Page 99 of Rescued Faith

“They can’t find the governor. Or Jason Woods.”

Bryce had already told them of Woods’s part in all this. “I still can’t believe I didn’t see through him earlier.” Bryce sighed. “No wonder I never liked that punk. How low do you have to go to resort to kidnapping an innocent woman and child?”

“Let alone your own family,” Jude added.

“Do you think Noble could be dirty? Is he working with Sosa and Jason?” Bryce asked.

Penny slowed down to take the turn she needed. “We can’t rule anything out, but I don’t think so. He might be coerced into doing something with his family held hostage though.”

Look at what lengths she’d gone through to free Bryce. Yes, she’d had permission. She’d gone out on a limb to get the team behind her and ask for help. But if Jude and the chief of police hadn’t given her the permission, she might’ve pulled off a real jailbreak herself if it meant she could save Bryce. Who knew what a desperate husband would do for his family?

Because, yes,shewould do just about anything for the people she loved.

But that didn’t make her weak. It made her motivated. Focused. There would always be those who exploited. But there were also others, like Bryce and Jude and Elizabeth Crawford, who were motivated by truth and love, and that’s the kind of person she wanted to be. Running away from Bryce was a coward move. So who was the weakling there? It took a lot more guts to stay in the game.

A picture of Jesus hanging on the cross, that used to hang in her mother’s room, came to mind.

It wasn’t weakness that had kept Him there. It was love.

So maybe God wasn’t so far off as she thought.

Maybe Libby was right. A cord of three was stronger. Instead of going on instinct and breaking Emma out herself, Penny had asked for help.

And low and behold, it hadn’t killed her. Together they’d rescued Bryce. So really, there was no “maybe” at all.

So, I think I see what all the hubbub is about, Lord, what Libby and Bryce and Jude have been trying to tell me. And I’m ready. I’m ready to admit I need You. I want in. And I want to stay. And we could really use Your help and protection with what we’re about to do.

Please keep the innocent protected tonight, and help us fight the injustice and make this world a little safer by capturing these men so bent on power and destruction.

Something settled over Penny in that moment and seeped down to her core. Something warm and comforting. Like that feeling of peace Libby had talked about when she’d said she’d known she would be okay, even while she was captured by Sosa’s men.

Like that moment in the mountains with Bryce, looking at the stars. Only stronger.

Is that You, Lord?

Bryce squeezed her hand. He leaned over, dropping his voice. “Just in case I don’t get a chance to say this later, I’m glad you came back. It hasn’t been the same without you. And I just want you to know that I love you.”

Penny couldn’t tell if they were Bryce’s words or the answer to her question, but they filled her heart to overflowing and brought tears to her eyes. Maybe it was both. Because she could finally see. The God Libby talked about, the God Penny had learned about so long ago in Vacation Bible School, would’ve said the same thing.

I’m glad you came back. It hasn’t been the same without you. And I just want you to know that I love you.

She didn’t have the words, so she squeezed Bryce’s hand back and smiled at him.

Okay, Lord, lead on.

Before they reached the farm site where the Nobles were being held, Penny killed the lights on the truck and slowed to a crawl. She rolled off the side of the dirt road and into the ditch. They jogged down to the tree line at the edge of the property, where Tony and Olivia were.

“It’s about time you got here.” Olivia fist-bumped Penny as she stepped out from the trees.

“We had a few hiccups at the other end.” Penny took the ponytail holder from her wrist and pulled her hair back. “Sosa got away.”

“Again?” Tony whispered. “That man needs to be in a maximum security prison.”

“He didn’t show up here?” Bryce asked. “This is where he had me before. And where’s Zack?”

“No Sosa since we’ve been here.” Olivia pointed to herself and Tony. “We sent Zack back with the rest of the rescue squad. They’re down the road, about half a mile away for support if we need them.”

“And the governor is now missing along with Jason Woods,” Penny said.

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