Dandelions for Dinner (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 4)

by Valerie Comer

  Loving and protecting Finnley and Allison was his responsibility, not Keanan’s, but he’d done a poor job. He’d let her push him aside. His pride had made it easy to acquiesce. Instead of allowing himself to be vulnerable and showing his love, he’d hidden his past, telling himself it was for the best.

  It had not been for the best. A guy didn’t get to have experience — good or bad — without becoming responsible to help others. Like Curtis, who at least now planned to talk to Nya and see where the situation took them.

  Brent leaped from the truck as his gaze snagged Allison and Zach walking toward him through the tall grass. He allowed the immensity of the field of tall grass to soak in. How would they ever find Finnley in that?

  Claire pulled in right behind his truck.

  He couldn’t let her get to Allison before he did. Brent burst into a run and caught Allison in his arms. Her hands slid around his neck as he picked her up in a tight squeeze. With everyone watching he didn’t dare — nah, he didn’t care what they thought. Her lips were right there, waiting for his to brush across them.

  One kiss wasn’t enough. Brent clutched her in his arms and nuzzled into her neck for a brief moment. Allison melted against him and he stifled a groan. Zach. Claire.

  Finnley. His son.

  He set Allison back down but kept one arm firmly around her as he turned toward the others. “What’s the plan?”

  He didn’t miss the wink Zach gave Claire. Whatever.

  Zach’s face quickly sobered as he outlined where all they’d searched in the few hours since Allison had noticed Finnley had disappeared. “Anywhere we missed?” he finished up.

  Brent sorted through the information. They’d covered the house and farm school. The entire farm, for that matter. Allison’s thought that Finnley had tried to find him rang true.

  If only he hadn’t encouraged the boy’s adoration. No. He wasn’t going there. It was counter-productive. The past was past. The future would be different.

  He surveyed the field. “No one could get in here without leaving a trail, could they?”

  Claire shook her head. “No. If we had a plane or helicopter, I’m sure we could see clearly. There’s been just enough wind in the past few days to blow down the edges of the field a little so an entry point wouldn’t be obvious.”

  Brent pivoted toward her. “Who do we know with a plane?”

  “Uh…” Claire looked at Allison.

  “Search and rescue,” Zach put in. “Time to call them, I think. We’ve done what we can without help.”

  Allison cut off a sob, and Brent pulled her closer. “I agree. Do you have a number for them? Will 9-1-1 get to the right place?”

  “I think so.” Zach made the call. After he’d spoken to the dispatcher, he turned the phone off. “It will probably take an hour before they’re mobilized.”

  “I’ll see if Noel and Keanan are off the mountain yet.” Claire tapped her cell. After listening a moment, she shook her head. “Goes straight to voice mail.”

  “They’re searching up there?” Brent asked.

  Claire nodded. “No one knows that mountainside better than Noel.” She smirked at Zach. “Even the guy who grew up running wild on it.”

  “Could be,” said Zach. “I trust him to know how to scour it.” He looked around the hayfield. “Okay, if search can get an overview here in an hour, that’s all we can ask for. Elmer is giving us two hours before he resumes cutting hay. Says he can’t wait any longer than that.”

  Anger boiled up in Brent. And fear. “But—”

  Zach held up a hand. “Yeah, I know. But it will be fine. Really. Look, why don’t you take Allison back to the farm? Claire and I can keep looking in this area until help arrives.” He started toward the road, Claire behind him.

  Allison pushed her way out of Brent’s arms. “No. I’m staying. He’s my responsibility.”

  “I’m staying, too. He’s my…” Brent hesitated, holding Allison’s gaze. “Finnley is my son.”

  Zach turned slowly, but Claire whipped around. “What?” Her gaze dashed between Brent’s and Allison’s.

  He reached for Allison’s hand and — thank God — caught it. Her slight squeeze gave him the strength to speak out. “I lived a rather promiscuous life for a while in college. Allison’s sister Mallory was only one of the girlfriends I had in those years. I made every kind of mistake. I’ve asked God to forgive me, and He has, but the consequences still exist.”

  “Whoa. I never guessed.” Questions still flared on Claire’s face. “When we find Finnley, I need to hear more.” She pinned Allison with her gaze. “But for now, we’ve got a little boy to locate.” She followed Zach to the road.

  Brent stood rooted in the field.

  Allison stepped in front of him and he locked his hands behind her back. “I’m sorry if I shouldn’t have said all that in front of your friends.”

  “I’m glad you did. I’m done hiding things. There are things you need to know about me, too.”

  He met her gaze from a few inches away. “Like what?” Did she have a secret child hidden away? An abortion in her past? That would explain her reaction to Gina’s revelation. Maybe they should have this conversation later. After they’d found Finnley.

  “My father… he abused me. Sexually. Many times while I was growing up.” Allison’s eyes focused on her hands fussing with the collar on his shirt.

  Brent slid his hands up her back and into her long hair. He swept the strands away from her face and cupped it with both hands. “Allison?”

  Her eyes darted to meet his then shifted back to his collar.

  “Allison. I’m so sorry to hear that.” He pressed a gentle kiss on her lips.

  “I was never good enough,” she whispered. “He used me and never loved me. He was my dad. He should have done better.”

  “He should have.” Brent kissed her again.

  “I decided all men used women, so I’d never get close enough to be caught again. Never be a victim again.”

  That explained a lot. He tipped her chin, but her eyes refused to meet his. “Allison, look at me, please. I want to make you a promise.”

  She swallowed hard. “It’s too soon.”

  “Not for this one. Please? Trust me?”

  Her brown eyes shone with tears as she met his gaze. Vulnerable in a way he’d never guessed she could be. “Allison, I love you. I will never ever use that to get my own way. I won’t push you. I won’t force you.” How could he make her believe him? He couldn’t. Only time would prove his words. “Listen to me, darling. I give you my heart. Not because of Finnley. You had it before I ever met him.”

  Her jaw trembled beneath his palms.

  Gentle. He had to let her lead. He knew it with certainty down to the soles of his feet. “Allison, you have my heart. It will always belong to you. There’s no one else for me in this entire world. I don’t want an answer today. I’m not even going to ask you the big question today. In fact, I’m not going to ask it, ever.”

  Her startled eyes met his and her lips parted.

  He brushed his against them gently. “I want to marry you, Allison. I want to make a home with you and Finnley and the little ones God will bless us with. But I won’t push you. I won’t beg you. It’s up to you, sweetheart. When you’re ready, tell me. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  She swallowed hard. “What if I’m never ready?”

  Brent rested his forehead against hers. “I’ll be praying every single day that you will be. My heart is in your hands. And we are both in God’s.” He kissed her once more then released her until only their eyes held them together.

  Chapter 34

  An hour later, a helicopter had criss-crossed Elmer’s field from every angle.

  Allison watched, hand tucked firmly in Brent’s, as Zach took the call from the pilot. Zach rubbed his temple with his free hand and thanked the man.

  “He sees no sign of a path into the field.” Zach’s gaze met hers briefly. “He’ll check the next tal
l field down the road.”

  “Any point in joining the group on the mountain?” asked Brent.

  Twenty experienced searchers searched alongside Noel and Keanan.

  “I wish I knew.” Zach rubbed his forehead.

  Allison had badly misjudged Zach and Noel. She’d never dreamed these men would give so selflessly for her. For her nephew. To say nothing of Brent. After all she’d put him through, he held her hand and stood by her side.

  She didn’t deserve him. Didn’t deserve all this care.

  No. Jo had told her to stop the negative self-talk. Reminded her that Jesus’ sacrifice covered it all.

  She took a deep breath and looked from Brent to Claire. “How hard did either of you watch for him from the vehicle windows between here and Galena Landing?”

  “I was driving pretty fast,” Brent admitted. “I needed to be here with you.”

  Claire shook her head. “I went fast, too, but I was watching. Too bad he didn’t wear the orange Tigger pajamas last night. Those green ones are practically camouflage. He definitely wasn’t walking down the road, but I can’t guarantee he wasn’t peeking out of the ditch or something.”

  Brent tugged Allison toward his truck. “That’s what we’ll do, then. We’ll drive slowly and each watch out our window. We’ll call his name.”

  Zach looked at Claire. “We can quarter the field across the road. There aren’t as many hiding places as in this hayfield.”

  Claire stared at the barbed wire fence. “Does he know how to get through one of those?”

  Allison grimaced. “Keanan taught him. He knows the difference between the barbed wire ones and the electric ones, too.”

  Zach poked his chin toward the fence. “Percy’s isn’t electric. No power hook-up. And he rotated his cows out a few weeks ago. He usually takes a late summer cut of hay off this field.”

  Allison climbed into the passenger side of Brent’s work truck. As soon as he started the engine, she slid the window down. He backed into Elmer’s driveway to turn around then drove slowly toward town. She kept her eyes roving the ditch, the fence line, the little copses of trees near the road.

  “Finnley!” she called out, alternating with Brent calling out the driver’s window.

  She caught a glimpse of a patch of odd green. “Stop!” she yelled, opening the door and sliding out before Brent had time to follow through. She stumbled and surged through the ditch, thankfully empty of water in early July. Her heart sank almost immediately. The little bush by the fence did not provide enough cover, and the green she’d seen had simply been a discarded pop bottle. She tossed it in the back of Brent’s truck and got back in.

  Brent reached across the console and rested his hand on her knee. “We’ll find him, darling.”

  Allison blinked back tears. Tried to blink back memories of snatches of newscasts where children went missing. Sure, some were found safe and sound, but others had been abducted. Molested. Killed. Others were never found at all. And then there were wild animals. Bears coming off the mountain. Coyotes. Maybe even wolves or cougars. At least it wasn’t snake country.

  Finnley was such a little boy with scrawny little boy muscles. What could he fight off? Nothing bigger than Danny Boy.

  Brent pulled her against him as much as the console would allow. “Father God, we are still here. Still asking You to protect Finnley. Still asking You to help us find this small child. Please give the searchers wisdom and sharp eyes. Lord, I pray especially for Allison.” His voice trembled. “And for me. Please give us peace. We claim the peace of Jesus in our hearts. In His name we ask these things. Amen.”

  “Amen,” she whispered, trying to smile. How had she thought all men were alike? All out only for their own selfish interests? No. She’d been so wrong.

  Brent released the brake and the truck rolled forward.

  Allison stared out the side window, looking for a little boy who needed to know he had a daddy who loved him and prayed for him.

  * * *

  How far could a four-year-old walk? A mile? Possibly more? At the two-mile mark from Green Acres, Brent turned the truck around.

  A glance at Allison showed her mouth open in protest. She clamped it shut.

  “There’s no way he could have walked farther than this.” Brent kept his voice light. “He’s a kid, not Superman, no matter what his backpack says.”

  “I know. It’s just...”

  Brent squeezed her hand. “I know. We’ll do the same thing driving back, but we’ll be on opposite sides.”

  “And then what?” Her voice rose. Panic wasn’t far below the surface.

  Brent rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “And then we look some more.”

  Where, he had no idea. The professional search team was focused on the mountainside. The leader said it was the most likely place. Brent knew it was also the most dangerous, and the most important to cover before dark. They still had a few hours.

  “Finnley, where are you?” he called out the truck window. “I love you, squirt!” He eased the truck forward a few yards while Allison called out the other side.

  Twice he scrambled out of the truck, sure he’d seen something unusual, but it was never Finnley. “We’ll find him,” he said to Allison, but he could feel the panic clawing its way up his throat. It was all he could do to keep it together for her.

  They rounded the last corner and coasted to a stop behind the VW. Far from the road, Zach bent back a bush, while Claire nearly disappeared into a hollow Brent hadn’t even known was there.

  He frowned. “I thought this land was flat.”

  Allison followed his gaze. “Mostly flat.”

  He put the truck in reverse and peeled backward around the curve then hit the brakes. “Come on.” Brent shoved open the door.

  She didn’t wait for him but hopped out and came around the front of the truck to meet him. “What are you thinking?”

  Brent scanned the terrain. “We’re what, half a mile from the farm? Maybe a little more?”

  She nodded.

  “Far enough he’d be tired by now.” Brent took Allison’s hand and started down the embankment. “I think that dip Claire was in is an old creek bed.” He skidded down, holding Allison’s hand. “Aha. Just what I thought. There’s enough water here during spring run-off to justify a culvert under the road.”

  Allison crouched down beside him as they peered in.

  “Finnley?” called Brent. “Come here, little man.”

  He’d said the words so many times he’d almost given up hope for a reply. Had he really heard something this time?

  “Finnley? Where are you?” His voice echoed in the metal tube.

  “Hey, buddy, are you in here?” called Allison.

  A faint scratching sound came from within and a tiny voice said, “Brent?”

  “Yes!” It was all Brent could do not to leap to his feet with his fist thrust to the sky. “Can you come out now, squirt? I’m right here with Auntie Allison.”

  A hunched silhouette moved toward them.

  Brent, still squatting, tugged Allison closer. She fell against him, knocking him over and, in a second, he was sprawled on the rocky ground with her practically on top, kissing him fervently.

  A guy could get used to this. He kissed her back, holding her tight, but only for a moment before setting her aside and turning back to the large metal culvert.

  A little boy in dark green pajamas crawled out, wearing a squirming Superman backpack and numerous bright red scratches. He hurled himself in Brent’s arms, nearly knocking him over again.

  “Brent! You came!”

  Brent held the warm little body tight. He seemed okay. No broken bones, no lasting damage. “I’m so glad we found you, squirt. Auntie Allison was so worried about you.” He closed his eyes. “And so was I.”

  Finnley sniffled against his neck. “She say you my daddy. Are you my daddy?”

  Brent became aware of Allison’s hands on his shoulders and her legs pressed against his b
ack. He tilted his head back to meet her eyes. Would she be jealous of Finnley’s attachment?

  She blinked back tears but managed a smile with a shake of her head.

  Could this really become his family?

  Finnley squeezed Brent’s cheeks between his little hands and peered into his eyes. “Are you?”

  For a second, Brent struggled to remember the question. Ah, right, the daddy question. “Yes, squirt, I’m your daddy.”

  Allison massaged his shoulders.

  “Where you live? Why you not here?”

  Brent managed to clamber to his feet with Finnley in one arm. He pulled Allison tight with the other, and her arms wrapped around both of them.

  “I love you, buddy,” she said. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

  “Rover keep me safe.”

  Allison frowned.

  Brent rested his forehead against Finnley’s. “You mean Jesus. Jesus kept you safe.”

  The little guy nodded. “Jesus.”

  “I should let everyone know we found him.” Allison pulled out of the hug and tugged her phone out of her hip pocket as she climbed back to the road. She stood beside the truck, twisting long strands of hair behind her ear as she talked.

  “Come on, squirt. Let’s get you home. You hungry?”

  “Yes. Danny Boy too.”

  “Danny Boy?” That would certainly explain the scratches on Finnley’s hands and face.

  Finnley nodded. “I keep him safe.”

  The wiggling backpack. Well, they wouldn’t unzip that until they got back to the farm. The kitten was sure to bolt for freedom at the first chance he got, and Brent didn’t want to waste time looking for him when he wanted to revel in the little boy’s tight grip and Allison’s love. Not that she’d said the words yet, but she would.

  * * *

  Allison held Finnley in her lap in the truck for the half-mile home as he clutched his backpack in front of him. “Why did you run off, little buddy?”

  “You said he my daddy.” Finnley squirmed so he could look at her with reproachful eyes. “I want daddy.”