“Amen, my friend. I know you will. There are such good folks willing to offer foster care and adoption.”
“Yes.” Kate’s gaze returned to Harley in Molly’s arms. A few yards away, a beaming Judith was busy snapping photos of her daughter and new granddaughter. Miranda Tanner stood next to them. She slid her arm around Dylan’s shoulders as he teased a giggle from the baby, a dab of blue frosting on his chin.
Grateful warmth flooded through Kate; these days when she thought of her son, she imagined him in a loving scene exactly like this one. Though Wes had offered to help her search for him—and though she yearned to finally know her son—Kate couldn’t bear the possibility that her sudden appearance might cause him even a moment of painful confusion and turmoil. Because of that, she’d put the generous offer on hold for now. She also had a deep and peaceful sense that she shouldn’t rush, that she should wait—trust God with this, too. Something told Kate that perhaps one day her lost but dearly loved son would find her.
“Well, it sounds like you’ve had a great day,” Lauren told her. “I wish I could have been there. But Houston Grace ER has me in new-employee chains; thank heaven they come in colors that coordinate with my scrubs.”
Once again Kate sensed undercurrents of trouble Lauren had yet to confide. Being closer to her sister had helped on some levels, but the complications were taking a toll. “I really miss you, Lauren.”
“Sure . . .” Her friend chuckled. “Like you have time. With two men clamoring for your attention now, and—Oh, rats. Have to run. The triage light’s flashing and I’m on the hot seat today. Love you, girl!”
“Love you back.” Kate disconnected and turned to see Miranda walking up. Her auburn hair was piled high on her head, her face flushed and dewy in the humidity.
“I brought you tea.” She handed Kate a glass mounded high with ice.
“Thank you.” She caught the wistful expression on the woman’s face. “It must be hard to let Harley go after all these months.”
“I won’t pretend it isn’t.” Miranda’s gaze drifted toward the guests. “But I’m happy she’s found such a wonderful family.” She shook her head slowly. “That first day she came to us, I remember talking to Wes and telling him how—even after what had happened with Harley’s birth mother—I was relieved to know God has a plan.”
“Yes.” Kate was sure of that now.
“Right now my plan is to help Molly and Judith gather up Harley’s gifts.” Miranda glanced toward the barn. “Do me a favor and go check on those men down in the drilling shop. I told them to grab some sandwiches—man cannot live on cake alone—but when you get two engineers brainstorming . . .”
“Two men clamoring for your attention . . .” Kate smiled. “Dad’s so happy about working with the business. And living in Austin and—”
“About finding Judith?” Miranda asked, her eyes teasing. “The way things have been going, I expect to see two new sets of initials carved into the side of that barn—remind me to hide my kitchen knives. On the other hand, it does lend itself nicely to the possibilities of seeing Harley a lot more often, her new grandmother having developed such a keen interest in well drilling.”
Kate’s smile widened.
Miranda’s brows rows. “Speaking of plans, Wes said something about you and him taking the horses out this evening. On some kind of search?”
“Well . . .” Kate laughed, her stomach shivering the same way it always did when she thought of him. “It’s not an official search. He knows I have this thing about fireflies.”
“They’ll be there.” Miranda gave a quick nod.
“You sound sure—part of that ‘plan’?”
Miranda laughed. “More equal parts Texas heat and humidity. Paul and I spotted a few from the porch last night right around dusk. There should be more down closer to the creek; Wes will know.” She gave Kate a quick hug and headed back toward the other guests.
“Wes will know.” Kate didn’t doubt it for a moment. He’d known where to find her when she ran to California. And in these last months he’d awakened her heart, helped her heal and trust again. And nurtured a blossoming faith that would sustain Kate for the rest of her life.
She smiled, remembering the first time she’d come to this beautiful ranch, that day she’d brought her father for the search-and-rescue demonstration. And how Dylan had asked her if she was “hiding or searching.” She hadn’t known how to answer. But she did now: she’d been hiding, absolutely—from family, from love, and from God. What a search it had turned out to be. And oh, how very much she’d found. Fireflies could never compare.
- + -
“Down there.” Wes pointed toward the creek, thinking he’d rather keep watching Kate’s eyes. Far more beautiful than lightning bugs any day. He settled close to her on the blanket he’d spread on the grass. “The sun’s dropping behind the hills, and they like the water. We’ll see them in the cedar along the creek. It won’t be long now.” He draped an arm across her shoulder, felt the kitten-soft brush of her hair against his bare arm. Wes stifled a chuckle at the thought that he’d ever considered this woman prickly.
“What’s funny?” Kate asked, peering up at him in the near darkness. “You’re laughing.”
“Not really.” He bent down, pressed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Just happy.”
“To see fireflies?”
“To see them with you.” And because . . . Wes realized that he was nervous. After all his care and planning—his absolute certainty—he was flat-out nervous.
The horses snuffled in the distance, tied to a tree and nibbling at the grass.
“I can’t believe you brought your rescue pack,” Kate said, glancing to where it sat beside him. “It’s not like you haven’t mapped every inch of this property.”
“You never know.” He smiled in the darkness.
“And it’s good to have all the right stuff.”
He bit his lip to keep from laughing. “Absolutely.”
She gasped, hunching forward. “I think I see—Oh, Wes. There!”
“Where?” he asked, mesmerized by the childlike delight on her face.
She snorted. “Not in my hair—look where I’m pointing. See? They’re so pretty. Oh, I’ll never get used to that! Do you see them?”
“I see,” he said, wrapping both arms around her, inhaling her scent. I see you.
They were quiet for a few minutes, watching the tiny light displays arcing and dancing along the creek bed like embers launched skyward from a campfire. He thought about what he’d come here to do. Hoped he had it right.
“They’re pretty interesting insects,” he murmured against Kate’s hair. “Want to know what makes them—”
“No!” Kate blurted, aghast. “Don’t go all engineer on me. Please. I want them to stay magical. I don’t want to know how they blink.”
He laughed. “Then do you want to know why? Why they light up like that?” Wes smiled as her wary gaze met his. This fit right into his plan. “They’re searching . . . for love.”
“Love?” She grinned. “Thank you. I’m sure as a science guy that was tough.”
“Not as tough as you’d think,” he said, the nervousness coming back. Wes reached for his pack. “Here,” he said, digging around in it. “Put this on.”
“What is it?”
“A headlamp.” He donned his own and switched on the beam, saw her blink. “Your turn.” He tipped the light away but still saw the look on her face that said he was crazy. “Please. I want to show you something.”
“Okay. I’m humoring you,” she said, adjusting it over her hair. “But if we’re here to see fireflies, adding light seems more than a little at odds with the search.”
“I’m glad you said that.”
“What?”
“‘Search.’ Because we are—you are, anyway.” He fumbled with the pack again. Found what he was looking for, his heart in his throat. “Turn on your light.”
She did, blinding him. “Oops. Sorry.”
“Okay now,” he said. “I’ll show you how to use this. Point your nose where you want to see. Here.” He gestured. “Spot that tree.”
She turned her head. The live oak lit.
“Good job. Now that boulder over there.”
The granite shone, Kate’s aim hitting it with accuracy.
“The horses . . .”
Clementine’s eyes blinked back at them.
“You’re a natural.” Wes smiled, his fingers busy with their covert task.
“I still don’t see why we’re doing this,” Kate said, shaking her head and causing the beam to bounce like a silent movie. “Unless we’re trying to look like a couple of demented fireflies ourselves. So why don’t we—”
“Now,” he instructed, “look here.”
“Where?”
“At my hands.”
“Wes, really . . .” Kate’s beam hopscotched across the blanket, found the knees of his jeans, his shirt, and—
She gasped. “Oh, what . . . Wes!”
“Like it?”
The brilliant round-cut diamond glittered in the light.
“Oh . . .” Kate picked up the velvet box. “It’s so . . .” She stared at him, eyes wide.
“Here.” He pulled off his headlamp, reached for hers. Not before he saw tears and then the smile that said they were from happiness. His heart thudded. He left one of the lights glowing atop his pack, just enough to see her.
“I love you, Kate,” he said, cupping her sweet face in his hands. “Remember a long time ago, not long after we met, when I told you I thought there was a reason we found each other?”
She nodded, the tears spilling over her dark lashes.
“It was true. I’ve been searching for you all my life. And I don’t ever want to lose what we’ve found. Say you’ll marry me. Please, Kate. Be my wife.”
“I . . .” She nodded, cleared her throat, nodded again. “Yes, yes!” She flung her arms around him, one hand still clutching the ring box. “I love you so much. I do—so much.”
Then he was kissing her. The side of her neck, her tear-dampened cheek, her eyes, a corner of her lips. And then her mouth. Tenderly and very, very thoroughly.
When they finally broke away, they started to laugh. Howled at his corny ring search, his suggestion of Nancy Rae serving as maid of honor alongside his best man, Gabe, and then Kate’s comeback that Hershey would be ring bearer. He parried with a suggestion that Roady man the guest book. Kate giggled that her father should play air guitar for the reception—and then Wes admitted that he’d asked Matt’s permission to propose. She stopped laughing, happy tears welling again, and told him she loved him even more for that.
Wes slipped the engagement ring on Kate’s finger. And they simply sat there, holding each other in the languid silence of a warm Texas night.
The fireflies blinked, looped, and zigzagged. Then, one by one, finally disappeared. The way Wes’s love for this amazing woman never would. He knew that without a doubt. The same way he knew that, despite the odds, it was Kate who’d done the rescuing after all.
Thank you, Lord, for planning it that way.
About the Author
CANDACE CALVERT is a former ER nurse and author of the Mercy Hospital series—Critical Care, Disaster Status, and Code Triage—and the Grace Medical series—Trauma Plan and Rescue Team. Her medical dramas offer readers a chance to “scrub in” on the exciting world of emergency medicine. Wife, mother, and very proud grandmother, Candace makes her home in northern California. Visit her website at www.candacecalvert.com.
Discussion Guide
USE THESE QUESTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION OR FOR DISCUSSION WITHIN YOUR BOOK CLUB OR SMALL GROUP.
Note: If you would like me to “attend” your book club’s gathering, please e-mail me at [email protected]. I’ll try to arrange a speakerphone or Skype visit to join your discussion.
In the opening scene of Rescue Team, Wes Tanner plunges down a gully to rescue a missing woman; he is soon joined by a team of volunteers that includes a local funeral director, a coffeehouse barista, and a dog named Hershey. Throughout the story, we see that Wes is proud of and grateful for his team—folks united in a calling to serve others. In your personal experience, have you ever had a strong sense of team? What were the circumstances? How did it make you feel?
On the flip side, at the beginning of Rescue Team, we find Kate Callison struggling to hold her emergency department team together. She blames her problems on the fact that she’s “stepping into the shoes of a saint,” replacing a much loved and tragically lost ER director. Do you think she’s correct in that assessment of the problem? Could she have done more to unify her team? Discuss.
Tireless hospital volunteer Judith Doyle is dedicated to her own rescue plan. What was valuable about seeing the story from her point of view? Were you surprised by the turn of events that brought the police to her door? Did you suspect Judith’s secret identity?
Rescue Team is set in and around Austin, Texas, and readers get glimpses of both rural settings (the Tanner and Braxton ranches) and colorful cityscapes, from famous music clubs to quirky tastes of Austin’s famous gourmet trailer food. What imagery added to your enjoyment of this story? Have you ever traveled to Austin? If you were to visit, which of Kate and Wes’s destinations would you want to see?
The story’s more serious moments are balanced by small bits of humor, often from walk-on characters—even those who can’t actually walk, like vintage doll Nancy Rae. What did the tea-and-cookie scene with Nancy Rae and Amelia Braxton tell you about our hero, Wes?
In a scene at the Braxton ranch, while standing at the site of an abandoned well, Wes describes his first rescue to Kate. Struck by a sense of Wes’s good and heroic heart, Kate says something to him about her own flaws—that she’s “not the kind of person God would listen to.” Wes responds by talking about the undeserved gift of grace. How important was this conversation to Kate’s overall journey? What similarities do you see between this exchange and the Bible story of the woman at the well (John 4:1-42)?
Both Kate and Wes join the search for missing baby Harley. Finding her feels both urgent and very, very personal for each of them—for far different reasons. Did you understand their feelings? Empathize with them? Discuss.
After her painful confession to Wes, Kate feels confused and hopeless. So she does what she’s always done: runs away. Yet something prompts her to stop by triage nurse Dana Connor’s house, and afterward, she feels “a little less lost.” Why do you think that was?
Though Kate wanted desperately to find baby Harley, she instead found Sunni Sprague’s bones. At a pivotal point in the story, Sunni’s grieving mother says she believes it was God’s plan that Kate found her daughter. Would you agree? Why? Have you ever found yourself in a role that seemed crafted by God but wasn’t your plan? How did you respond?
The broken relationship between Kate and her father, Matt, was an important part of this story. How did you feel when Kate went home to Happy Hollow Lane? How important was that resolution to her healing?
How satisfying was Rescue Team’s ending for you? Were any of your questions left unanswered?
Please visit my website at www.candacecalvert.com for more information on upcoming books in this series.
Thank you for reading Rescue Team.
Warmly,
Candace Calvert
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