Her Guardian

by Sharon Dunn

  The sound of a boat engine caused her to turn. Two men whose brown uniforms indicated they were law-enforcement officers approached the beach.

  Julia came around to stand beside Gavin. The grimace on his face indicated that he was in pain, yet he did not allow the gun in his hand to waver.

  The two officers moved quickly up the shoreline and took Elijah and the other man into custody.

  “Two more of them are in the trees.” Julia pointed.

  One of the officers took off running with his weapon drawn. Julia drew her attention to Gavin’s bloodstained shirt.

  “It just grazed the shoulder. I’ll be all right.”

  She placed her hand on the hard muscle just above the wound. “I’m glad you came when you did.”

  “Looked like you were doing just fine. He wasn’t going to get far with that wound to his foot. I could tell he was losing strength.”

  “We should get you to the hospital. I’ll drive.” After they talked to the police, Julia waited while Gavin got in the boat. She jumped in and started the motor.

  Gavin grew paler as they got farther away from the shore. He leaned forward and gripped her shoulder. “You’ve got that worried look on your face, Julia.”

  She shivered when she saw the size of the bloodstain on his shirt. “First priority is to get you to a doctor.”

  He moved toward her and grabbed her hand. “I’m doing okay.” He brushed his hand over her cheek. “When he took you, I was so afraid I’d lost you forever.”

  A lump formed in her throat. “I saw you go down in that boat, and I…” It wasn’t just that they had grown used to each other because they had been so close for the last month. Her feelings weren’t a byproduct of all the danger they had to live with. The truth was, she couldn’t imagine life without him. When she had thought she’d lost him, all hope had faded.

  He pressed his forehead against hers. “I know the feeling. It won’t be long now, Julia. We just need to get through this trial.”

  TWENTY

  On the day Julia was to take the stand, the courtroom was packed. It killed Gavin not to be able to be with her once the trial started. He was assured that for the course of the trial, the state would provide security, but none of that soothed him. He wanted to be the one protecting her.

  He sat next to Julia’s father, William, and Elizabeth sat on the other side of him.

  “The state wishes to call Julia Randel.”

  A side door to the courtroom opened and Julia appeared, escorted by an officer of the court. Gavin leaned forward in his seat. Julia maintained a neutral expression as she looked around the courtroom.

  Because so much time had been lost, the Flemings had spent the last few days drilling Julia. Gavin had been able to be there with her through all that. He thought she was holding up pretty well, but he hadn’t seen her for two days. Julia lifted her chin, scanning the courtroom. He tilted his head when she saw him. She squared her shoulders, seeming to gather strength from having made eye contact with him.

  William leaned toward Gavin. “She looks tired.”

  “She’ll be all right,” whispered Elizabeth.

  Victoria Fleming began her questioning. Julia answered all of the questions with poise.

  “Your witness.” Victoria sat down and the defense attorney rose to his feet, buttoning his suit jacket. He rubbed his chin, studied Julia and then looked back over at Elijah, which caused everyone in the courtroom to crane their necks toward Elijah.

  Elijah was clean shaven and dressed like a business man. None of the anger was evident in his demeanor, and his eyes no longer held the crazed look that Gavin had seen the day he was taken into custody. The man was an actor of the highest quality.

  As the defense attorney approached Julia, William braced his hand on the bench in front of him. “I wish she didn’t have to go through this.”

  Elijah’s attorney rested his hand on the stand and leaned toward Julia. Julia flinched.

  “Ms. Randel, can you state your relationship to the accused?”

  “Elijah True kidnapped me when I was thirteen.”

  As expected, the lawyer drilled Julia about why she stayed in the cult for seven years. Julia held her ground, answering the questions in a strong, clear voice.

  Gavin leaned toward William. “The only option here is to make Julia look like an unreliable witness. He’s going to do everything to try to shake her apart.”

  The lawyer patted his stomach and then said, “Let’s move on to the night of the murder. After seven years, you chose the night of Marlena Kenyon’s death to run away. Is that correct?”

  Julia’s face blanched, but she answered the question without her voice faltering. “I didn’t choose it. My escape wasn’t planned.”

  The lawyer walked away from the witness stand, obviously pausing for dramatic effect. “So your good friend was dying, and instead of staying with her, you decided to run away?”

  Elijah inched forward in his chair. The scraping sound of the legs moving across the floor was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Elijah cleared his throat and looked toward Julia.

  Gavin tensed.

  Come on, Julia, you can do this.

  Julia narrowed her eyes at Elijah and then looked back toward the attorney. She folded her hands in her lap and sat up straighter. “I didn’t check for a pulse, but I knew she was dead. Elijah was already stirring up people against me. I was afraid for my life. I wish I could have stayed with her, but I had to make a split-second decision and I did the best I knew how to do in that moment.”

  Gavin watched William’s demeanor visibly change as he stared at his daughter.

  He leaned toward the older man. “She is stronger than you know.”

  Stunned, William nodded. “I can see that.”

  The defense attorney asked more questions about the murder, drawing out the details. Julia remained in control.

  “No further questions, your honor.” The defense attorney was adept at not giving anything away with his body language as he moved back toward his client.

  Julia was dismissed once Roy Fleming said he had no further questions. The officer escorted her out of the room through a side door.

  Emptiness invaded Gavin’s consciousness as the door closed behind her. Would he be able to be with her before the verdict was read?

  The judge gave the jury instructions before dismissing them to come back with a verdict and declaring a recess. People slowly got up and trailed out into the hallway. Elizabeth excused herself.

  William Randel pressed his back against the bench and stared at the ceiling. “I think they will get a conviction, don’t you?”

  “Julia did a good job. The Flemings showed that the testimony from other cult members was contradictory and driven by loyalty to Elijah, not the truth.” Gavin shifted in his seat and took a breath. He wanted William’s blessing if he and Julia were going to have any kind of a life together. Now was the time to ask. “Your daughter is a strong, capable woman.”

  William sat up straighter and looked at Gavin. “I do think she has come a long way since her escape. Two years ago, she wouldn’t have been able to stand up to Elijah like that.”

  “She has been through so much this past month. With each incident, I saw how clear-headed and courageous she was.”

  William nodded. “Is there something you want to say to me?”

  Gavin braced himself. “I owe you an apology. I broke my promise. You asked me not to see Julia romantically—”

  William’s expression hardened. “What have you done?”

  “My only desire is to protect your daughter…in every way. And if I thought she wasn’t emotionally ready, I never would have even entertained the thought, but I have fallen in love with your daughter.”

  William Randel clasped his gnarled hands together and stared at them. “When I saw her on that stand, her strength was so unexpected. If you could have seen her in the first few months after she was home…”

  “I know that the wou
nds will never totally go away for Julia, but I would like to be there for her. I would like to be a part of her life.”

  William shook his head as his resistance built. “But you have only known her a month.”

  The immense loss both Julia and her father had endured pierced his heart. “I know that you and she have some catching up to do, and if you don’t want me in the picture, I’ll walk away.”

  “I don’t hold it against you for breaking your promise. She is not the frightened child who came back to me. I see that now, but please, I need time.”

  William’s words felt like a blow to his stomach. The bottom dropped out of Gavin’s world. He couldn’t fathom a life without Julia, but he had to respect her father’s wishes. “I understand. If you ever feel ready to let me into Julia’s life…”

  A realization spread across William’s face. “If I feel ready?”

  “Yes.” Gavin nodded, uncertain of what William was thinking, as his stomach turned in knots.

  William shook his head. “I guess it can’t always be about me. I missed out on her adolescence, but I don’t want to rob her of her future because I’m trying to get that back.”

  Gavin sat back in his seat as an overwhelming sense of joy spread through him.

  William patted his shoulder. “You should go find her. I’m sure it’s going to be a while before the jury comes back.”

  Gavin rose up from his chair and skirted through the crowd out into the hallway. He had no idea where the witnesses went once they were done testifying.

  The officer who had escorted Julia into the courtroom stood in the hallway drinking something from a Styrofoam cup.

  He looked up as Gavin approached him. “Sir?”

  “Can you tell me where the witnesses are taken after they testify?”

  The officer eyed Gavin suspiciously. “Can I ask why?”

  “I’m looking for Julia Randel. I’m her bodyguard.” And I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

  The man studied him a moment longer and then pointed toward the stairs that lead down to large glass doors. “She headed straight outside, said something about feeling the sun on her face. An officer went with her. She’s under police protection until the trial is over.”

  Gavin’s heartbeat hiccupped over concern for Julia’s safety. He didn’t trust anyone but himself to protect her. Elijah was still in custody. All the evidence pointed to the followers losing the will to fight. Those who had been caught had attempted-murder charges filed against them. He doubted any others wanted that kind of legal action against them, but all it took was one zealot who didn’t care if he lived or died.

  Gavin made his way down the stairs and pushed the door open, scanning the area around the courthouse. He felt a sense of urgency and a strong desire to be with Julia as he made his way across the street to a small park.

  He found her sitting on a bench behind a clump of evergreens. The police officer stood about twenty feet from her. As he raced toward her, he realized that maybe he had been foolhardy. Maybe all of her feelings of affection had risen up because of the stress they were under. She might have decided to get on with her life, attend college and leave any reminder of Elijah and the trial in the past.

  She looked serene with her head tilted back and her eyes closed.

  He hesitated in his step as he approached her.

  Julia relished the warmth of the sun on her skin. This is what she had waited for. This sense of freedom. Confident the jury would find Elijah guilty, she contemplated her future. She wanted to go to college to study psychology. Maybe then, she could counsel other young women like Lydia.

  She heard footsteps and opened her eyes. The officer moved in. His hand wavered over his gun.

  Julia held up a hand. “It’s all right, officer.” She smiled at Gavin. “I know this man.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. Gavin stood in front of her. He looked appealing in his camel coat and leather gloves.

  “Have you heard yet? Have they come back with a verdict?”

  He shook his head. His expression held an earnest quality.

  “What is it then?” Tension twisted through her.

  He held his arms open for her. “I have your father’s blessing for us to be together.”

  She rose to her feet, trying to fathom what a future with Gavin would look like. “So did you decide to get out of the bodyguard business?”

  He shook his head. “It’s what I do. It’s who I am.” He reached out and brushed his hand over her cheek. “A really pretty lady had belief in my ability when I didn’t believe it myself. She restored my confidence.”

  She closed the distance between them. “How about that. I know a really handsome man who saw me as strong and capable when no one else did.”

  “Hmm…maybe those two people should get together.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her toward him, leaning down to kiss her.

  She relished the safety of his arms as his lips covered hers. She pulled back and looked up into his brown eyes. “Maybe they should.”

  “I know we’ve only known each other for a month, so I am willing to take this slow.”

  “How slow?”

  “How about the rest of our lives?”

  “Deal.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. The sunshine and the sense of freedom that she had were wonderful and precious. But none of it compared to being in Gavin Shane’s tender embrace.

  EPILOGUE

  “You look beautiful,” Elizabeth gathered Julia into a sideways hug as she came out of Larry’s house and looked down the stone walkway that led to the shoreline of his island. Her father stood at the base of the stairs waiting to walk her to where Gavin and his best man, Joshua, stood. Everyone who mattered to her was here.

  Julia stared down at the cream-colored satin of her wedding dress. “Thank you.”

  The green trees and purple-and-white flowers that colored the hillside made a perfect backdrop for a wedding. A big contrast from the stark winter landscape of a year-and-a-half ago when she had lived in fear for her life. All of that was behind her now. Elijah was in prison. His followers had disbanded.

  Elizabeth gave her another hug. “This is the perfect place for a wedding.”

  “And the hot springs is the perfect place for a honeymoon. Thanks for offering it to me and Gavin.”

  Elizabeth adjusted the comb in Julia’s blond hair. “Your father’s waiting. You’d better get going.”

  And Gavin was waiting. Julia lifted the skirt of her dress and made her way down the stone steps. Her father held his arm out for her to take it. Gavin turned to gaze at her. As she walked toward him, she realized that God had more than restored all that was taken from her.

  Dear Reader,

  Through tragic circumstances, Julia has lost a huge part of her growing-up years. She missed out on ordinary things like learning to drive, graduation and going to prom—all the milestones that happen for most people. Julia longed to do such mundane activities as walking outside and sitting in a coffee shop. While most of us might desire a life of adventure, Julia looked forward to the day when normal would happen.

  As I was writing this book, I thought about what a gift ordinary things like a morning cup of coffee or feeling safe in my own home are. Prayers of thanks come easily for the extraordinary things that God does in our lives—curing an illness or getting us through a hard relationship or providing in tough financial times. Writing this book has prompted me to be more thankful for the parts of my life that are just there automatically, from the abundance of groceries in the store and books on my library shelf to the sound of the rain through my open window. All of these are gifts from God, worth thanking Him for.

  Blessings,

  Questions for Discussion

  To get through her difficult month before the trial, Julia often imagined what her life would be like after the trial was over. Have you ever had to endure a difficult situation? What gave you hope that things would change?

  What m
emories did Julia have of her mother? Why was Marlena’s death doubly hard for Julia?

  What deliberate things did Julia do to cope while Elijah held her captive?

  What was the most exciting part of the book for you?

  Do you think you could deal with the kind of confinement and isolation Julia had to live through after her escape?

  In what ways did Julia help Gavin gain his confidence back as a bodyguard?

  What do you think Elizabeth’s role was in the story? In what ways was she helpful, and in what ways was she hurtful?

  In a moment of crisis Julia, recalled a Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” (Phlippians 4:13). Has a verse ever come into your mind at the moment you needed it? Did you ever memorize a Bible verse to help get you through a hard situation?

  Why was Julia’s father so protective of her? Did you agree or disagree with his choices?

  Do you think Gavin showed respect toward Julia’s father? In what way?

  Like Julia and Gavin, all of us have had parts of our lives that we wish we could undo. Sometimes we have no control over what happened to us, and sometimes we have to work through regret because of choices we made. Can you think of something in your life that you wish you could undo? How did you work through it?

  Has there been an example of a person in your life who dealt with great loss in a positive way?

  Julia told Gavin that he needed to forgive himself for what happened with his friend. Have you ever had to forgive yourself for a choice you made? Did you at first believe God wouldn’t forgive you?

  How was Julia able to take the horror of what happened to her and make something good come of it?

  Julia learned never to take a normal life for granted. Can you list some of the ordinary things in your own life that you take for granted? Take a moment to thank God for each one of these blessings.

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-0865-0