Gifts Of Love

“There are times in your life when you know you have to do something,” Jessie began.

“You don’t understand why. You just know from the bottom of your soul it’s the right thing to do. That somehow doing this one thing will change your life forever. And if you miss this chance…” She shivered.

As far-fetched and vague as her explanation seemed, David sensed it was the most honest thing she’d revealed all night.

“I need to watch Isabel.” She spoke softly, but with a conviction anchored in solid rock.

After a long silence, David agreed. “Okay. It’s settled. She’s thriving under your care, and that’s what counts.”

When she exhaled, he inhaled her breath. In that exact moment he felt something shift within his soul. He couldn’t put his finger on it. David knew only that for the first time in too long he felt alive. He felt hope. And her smile scared him to death.

CRYSTAL STOVALL

dreamed of writing inspirational romances from the moment she discovered Grace Livingston Hill’s novels as a teenager. These books changed her life in a profound way, starting her on a quest to blend faith and romance in her personal life, as well as launching her writing career. She’s a graduate of Oral Roberts University and a recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Best Novel Award.

Crystal lives in Tulsa with her husband, Jim, who is president of the Emmy Award-winning Narrative Television Network. Though she’s lived in Oklahoma for twenty years, she’s still an Easterner at heart. Her frequent visits to her upstate New York hometown—especially a certain boulder on the edge of Cayuga Lake—provide her with the inspiration and perspective that she finds essential to her writing.

Gifts of Love

Crystal Stovall

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Cast your bread upon the waters,

for after many days you will find it again.

—Ecclesiastes 11:1

To Barbara Ankrum, Barbara Joel, Karen Crane,

Jolie Kramer and Debbi Quattrone.

Your friendship is a gift I treasure.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

“O h, Lord,” Jessie cried out. “What should I do?”

Forced to make a quick decision, she cried out for protection as she raced down the highway toward her home. But as the rain fell harder, the sky grew darker and visibility drastically decreased.

Verging on panic, Jessie turned on the car radio to a weather report for Springfield, Missouri. As she’d feared, a tornado warning had been issued. Several small twisters had already been spotted within a few miles of her location, and Doppler radar showed the conditions were right for the formation of cells slightly to her south and west. As she passed the highway intersection that the meteorologist had just given as a reference point, Jessie swallowed hard, certain she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

From deep within her soul, she heard God’s answer to her earlier plea and knew what she should do. She had to get out of the car. Immediately. Suddenly, everything Jessie had learned from the meteorologists came flooding back. She was just reaching for her cellular telephone to let her parents know where she was, when something to the west caught her eye. Looking out, she saw a funnel over the distant field.

Without another thought, Jessie parked the car on the side of the road and threw the strap of her purse over her head. In a flash of lightning, she spotted a highway overpass ahead. Unless her mind was playing tricks, she thought she’d seen the silhouette of a man. Thunder boomed, and she ran as fast as she could.

When her shoes sank into the soft highway shoulder, she left them behind. Reaching the overpass, she saw an outstretched hand and grabbed on to the life preserver God had sent her. She let the strong hand pull her to safety as she gasped for breath. She collapsed against the strong chest without hesitation. Never had she been so glad to see another person.

She caught her breath, realizing she was in the arms of a stranger. Yet, she was too afraid to inch free of his protective touch. Not until a tiny hand patted her head in sync with a soft coo did she realize the man held a child in his arms.

Lifting her head, Jessie met a pair of dark eyes that reflected the same terror she felt. She was certain she knew this man from somewhere.

Offering a nervous smile, Jessie grasped the child’s hand and was surprised by how cold her tiny fingers were. The man’s arms tightened around the shivering toddler as he tried to warm her.

“It was a beautiful, bright, sunny day when we left home this morning. I didn’t think to pack her sweater,” he explained, his voice brimming with frustration and self-blame.

Yanking off her thin sweater, she draped it over the child’s shoulders. Though the cotton was damp from the rain and didn’t entirely cover the child’s legs, she knew it had made a difference when she heard, “Mama, mama…”

For just a second, Jessie forgot she was in the middle of a severe storm as she listened to the precious chatter. Mama, mama—these were words she’d believed she might never hear from a child’s lips.

With a beholden shine in his eyes, the man said, “I’m David Akers, and this is my daughter, Isabel.”

“Of course,” Jessie said, relieved to know she hadn’t jumped into the arms of a total stranger. “I’m Jessie Claybrook. I think our parents are friends.”

“Don and Helene’s daughter.”

Jessie nodded. “Isn’t it a small world?”

“It sure is.” Then David turned to more urgent matters. “Were you listening to the radio? What was the last weather report you heard?”

“We’re right in the path of a major storm system. Just as I left the car I saw a funnel in the west. It must have skipped over us or turned direction—otherwise it would have hit by now.”

David sighed. “I wish we had a portable radio. From this cubbyhole, I can’t see enough.”

Wedged into a small pocket beneath the highway which crossed overhead, Jessie felt safe from the pounding rain. At least for the moment.

“I could ease down the embankment,” she suggested, understanding David would have if he weren’t holding Isabel.

“No, you stay put.”

Then Jessie remembered her cellular telephone. For an instant she felt a ray of hope, but the all-circuits-busy signal instantly dashed that.

As Jessie dropped the telephone back into her purse, she saw David’s lips move, even felt the warmth of his breath on her neck as he leaned closer, but whatever he’d said was lost in the roar of the wind. Bombarded by unyielding gusts, gritty dirt stung their exposed skin and made it difficult to breathe. They heard a grumble in the distance that sounded like a train coming around a mountain. Instinctively, the trio pressed together as the storm raged. Then, suddenly, all was quiet.

Minutes passed before either Jessie or David moved.

Slowly easing apart, they listened for confirmation that the funnel had dissipated. Not even thunder or lightning dared to pierce the silence, and even the rain fell lightly.

Jessie listened to David’s mumbled prayer: “Please, Lord, I know You and I aren’t on great terms these days, but please don’t let anything happen to my baby before we get home. I can’t lose her, too.”

Unaware Jessie had overheard his plea, David sighed with relief and then matter-of-factly announced, “I think it’s over.”

“But is it safe to move?” Jessie challenged.

Unwilling to take any unnecessary chances, they waited a few more minutes before edging down the embankment. They saw broken tree limbs scattered across both lanes when they reached the highway shoulder, as well as slack power lines clinging to leaning creosote poles.

“That was some storm,” David said, as Isabel held on tightly to his neck.

“Thank God we’re okay. And while I’m sorry you and your daughter were caught in the storm, I’m glad I didn’t have to tough this one out alone.”

“I didn’t do much, but I’m glad we made a difference.”

Uncertain as to whether it was safe to drive, Jessie looked to the sky for answers. The growing brightness seemed to give a go-ahead signal. Still, she feared leaving the overpass, leery of what she might encounter down the road.

As if he’d read her thoughts, David asked, “Would you like me to follow you back into town?”

Jessie pressed her hand against her chest with relief. “Normally, I’m not this skittish, but this storm’s really unnerved me. It’d mean a lot to know I’ve got company on the highway.”

“Then, it’s settled,” David said, though he continued to study the sky.

Like her, he seemed unwilling to end this brief encounter.

But Isabel had other ideas. “Mama, mama…” she said, with one finger wedged in the corner of her lip.

Jessie instantly felt the blush on her face. What had she been thinking? David obviously had a wife to go home to.

“We should go,” she said. “I’m sure your wife is eager to know you’re safe. You’re welcome to borrow my cell phone to call her….” Her words trailed off to a hoarse whisper, as anguish streaked across David’s face. “I’m sorry. I’ve made assumptions that are none of my business.”

She languished in the uncomfortable silence before he found his voice. “Please…you couldn’t know. My wife died a few weeks after Isabel’s birth.”

Jessie gazed at the little girl, her heart breaking over such a tragic loss.

David took another look at the sky and said, “I think we’d better go.”

“Thanks again,” Jessie said, extending her hand. When David’s fingers closed around hers, she felt his warmth and kindness and wished they didn’t have to part.

“I’m just glad we’re okay.” As he walked toward his car, he called out, “Listen, if you’re ever at the Hot & Fresh Deli, stop in. A sandwich and a cup of coffee are on the house. I’m the owner.”

“It’s a deal,” Jessie said, turning toward her own car.

But before she could even open the door, the punishing rain and gusting wind started again. Anxious, she glanced back toward David—and that’s when she saw the menacing funnel in the distance.

Without hesitation, she raced back to the overpass, meeting David and Isabel. Together they scurried up the embankment until they touched the underside of the crossing highway.

“Hold on to the ledge,” David shouted above the wind, and Jessie quickly followed his lead, gripping the rough concrete. With Isabel sandwiched between them, she prayed with all her heart that the tornado would leap over them, or lose its power as the last one had.

But it wasn’t to be. Sounding like a jet, the twister charged toward them. The wind became so fierce that Jessie didn’t know if she could hold on, let alone breathe, as loose gravel and dirt swirled around her.

She lost all concept of time, feeling as if the unmerciful gusts would last forever. Only when lightning flashed could she see David and Isabel.

Oh, Lord, she prayed, don’t desert us now.

With her arms tiring, Jessie didn’t know how much longer she could hang on. But it was for Isabel that she found her strength, because pressed against David’s side she helped form a barrier that sheltered the toddler.

Though it seemed impossible, the winds grew stronger, and Jessie felt as if the three of them were trapped in a vacuum. The temperature continued to drop, and she shook as much from the damp air as she did from fear. With her arm muscles stretched until they hurt and her palms rubbed raw from holding on to the concrete ledge, she just didn’t know if she could last another second.

Then lightning cracked, and in the bright flash she met David’s gaze for just an instant, finding strength in his courage and determination. She wouldn’t let him down.

Suddenly, something shifted. She heard him scream. His body moved. He no longer touched her. The lightning flashed again, and the terror on his face shocked her. He’d purposely positioned himself so as to absorb the brunt of the wind, and now the wind was winning the battle.

“Isabel!” he screamed.

Though she couldn’t see clearly in the dusty darkness, she knew he was slipping away. When the lightning flashed again, Jessie saw David lose his grip, letting go first of the ledge and then of Isabel.

With all her might, Jessie fought against the wind, stretching out one arm, grabbing hold of Isabel first by her shirt and then, miraculously, crushing the girl against her chest.

As the lightning cracked again, she looked up and realized David was gone.

“David!” she screamed. “Da—vid!”

Desperate to protect Isabel, Jessie hunched over the child and prayed for God’s mercy as the gusts continued their assault.

Finally, Isabel began to wiggle and squirm, and Jessie realized the winds had calmed and that the roar was fading. She and Isabel had survived. Chills traveled throughout her body as she thanked God for hearing her desperate prayers.

“We’re okay,” she murmured in the child’s ear, then offered sweet kisses of comfort across the top of the toddler’s head. “We’re okay,” she said again for herself.

Too frightened to venture out, she remained huddled beneath the overpass. She knew she’d just lived through a miracle. Without a doubt, God had called her to this exact place to catch Isabel. And as Isabel cried in her arms, Jessie didn’t know if she’d ever be able to let go of the child.

Then she heard a truck on the highway overhead and the loud muffler jolted her back to reality. She had to find David. They needed help. When she tried to stand, her cramped legs rebelled.

“Help,” she called out. “Help us.”

Clutching Isabel, she fought through high weeds and wet grass to reach the crossing highway above. At first, neither her car nor David’s were anywhere in sight. Power lines sparked, and somewhere close by she heard the insistent mooing of a frightened cow.

At the top, frustrated that the pickup truck was long gone, she turned slowly, looking in all directions. First, she spotted their cars. Hers, though right-side up, was riding piggyback on David’s. But that didn’t matter. She had to find David.

“David,” she yelled over and over again.

Looking at the highways she marveled that there wasn’t another car in sight. She tried her cell phone, but once again she heard the all-circuits-busy signal.

A solitary crow flew overhead, and as she followed its elegant flight across the pasture she thought she saw a speck of red. David had been wearing a red golf shirt. It had to be him.

“David,” she called again as she ran toward him. “I’m coming.”

Isabel securely clasped her arms around Jessie’s neck and molded her body to Jessie’s. Halfway across the field, the red dot came into better focus and there was no doubt that she’d found David.

But why didn’t he move? Why didn’t he at least wave? Surely he’d heard her calling his name.

She stumbled as she tried to move faster than physically possible. Each time she fell to her knees in the rutted and uneven field, she picked herself up and trudged forward. By now, Isabel had spotted her daddy and was calling for him. “Dada, dada, dada.”

After a race that seemed to last forever, Jessie fell to her knees beside David. Lying on his back, his hands and legs were spread out from his sides as if he were trying to create a snow angel. With his eyes shut, he looked peaceful and without pain.

Then she saw the slow rise of his chest. She gasped with relief. “David,” she said. When he didn’t respond, she turned to Isabel. “Dada, dada,” she said, encouraging the little girl to chant with her. As she listened to Isabel’s sweet voice, Jessie briefly closed her eyes and prayed for guidance. Other than a basic CPR course, she had no emergency training. She knew it wasn’t wise to move someone who might have a neck injury, and judging by the distance David had been thrown and the position he’d landed in, his injuries were most likely serious.

He needed a miracle. But hadn’t they already had their share tonight? They were too far from the highway for someone to spot them or for her to flag anyone down. And she couldn’t leave David alone in the field. Pulling out her cell phone, Jessie tried again to dial for help. She dialed and then pushed redial over and over again, but she couldn’t get through to the emergency number. Finally, in desperation, she called her parents’ house. The phone rang and rang, until her father finally picked it up. Without wasting a second, she explained what had happened and where she was. He told her to sit tight and that help was on the way.

With Isabel still in her arms, Jessie scooted as close to David’s side as she dared and took his hand into hers without moving his arm. His breathing continued to grow deeper, settling into an even rhythm, and his hand felt warm and strong—good signs, she quickly decided.

There was only one thing she knew to do and that was pray.

Oh Lord, she began, if only there could be an ambulance close by. If David’s injuries are serious, every second counts.

Looking off across the field, Jessie had no idea how widespread the devastation might be. The tornadoes might have touched down only in this little corner of the state, or they could have traveled for miles, destroying all that was in their path. And if that was the case, the emergency vehicles might already be in use or unable to get here.

Studying David’s hands, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of man he was. His fingers were long and sturdy and his nails were clipped short. Everything about him, from his dark hair and his smoothly shaved face to his stylish golf shirt and navy Dockers, was neat and trim. He had that dependable businessman look about him. And she’d only had to hear Isabel say “Dada” once to know he was a devoted father.

Looking right at David’s fingers, she thought she felt them move. She discounted the light flutter to reflexes, or too much hope on her part. But the second time he rubbed his palm against hers, she was sure. Then Isabel shrieked with glee and clapped her hands. Jessie looked up and directly into David’s dark brown eyes.

She’d never in her life seen eyes so beautiful. Never seen a smile so tender or thankful. Dark bangs feathered across his forehead, and without thinking she gently brushed them aside. Pressing the back of her hand against the side of his cheek, she sighed in relief.

No words needed to be spoken. Together, they’d beaten the odds. When David covered her hand with his and their fingers interlocked, Jessie reveled in the comfort.

“Thank you,” David said, his voice a notch above a whisper. “Thank you for saving my baby.” When he gazed at Isabel, who’d been distracted by a spring flower, his eyes misted over.

Jessie’s throat closed off as a wave of emotion crested in her heart. “I was no hero. It’s as if God dropped her in my arms. I’m just glad I was able to hold on and protect her.” And she hadn’t let go of the little girl since.

Goose bumps rose on her arms as she relived the moment again in her mind. “Isabel came through without a scratch,” she assured him. “But what about you? Are you in a lot of pain?”

When he tried to sit up, Jessie cautioned him to lie flat. “I called my father, and he should be here any minute now.” Send an ambulance, she prayed silently. “I don’t think you should move until you’ve been examined by an EMT.”

David sighed loudly with a resignation that worried Jessie. Either he was hurt more badly than he appeared, or he was just exhausted. Whatever the case, he seemed unwilling to let go of her hand.

So the three of them sat in the field in the middle of nowhere and waited. When Isabel plucked a brightly colored flower and presented it to David, he smiled.

Yes, Jessie thought, everything is going to be okay.

At the sound of an ambulance’s siren, Jessie felt a tiny tremor of emotion. As soon as help arrived, their fragile bond would be broken. And that saddened her in a way she hadn’t expected. Clutching Isabel with her free arm, she hugged the child tightly and kissed her on the top of her head.

Clearly moved by the tender expression, David squeezed Jessie’s hand.

As her father and the EMTs raced toward them, Jessie released David’s hand to stand and wave. Looking back down at him, she encouraged him with a smile. They would go back to their separate lives, and while their paths might never cross again, she knew she’d never forget him and Isabel. This brief moment had cracked open a part of her heart she’d thought she’d sealed off forever.

Chapter Two

L ying in the deep, wet grass, David knew he’d forget neither Jessie’s kindness, nor her courage. She had protected his daughter as if Isabel were her own, and for that he would always thank God.

Looking up at her, he smiled, and when their eyes met he knew she felt the same measure of relief he did. He couldn’t think about what might have happened.

“You’re sure Isabel’s okay?” he asked again.

“Yes,” Jessie said gently. “Though she could use a bath. In fact, we could all use a bath, a hot cup of tea and a change of clothes.”

Jessie grinned, and when she did, so did Isabel. David didn’t know when he’d seen a more beautiful sight.

The EMTs set down their equipment and immediately went to work on David. While they assessed his condition, monitored his vital signs and checked for spinal injuries, David watched Jessie and Isabel.

A few feet away, Jessie embraced her father, who had just arrived. “Daddy, I’ve never been so glad to see you in my life.”

“Me, too, sweetheart. Me, too.”

“Do you know where the storms hit tonight? Was there much damage?” she asked, eager for information.

“From the radio reports I’ve heard so far, a series of tornadoes touched down. However, most of them were south of Springfield, and they all hit in less-populated areas like this. So far, no fatalities have been reported, and I’m praying there won’t be any. But there has been a lot of wind damage to homes and barns in this area, as well as several power out-ages across the city.”

As one EMT prepared to transport David to the hospital, the other checked Jessie and Isabel, declaring them both in good condition.

Jessie met David’s eyes briefly, and though she didn’t say anything, he knew her thoughts. They easily could have been fatalities. But somehow, and for some reason, God had spared them.

Jessie kept pace with the EMTs and her father, as they hurried back across the field to the ambulance. Though her arm tired from holding Isabel, she refused her father’s offer of help. Neither did she let go of David’s hand. Though the storms were over, she still felt the need to hold on to him and to feel his strength.

When they reached the ambulance, the EMT tried to keep her from riding with David, but she shoved her way into the vehicle and refused to budge. The driver turned on the siren, and in less than fifteen minutes the ambulance pulled up at the emergency room entrance. Greeted by hospital personnel, the ambulance doors opened, and Jessie finally was forced to let go of David’s hand.

“Dada, dada,” Isabel said, as they wheeled her father away.

“It’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be just fine, you’ll see,” Jessie promised.