Thanksgiving Groom by Brenda Minton

continue on in what God had for them.
    They were at peace because they knew that their son had known God, known faith.
    Penelope glanced at Tucker, at the lines of his face in the dark. His mouth was set in a firm line. His eyes were on the village ahead of them.
    She felt a funny tumble in her stomach at the thought of losing these three people. As soon as they got back to Treasure Creek they’d go their separate ways. They’d go back to the lives they’d been running from and from decisions they had to make.
    She didn’t want to lose them.
    â€œPromise you’ll call me sometime.” She looked up at Tucker, biting her lip as she waited for his reply.
    â€œCall you?”
    â€œYou know, on the phone. They have those in the real world.”
    â€œI know, but…”
    â€œBut you plan on walking away, going back to Seattle and forgetting you knew me. Don’t you dare forget Clark and Wilma. They need you. You’re their son now.”
    â€œHow do you figure?”
    â€œGod put the three of you together after you lost your dad and they lost their son. God did that.”
    â€œOh, God did that.” His voice trailed off, as if he was considering it.
    â€œYes, and don’t argue. You can forget me if you want, but you can’t forget a couple that took you in and that you spent four months of your life with.”
    â€œI don’t plan on forgetting them.”
    Them, not her. She nearly sighed. But they were spotted. Villagers were running toward them.
    â€œWhat tribe is this?” She held tight to his shoulders as they moved closer to the village.
    â€œI’m not sure. But it looks like we caught them in the middle of a celebration. It’s November, Alaskan Native Heritage Month.”
    â€œI hope they don’t mind visitors.”
    â€œI’m sure they’ve got several. This is more for outsiders than for them.”
    â€œI hope they have food.”
    â€œThey’ll have food.”
    People surrounded them, ending their conversation, ending their time together. Tucker didn’t put her down, but then they were in the circle of light, near the fire and chairs. He sat her down as Clark explained who they were and where they’d been. Someone handed Tucker a phone and in the next few minutes she heard him talking to his friend Jake, explaining that both he and Penelope were alive, telling where they were.
    From across the campfire she saw Tucker moved toward a group of men, and then Wilma hurried toward her, reaching Penelope just as the doctor removed her shoe.
    It happened too fast, this reentry into life, into civilization. She was Penelope Lear again, and that was all that seemed to matter to anyone—her name.
    Â 
    Tucker accepted a cup of coffee after making a phone call to Jake in Treasure Creek. He’d been right about Herman Lear. He’d been using every resource imaginable to find his daughter.
    He carried the coffee into the town’s small gathering hall, where they’d taken Penelope and the Johnsons. From outside the frosty window, he could see her inside, sitting with her foot propped while some Dr. Single and Handsome talked to her, touching her foot, smiling. Penelope wasn’t smiling though.
    At that moment, Penelope glanced out the window and caught his gaze. What he saw in her eyes was that she was trapped, pure and simple. She looked like a scared kitten looking for a way out. She should have looked like a stray that had just been given a home and a bowl of milk. He let out a sigh as he pushed the door open and stepped into the wood-fire-heated warmth of the hall.
    Electricity. Boy, he hadn’t used that in a while: bright overhead lights and a radio blaring. He shuddered a little. It was going to take time, getting used to civilization. And he needed a haircut. He hadn’t realized until he looked in a mirror just how shaggy his hair had gotten.
    â€œHow is she, Doc?”
    Dr. Good Looks