Page 119 of One Last Promise

“Okay, thanks.” Moose got out, Shep’s words in his ears.“Be smart.”

And as he walked into the ER, Axel’s words followed him in.

“If you want to follow God’s plan—and I can guarantee you that he has a plan here—you can’t panic. And you can’t fight without the armor of God. And that starts with the shield of faith guarding your heart.”

He stopped outside the ER, spotting Tillie and Flynn.

Tillie stood, handcuffs binding her hands. So, clearly Flynn had solved the running problem.

They were talking with a middle-aged woman, her head bandaged, pretty banged up, evidenced by the splint on her arm. Tillie nodded, her jaw tight, and the dark, hollowed expression she wore threatened to tear him asunder.

“Here’s a coffee.” Axel walked up to him. “It’s practically tar, so it should hold you up.” He carried his own cup. “Sorry about the cuffs, but it was Flynn’s only answer to the fact that she was walking in with the suspect. If she didn’t cuff her, someone would have, so . . .”

“It’s okay. I know she’s trying to help.”

“About that.” He took a sip of coffee, as if fortifying himself. “Tillie is pretty sure that Rigger is taking Hazel to Florida. Flynn has people watching the airport, but at least three flights have already left for the lower forty-eight, and Donna was trapped in her car for a good hour before emergency services found her. It’s possible he already left.” He shook his head. “Flynn thinks she can talk to the FBI, see if they’ll let her accompany Tillie to Florida, hand her off to authorities there. She could do some legwork with the local PD in Miami.”

Moose’s gut tightened on the words. This couldn’t be happening.

As he watched, Donna retrieved a plastic bag and handed it to Tillie. Tillie opened it and pulled out Hazel’s floppy, worn dog.

She pressed her face into it, and he had to turn away.

He looked at Axel. “So, you’re going to let Flynn go by herself?”

“She’s not a puppy. I think she can handle herself,” Axel said.

“Really?”

“Okay, I’ll bite—what are you thinking?”

Shep came through the front doors of the hospital followed by London and then Boo. To Moose’s surprise, Oaken followed Boo in.

They walked up to Moose.

Considered him.

“I’m going to Florida,” he said, finally. “Maybe there is nothing I can do. But Tillie is all alone, and I just . . .”

Shep stepped up to him. “This is not on you. You did not fail Tillie. You just did what you felt you were supposed to at the time.” He glanced at London.

Then why did everything Moose do backfire?

At the heart of it, no matter what he did, it crashed down over him. Buried him.

He probably wore that on his face, because Shep shook his head. “You’ve got to stop thinking all this is yours. Air One. Whatever happens with Tillie.”

“‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’” London said quietly.

Moose looked at her.

London met his gaze, her voice soft. “What we forget about those verses is the first part.Come to me. Believe me. Believe in my unfailing love.Unfailing. You do not need to rescue the world, Moose, because Jesus already has. You cannot fail him, because youalready have, and he’salready redeemedyou. So get over yourself.”

He stared at her.

“Right?” Shep said.

Moose sighed. “I gave her my word.”

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