The Rescuer (30 page)

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with saying her name didn't hit with its normal intensity.

It was progress. "I bet He was a good one."

"I wish you were comfortable with the fact Jesus loves you."

"I'm working on it. I'm comfortable that Jesus loves you." He knew she'd be overjoyed to learn he had crossed the line to believe in Jesus, but that conversation would inevitably lead to his mentioning his revelation about Peg and the tears that had ended his night. He wasn't ready for that yet, and Meghan had already absorbed too much emotion today. A peaceful conversation tomorrow would do just fine.

Stephen walked over and got out the cushion foams from his cabinet of supplies. "Why don't you toss your towel over this cushion, and you'l have yourself a pil ow so you can close your eyes and rest them a moment."

"Thanks."

"Hold stil a minute." He knelt and used his tape to measure the distance from her shoe soles to the back of her knee.

She reached down and touched his hand. "What are you doing?"

"You're about Kate's height. It helps if custom chairs are at least within the bal park of the right height for comfort."

He walked back over to his workbench and jotted down the figures. "I was thinking I might pick you up next Sunday and go to services with you."

He glanced over, hoping it might catch her speechless, but that smal smile appeared and she just rested her chin on her hand as she looked at him. "I'm thinking I would like it if you did."

She'd been praying for him again; he was starting to recognize that smal smile. Stephen softly whistled as he measured a piece of wood to Meghan's height. Yes, he could certainly get used to more nights like this one.

"Would you like to come to Chicago with me next month for two weddings? Cole and Rachel 268

are having a quiet ceremony on Friday afternoon, the twenty- eighth, and Jack and Cassie are getting married the next day. I'd enjoy your company for the weekend."

"Can I think about the invitation for a few days?"

"Sure. As long as you say yes."

"I like the changes you're making out here," Bil commented, walking along the new fence Stephen built.

"Thanks."

Stephen fol owed Meghan's father, watching the man as he reached out to touch a post, shake a board, confirming just how solid the work had been done then nod with approval.

Stephen pul ed his hand from his pocket and pointed ahead to where the walk to the pond joined their two properties. "I'm thinking about making the path to the pond into something more defined, with woodchips and edging and the occasional post with a different pattern to each top knob, so Meghan doesn't have to wonder about her location on the path. If I do, would you like me to extend it over to your orchard fence?"

"Please. Come over anytime and I'l help you mark it out." Bil paused to watch the sheep. "I appreciate what you did yesterday. I knew it was hopeless as soon as I saw Craig, but I saw how invested she was in saving him-" Bil shook his head.

"You did the right thing. When an infant died of SIDS, we'd often do the same attempts to resuscitate even though it was useless effort just to give the parents a little more time to accept what was happening. You treat the living, and the shock they are experiencing.

Meghan did what she could, but nothing could have saved Craig's life. Accepting that doesn't come easy, not when she's blind and having to take our word for it."

"I shared coffee with her this morning. She's dealing with it."

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Stephen leaned against the fence, watching the baby goat race through the grazing sheep, running off energy. "I've been thinking about picking up that paramedics jacket, returning to the job part-time. It wouldn't solve al the response-time problems given just the sheer distances out here, but it would help."

"It would let us get one of the county ambulances stationed at the clinic in Silverton, if not as its permanent hub then as a rotating one. Are you sure you're ready, Stephen? The job chewed you up the last time."

"I don't know if I'l ever be real y ready But the last two pages-they've felt right. I'm a good paramedic and I'm comfortable with the pressure of being the one who's responsible. It's not my job to determine the outcome; it's God's. I can live with that."

Bil looked over at him thoughtful y and nodded. "I'm glad you found that perspective. You sound at peace with it."

"I am."

Bil held out his hand. "I'd be honored to have you on the team. We can do the paperwork with the county EMS this afternoon and make it official."

Stephen appreciated the confidence offered, but he wasn't sure he had earned it yet. "I won't let you down."

"I don't expect you wil ."

As momentous as the change, it was finalized in merely a minute. Stephen kicked at a fence post and figured he'd better get himself a phone to carry with him, maybe get that jacket of his repaired so the emblem didn't pul away. "I haven't told Meghan yet; I'd appreciate if you let me break the news."

"Sure. She'l be glad to have you coming in and out of the office occasional y."

"Wil she?"

Bil smiled and patted him on the back. "You're going to settle your questions about God, find the peace you're after, and start

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making my life havoc by asking Meghan out. I'm an old man, but

I stil notice the obvious. Ever since you bought this place, you've

begun setting down roots."

"I'm wel on my way to being there. I'l make her happy, Bil ." "I know you wil . Would you like to come over for lunch

Sunday?"

"I'm planning to give Meg a lift to church;Tl be glad to join

you for lunch afterward. Your wife makes a great pie."

"That she does. How's the remodeling coming along?"

"Good. Come on up to the house and I'l show you around.

I could use your opinion on my future office. I want to build

shelves like those you have."

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Meghan agreed to a picnic lunch on Saturday, and Stephen chose a place over by the river, hoping even the few miles of distance would help her shake the sadness of the last few days.

The quilt covered the grass and the ground wasn't that uncomfortable for an hour. At least the ants had yet to appear. Stephen finished his second croissant sandwich and speared one of the olives in the relish tray.

Meghan nibbled her way around the last of a pear. "You make a nice lunch."

"Thanks." He leaned over and nudged Blackie, offering him the last piece of cheese. The dog was doing his best not to beg but this had to be tough-the food was spread out to one side of the blanket in front of him.

The pepper cheese disappeared in one bite.

"He's a mooch, and you're just going to make him sick."

Stephen rubbed Blackie's ears. "Hard work deserves a reward occasional y."

He packed away the remains of their lunch and placed them in the picnic basket. "I told your father I'd start working more formal y as one of the county paramedics. It won't prevent days like yesterday, but maybe in the next crisis I'l be able to help you more."

"You're comfortable doing that?"

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"It's time, Meg. And I'm not as queasy at the sight of blood anymore."

"I'm glad. You'l do a wonderful job, and the town residents wil welcome you to the job with open arms."

"Think you can handle me wandering in and out of the clinic when I'm in town?"

"Are you going to make a point of letting me know you're around?"

"Hmm."

She smiled. "I was afraid of that."

He rol ed onto his back. He was in the mood to close his eyes and catch a nap.

"Something is different today, Stephen. I can hear it in your voice. You sound.. .1 don't know the right word.

Calm."

"I'm fal ing asleep," he clarified. "It's good to have the decision made. And I made another big one just before it." He turned his head to look at her, interested in watching her face. "The Bible is starting to make sense, Meg. I understand now how you know Jesus as a friend."

The pear juice got ahead of her and had to be rubbed off her chin. He watched the emotions on her face-joy, curiosity, hesitancy to make too much of his words.

"You believe."

He smiled at her caution. "Yes, what I understand so far. I was reading through John and it started to come alive as you described, and the pieces began to make sense. Your description of it as a conversation-it fit.

The fact Jesus would come and die on a cross for me, when it began to click that He could love me that much-There's something powerful in that, Meg, that overrides so many of the questions that stil linger."

"He loves completely, and every time I think I've figured that out, I find I've barely scratched the surface. On the questions, a suggestion? Take your time and keep searching for answers. He's not bothered by honest conversation when we hurt."

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"It was the first time I thought about Peg being in heaven where I would get to see her again. It got pretty emotional."

"Peg's there and it wil be a good reunion. She's going to be everything you remember, and more. Only her body died. And Jesus promised a new one for heaven and eternity"

"You'l see again in heaven."

"Heaven is described as being so beautiful. A few years without sight here on earth wil make the joy of seeing heaven so incredible." She lifted a sleeve to wipe at her eyes. "Oh, I'm going to cry, and that's not fair."

He rol ed toward her. "Here, I've got more napkins. And your happy tears aren't so bad."

She took a handful of the napkins. "I've been praying for you so long." She scrubbed at her face and then just buried her head in her hands. "Oh, look somewhere else wil you? My nose is going red; I can tel ."

He laughed. "It's kind of endearing, but it's not like al that many people are out here to notice." He waited until she pushed her hair back and looked up. "I'm glad you kept praying."

"I figured the O'Mal eys were trying to do enough of the explaining." She mopped her eyes and gave him a smile. "Did you bring dessert? I could use a distraction."

"First-class dessert: cheesecake." He pul ed over the picnic basket. "How about we rent a movie tonight?

Something you remember wel and hopeful y not too mushy. We can see if Ken and JoAnne are free. I need his help with the new kitchen cabinets."

He watched her relax.

"Could I feed your sheep?"

"Sure. You'l have to watch out for the baby goat; he loves shoelaces." Stephen touched her hand and offered a plate. "Dessert is served."

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Jonathan sat in the diner at a corner table near the front window, watching people coming and going along Main Street. Craig was no longer a threat. Jonathan had to swal ow hard to eat without choking. He'd done what he had to do. It cost him seven thousand to buy that envelope and its contents. He'd given Craig a chance; he hadn't forced his friend to open th?

envelope and use what it contained...but Jonathan had known he would do it. Craig had betrayed him and tried to take the jewelry for himself. There had been no other choice.

He'd never kil ed before.

He wasn't sure he liked how it felt.

He pushed the emotions aside, for it was over and done. He had a decision to make, and it was his own life on the line this time. The stolen gems were stil out there somewhere.

If the jewels were not going to be found, then the correct tactical decision was to walk away and leave them behind-unsold, unfound, and the knowledge of them buried with Neil and Craig. But if Meghan or the cops had a chance of finding the gems, then recovering them had to be his top priority and would be worth any risk short of being discovered.

Neil, where did you put them?

The owner of some of those pieces might- He should have never let Neil talk him into stealing them from the wife of a mob boss. Rumor had it the man liked his victims to bleed to death. Slowly.

The jewelry could never be found. He would have to ensure that. So far they had been hidden wel enough, even though in the last few days several people were looking for them. The authorities didn't have tangible proof yet that more pieces existed, so eventual y they'd give up and figure they had already found everything. If he tried to search and revealed that someone else was involved beyond Neil and Craig, it would create 275

trouble and keep the search going.

Maybe Neil had done one thing right and hidden them wel enough they would never be found. Maybe it was better to do nothing. Jonathan pushed his coffee cup aside. He was taking a nasty risk no matter which he chose. Was this over?

He left the restaurant and walked back to the hotel, then stopped at the desk to ask for messages and that his bil be prepared.

If he did come back to Silverton, it would be because trouble had arrived and the jewels had been found.

He'd be forced again to act to protect himself.

They said the second murder was easier than the first.

He didn't want to have to find out...

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monday, june 10 SILVERTON

Meghan curled her bare feet into the living-room carpet, enjoying the warmth of the sun. In the last few weeks as summer arrived, this room had become her favorite place to spend her afternoons. She walked over and nudged out her piano bench with her foot, reached forward to search the piano top to find her coaster, and careful y set down her glass of ice water.

She turned on the cassette player and listened to Mrs.

Teal's last lesson in order to hear the song played correctly Mrs. Teal made this sound so easy.

Meghan found the opening chords and began her hour of practice. Someday she'd be able to play the song without jarring mistakes. She loved "Amazing Grace."

And the fact Stephen had mentioned it had been a favorite of his mom's, she so wanted to be able to play it smoothly.

He likes me...he likes me a lot...he loves me... She paused to run a scale. Jesus, where's this heading?

Stephen has got me so off balance. She loved her job, her home, and the hope for a husband and family was a lifelong dream. Maybe it was final y drawing near..