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“Avery, listen.” Laz gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “This is important. ‘K? Yes, the mountains are safe. Yes, the mountains are wonderful. But—”
He paused. Were those tears in his eyes? Avery had never seen, or even imagined, Laz crying.
“But now, you’re gonna hafta leave the mountains. For a little while,” he added quickly. “You gotta go back out into that nasty world and get your sister. You’re gonna hafta be real brave. It’s darn scary, but you’re strong.”
He was right. And now the tears wouldn’t wait any longer. Avery could feel the fingerprints of El Shaddai all over the conversation. And from Laz, of all people. The crazy old mountain man. But he had just delivered the truth that set her free.
“You’ve got to go, Avery girl.” He looked at her with understanding mingled with pain. Pain for her or him or both? “You’ve got to go, because you can’t hide from God.” He gave a rumpled grin. “Guy named Jonah done tried that trick.”
Avery laughed. And kept laughing. Maybe because she didn’t want to cry anymore. Maybe because she felt something wonderful.
A sense of direction—the call and prodding of El Shaddai—even from a scary place.
And following Him, wherever He went, was very wonderful indeed.
She was going after her sister. The way she should have a long time ago.
FOUR THIRTY, ANDtime to be off work for the day. “Miz Avery? You leavin’ now?” Laz was counting the money in the cash register drawer.
“Almost. Just have to finish this sweeping.” Avery made it a point to sweep the shop each day just before closing.
Laz groaned and shook his head. “Girl, once a week is good.”
“Once a week is lazy and you know it.” This was an ongoing battle. Similar to their divergent perspectives on the old-fashioned notebook system. Avery was of the belief that a clean, pristine store attracted customers and bolstered their faith in the quality of the merchandise. Laz found daily cleaning unnecessary—unmanly, even—and maintained that an outdoors store was expected to have a little of the outdoors in it. As far as Avery could tell, that meant dirt and dead bugs in the corners.
“Well.” Laz was not going to argue this time. He’d been unaccustomedly gentle that day, after his advice to Avery in the morning. “I’m just wantin’ you to get home afore it starts stormin’.”
“Are the weather reports calling for storms?” Avery batted at a cobweb in the corner behind the kayaks. Seriously, how did spiders spin such elaborate creations in twenty-four hours?
“Weather reports, your grandma.” Laz snorted in contempt. “You think I listen to a city slicker in a three-piece suit tell me what it’s gonna do in my mountains?”
Avery glanced over at Laz. His brawny six-foot, four-inch frame was offset by the bear head on the wall behind him—Laz had shot the bear himself years ago. She hid a smile. “No. I guess not.”
“Take a look out yonder and tell me you don’t think it’s gonna storm.” Laz jerked his chin toward the front door of the shop.
Avery gathered up the dustpan and opened the front door to toss the contents off to the side, in the dirt and grass. She caught her breath. Boiling purple clouds obscured the very tops of the mountains above the tree line. The daylight was dim, and a wind was blowing strongly—a cool wind, rushing down the slopes of the High Peaks. She hastily ducked back inside and turned to hang the dustpan up. “Will it be a bad storm?”
Laz shrugged. “Dunno. Probably not. Just another summertime baby. Purty common in the afternoons around here.”
Avery nodded. “Guess I better go.”
She was halfway out the door when Laz said, “Oh, Avery?”
“Uh-huh?”
“You gonna need some time off work?” He crossed the room, his boots thumping on the floorboards, and stood beside her. The odd light from the approaching storm made him look almost otherworldly.
“Time off?”
“For your trip back into the world.” His gaze met hers full-on.
Funny, how Avery dreaded leaving the mountains more than anything, yet she still felt such an upwelling of purpose at the thought of finding Addisyn. A feeling of purpose so deep that it brought her a joy she couldn’t explain—even in the face of a fear that threatened to consume her. She cleared her throat. “Possibly...”
“Take the rest of this week off. With pay.” Laz held up his hand to stop her from saying anything. “It’s my gift, girl. Just don’t stay gone too long.” He gave a sad smile.
Tears tickled the corners of Avery’s eyes. “I won’t. I swear I won’t.” She grabbed the older man in a quick hug. “Thank you, Laz. For everything.”
“Aww...it’s nothin.’”
Avery waved and ran across the parking lot to her truck. As she put the truck in gear, she noticed Laz still standing in the doorway. She rolled down her window and yelled, “Thank you!”
Laz smiled and cupped his hands to his mouth. “Go find yer sister!”
Avery grinned and waved once more. She turned onto Marys Lake Road and settled back into the cracked leather seat. Time to follow El Shaddai—and find her sister.
A storm was definitely coming, but she wasn’t afraid.
