Hidden Blessing

He didn’t have an answer for the question he saw in her eyes. He surveyed the car. He knew at any moment the whole shelf of rocks could pull out from the ground, and everything would start sliding. One thing was certain. There wasn’t any time to waste.

He was concerned that shifting even one of the boulders could affect the balance of the others. Very gingerly, he began putting his weight against one of the rocks pinning the front door shut.

Lord, lend me Your strength and wisdom. And I could even use an angel or two, right now.

After painstaking effort, only one large boulder remained against the front door on the driver’s side. Ward breathed another prayer as he put his full weight against it. Slowly the rock began to move, and then, with one momentous shove, he sent it rolling with a crash down the slope. Afraid that the movement could have loosened the other rocks, he jerked open the door.

“Get out quickly,” he ordered. He knew that they had to get away from the car as soon as possible, in case the shelf of rocks broke away under their feet.

The dog scrambled out first, leaping over Shannon. When Ward saw that she was getting out, hanging onto her purse and a small suitcase, he barked, “Drop everything and climb as fast as you can.”

In Shannon’s shaken state, leaving all her belongings in the car and trunk was devastating. She ignored his order to drop her purse and overnight bag.

When Ward saw the stubborn set of her mouth, he grabbed the suitcase from her. “Move.” He gave her a not-too-gentle shove forward. With the dog bounding ahead of them, they scrambled up the steep slope.

Shannon was breathing heavily when they reached the shoulder of the road. Her whole body shook when she looked at the car, which so easily could have been a heap of crushed metal at the bottom of the ravine—with her in it! Tears flooded her eyes, and her lips trembled. She’d never had a brush with death before, and when she felt Ward’s arm go around her shoulder, she leaned into him, grateful for the warmth of his strong body that lessened a threatening hysteria within her.

“It’s all right,” he soothed. “You’re okay.” Thank you, Lord, Ward prayed. He gently stroked her back, and a swelling of tenderness took him totally by surprise. He didn’t understand why this woman he scarcely knew could create such a deep stirring in him. They had no common ground to build even a slight friendship, and he was certain that in any other situation, she would only be slightly amused by his presence. And yet, as she trembled in his arms, he wanted more than anything to kiss away the tears on her cheeks and bring a smile to her.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, drawing away and swiping at her tears. Shannon kept her head lowered and didn’t look at him. Anybody with eyes in their head ought to be able to drive down an empty road without running off it. She’d always prided herself on her perfect driving record, and now this!

“Nothing to be sorry about,” he reassured her. “You’re safe—that’s all that matters. I think we ought to get going. I don’t like the looks of that sky.”

Pokey had been bouncing around at their feet, woofing excitedly as if the world was a wonderful place when people were around to keep him company.

“Come on, pup,” Ward said as he and Shannon moved toward the pickup. Without waiting for an invitation, Pokey jumped in and settled happily on Shannon’s lap.

Ward held his curiosity about the dog in check until he saw Shannon lightly petting him with soft, tender strokes. Then he asked with his usual smile, “Where did the pup come from?”

She told him about Kenny looking for Pokey last evening. “Somehow Pokey made his way to my cottage, and I put him in the back seat. I’d only driven a short distance when all of a sudden he jumped into the front seat and startled me.” Her voice faltered.

He could guess the rest of the story. She’d inadvertently turned the steering wheel, and the car dropped off the road.

“It was stupid,” she said in a tone that was edged with disgust for herself.

He was surprised she’d bothered with the dog in the first place. He suspected that underneath that polished exterior of hers, there might be a deep, caring nature.

“Things like that happen to everyone,” he assured her.

“Not to me,” she said firmly. “I should have made sure that the dog stayed in the back.”

“Well, no harm done,” he said.

Her eyes rounded as she stared at him. “How can you say that? No harm done? My car will probably end up smashed to smithereens and my belongings burned to a crisp.”

“True. I guess it’s just the way you look at it. Since you escaped without being smashed to smithereens and burned with the rest of it, I’d say no real harm was done.” He shot her a quick glance. Didn’t she realize how blessed she was that she’d run off the road in that exact spot? There were a hundred other places where there were no rock ledges to halt a sheer drop into the canyon below. “It’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it?”

Shannon tightened her jaw and didn’t answer. What she didn’t need was someone reminding her that she should be grateful instead of resentful about the whole thing. If he started lecturing her about families who had lost everything, she silently vowed she’d get out and walk.

Ward knew she was shaken up and still scared by what had happened. He could appreciate the toll the experience had taken on her nerves, because his own were still on edge from the ordeal. Even now he could feel sweat beading on the back of his neck if he thought about what could have happened.

They drove in silence until they reached the school parking lot. As soon as Ward turned off the engine, a man with a clipboard came over to the pickup’s window.

“Is she the one not accounted for?” he asked Ward as he shot a quick look at Shannon.

“Yes. She had a little accident that delayed her.”

The man grunted as if he thought one feeble excuse was as good as another. “The wind is kicking up. They’ve called in some more tankers. Hot flames could crest the ridge by nightfall.”

“Or the fire could burn back on itself,” Ward countered, believing that positive and negative thoughts created their own energy.

“Well, you’re about the only one who thinks so,” the man said flatly and walked away.

Shannon swallowed hard. How much time left before the whole mountain went up in flames? “What are the chances of getting a wrecker to pull my car back on the road?”

“Under normal conditions, Ed’s Towing Service could give it a try. If the car stays hung up on those rocks, a pulley and cable could probably bring it up without too much trouble.”

She felt a spurt of hope. “So if they put out the fire before it reaches the ridge, and it’s safe to go back up the mountain, they could do it pretty fast?”

“Yes, they could—under normal conditions.” He hated to douse the sudden spark in her lovely wide eyes as he added, “But I’m afraid as long as the whole area is in a fire zone and restricted to official personnel, the car will have to stay where it is.”

“I see.” She turned away so he couldn’t see her face. Above everything else, she wasn’t going to give into any feminine weakness that would add to her humiliation.

Shannon clutched the small dog in her arms as they made their way into the gym, and she searched the crowd for a glimpse of Kenny. Putting Pokey into the child’s arms was suddenly more important than anything else.

Kenny saw her before she saw him. His childish cry of joy was unmistakable as he bounded across the floor. “You found Pokey.”

“Here he is. Safe and sound.” She smiled as she set the dog down, and Kenny fell on his knees, giggling as the pup washed his face with kisses.

“I love you, Pokey,” he blubbered. “Where were you? I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Shannon’s eyes were suddenly misty as she saw the joyful reunion. She wasn’t aware that Ward’s hand had slipped into hers until she realized she was squeezing it. When she looked at him, she saw a warmth in his eyes that took her completely by surprise. Her defenses against allowing anyone to come too close emotionally shot into play, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

“She found Pokey. She found Pokey,” Kenny shouted to everyone.

All Shannon’s efforts to stay removed from everyone’s notice were wiped out in that happy moment. She felt horribly on display as Alice Gordon loudly thanked her over and over again, and other people, young and old, gathered around her, smiling broadly.

Laura Cozzins’s round face beamed at Shannon. “Bless you. That little tyke has been pining away for his dog. It’s a good deed you’ve done this day.”

“You don’t know what that good deed cost her. Maybe Shannon will tell you about it sometime,” Ward said. His smile wavered. “Then again, maybe she won’t. She’s a very private person,” he added, smarting a little at the way she had quickly dropped his hand.

Laura nodded in a knowing way. As a minister’s wife, she was obviously adept at reading emotions that lay beneath the surface. “How about a glass of lemonade and maybe a doughnut to refresh the two of you?” she suggested as if she were dedicated to feeding the body, as well as the soul at every opportunity.

“Thanks, but I’ve promised to deliver some supplies to the base camp,” Ward said, “I’m already late by a couple of hours.”

Shannon silently winced. They both knew it was her fault he’d been delayed. She quickly took her overnight bag from him and apologized, “I’m sorry I held you up. Thank you for…for everything.”

“Rescuing damsels in distress is one of my special talents,” he assured her solemnly as his eyes twinkled at her, and his mouth eased into a soft smile. “Call on me anytime.”

She wanted to say something lightly back, but she couldn’t. Her heart was too heavy.

“It’s going to be okay.” He gave her shoulder a light squeeze. Ward wanted to suggest that she join the others in prayer and meditation. Maybe, instead of shutting out God, she would gain assurance that she wasn’t ever alone, no matter what the circumstances. He’d come to his faith the hard way, and he knew Shannon was on the same kind of path. “I’ll try to come back this evening before I head to the ranch.”

She watched as his broad back and muscular body disappeared out the door. Laura had been watching the exchange between them. With a knowing smile, she slipped her arm through Shannon’s. “Come on, you can help me make some sandwiches for lunch.”

The day was long and trying, and only the hope that Ward would come back kept Shannon’s spirits from scraping bottom. The danger of firefighting became personal when Laura told her a story about a teenage Ward trying to handle a meadow fire all by himself and nearly getting trapped by the blaze before help got there.

Her heart contracted with a sudden jolt. Surely, Ward had enough sense to leave the fighting to the professionals. He was just delivering supplies, she reassured herself, but how well she knew that he wouldn’t think of his safety in a time of danger.

All afternoon and evening, she kept an eye out for him, but he didn’t show. It was Ted who came in late that evening and told her Ward had already gone to the ranch.

She wasn’t surprised. No doubt he’d had enough of her trauma and drama. Remembering the way she had gone into his arms and accepted his tender caresses, she chided herself for letting her emotions play her for a fool. As she lay stiffly on her sagging cot, she firmly resolved she wouldn’t make that mistake again. She knew better than to give her emotions free rein. There was always a price to pay for letting anyone too close. She had plenty of scars to prove it.

Chapter Three

Shannon slept very little that night. About two o’clock in the morning, fifty firefighters from a unit in Idaho arrived at the school. Since it was too late to make it to the base camp, they crowded into the gym with the rest of the refugees.

Shannon was up early and helped serve breakfast. Being in the midst of these brave young people who were willing to put their lives in danger was a startling revelation to her. Many times she had watched television coverage of California wildfires or heard about some fighter losing his or her life, but she had only been touched on a superficial level. Now that detachment disappeared, and her heart was filled with personal concern as she moved among these dedicated men who were going to battle a fierce, monstrous wildfire that was out of control.

When Reverend Cozzins said a prayer for their safety, Shannon bowed her head with everyone else and murmured a fervent amen. Even though she wanted to believe in some kind of heavenly protection, she knew it would take a faith stronger than hers to rely on any divine miracles.

The crew of firefighters left the school right after breakfast, leaving behind a mounting tension and anxiety in the crowded school. A briefing bulletin posted on the bulletin board later that morning was not encouraging. The prediction was for strong winds and high temperatures. Numerous infrared photos taken of the fire’s boundary showed an ever widening area of destruction.

“We have to do something to keep the children occupied,” declared Laura. In her usual energetic manner, she immediately started enlisting help to get some activities going. She organized several groups to play some outdoor games on the school grounds and sent some of the youngest children into the library to listen to stories.

Shannon had no intention of volunteering for anything or calling attention to herself in any way, but Kenny had different ideas. With childish pride, he pointed her out to all the kids.

“She’s the one who found Pokey. He was lost, and the fire almost got him. But she saved him, didn’t you, Shannon?”

The cluster of grinning children beamed at Shannon in a way that made her want to sink into the floor. What could she say without taking away Kenny’s moment in the limelight? “I didn’t exactly find him—he found me.”

Laura Cozzins suddenly appeared at Shannon’s side, saving her from having to say anything more about Kenny’s dog. “Well, now, I see you’ve already made friends with Kenny and his pals. Wonderful, Shannon.” She beamed. “Why don’t you take them into the art room and let them draw and color and make all kinds of wonderful things?” She smiled broadly as she elicited nodding approval from the kids. “Doesn’t that sound like fun, children?”

Shannon could have summoned a hundred reasons why she was the last person in the world to be put in charge of a bunch of kids, but she didn’t have a chance.

Kenny grabbed her hand. “You can be our teacher.”

The rest of children nodded and crowded around her with smiles and beaming faces, effectively eliminating any chance she had for refusal. As the children began to pull Shannon toward the classroom Laura completely ignored her frantic plea for help.

“You’ll have fun,” Laura promised with a chuckle, and quickly turned away to draft someone else for one of her projects.

How in the world did I get myself into this? Shannon would have rather faced a roomful of hostile executives than a roomful of squirrelly youngsters. Raised as an only child by parents who never stayed in one city very long, she had always been the new kid in school, and being around younger children had never been a part of her upbringing. She grew up in an adult world where achievement and success were the driving goals. As a result, Shannon was competitive, motivated and competent when it came to the business world, but it only took ten minutes in the art classroom with a cluster of scattering children to discover that her people-management skills were sadly lacking in the present situation.

“Everyone sit down,” she said in a normal voice, which had little impact in the noise level of excited kids darting about the room, handling everything that wasn’t tacked or glued down.

Boxes of donated supplies were on the tables. She knew that if she didn’t do something, impatient children would be diving into them, and the chaos would grow worse by the minute. It didn’t help her confidence to realize no one in the room was paying any attention to her.

She had to take charge, and quickly. Remembering that one of the first rules of a successful business leader was to command attention, she clapped her hands loudly and raised her voice above the bedlam. “Listen to me! I want everyone to sit down now! And be quiet!”

Later Shannon wondered what she would have done if the kids had ignored her, but to her relief, they quickly filled the chairs at two long tables and fixed their grinning smiles on her. She guessed that their ages ranged from kindergarten to second or third grades. Now that she had their attention she didn’t know what to do with it.

She walked over to a table and looked at the boxes of pencils, crayons, paper and a few coloring books. She cleared her throat, hoping she would sound steadier than she felt. “All right, we’re going to draw and color pictures.”

“I want a picture to color,” a curly-headed girl named Heather howled when Shannon gave the last coloring book page to someone else.

“I bet you can draw a nice picture of your own to color,” Shannon coaxed.

Heather set her lips in a pugnacious line. “I want a real picture.”

“Sorry. I’m afraid that there aren’t any coloring book pictures left,” Shannon said flatly.

“Then you draw me one,” Heather ordered with pouting lips, and shoved her plain sheet of paper toward Shannon.

Fuming silently, Shannon grabbed a pencil, and as quickly as she could she sketched a house with a flower garden and tall tree with a child’s swing in it. “There. Color that.”

Heather looked at it, then gave Shannon a broad smile of approval. “It’s nice.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Shannon said in relief as the little girl picked out some crayons and began to color the picture.

Shannon dropped down in the teacher’s chair and wondered how long it would be before she could send all the kids back to the gym.

When Heather finished coloring her picture, she started showing everyone and bragging, “See the picture teacher drew for me.”

“I want one, too.” The children began to line up at her desk, all of them wanting a special picture of their own. “Draw me something, teacher.”

Shannon’s first reaction was to refuse, but somewhere at the back of her memory was a remembered pleasure in what her parents had called her doodling. Even though an art teacher had told Shannon once that she had an artistic flair, she’d had never had time or the inclination to foster it. Giving a soft laugh, she said, “All right, let’s see what I can do.”

Quickly she sketched some simple scenes, then some cartoon figures that seemed to come easily to her. As she handed each drawing to a child, she was rewarded with a broad grin and a thank-you.

“Do one for me,” Kenny begged.

“Well, let’s see.” Shannon pretended to think. “I bet I know one you’d like.”

She was drawing a cute puppy with ears and a tail just like Pokey when she was startled by someone leaning over her shoulder. “Very good,” Ward said, as his warm breath bathed her ear.

Startled and instantly embarrassed, Shannon almost covered the sketch of the puppy with her hand so he couldn’t see. A deep conditioning from her childhood had made her instinctively want to hide what she had been doing. She could almost hear her father’s voice. Wasting your time again, Shannon!

As Ward saw the muscles in Shannon’s cheek tighten, he reassured her. “I mean it. It’s very good.”

“It’s Pokey,” Kenny said happily. “I’m going to color him black and white. And I’ll stay in the lines,” he promised solemnly, as if someone had pointed out this little goal to him once or twice. He proudly took the picture to his table.

Ward eased down on the corner of her desk, lightly swinging one leg as he looked around the room. “I didn’t know you were a teacher in the making.”

“I’m not.”

“You could have fooled me.”

He grinned at her, and she didn’t know if he was secretly amused or impressed that the children weren’t climbing the walls.

“What brings you back to the school this morning?” she asked lightly. She wasn’t going to let him know that she’d been disappointed when he hadn’t come to the school at all yesterday.

“I had a little time between chores and helping out the fire wardens this afternoon. When I came in, Laura asked me to deliver a message to you.”

“And what was that?” Shannon stiffened, wondering if the preacher’s wife had come up with another volunteer job for her.

“It’s time to let the kids go to lunch.”

She looked at her watch in surprise It was almost noon. She couldn’t believe the morning had passed so quickly. When she announced that it was time for lunch, there were some protests from those who wanted to finish their pictures.

Shannon vaguely promised they could finish their pictures some other time or take them with them. Ward sat on the edge of the desk watching Shannon while she collected crayons, pencils and paper. For some reason, his smiling approval was irritating.

“Well?” she demanded, challenging him to say something. “You don’t have to look so smug. Laura caught me at a time when I had no chance to refuse.”

“It looks like she drafted the right person, all right.”

“At least it’s better than peeling potatoes, thank you.”

Ward laughed, secretly relieved to find her spitting words at him instead of curled up somewhere battling fear. He had some bad news for her. Flying sparks carried by the wind had ignited the tops of tall ponderosa pines on the other side of the high-ridge fire line. Ground crews were scrambling to clear brush in the area, and airplane tankers were dropping fire retardant chemicals in an effort to control the blaze before it became full-blown and started down the mountainside. A dozen homes were in danger of being lost—as well as a white sports car still perched precariously on a rugged rocky slope.

“What is it?” Shannon asked as his smile faded and his forehead furrowed in a frown. Her hands tightened on the piece of paper she was holding, crushing it. “My car’s gone, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s still there.”

“But?” she prodded.

“The fire is threatening to start down this side of the mountain. New fire lines are being set up, and crews are cutting down brush and trees around some of the high mountain homes in an effort to save them.”

“And if they don’t stop it?” Even as she asked, she knew the answer.

“It could sweep down the mountain to the river and spread along the valley below.” He didn’t add that his ranch would be vulnerable to any fire sweeping up the canyon toward his pastureland. “We’re all praying that that doesn’t happen. Which reminds me, we’re going to have church services here at the school on Sunday. Our little church won’t hold this crowd, and I’m sure there’ll be a lot more worshipers than usual.” He gave her a wry smile. “Lots of people wait to make a 911 call to the Lord, you know, instead of keeping prayed up.”

Shannon refrained from commenting. She hadn’t seen any evidence that churchgoing people had it any easier in life than anybody else. The only time she was ever in a church was for weddings and her parents’ funeral. Neither her mother nor her father had held to any religious faith, and she had been brought up to believe that being a “good” person was all that was necessary.

Ward could tell from her expression that worship was not a part of her life, and for some reason, he felt challenged by her lack of spiritual awareness.

“What do you say to lunch at Bette’s Diner?” he asked impulsively. “It’s only a short walk from here, and I bet getting out of here for even an hour would do you good.”

Shannon searched his face. Was it pity that prompted the invitation? Or did he need an hour away from the heavy pressures as much as she did? There were shadows under his dark-brown eyes and visible lines in his forehead and around his mouth. She wondered how much sleep he was getting these nights.