by E. A. West
Mateo excused himself from the boys and left the common room. When Carlos returned, Mateo would discuss his idea to have some of the teens help with the renovation. For now, the need to speak with Kayla lay heavy on his heart. Surely if she learned about Eduardo, she would allow him to help with the work.
****
A knock on the open door interrupted Kayla’s unpacking, and she turned to find Angie stepping into the room, which was barely large enough for the narrow bed and small chest of drawers.
“Unpacked already?” Kayla said as she set the last of her clothes in a drawer and pushed it closed. The screech of wood caused her to make a mental note to see about some wax or a bar of soap to lubricate the drawer.
Angie plopped onto the bed. “For the most part. Now, tell me what you think of the driver, Mateo Luis.”
“Um...” What did she think? Despite her initial reaction, she was starting to wish she could spend some time getting to know him. For the sake of keeping Angie from teasing her about boyfriends, however, she opted to mention her initial assessment of the man. “Do the words scary beyond imagination mean much to you?”
“Oh, yeah.” Angie laughed and nodded. “I just about had a heart attack when I first saw him. Put him in a set of fatigues, and he could easily be one of the rebels causing so much trouble down here.”
“That was my thought.” She remembered his limp and the scar on his face. Had he fought the rebels? She shook off her ponderings and focused on the reason they were in Colombia. “Do you know if Paul’s unpacked? I’d like to see if we can go over to the house we’re renovating so we can find out just what we need to do and how many people we’ll need to help us do it.”
“Let’s go ask. Maria stuck him in a room at the end of the hall.” Angie hopped off the bed and went to the door. “Oh, and I think she said she’d be downstairs if we need anything.”
“That’s what she told me,” Kayla said as she dug a notebook and pen out of her backpack.
It only took a moment to collect Paul, and then they headed downstairs to find the pastor’s wife. Kayla wished the pastor was there, since her father had told her Carlos Ramírez would oversee the project. How could they start working without talking to the man in charge? Hopefully, he’d left some kind of instructions about the project with his wife.
Before they found Maria, Kayla spotted a familiar brooding figure coming toward them. The scowl on Mateo’s face did nothing to calm her nerves. Neither did the nudge Angie gave her as he looked up and his expression cleared.
Mateo stopped before them, his gaze steady on Kayla. “I need to speak with you.”
“Oh?” A stab of fear caused her to hold her breath. He wasn’t bringing bad news, was he?
“Yes, it is about the renovation. I know a boy who would benefit from helping. He is sixteen years old.”
Kayla smiled, relieved it was something so innocuous. “Well, we’re going to need plenty of help to finish the house before we leave. Does he have any kind of construction experience?”
“Not that I know of.” Mateo sighed and raked his fingers through his shaggy black hair. “His younger brother told me he wants to join the rebels. It is my hope that if he is given the opportunity to work on the house, he will change his mind.”
The concern shining in Mateo’s gaze broke through Kayla’s fear. This man wasn’t frightening or dangerous. He was worried about keeping children from a hazardous and traumatic life. Perhaps he had a background similar to the kids he now worked with, perhaps he didn’t. All that mattered now was that she saw him for what he was—a man with a burden for street children.
“We’d be glad to have him help,” Kayla said. “I’m not sure what job we’ll give him, but we’ll find something for him to do. Maybe he could work with Paul on the plumbing.”
“That might be best,” Mateo said, his gaze going to Paul. “Eduardo has no father and needs a good male role model.”
Paul’s chuckle had a nervous quality to it. “I don’t know how much of a role model I can be while we’re working on plumbing, but I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you. I pray that God will use your efforts to keep Eduardo out of the FARC. That is no life for any child, even one who will soon be a man.” The sincerity and sadness in Mateo’s eyes tugged at Kayla’s heart, but she once again sensed he had a rather dark past. His gaze returned to her, and a shiver ran down her spine. “I know you will not start working today, but would you like to see the house? I would be happy to take you there.”
Kayla laughed, shaking off the sudden thought that Mateo was actually kind of handsome in a brooding rogue sort of way. “We were on our way to see if we could look at the house. It’ll be easier to plan out a work schedule and arrange for supplies once we have a better idea of what needs to be done.”
“Come, we will tell Maria we are going to the house.” Mateo met Kayla’s gaze. “You must always let someone know where you are going. That way they know where to start looking if you don’t come back.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” The force with which he spoke sent fear skittering through her. Maybe she wasn’t as safe at the mission as she’d thought, despite the assurances Pastor Ramírez had given them when discussing the renovation project. But then, would her father have sent her on this trip if he thought she was at risk?
Angie stepped close as Paul moved up to talk with Mateo about the teen he’d mentioned. “I thought we were supposed to be safe as long as we stuck close to the mission,” she whispered.
“So did I,” Kayla whispered back, her gaze on the limping man ahead of her. “But I think I’ll take Mateo’s word over my father’s.”
“Scary as he is, me too.”
2
No denying it, the woman was smart. Mateo watched Kayla walk through the rundown house, investigating every corner, taking copious notes, and discussing the necessary repairs with her two compatriots. Although he’d done a little construction work, helped with repairs around the mission, and even remodeled parts of the dormitory, his knowledge and skill was far below that of the pretty American.
He’d seen the change in her eyes when he mentioned the possibility of Eduardo helping with the renovation. Instead of the worry evident when he walked up, warmth had appeared. Perhaps even a hint of admiration. And although he knew pride was a sin, he couldn’t stop the swelling in his chest whenever he thought of her admiring his compassion for the street kids. Few foreign volunteers seemed to see him as much more than a handyman who was always around to take care of whatever needed to be done.
Paul and Angie headed for the hallway, saying something about checking out the bathroom fixtures. Kayla still stood under the hole where a light fixture should be, making notes. Mateo slowly approached her, wishing he was better at charming women. Instead, he tended to remain silent or say things that made them laugh at him for attempting to flirt.
Kayla glanced at him with a smile. “This place sure needs a lot of work.”
“Yes, but there are plenty of people who are willing to help. They may not be as experienced as those you work with in the United States, but they work hard and follow directions well.”
“That’s really all we need. Angie, Paul, and I can take care of any structural work that needs to be done, but it looks like most of the work will be cosmetic.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked up at the hole in the ceiling. “Angie’s worked with volunteers before to wire houses for Habitat for Humanity, so this won’t be an issue. And Paul, well, he always seems to have a couple of plumbing apprentices working with him.”
“What about you?” Mateo asked, fishing for any bit of information he could get.
She brought her gaze to meet his. “I’m in charge of making this place look pretty. You know, plastering, painting, putting up trim. As long as the volunteers follow instructions, this project should go smoothly.”
“I have done that work myself. Perhaps I can help you once you get started.”
“I know
you can help me.” She laughed, a light sound that lifted his heart. “I don’t know enough Spanish to carry on a conversation, so I’m hoping you or someone else who’s fluent in both English and Spanish will help translate for the volunteers.”
“Translation work is one of my jobs when we have foreign volunteers. Some of the other local volunteers also speak passable English and can help.”
“That would be great. Paul’s pretty fluent in Spanish, and Angie knows enough to usually get the job done without too much misunderstanding, but I’m sure having translators on hand will be invaluable.”
The creak of the front door interrupted any reply Mateo might have thought of. Adrenaline raced through his veins as he whirled toward the open doorway to the hall. Only Maria knew they were here, but she was too busy at the mission to come over. A soft footfall behind him alerted him to Kayla’s presence just before she whispered.
“What’s wrong?”
“No one should be coming in.” He took a step toward the hall. “Wait here.”
He prayed she would follow his instruction as he went to the doorway. Peering around the edge, he spotted a familiar gray-haired man just inside the front door. Mateo straightened and released his breath.
“Pastor, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Forgive me if I startled you,” Carlos said. “My wife mentioned you brought the Americans over.”
“Yes, one is in here. The other two went upstairs to look at the bathroom.” Mateo stepped back into the main room and motioned Kayla closer. “Pastor Carlos Ramírez Ochoa, this is Kayla...I’m sorry. No one mentioned your surname.”
“It’s Shaw,” she said and shook the pastor’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pastor Ramírez.”
“Please, call me Pastor or Carlos. Everyone else does.”
“Of course.” She glanced at Mateo with a smile that warmed him clear through. “Mateo here has volunteered to help with translation duties once we get started on the renovation.”
Carlos chuckled. “I’d already told him he would help you with that. Mateo Luis picked up on English quickly after he came to us, and his assistance has been invaluable with the foreign volunteers, many of whom have little or no knowledge of Spanish when they arrive, although most of them know English.”
“I’m glad you have a plan in place for people like me, then.” Kayla glanced toward the hall. “The rest of my team went upstairs. Would you like to meet them?”
“I would.” Carlos motioned her ahead of him, and Mateo trailed behind wishing he had more time to talk to just Kayla. “I apologize for not meeting you at the airport as originally planned. There was an emergency that required my presence.”
“Maria mentioned that.” Kayla placed her hand on the damaged wooden banister and gave it a gentle shake. The whole length rattled. “As you can see, this will have to be replaced before the stairs are safe for children.”
Mateo wondered if she’d seen some of the places the children called home. “Even in this condition, it is better than where many of the children live.”
Kayla paused on the stairs and turned toward him, sadness shining in her wide eyes. “That’s terrible!”
“Yes, but that is why the mission is so important. Many of the children eat one or two meager meals a day, if that much, and live in horrific conditions. We provide them with proper nourishment and a safe place to be children.”
She nodded and continued up the stairs. “And this house is to be an orphanage?”
“That’s right,” Carlos answered before Mateo could speak. “We have another house not far from here that is currently housing several orphans, but there are more children in need than it can hold.”
They arrived upstairs as Angie and Paul exited one of the rooms, discussing stems, seats, and faucet handles. As Kayla made the introductions, Mateo considered her surname. The company that had sent the team was Shaw Restoration. She looked too young to own the company, but was she the daughter of the owner?
He would have to discuss proper protection for her with Carlos. Shaw Restoration had offices in Bogotá and Cartagena as well as the United States, which meant they were a large enough corporation to attract the attention of desperate rebels. If anyone learned the owner’s daughter was in Colombia, the temptation to try for ransom might be too much for them to resist.
****
A chilly breeze blew through the street, and Kayla shivered as she wrapped her arms about her middle. Her father had warned her that it was rather cool in Bogotá, despite the city being so close to the equator, but she hadn’t expected it to be quite this cool. She stared up at the night sky, seeing few stars through the ambient light from the city around her.
The scuff of a footstep to her right startled her, and her heart raced as she took a step back toward the dormitory door. Scanning the dark street, she spotted a figure emerging from the shadows.
“It is only me, Mateo Luis,” he said as he drew closer. “Forgive me for frightening you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Kayla drew in a shaky breath, attempting to calm her nerves. “I think all the stories I’ve heard about foreigners getting kidnapped and the violence in Colombia have gotten to me.”
“They should, although the risk of kidnapping is not so great as it was a few years ago.” Mateo stood beside her and scanned the street. “You should not be out here alone, especially after dark. It is not safe.”
“I didn’t think safety would be an issue since the door’s right behind me.”
“Never underestimate desperate people. Many have been taken from the supposed safety of an automobile, and this is not a good neighborhood.”
“Oh.” She fought against the fear threatening to take hold. Caution was called for, certainly, but not outright fear of what might happen. “Since you’re out here, does that mean I’m safe now?”
“Safer, but you need to go inside.” Mateo’s smile was barely visible. “I don’t mind talking to you, but there is no need to take unnecessary risk to do it.”
“So, I guess stargazing is out while I’m here?” She glanced up at the barely visible stars. “Well, as close to stargazing as one can get in a city, anyway.”
Mateo studied her, sending a tingle of awareness through her. “You like to look at the night sky?”
“When I can, yes. It’s so peaceful and relaxing after a long day to spend some time outside looking at whatever stars I can see.” Kayla could barely believe she was being so open with the man who just a few hours ago had scared her. But Mateo had a quiet strength that she’d seen all afternoon. The way he’d become protective when the pastor startled them at the rundown house had chased away any lingering uncertainty about her safety with him.
“Come with me,” Mateo said and led her to the door. He held it open for her then followed her inside. “There is a place where you can look at the sky more safely.”
Kayla sighed and walked beside him toward the stairs. “Looking out a window doesn’t have quite the same effect.”
“I know.”
He took her upstairs to a door at the end of the hallway. Opening it revealed a narrow stairway, and Kayla glanced at Mateo in surprise. “I thought this was a storage closet.”
He laughed softly and shook his head. “No, as you can see, it is stairs.”
He motioned her ahead of him, and she ascended the steep, dimly lit staircase. Hearing Mateo behind her relieved her worry that she might get lost wherever she was headed. At the top of the stairs stood another closed door. Kayla paused and glanced over her shoulder.
“Go ahead and open it,” Mateo said with an encouraging smile.
She turned the knob and pushed open the wooden door. Stepping through, she found herself on the roof. The breeze was stronger up here, and she shivered as she moved away from the door so Mateo could come out.
He stopped beside her and glanced over. “How is this for a view of the night sky?”
Kayla shifted her gaze upward, taking in the diamond scattered v
elvet of the sky beyond the glow from the city’s lights. Without the buildings on either side of the road rising up like canyon walls, much more of the sky was visible, giving her a sense of freedom she hadn’t found at street level.
“It’s beautiful.” She brought her gaze down and found Mateo watching her. A shiver ran through her, but she wasn’t sure if it was because of Mateo or the breeze.
“You’re cold.” He slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. His warmth radiated from the fabric, immediately enveloping her in comfort.
“Thank you.” She tugged the jacket closer, trying not to notice the faint cloud of masculine scent and coconut floating up from it. “My dad warned me that Bogotá has a cool climate, but I didn’t expect it to be quite this chilly.”
“Many foreign volunteers are surprised,” Mateo said with a chuckle. “They think because the city is so close to the equator that it will be hot and humid. They tend to forget that the altitude affects temperature as well.”
“It kind of reminds me of spring where I’m from. Or maybe fall. Cool sunny days and almost chilly nights.”
“A man from California once told me the temperatures here average around the mid-sixties Fahrenheit during the day, and the low forties at night.” Mateo smiled and shrugged. “He said knowing the Celsius temperatures did him no good in planning for the weather, since the temperatures are measured with the Fahrenheit scale in the United States.”
“He has a point.” Kayla studied the stars again. “Do you come up here often to look at the sky?”
“Sometimes. The vastness of the sky, the way the stars are more powerful than the lights of man so that we can see them through the light of the city, it reminds me of God’s power. That He is in charge and created everything in nature.” Mateo stepped behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, gently turning her. “Do you see that?”
