Prettyinpinkgal: It's always the reverend/priest/etc. ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own "Tuck Everlasting".

FOSTER EVERLASTING

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: MORNING TO NIGHT, PART III

Jesse paced about the room, glancing irritably at the clock. It was ten minutes till six, and still no sign of Winnie. Dinner was almost ready, the table was set, but these normalcies did nothing to quench everyone's fear.

"Maybe she found something," he muttered. "Maybe she found a lead and didn't want to let it go yet."

"I shouldn't have let her get involved in this," James groaned. "If something happens to her, too..."

"You're right, you shouldn't have," James hissed, whirling on him. "This guy was after you, right? He didn't mention the rest of us!"

"Jesse Tuck!" Mae bellowed. "You'll sit yourself in that chair and keep your overactive mouth shut! I have half a mind to slap you for such a comment! Did you forget what happened when we first met Winnie? We kidnapped her! She was fairly willing to be, I admit, but that's the sort of girl she is. She takes the trouble that comes her way almost in stride. Winnie decided this herself. No need blaming others, except the monster who caused all this."

A slight pressure on his shoulder startled him into looking at his fiancee. His stormy expression faded a little, and he felt slightly comforted.

But he did not crave her touch as much as he had craved Winnie's as he held her hand the night before, amazed at how petite her hand was despite being able to handle so much.

This realization disturbed him greatly, so he forced his mind to focus on more pressing matters.

The clock chimed. It was the deadline. Winnie was not back yet.

"We told her we'd wait an hour before sending out a search party," Miles said. "As much as we all want to run out that door right now, we should make a plan first."

"Agreed," Tuck said. "And that's why I brought this." He pulled out a map of Foster Forest and Treegap.

The rest of the hour was spent discussing what to focus on. As Winnie had not been able to disclose to them all the clues and growing evidence she was finding, they were at a loss as to who was responsible for her disappearance, if he had taken her at all. As Foster Forest was a great, massive thing, spreading across miles and miles, they decided to save it for last. Also, they figured that, if Winnie's logic from last night held true, the killer would not have gone into these woods. Furthermore, Winnie knew this forest like the back of her hand. If she was conscious, she could most likely easily break away and flee, leaving the killer disoriented alone in the darkening land.

For now, they would put their focus on Treegap. The women and Tuck, as he was not as fast as he used to be and it would be good for the ladies to have protection, would stay behind in case Winnie came back. Regardless of results, everyone would meet back in the cottage by nightfall. If someone was missing, they would go to the area he was focusing on and look about.

They would try to avoid using the police unless it proved absolutely necessary. It would simply lead to too many questions such as her identity and age and where she was from-where all of them were from, really-and what with their issues in the past with the authorities, they would like to avoid that issue if possible. If they found out Winnie really had been abducted by the killer, though, then they would bite the bullet and bring in the assistance of the law enforcement team.

The clock chimed again, this time alerting them that it was seven o'clock. Miles, James, and Jesse headed out, ready to examine their assigned selections of the town and find their missing friend.