Hidden Blessing

“Shannon Hensley. Thanks, but I’ve decided to leave as soon as the main road opens, whether I can get my belongings from the rented cottage or not.” Where she would go was another question, but she knew she wanted to see the last of Beaver Junction as quickly as possible.

“And you’ll be heading back to California?”

“No. Not right away,” she said, smothering a sigh. It was ironic, really, that she was sitting in a crowded gym with a bunch of homeless people and had no idea what she should do next. She’d spent a month applying to every high-tech company on the West Coast without even getting a nibble for a new position. She’d temporarily rented her expensive beachfront apartment, left her résumé with several employment agencies and made arrangements to come to Colorado to spend some quiet time. She wasn’t about to admit to this stranger that she was without home, family or close friends. “I haven’t made up my mind exactly where I’ll go.”

Her voice was firm enough, but Ward could see the shadow of worry in her attractive eyes, which seemed to constantly change colours from gray to smoky blue. She was wearing a dress in a shade of yellow that brought out sun-bleached highlights in her hair, and in his opinion, her figure was as eye-catching as any pictured on the cover of a woman’s magazine. Why would such a California beauty end up alone in a place like Beaver Junction, he asked himself? He would have thought that fancy resorts in Aspen or Vail would be more her style.

“Do you need to let your family or anyone know that you’re all right?” he asked, in an obvious attempt to learn more about her personal background.

“No, there’s no one,” she replied quickly. “Since my parents died, I only have one aunt I communicate with once in a while. Thank you, but I can handle this situation nicely by myself.”

Her lovely chin jutted out at a belligerent angle, and he hid a smile. There was something of a stubborn child about her that both appealed to him and irritated him. “There’s no need to be afraid—”

“I’m not afraid.” She flared at the insinuation. “I just want to get out of this place as quickly as I can. One night cooped up here with all these people will be all I can take.”

“I see. Well, good night then,” he said politely. Her apparent indifference to the plight of others around her sparked the urge to handle her the way he would a stubborn mare. It was a good thing she wasn’t going to be around long enough for a battle of wills.

Left alone, Shannon had a moment of regret that she hadn’t kept him talking to her. Nobody else had tried to strike up a conversation with her all afternoon. She knew they were caught up in the perils of their situation, and even though she sympathized with their worries and anguish, she wasn’t up to all the commotion and crush of humanity crowded together, breathing the same air and having no privacy. The whole situation was some kind of unbelievable nightmare.

As Shannon’s eyes followed Ward’s tall figure across the gym, she saw him stop to talk to a plump, gray-haired woman. During their conversation, the woman nodded, and her gaze darted in Shannon’s direction. Shannon was positive they were talking about her.

She stiffened. What was Ward Dawson telling the woman? How dare he repeat any of their conversation? She knew then that she shouldn’t have revealed so much about her family situation and indefinite plans. Shannon began simmering. She was an outsider, and fair game for the rumor mills. She could imagine what fun the small-town gossips would have speculating about her private affairs.

Shannon braced herself when Ward left the gym, and the woman to whom he’d been talking made her way purposefully toward her. Shannon knew then that her suspicions had been right.

“Hi, I’m Laura Cozzins, the reverend’s wife,” the woman said, introducing herself in a friendly, breezy manner that matched the smile on her broad face. “Sorry I haven’t had time to say hello before now. Ward told me he’s a friend of yours and that you’d love to help us in the cafeteria. We’ll be setting out some food pretty soon now, and I’m grateful that you’ve volunteered to help.”

Volunteered to help? Shannon was speechless and utterly aghast at the number of lies Ward Dawson had squeezed into one sentence. He wasn’t a friend, nothing had been said about her helping, and she hadn’t volunteered for anything.

“Come on, dear, and I’ll show where the kitchen is.” Laura smiled at Shannon. “We’ve really got our hands full. The Red Cross ladies are doing all they can, but more displaced families are arriving all the time. Two more hands will be a great help, and God bless you for offering to help.”

Shannon managed a weak smile. Telling the preacher’s wife the truth would have been too embarrassing under the circumstances. She rose to her feet and followed the preacher’s wife into a hot, crowded kitchen.

For the next two hours, Shannon cut up a gigantic mound of potatoes for French fries, cooked them in boiling oil, then served them to a seemingly never-ending line of refugees.

She was hot, sweating and had aching muscles by the time all the stranded families had finished eating. When it was time for the volunteer help to sit down at the tables, Shannon had little appetite left. Ignoring the food that had been prepared, she searched the kitchen and found one of the bananas that had been in her confiscated grocery sack.

Like a fugitive escaping, she slipped out the kitchen door. Outside the building, a night breeze bathed her perspiring face with blessed relief. A faint glow on the far horizon marred the dark night sky, and the cool air was tinged with the odor of burned wood. As she walked around the building, eating her banana and enjoying the blessing of being alone, she prayed that the wind was blowing the fire back on itself.

She didn’t see the small figure on the sidewalk ahead of her until she heard a childish voice calling in a whisper.

“Pokey! Pokey, where are you?”

As she came closer she saw a little boy about four years old standing in the middle of the walk. When he heard Shannon’s footsteps, he turned quickly and came running up to her.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, seeing his tear-streaked face.

“Have you seen my puppy dog? His name is Pokey. He’s black with white paws, and not very big.”

“No, I’m sorry, I haven’t,” she said gently. “Did he get loose?”

“We left him behind. He didn’t come when Mama called. She said we couldn’t wait to find him.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Shannon said. Pokey must have lived up to his name one too many times, and had been left behind. Even though she’d never had any pets of her own, she could certainly sympathize with the loss of one. She felt the youngster’s anguish and tried to console him as best she could.

“I’m sure he’ll be all right,” Shannon said, not really being sure about anything at the moment.

“I know Pokey would find me if…if he knew where I was.”

“He’s probably just waiting for you to come back home.”

“When can we go home?” the child sobbed, asking the question that was in both their minds. “I want to go home now.”

“I know.” She brushed a shock of brown hair from his forehead.

“I don’t like it here.”

Me, neither, Shannon added silently.

She spoke with more conviction than she felt. “I’m sure they’ll have the fire put out soon. Now, we’d better go inside. Your mother will be looking for you.”

Even as she spoke, they could hear a woman’s strident voice calling, “Kenny. Kenny. Where are you?”

Shannon took the child’s hand and led him to a worried and anxious young mother.

“Oh, thank God,” she breathed. “You scared the living daylights out of me, Kenny. I’ve been hunting everywhere for you. You know you’re supposed to stay inside unless we’re with you.”

“He was looking for his dog,” Shannon said quickly, trying to help the little boy out. “He’s worried about Pokey being left behind.”

“I know,” the mother said wearily. “The dog didn’t come when we called and called, so we had no choice but to leave without him. Our home is one of the highest on the mountain.” Her lips trembled. “We couldn’t take time to hunt for Pokey. We barely had time to collect Kenny, the baby and pack a few belongings. The road is still closed, and we can’t go back until they say so.”

“Maybe tomorrow they’ll open it, at least for a little while,” Shannon offered hopefully. “I guess it depends upon the wind.”

Kenny’s mother nodded. “I’m Alice Gordon.” She smiled when Shannon introduced herself. “I’m glad to meet you, Shannon. We’re all praying they’ll get the fire out before it makes it over Prospect Ridge.” Shannon could see her lips quiver as she took her son’s hand. “Thank the Lord, we’re all safe here.”

She disappeared inside the building, leaving Shannon alone. Not wanting to go inside, Shannon continued along the sidewalk that led to the parking lot at the far side of the school.

She slowed her steps when she reached the lot and was about to turn around when she saw Ward heading for a pickup truck parked nearby.

Shannon was debating whether to call to him and give him a piece of her mind when he glanced back and saw her in the glow of one of the high arc lights.

He waved, then came quickly over to where she was standing. “I wondered where you’d gone. Hiding out, are you?” he chided with that easy teasing smile of his.

“Should I be?” she countered, still debating how she wanted to handle this infuriating man. “Have you decided to volunteer me for something else?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Not a good idea, huh?”

“Frankly, I don’t appreciate someone manipulating me like that.”

“Sorry, I thought that it would do you good just to mix a little bit with the others.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m perfectly capable of looking out for myself. Good night, Mr. Dawson.”

“Wait a minute.” Her cool and dismissing manner was a new experience for him. Ward wasn’t used to having any female, young or old, treat him with such cold indifference. None of the women he’d dated since Valerie’s death had come close to leading him to the altar. He’d given the reins of his life over to God, and so far, he hadn’t found anyone who held to the same spiritual values. A deep Christian dedication had been absent in his first marriage, and he wouldn’t make that mistake again. He didn’t know why he felt the need to challenge this stubborn, self-assured woman, but he did. Even though she’d made it plain that she didn’t appreciate his interference, he couldn’t help chipping away at her crisp edges.

“Laura said she appreciated the help and told me to thank you. You know, it’s going to take all of us pulling together to get through this thing.”

His clothes were dusty and wrinkled. Fatigue had deepened the strong lines in his face. Shannon wondered how many jobs he’d taken on.

“I really didn’t mind all that much,” she admitted. “But you would never have volunteered me for kitchen work if you knew what a disaster I am when it comes to cooking.”

“I guess that was pretty nervy of me,” he admitted with a wry smile. “I just thought things might be easier for you if you mixed a little bit with the others.”

“No harm done,” she said, suddenly contrite. She was ashamed for misjudging him. “What do you think my chances are of getting back to my place tomorrow to pack up my things?”

He surprised her by answering, “Actually, I think there’s a good chance. The weathermen are predicting that the wind shift is going to last until at least tomorrow night.”

“Really? That’s wonderful.” She almost clapped her hands.

Ward was stunned at how lovely and suddenly alive and beautiful she was. In the shadow of the building, she seemed like some kind of heavenly specter in her soft yellow dress and shiny hair. An undefined jolt shot through him as she smiled broadly at him for the first time, and something deep inside responded on a level that made no earthly sense at all.

Chapter Two

A ripple of excitement and relief moved through the cafeteria the next morning when a fire chief stood in front of the refugees and announced, “All of you who have homes below Prospect Ridge will be allowed back in the area for a two-hour period.” He emphasized the time limit. “Two hours only. You got that?” His steely eyes dragged around the room. “The wind could shift at any time, and anyone still on the mountain could be caught in a fiery downdraft. Concentrate on speedily collecting the necessities, and let the rest go. Understand?”

There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd, and as Shannon bounded out of the building with the other evacuees, her mind raced. Two hours! That was enough time to get herself cleaned up with a quick shower and a change of clothes, with time left over to pack all her belongings in the car. Once the highway was open to general traffic, she’d leave Beaver Junction as fast as she could. Just where she would go to find the quiet retreat she needed was something she’d have to decide later. Right now, her pressing need was to get out of the present situation as soon as she could.

As she drove away from the school, she felt a pang of sympathy for those who would have to remain and endure a heartrending vigil, not knowing if their homes would be spared. She already felt drained and off balance.

A line of cars trailing out of town and up the side of the mountain moved at a snail’s pace, and Shannon’s agitation grew as precious time slipped away. A heavy haze of smoke billowed into the sky from some point hidden beyond Prospect Ridge, and her nostrils quivered with the pungent odor of burning wood. Her chest tightened as she realized that thick drifts of aspen and pine trees on each side of the road promised more fuel for the greedy fire if it topped the ridge and came racing downward. She clutched the steering wheel with nervous hands as she drove up the side of the mountain, forced to take the serpentine curves slowly instead of with her usual speed.

By the time she pulled into the driveway of the rented mountain cottage, she had lost more than a half hour of her precious time limit. She raced into the small house, and before she did anything else, she went directly to the telephone and dialed the employment agency that had sent out her applications. She had tried to use her cell phone, but it had kept fading out on her.

Her mouth went dry as she waited for someone to answer. Common sense told her it was too soon to expect any results, but she might get lucky, and if anyone was interested in interviewing her this soon, she could immediately head to California. Her pragmatic nature desperately needed a definite course of action. She had never been able to stand not having a specific agenda, and her present situation had heightened a need to get back in charge of her life.

“I’m sorry, Miss Hensley, we don’t have anything right now, but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time,” a pleasant woman advised her after Shannon had made her inquiry.

Time. Shannon bit her lip. Patience had never been one of her most admirable qualities. In fact, she knew that impatience with herself, others and the world in general had been a driving force in her life, but she also knew she hadn’t accomplished her climb in the business world by wasting time. She was proud of her reputation as a hardheaded businesswoman, and at the moment, she felt even more driven because her life was at a standstill.

“I would appreciate your doing everything you can to facilitate my applications,” Shannon said as calmly as she could. She wasn’t about to reveal the anxious tremors she felt inside.

“I can reach you at this number, can’t I? If something should develop?” asked the lady in her professional, optimistic voice.

Shannon hesitated. Rather than go into the long explanation of the fire and her predicament, she answered, “I’m not sure, but I’ll call you frequently and keep in touch.”

When Shannon hung up, she sat for a long minute. Maybe she should start concentrating on finding a position in another part of the country. She hated to leave the Los Angeles area, but if nothing developed in the next few weeks, she’d have to relocate and find a position elsewhere, anyway. She’d only rented her apartment on a temporary basis, but the couple who had taken it would probably sign an extended lease, or maybe even buy it. She ran a tired hand through her hair. Just thinking about giving up all that she’d struggled to create for herself brought a bone-deep weariness and anger. It wasn’t fair.

She glanced at her watch, then stood up with a jerk. She couldn’t believe how fast the time was going. Hurriedly, she stripped off her wrinkled clothes and dived into the shower, delighting in the cleansing sprays of warm water. Although they had opened the gym showers at the school to the displaced refugees, Shannon had declined to push her way into the line of people waiting to use them. Personal privacy had always been important to her, and having been raised in an affluent family as the only child, she’d always enjoyed her own things and her own space.

She sighed with utter contentment as she bathed with her favorite scented soap and shampooed her hair. She stepped out of the shower, refreshed, and quickly dressed in tailored slacks and a matching soft blue knit top. She towel-dried her shoulder-length hair and secured it in a clip at the back of her head.

She deliberately ignored the moving hands on her watch as she began packing her suitcases, giving careful attention to a small canvas overnight bag that she would keep with her. She hadn’t unpacked the boxes that had held her books and laptop computer. She took them out to the car and stowed them in the trunk, along with her suitcases. She made one last trip to fill some kitchen sacks with foodstuff she didn’t want to leave behind.

When she was ready to lock the front door of the cottage, she dared a look at her watch. She couldn’t believe it! Already a half hour past the two-hour limit. Lifting her head, she quickly searched the mountain skyline. There seemed to be more dark smoke thickening on the horizon.

She bounded down the front steps, opened the door to her car and was about to climb in when she heard some commotion behind her. She swung around. A small black dog with white feet scurried toward her, his tail wagging furiously as he greeted her enthusiastically with a friendly, puppy-size bark.

There was no doubt in Shannon’s mind that he was Pokey. She laughed as the puppy danced around her feet and put his paws on her legs. As she picked the fellow up, his little legs shot out in all directions, and his pink tongue was like windshield wipers gone berserk as he washed her face with jubilant kisses.

“I know someone who’s going to be glad to see you,” she said, chuckling as she opened the back door of the car and put him inside. “Lie down, Pokey,” she ordered, but the puppy stood on the back seat, his head cocked to one side and his tail wagging as fiercely as ever.

She tossed her shoulder purse on top of her small overnight bag and hurriedly backed out of the gravel driveway.

There was no sign of other cars on the narrow winding road ahead, and she kept glancing in the mirror to see if there were any stragglers behind her. The road was pointedly empty. She couldn’t believe everyone else had observed the time limit. Well, it didn’t matter. Once traffic was allowed on the highway to Elkhorn, she’d be on her way out of here.

She was lost in thought when suddenly, without warning, Pokey suddenly leaped from the back seat into the front, sending her purse and the small canvas overnight bag flying.

“No, Pokey, no!” she protested as the dog tried to scramble into her arms. In her effort to shove him away, she turned the steering wheel too sharply.

The car left the pavement.

Frantically she tried to bring it back on the road, but the wheels failed to gain any traction on the narrow dirt shoulder. The car began to slowly slide downward.

Panic-stricken, she fumbled with her seat belt. Before she could get it unfastened, the car sounded as if its insides were being torn out, and it stopped with a jolt that threw her forward. Only her seat belt kept her from crashing her head against the dashboard.

What was happening? The back end of the car slanted downward, and the road lay about fifty yards above. Any moment she expected the car to start sliding again.

The dog was dancing all over the seat, trying to get into her arms. “No, Pokey, we have to get out.”

The door wouldn’t open. She shoved as hard as she could, but it was wedged shut. She saw then that none of the doors would open wide enough for her to get out. All were jammed against huge boulders that had momentarily snagged the car.

She was trapped, and even the slightest movement seemed to rock the car on its precarious perch.

Ward glanced at his watch for the tenth time in less than five minutes. He was positioned at the bottom of the mountain road, checking off the names of residents who had homes in that area. Every name had been crossed off his list but one, Shannon Hensley.

“Why am I not surprised?” he asked himself. She was already an hour late. As he waited at the checkpoint, his irritation and disappointment over her disregard for instructions turned into just plain anger.

Knowing he was needed in a dozen different places, he answered his cell phone curtly when it rang, “Dawson, here.”

“Everybody off the mountain, Ward?” asked one of the fire chiefs watching Prospect Ridge.

“Not quite. We’ve got one left. A woman.”

The chief muttered something under his breath. “We’ve got trouble up here. The wind’s shifting, and our fire line on the ridge may not hold. If the sparks jump across the ridge, the whole mountain could be threatened. Get her out of there if you have to drag her.”

“Right. I’ll get on it.”

“I’ll bring her down kicking and screaming if I have to,” Ward said under his breath as he climbed into his pickup truck and headed up the mountain, driving at a speed only someone who knew the road would dare.

As Ward silently rehearsed all the sharp things he was going to say to her, he was suddenly filled with a strange impulse to slow down. He’d learned to trust an inner voice that often guided him when he needed it most, and paying heed to it at that moment proved to be a blessing once again. If he’d been driving at his former speed, he would have whipped right by the white car that was off the road without even seeing it. As it was, he glanced down the slope of the rocky hillside and did a double take.

“What in the—” He slammed on his brakes. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The fancy white sports car was precariously hung up on a shelf of large boulders a good distance below the road. Only rocks and low shrubs dotted the hillside.

Bounding from the truck, he started down the steep slope, slipping and sliding all the way. He fought to keep his balance as he scrambled over loose rocks and thickets of scrub oak.

The closer he came to the car, the tighter his chest got. He saw that by some miracle, it was caught precariously in the midst of some large boulders. If the boulders hadn’t been there, there would have been nothing to stop the car’s plunge into the deep ravine below.

“Thank you, Lord,” he breathed.

Even before he reached the car, he began to weigh the situation. How deeply were the rocks rooted in the ground? How long would they hold against the heavy downward pull of the car? Could he get Shannon out without disturbing the precarious balance that held the automobile? As these questions flashed through his mind, he saw another complication. Huge rocks hugged the sides of the car.

Shannon’s stricken pale face was clearly visible through the windshield. As he neared the car, she waved frantically to him as if he might suddenly decide to go away.

He was sure his eyes were deceiving him when he saw what looked like a dog in the seat with her. She hadn’t said anything about having a pet.

As he peered through the driver’s window, he gave her as much of a reassuring smile as he could manage and said loudly, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll get you out as fast as I can.”