay?” MacGyver’s voice hadn’t been the one she’d expected.
She stood on shaky legs, not looking at him. “I’m fine. I just…I need to be alone for a while.” Without waiting for a reply, she strode down the hallway toward the bedroom that had always been hers and Anna’s.
Chip slipped in right before she closed the door.
* * * *