Page 133 of My Heart Will Find You

“No,” he said and got out his camera.

She was glad she’d given him something to do while she packed the car.

25

As Etta drove them back to the town, Max’s attention was on the buildings. “Planning your shots?” she asked.

“Yup. I think I’ll set up a tripod. I brought an extra camera body. Would you like to take some interiors?”

She hesitated. She wasn’t sure she wanted to see the place more closely. Comparisons of past and present might take too much out of her.

“Or not,” Max said.

“I’ve never been good at photography but I’ll try. I could—” She broke off at a sound. “What is that?”

Max put his window down. “It’s a bell ringing.”

Etta smiled at the heavy, methodical sound. “I bet your dad arranged that to welcome us.”

“It’s the kind of thing he’d do. Let’s go see.”

She parked the car some distance away from the church, and they got out. Max went inside, but Etta couldn’t bring herself to go in. As she waited for him to return, the sound of the bell grew so loud it was all that could be heard.

When Max came out of the church, he was frowning. “The door up to the tower is locked,” he said loudly over the pealing. “I don’t like this.” He ran down the stairs, and Etta followed him.

He stepped back from the church and looked up. “It’s coming from that tower. Someone is up there.” He yelled, “Who are you?” There was no answer. He looked back at her. “I hope it’s not kids. I bet there are usually caretakers here, so they’re taking advantage of the place being empty.”

Etta looked up to see that the big bell was swinging so hard that the side of it was coming out of the arched window. Whoever was doing it seemed to have a malicious streak. “Please don’t hurt Pat’s bell,” she said.

“Go back to the car,” Max said. “I’m going to get that door open and stop this.”

He spoke in the voice of her Max. It was a command, and she nodded and turned away. In the next second, there was a boom, like cannon fire as seen in old movies.

Etta whipped around in time to see that the bell had come loose, and it was falling. From where she was standing, it was headed toward Max. He stood there, unmoving, as though he was paralyzed.

She ran faster than she’d ever run, and for the last feet, she made a flying leap.

When the huge bell came down, the bottom edge of it hit Max’s chest just before Etta fell on him and knocked him to the ground. She landed facedown beside him while he was on his back. Terror flooded her. She couldn’t move. She was sure he was dead.

It was a groan that made her lift up.

Max was staring at the sky. “That was close,” he said.

She was so relieved that she grabbed his face and kissed him firmly on the mouth. “You’re alive.”

He grinned at her. “It appears that I am.” He was looking up at the tower. “Did you see anyone leave?”

“No.” She was still lying beside him, her arm across his chest. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He put his hand to his chest. “Yes.” He started to sit up but had to pause when dizziness overtook him.

Etta grabbed his shirt and tore open the front of it. There was a red mark just over his heart. Not big and not bloody. Maybe it was her imagination, but it was exactly where the arrow had hit her Max.

“See?” he said. “It’s just a bruise. I don’t know what was wrong with me. I couldn’t move.” He started to get up but then put his hand to his forehead. “I think I’ll sit here for a while.”

Etta leaned back on her heels. “I want you to get into the car. I’m taking you to the emergency room.”

“No,” he said. “I’m fine. I still want to find out who was up there.”

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