River of Secrets

Amy waited and inhaled his freshly showered scent. He looked good this morning, muscles gleaming in the morning sun. He had on short sleeves and didn’t seem to mind the scars prominently displayed on his left arm. Silent, she remained patient, allowing him to find the words he seemed to be searching for.

Finally, he blew out a breath and said, “I’m sorry if my scars offended you.”

Was that what he thought?

“Oh, no,” she reached out impulsively and laid a hand on his scarred left hand. “Why would you think that?”

He looked her in the eye, “Because of the way you reacted in the woods after the dart incident. You were…repulsed. And I’ve noticed you’ve been avoiding me these last few days.”

Amy caught her breath and stemmed the tears that threatened to fall. Although she had been avoiding him, it wasn’t because of his scars. She protested, “I wasn’t offended or repulsed, I…hurt for you. I can’t believe what you’ve been through. You…you’re…I wish…” She stopped, sucked in air and said, “I can’t even explain the feelings that went through me yesterday. I wish I could, but, please believe me, your scars don’t bother me. No, they’re not pretty, but they represent your strength, your courage. The fact that you can even walk shows what a fighter you are.”

A thought occurred to her, and she grabbed her Bible, flipping the pages, “Here, I want to read you something. It’s in I Samuel 16:7. The last part of the verse says, ‘The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”

Micah reached out and ran a finger down the page in her Bible. Softly, he asked, “And you think He’s looking at my heart?”

Amy nodded. “I know He is…and I promise, I am, too.”

Light flared in his eyes, hope, tenderness…fear. Micah stared back out over the water, clearing his throat. “Thank you. Amy, I know we haven’t known each other that long, and I’m not sure what the future holds for me, but…” He caught her eye, and Amy sucked in a breath at the look. No, no, she couldn’t let him say anything. Not yet. Not until she told him everything.

“Here,” she blurted, “this will help. Start with John.” She handed her Bible over to him. He took it reluctantly, obviously wanting to finish what he’d started to say. She stood. “I’ll just leave you and God to have a talk.”

He hefted the Bible and smiled up at her. “You don’t have to leave.”

“I need to go in and help get the little ones ready for breakfast anyway. You can give me the Bible later.”

“All right. I think maybe I will just sit here for a while—see what God has to say.”

Amy walked up the dock and turned up the path, passing the gymnasium. She looked back to see Micah sitting with the Bible in his lap. At least it was open. She whispered a prayer. “Reveal Yourself to him, Lord. Show him Your love and goodness.”

Only a few steps later, she heard a rumble in the distance and saw the jeep heading back her way, occasionally catching a glimpse of it between the trees. Jonathas must have finished with the cows early. She picked up her pace, stopped and looked back. The trees were in the way, but it looked as if the jeep had stopped on the dock. The front faced the end where Micah still sat. How strange. It just sat there, idling…no, wait, it was moving. Why would some one drive the jeep on the dock? She moved to get a better look.

Then the vehicle was rolling on the downward sloping dock, down toward the end where Micah sat. Picking up speed quickly, soon it would be right on him!

“Juan!” she screamed.

Surely, Micah would feel the vibration of the dock and look up, hear it as it got closer. Who was driving? A quick glance showed an empty driver’s seat. Horror swept over her. Sure enough, the jeep was bearing down on Micah and he had no where to go except into the river where the caimans still swam.

FIVE

Amy screamed his name again as she raced back toward the dock. She saw him turn around and frown as he caught sight of the jeep heading toward him. He waited, puzzlement creasing his forehead. He was thinking the vehicle would stop, but he didn’t know what Amy did—no one was driving. Realization dawned for him almost too late as she watched him make the split-second decision to roll into the water. The jeep slammed into the river a few seconds later, grille first.

“Juan!”

Where was he? Had the jeep landed on top of him when it hit the water? She climbed down the bank and waded into the shallow part of the river, desperately searching for him.

Scanning the surface of the murky river, she still didn’t see any sign. Oh, God, please let him be okay. Help me find him. She went under and opened her eyes, but visibility was nil. Terror choked her as she pushed aside thoughts of caimans, piranhas and other dangers while reaching, feeling for Micah. Nothing. She searched until her burning lungs forced her back to the surface.

Breaking through, she spat, gasped and breathed in air. Something grabbed her ankle and she screamed, choked on more water and kicked at the vise around her lower leg. But it held on. Then she was free as Micah surged before her. Her pounding heart eased as she realized he was the one who’d grabbed her foot. He’d latched on to her to help him find his way up.

“Are you okay?” he demanded. “Are you crazy coming into the river like this?”

She gasped, “I had to find you.”

“I’m fine. Swim for the shore.” He looked around and froze. Amy looked in the direction he stared and choked back another scream as one of the caimans she’d watched earlier headed their way. Fast. “Oh, Lord, help.”

“Swim, Amy.”

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