Page 78 of Rescued Faith

“We’re going to get your mom, but first we need to make sure you two are safe. We’re going to bring you to Bryce’s truck, okay? And you’re going to have to be really brave and wait there while we get your mom.”

“You can’t leave us!” Hazel squeezed Penny’s neck tight.

Penny looked at Bryce, raising her eyebrows as if asking him for help.

“You guys already did the really hard part,” Bryce told the kids. “But you want Penny to be there to rescue your mom so she’ll be safe too.”

He felt a shudder go through Harry’s little body. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Izan sneaked up to them. “I can stay with the kids.”

Good idea. “Remember Izan? He helped coach.” Bryce pointed at his buddy.

Harry lifted his head. “And he came to school with you. He’s a fireman too.”

Penny smiled at her nephew. “Right. So he knows how to keep you both safe. Can you wait with him in Bryce’s truck?”

Both kids finally nodded. The five of them wound their way around the trees and ditches and came back to the truck. Penny hugged each kid and set them together in the passenger seat. “I need you two to duck down and stay out of sight. Izan is going to watch over you so nothing happens, okay?”

The children still looked scared, but they both agreed. Tears slid down Hazel’s cheeks. Bryce let Penny talk to them while he walked over to the driver’s side with Izan. He handed him the keys to the truck. “If anything happens, you get these kids out of here. Take them to fire hall. Keep them safe.”

“You know I will.”

Yeah. He did. So maybe his brother wasn’t around anymore, but Bryce had his crew, friends that were quickly becoming a lot like family. Once the kids were somewhat settled, Bryce and Penny jogged back toward the trailer. They met up with Zack in the front yard.

“I think now would be a good time for a distraction. There’s only two men guarding Libby. If we can draw one away, we’ll have a better chance at securing her,” Penny whispered.

“So I get to pull out my acting skills after all?” Zack wagged his eyebrows.

“No, we need a ruckus outside, something that won’t alert them that we’re here but that they’ll still want to check on.” Penny looked back at the trailer as if studying it for any weakness.

“Or we could smoke them out,” Bryce said.

“What?”

“If we start a fire in the bedroom where the kids were, they’ll be forced outside.”

“A fire would be obvious that we’re onto them. They might retaliate and hurt Libby. Or she could be trapped in the fire.” Penny counted on her fingers all the reasons his plan wouldn’t work.

But Bryce wasn’t ready to back down quite yet. “They want her for a reason. I don’t think they’ll kill their bargaining chip.”

“We’re not going to risk it. And remember, we have a secondary motive here. We need these guys alive so we can figure out what Sosa’s endgame is.” Penny stared him down.

“What if we start the fire outside?” Zack asked.

Bryce looked at all the dry grass in the yard and the field next to it. “It’s too dry. We can’t risk starting a wildfire. It would be out of control so fast.”

“All right. Drunk neighbor it is.” Zack nodded as if it were a done deal.

Penny’s brows furrowed. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Yeah, but this guy knows you and Bryce. So who else is left?”

Her shoulders sank. “Guess that’s our best option.” She looked behind her. “I’ll go inside through the bathroom again and text you when I’m ready. When you get my text, go knock on the door. Bryce, you cover him. See if you can lure him outside. You two subdue that guy, and I’ll get the one with Libby.”

“Who’s going to cover you?” Bryce demanded.

“I’m used to working alone. Don’t worry.” She brushed off his concern like it was no big deal.

---