Whispering Hope (5 page)

“I’m going in,” Mr. Garside said, turning toward the barn.

“Oh, no you’re not.” The male EMT grabbed the man by his T-shirt. “You’ll be more help if you just stay here with these ladies.”

Skye watched the action, running her fingers through her hair, chewing her lip, and coughing. Her stare darted from the scrambling firemen to the shooting flames and billowing smoke to the open door of the barn and back. Soon the tanker at the bottom of the field came racing up, ready with a fresh water supply. But within minutes, the powerful hoses from the first two trucks had put out the flames, and all that seemed damaged on the barn was the one corner and, of course, the damaged hay bales inside.

As the firemen stretched out their now silent hoses, Mr. Chambers, coughing, hurried out of the barn. Mrs. Chambers and Skye, still struggling with their own breaths, rushed to his side.

“Tom, where’s Wanda?” Mrs. Chambers could hardly contain herself.

Skye’s eyes stung with hot tears and she felt her face flush with fear. “Dad, did you find her?”

Mr. Chambers let out another string of coughs and then struggled to force out his next few words. “She’s not in there!”

T
hank the Lord,” Mrs. Chambers said with a huge sigh of relief. “But…where could she be?”

Mr. Chambers turned and started hurrying toward the house. “I’ll call the local authorities and ask them to be on the lookout for Wanda. I’ll be right back.”

“Maybe she’s in town,” Skye said to Mrs. Chambers and Morgan.

“But nothing’s open in the wee hours of the night except the donut shop,” Morgan said. “And, somehow, I don’t think Wanda’s into donuts.”

“I just pray she’s okay, wherever she is,” Mrs. Chambers said, her voice cracking.

With the smoke cleared, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and Skye checked the barn for further damage while the firemen checked and re-checked the loft for hot spots. Then the family rounded up the horses, including an uncharacteristically compliant Rebel, and put them into the pasture to continue their morning feast. Thinking about Wanda through the whole clean-up, Skye found her own expression matching those of Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, now draped in constant worry.

At dawn, Mr. Chambers finally had a free moment to call the local police again and see if they had spotted Wanda. With a negative report, he then called Wanda’s grandmother and Officer Connors in Harrisburg, alerting them. Then the Chambers’ family gathered around the dining room table. Despite the concern for Wanda, all four somehow managed to breathe their first collective sigh of relief in hours. Tippy and Tyler, sensing the drama of the entire situation, lay as close to Mrs. Chambers’ feet as they could get.

“Girls,” Mr. Chambers said, “We need to pray that God keeps Wanda safe, wherever she is. I also think we need to take time to thank the Lord that no one was hurt and that our barn wasn’t destroyed. We lost a few dozen bales of hay, but that was last year’s cut. It can easily be replaced with this summer’s crop. It looks like I might have to replace a few boards in the loft, too, but first we need to try and figure out what started the fire.”

“I’m sure the firemen already have a good idea,” Mrs. Chambers said. “I sure hope it’s not what I think.”

“Like a certain kid named Wanda?” Skye inserted.

“It sure looks suspicious,” Mr. Chambers said, “but we can’t jump to conclusions.”

“And I certainly agree that we need to pray for Wanda and thank God that the fire was put out quickly. It could have been devastating, not only in loss of property but in the loss of our horses. I’ve been thanking God all morning that you saw that fire when you did, Skye.”

“The Lord must have made my mouth dry,” Skye said. “I’ve never been so thirsty, and I felt I just had to get a drink. That’s when I spotted the flames.”

The family bowed their heads and Mr. Chambers led in prayer. When he finished, Skye looked at everyone as they all sat in silence. Mrs. Chambers, whose blue eyes were flooded with tears, just stared at the table. Mr. Chambers slowly sank down into his chair and crossed
his arms. Soot and ash had collected in the fine lines on his face, making him look, for once, as strained and tired as he must have felt. As usual, Morgan’s freckled face radiated a generous but weary smile. With their eyes beginning to droop, they all bore the signs of a sleepless night.

“I suppose the first question we need to ask is, ‘Where is Wanda?’ ” Mr. Chambers said.

“And question two is, ‘Did she start the fire?’ ” Skye said.

“There’ll be a claims adjuster from the insurance company here sometime this week,” Mr. Chambers said. “Then we’ll know for sure if someone started it or not.”

Mr. Chambers slowly leaned forward in his chair, the events of the night clearly taking their toll. “I really should drive around and see if I can spot Wanda,” he said. “She might have hitched a ride in town and be hanging around the mall.”

“I sure hope she didn’t try anything like that,” Mrs. Chambers said, standing. “Hitching a ride with a stranger is so dangerous.” She walked into the kitchen. “Tom, please eat something before you leave. We’ll all think better on a full stomach. I’ll whip up some scrambled eggs. They’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

Morgan wheeled toward the kitchen. “I’ll get the toast and coffee going, Mrs. C.”

“And I’d better call the pastor and explain what happened and why we won’t be in church this morning,” Mr. Chambers said, reaching for the phone on a counter behind him. “We all need a few hours of shut-eye.”

Skye went to the cupboard to get four plates and started setting the table. “Mom, where do you think Wanda is? And why did she run?”

“Why did
you
run?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

Skye placed the plates on the table while she thought for a moment. “Mostly because I was scared—even though I tried to act tough.”

“Do you think Wanda was brave enough to hitch a ride with someone?” Morgan asked, dumping water into the coffee maker. “Since she’s run with a gang for years, I’d have to vote yes. She’s probably done a lot more risky things than that in her crazy life.”

Mr. Chambers placed the phone back in its cradle and stared out of the sliding door as though his thoughts were in another place, another time. “I noticed on last month’s phone bill that someone—who else but Wanda?—has been making phone calls to Harrisburg. My bet is that someone from her gang came and picked her up last night. Whether she left before or after the fire, only time will tell.”

R-i-n-g!

The phone rang and Mr. Chambers answered it.

“I see,” he finally said. “Yes, please bring her back. We have custody of her for a year. Thank you, sir.” Mr. Chambers recited the directions to Keystone Stables, said good-bye, and then hung up the phone.

“Where is she, Tom?” Mrs. Chambers asked, stirring the eggs again. “And is she hurt?”

“Well, it seems like my guess was right. That was Officer Connors from the Harrisburg police department.” Mr. Chambers fully relaxed into his chair. “Wanda and a boy named Wheels were just picked up for drunken and disorderly conduct in front of a mini-mart somewhere down there. The boy has a backlog of misdemeanors that are going to keep him busy and off the streets for a few months. Wanda’s okay, but—well, Officer Connors said he threatened to put her in juvie hall and throw away the key, and she pleaded with him to let her come back here. Instead of us having to pick her up, they’re going to bring her to our door in handcuffs. Officer Connors hopes a long drive in the cage of a police cruiser might help Wanda do a little thinking.”

“Hmm, juvie hall or Keystone Stables. The lesser of two evils,” Skye joked.

“They’ll have her back here in a few hours,” Mr. Chambers said.

“Are we going to keep her?” Morgan dropped four slices of bread in the toaster.

“Keystone Stables is a place for second chances,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Where would you girls be if we had shipped you out the first time you pulled something?”

“But trying to burn the barn down is serious,” Skye said as she placed silverware on the table.

“We can’t put the blame on Wanda yet,” Mr. Chambers said. “We’re not sure what started that fire.”

“Well, it sure looks suspicious to me,” Skye said.

“Me too,” Morgan added. “And we could have lost all our horses. That’s dead serious.”

“We’ll just wait and see what Wanda has to say.” Mrs. Chambers carried a bowl of scrambled eggs to the table. “In the meantime, let’s eat and try to get some sleep before she gets here—special delivery!”

Everyone released a tired smile, but Skye was sure Wanda wasn’t smiling wherever she was.

The ring of the doorbell aroused Skye from a deep sleep. After the fire, she had taken a hot shower, had thrown on clean clothes, and had crashed across her bed. Now she was dreaming about Champ—and Chad—when someone at the front door brought her back to reality.

On her way out of her bedroom, she glanced at her clock. 11:20. In the living room, she joined Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and Morgan, who were lined up along the sofa while Officer Connors “escorted” Wanda in through the door.

Same old Wanda, same old clothes, Skye observed, except this time Wanda’s hands were handcuffed behind her back.

“It’s good to see you folks again,” Officer Connors said as he removed the cuffs from Wanda and clipped them onto his belt. Wanda flopped into the nearest chair she could find, yanked her hat down, and crossed her arms. She didn’t say a word.

“This young lady needs to do some growing up,” Officer Connors continued. “I know you folks don’t have bars on your windows, but it might be a good idea with this gal.”

“There’ll never be bars on our windows,” Mrs. Chambers said, looking at Wanda. “If she can make it for just the remainder of her court order, she may leave, no questions asked. We’re just here to help her, but she hasn’t accepted that fact yet.”

“We’re willing to give her a second chance,” Mr. Chambers said, “no matter what she’s done.”

“This place, these people, really helped me,” Skye said. “But I had to stop running.”

From under her visor, Wanda raised an eyebrow toward Skye but quickly retreated to her former pose.

Morgan beamed a pleasant smile. “I’m sure I’d be in some institution somewhere if they hadn’t helped me.”

“We love kids,” Mrs. Chambers said. “What more can I say?”

“Well, folks, I wish you the best with this one.” Officer Connors turned to leave. “She’s a tough nut to crack.”

Mr. Chambers raised his hand toward the policeman. “One more thing, Officer.”

“Yes.”

“What time was Wanda apprehended?”

The policeman pushed back his cap and rubbed his forehead. “Let’s see—it was about 4:30 this morning. She and Wheels were having a good old time in the parking lot of that mini-mart. Wanda’s probably still feeling the effects of her partying. The best thing she could do is sleep it off. Well, gotta be going, and I hope I don’t have
to see you again.” He chuckled as he glanced Wanda’s way and hurried out the door.

“Thanks again,” Mrs. Chambers said.

“We’ll try to stay clear of Harrisburg until the next horse show,” Mr. Chambers yelled, shutting the front door. He sat on a chair near Wanda while Mrs. Chambers sat on the sofa. “Morgan,” he said, “stay put. Skye, have a seat. This is a family matter, so you’re both invited.”

Skye sat down and stared at Wanda, who didn’t move a muscle.

Mrs. Chambers started. “Wanda—”

Everyone waited for Wanda to look up.

C’mon, Wanda, look at Mom.
The words hung on the tip of Skye’s tongue.
You can do it.

Finally Wanda looked up with a scowl on her face that could kill flies.

“We want you to know that we love you, and we’re glad you came back,” Mrs. Chambers said.

I wonder if anyone ever told her they loved her before,
Skye thought.

“But,” Mr. Chambers said, “there will be consequences for your actions.”

Mrs. Chambers shifted her weight forward on the sofa and folded her hands on her lap. “Wanda, we need to ask you a question, and we need the truth.”

Her face empty of all expression, Wanda stared at Mrs. Chambers.

“Did you start the fire?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

The look Wanda gave made it hard for anyone to detect what she was thinking, but her eyes betrayed an element of surprise. “What fire?” she asked with innocence written all over her face.

“The fire in the barn!” Skye blurted out.

“Easy, Skye,” Mrs. Chambers said.

Mr. Chambers leaned forward and folded his hands. “Around two thirty this morning, there was a fire in the
hayloft of the barn. If Skye hadn’t noticed the fire when she got up for a drink, we probably would have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in property and six very special horses. Were you smoking in the barn again last night?”

Wanda looked down and mumbled, “No.”

“We know you’ve been smoking out there,” Morgan said.

Mrs. Chambers said, “Are you
sure
you weren’t out there at all last night?”

Wanda sat up in her chair as though someone had poked her with a pin. Her face flushed red and she clenched her fists. “I said I wasn’t out there, and I’m telling you the truth. You’re just like everybody else. You don’t believe me. I didn’t start no fire!”

“Then how did it start?” Skye asked while her own face flushed with anger.

“Easy, Skye,” Mrs. Chambers gently chided again.

“How should I know?” Wanda spouted. “Wheels picked me up around two o’clock. I wasn’t even here at this stupid place all night.”

“But the fire started shortly after that,” Morgan said.

Wanda launched out of her chair. “I’m telling you, I wasn’t near your stupid barn. The last time I was around those stinking horses was yesterday when she made me ride her
precious
Lucy!” Wanda pointed at Mrs. Chambers.

“Wanda,” Mr. Chambers said softly, “please sit down. We’re not accusing you of anything. We just want to know what happened.”

“So,” Mrs. Chambers said, “why did you run away?”

Wanda sat with her head down.

“Wanda?” Mrs. Chambers said.

Silence for several more moments. Finally Wanda’s glare threw daggers at Mrs. Chambers. “Because I missed my boyfriend, and this place is the pits,” she moaned, pulling her hat down over her eyes. A tear trickled down
the left side of Wanda’s face, and she quickly brushed it away.

“Wanda, we’ve told you that he can visit you here anytime he wants,” Mr. Chambers said. “You are
not
in prison.”

“But we do have rules,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Wanda—”

This time Wanda looked up at Mrs. Chambers almost immediately.

“We want to—we are going to—believe your story,” Mrs. Chambers said, “unless we find out differently. But you will be grounded for two weeks because you used the phone several times without permission and ran away. That means no shooting pool either. Understood?”

Wanda slouched lower into her chair and pulled her arms tight against her chest. “I hate this place,” she grumbled, “and the first chance I get, I’m outta here—for good.”