by Jenna Mindel
But he had to get to Beth.
Nick swam hard and choppy. The waves pushed him forward. Toward Beth instead of away from her. God was with him. He knew that, but his legs tingled in the cold water. His fingers did, too. How long before they got into real trouble out here?
“Help me, Lord.”
* * *
She was so tired.
And cold.
Pushing herself up on the seat cushion Nick had thrown her, Beth tried to paddle, but her arms felt as if they’d fallen off. She couldn’t feel her fingers anymore. She couldn’t feel anything...but regret.
Regret stung sharper than the cold water twisting the skin on her toes and numbing her fingertips. Why had she gone sailing, why had she brought Nick and Corey along, and even more troubling, why was she so afraid to make them a real family with a marriage license?
She’d always lived a safe life. Through high school, college and even now Beth weighed the risks of every decision she made, choosing the easy way. The safe way. She’d always prided herself on being practical. But she was practically scared of her own shadow, if the truth be told.
She spotted the boat as it bobbed up on a swell. Then it disappeared. So far away.
Glancing to the west, where the leftover clouds had turned dark peach from the late-day sun pushing its way down behind them, Beth wondered if this might be her last sunset.
She closed her eyes. “Lord, I’m so sorry....”
What was she sorry for?
“Everything. Not trusting You. Not telling Nick and Corey how much I love them.”
Nick...
Beth started to cry.
Nick had said they were all in God’s hands. But Beth didn’t want to believe it, not really. She’d been too wrapped up in keeping her heart safe from hurt.
God hadn’t given her what she wanted; He’d given her what she needed. Who Beth needed in order to rely more on Him. Nick and Corey were gifts she’d refused.
How selfish could she be? Hurt was part of life, right? God never promised a carefree life without suffering. Yet she’d been striving for exactly that. Why rob them all of the blessing of being together because she was afraid of pain?
The fear of loss.
Beth never regretted a moment spent with her dad, even though his time with her had been cut short. Her father had taught her the importance of passion and love. But she’d traded those in for fear. She didn’t want to face the possibility of Nick’s death, and yet here she was facing her own.
She was going to die in this cold water.
And she’d never told Nick that she loved him.
A sob welled up and spilled over. Water splashed against her face as a wave lapped over her shoulders. She coughed and slipped back into the water. The seat cushion popped forward. Out of reach.
She didn’t care.
Death is never final.
Was that her mom speaking?
Life is eternal.
Love never fades....
Beth let her head fall forward. Her face dipped into the water, startling her. Her hair had soaked up the cold water like a sponge and lay like stringy icicles against her neck. Her nose seared icy cold. With eyes closed, she smiled. At least, she thought she smiled; she couldn’t feel her cheeks anymore.
God was with her. She felt Him drawing near. Lifting her up out of the water and breathing warmth on her face.
“I’m ready, Lord.”
“Beth?”
Nick?
“Beth, honey. Come on, baby, talk to me.” He swatted her face.
“Owww.”
He laughed and then kissed her.
Heat.
Beth grabbed his hair and pulled.
“Owww.”
“You’re real.” Beth’s teeth chattered.
He chuckled. “Of course I’m real.”
“Corey?”
“He’s safe with the others. Help’s on its way.”
“Thank You, Lord.” Her head flopped against Nick’s shoulder encased in the life vest. He wore one at work, too. He was a careful man. Why hadn’t she realized that before?
She kicked her legs, tried to stave off that tingling sensation.
“Come on, Beth. Fold your arms close to your body and keep still.” He wrapped his arms and legs around her, pulling her close.
“Hmm, this is nice.” She felt his body’s heat seep into hers as they huddled together. Bobbing like human buoys.
He kissed her again.
Too brief.
She searched his storm-gray eyes, feeling stronger now. Now that he was with her. She slipped down and water splashed over her face again. She coughed and closed her eyes.
Nick lifted her higher, onto the life ring, and then held on to them both. “Stay with me. Don’t sleep. We’re going to be fine. And you’re not leaving me. I’ll get a desk job or something, anything to keep you with me. Is that understood?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“What do you mean, no? No? I said you’re not leaving me.”
She smiled at how fierce he sounded.
Beth couldn’t let him give up his passion because of her fear. She was done trading on fears and worries. “I love you, Nick. I love that you’re a good father, a wonderful man and a careful cop.”
He hugged her closer, if that was possible considering their life vests made a barrier between them. “Then marry me. You, me and Corey. Make us a family and we’ll figure out the rest.”
“Don’t forget Peanut.”
He rubbed his nose against hers. His was cold, too. “And the puppies, too. I love you, Beth.”
“I’m glad.” Her eyes itched and her lids lagged too heavy to keep open.
Her mom was right. God had whispered through her heart when she’d finally stopped and listened. Once the noise of her thoughts clamoring inside her practical, reasoning mind quieted. Out here in the water, she couldn’t do anything but listen to the whispers in her heart. Did she really need to flip overboard for that? Why couldn’t she have lain down on a bed of soft grass to hear...?
“Beth.” Nick shook her.
She startled awake.
Nick held her close. “Kiss me.”
She tried. She was so tired she could barely rally the strength to kiss him, but she managed. This was where she wanted to be and where she belonged.
Beth didn’t know how long they huddled together in the middle of the Manitou Passage. When the sun finally dropped beneath the line of the lake’s water, a Coast Guard rescue boat drew near.
Noisy, too.
Men shouted orders and their boat engine purred as it idled.
She shook her head. “Small boat.”
Beth couldn’t see the faces of the men leaning down to get them up and out of the water because of the glare of lights that shone from behind them.
Nick laughed. “It’ll do.”
As they were pulled into the boat, Corey lunged for his father.
“Dad!”
Nick pulled him close and squeezed him tight.
Beth glanced at everyone huddled in blankets, but she couldn’t raise a hand to wave. She was ushered into the cramped cabin before she could say another word. But then her teeth chattered something fierce and her eyelids grew heavy again. Someone helped her out of her windbreaker, life vest and clothes. Right down to her bathing suit.
And then a warm blanket was wrapped around her with packs of something warm placed directly on her skin. Her vitals were taken, including her temperature.
The heat washed over her like a warm wave followed by sharp needle pricks of tingling. Her feet went into warm slippers, and a warm hat with long woolly flaps was wound around her neck and head. Someone gave her a cup of hot chocolate, but her hand shook.
“Drink slowly.” Someone held it for her.
Beth took a couple sips and then leaned back against the wall. Her head felt heavy.
“Is she okay?” Nick stripped off his wet T-shirt on his own.
Beth spotted a small, round puckered scar on Nick’s shoulder with a bigger one on his back before the same kind of blanket went around him, too. A bullet wound. She’d touch that scar and make sure it didn’t taunt her.
“Groggy, but good vitals. You’re both hypothermic.” The Coast Guard guy pointed at her. “She’s borderline moderate, but I think she’s warming well. Keep her still and we’ll check her vitals again soon.”
Nick nodded and sat down next to her. He scooped up Corey, also bundled in a blanket, onto his lap. Both were given hot chocolate.
“You okay?”
“Not the way I envisioned our sailing trip.” Beth gave him a watery smile. “I’m so sorry.”
He caressed her cheek before helping her take another sip of hot chocolate. “I’m not.”
Corey looked up at his father. “I’m never going on a boat again.”
Beth reached out her hand and patted the boy’s knee. “Sometimes bad things happen, like today, but we can’t let it make us afraid of living.” She thought about Nick’s scars. He might receive more over the course of his career, and she’d have to deal with that. Trust God to help her through the fear. “Or enjoying the beauty around us and trying again.”
Corey’s eyes went wide and he looked up at Nick.
“She’s right, son. But we’ll take it easy for a while. Maybe stick to Lake Leelanau.”
Corey looked as if he thought hard about that one.
Beth smiled at the boy. “There’s a great beach by your house.”
“Soon to be our house.” Nick took hold of her hand and kissed it.
Beth smiled. “Yes, soon to be our house. Nick, I don’t want you to change what you do. Not for me.”
“Beth—”
She cut him off with her fingers against his lips. They’d handle this together with openness and honesty. She was a cop’s daughter who could teach Corey a thing or two about being the child of a deputy officer. She’d trust God to help her be a good cop’s wife. One who’d give her fear and worry to God. He could handle it. She couldn’t on her own.
“Bad things happen, but we’re not going to live in fear. God is with us and we’re in His hands. Right, Corey?” Nick echoed her words, but his gaze remained locked on hers.
Corey poked his dad in the ribs. “Is Miss Ryken going to be my new mom?”
“Is that okay with you?”
Corey nodded, but he wore a serious look on his face.
“What is it, bud?” Nick asked.
Beth held her breath.
“I’m glad because we’re already a family.”
“Yeah, bud. We are.” Nick gave her that lopsided grin that wasn’t much of a grin.
It made her heart ooze. Completely thawed out and pliable.
“Dad?”
“Yes, son?”
“Do I have to still call her Miss Ryken?”
Beth laughed.
Nick did, too. “I think it’ll be okay if you call her Beth.”
“I love you. I love you both.” She leaned forward and hugged these two men brought into her life so that she might truly live.
They were a family. And they would remain a family no matter what.
Nick wrapped his arms around her. They had Corey trapped between them, but he snuggled in close.
This was real warmth. Real peace. And Beth was never so grateful for God’s whispers into her heart in the dark waters of Lake Michigan. He had been with her then and she needn’t fear the future, because He’d always be with her. With all of them.
Epilogue
The first Saturday in August shone like a gemstone. A perfect summer day that remained warm and calm into early evening. It was the perfect day for Beth and Nick to exchange their wedding vows aboard a passenger ferry boat while cruising the Manitou Passage shoreline.
Beth had come up with this plan for a couple of reasons. She wanted to face the waters where they could have lost each other with a new memory of celebration. She also wanted to show Corey that they didn’t need to live in fear of what had happened. God had been with them, and Beth wanted to honor that by marrying Nick where he’d proposed and she’d accepted.
Beth smiled as Corey led her down the aisle of the lower deck. The boy looked handsome in his khaki pants and crisp linen shirt that matched his father’s. No suits and no ties. That had been the only request from her Grey men.
The lower deck’s windows were open to let in the warm evening air too still for even a breeze. But that was okay with Beth. She’d take balmy to breezy on this special day.
The sides of the benches had been decorated with white bows and sprays of evergreens and wildflowers that she and her mother and Corey’s grandmother had gathered earlier in the day in an open field near Nick’s house.
Beth carried a small bouquet of the same.
“This is weird,” Corey whispered. “Getting married on a boat.”
“It’s worth it, though, don’t you think? Kinda fun, even?”
Corey shrugged. “I guess.” Beth smiled down on the boy who’d stolen her heart the day he’d shown up in her class.
“Hey, Beth?” He looked up with a frown. “Do you think the puppies will be okay?”
“We’ll take good care of them while you’re with your grandparents.” She squeezed Corey’s hand and then smiled at Nick, who looked curious about their chitchat. She’d fill him in later.
Her mom had promised to stay with the dogs while they drove a couple hours north to spend a few days in a little cottage on Lake Michigan. The plan was for her mom to take two of the puppies by summer’s end. And they’d keep Peanut and her other two. Much to Nick’s chagrin, Beth didn’t have the heart to send those puppies too far. And Corey had agreed.
They finally reached Nick standing tall and handsome with their minister and the boat’s captain. Beth leaned down and kissed Corey’s forehead when he handed her over to Nick.
“Thanks, Corey.”
He gave her a serious nod and then sat down next to his grandparents.
“You look beautiful.” Nick lifted her hand and kissed it.
“Thanks. You, too.” Beth wore a simple white dress with her hair pinned up with more wildflowers. Even her strappy sandals were comfortable.
They had a long evening ahead of them. After the wedding followed by light hors d’oeuvres on the boat, dinner and dancing awaited at a restaurant overlooking the beach. Beth and Nick’s guest list had been small. Family and a few friends.
The minister started the ceremony, and Beth stared into Nick’s eyes and held tight his hands.
“To have and to hold in sickness and in health...”
Nick had held her in the water. He’d kept her warm and safe from slipping into a more serious situation. He helped her realize who to trust with her life and his. “I do.”
Nick smiled at her.
“Nicholas, do you take Elizabeth to be your lawfully wedded wife...” the minister continued.
Beth experienced a renewed sense of pride in Nick’s position. He enforced the law. Something not everyone could do. She’d support him in his calling. All things were possible in God, who’d strengthen her.
“I do.”
“Then go ahead and kiss your bride.”
Nick pulled her close. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Beth whispered before kissing Nick.
“Mr. and Mrs. Grey, folks,” the minister announced.
Their guests cheered.
Beth spotted her mom, who dabbed her eyes with a tissue
. And then she was practically tackled by Corey as he hugged them both.
She laughed and squeezed the boy closer. “I love you, Corey.”
“Me, too.” He buried his head into her waist.
He was her little boy now. For always.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from STRANDED WITH THE RANCHER by Tina Radcliffe.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for picking up a copy of my book. I hope you enjoyed reading Beth Ryken’s journey to a happily-ever-after of her own. Beth was one of those secondary characters who demanded a book. At first I thought she and Eva’s brother might get together, but no. They would never have worked!
And then I realized something about Beth. She needed to be needed but also played it much too safe because of the death of her police officer father when she was fourteen. Enter Nick Grey, a simple man called to be a cop. Both have emotional baggage, but when they finally place their trust in God and give Him their fears, their happily-ever-after is truly possible.
I love to hear from readers. Please visit my website at jennamindel.com or drop me a note c/o Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.
Many blessings to you,
Jenna
Questions for Discussion
When the book opens, Beth is worried about her mom’s spending habits. Should she be? How could Beth have approached the issue more effectively?
Nick’s relationship with his seven-year-old son is strained. What could Nick have done better to reach his boy?
Many youngsters struggle in first and second grade. Do you believe in having a child repeat those grades if they are behind grade-level standards? Why or why not?
Beth’s and Nick’s attraction to each other is immediate but they let their fears get in the way of deepening the relationship. Why were they afraid? How did they finally overcome those fears? And in what ways did their faith help?
Nick believes his previous mother-in-law feels threatened by his relationship with Beth. Should he have shared those thoughts with Beth? What steps can they take to keep Corey’s maternal grandparents feeling connected?
