She wouldn’t shout for help if she didn’t need it.
A screeching like wheels bouncing across gravel finally reached him.
“Relax.”
“I can’t.”
The paramedic shrugged as he prepped the needle. “Have it your way. But this injection will smart.” The man stabbed the needle in Colton’s arm. “Told ya.”
Colton ignored him as he tried to get a glimpse of Reagan. He needed to see her. How was he going to tell her Garrett had been shot? That he’d manhandled the man, fighting him until the police arrived? That the police had her stalker in custody and Colton had a split lip and sore ribs and an injured arm? But the reason behind the man’s chase? How could he explain that Garrett had pretended to stalk her? God would have to give him the words. Otherwise, Reagan would hate him as the bearer of the news.
The gurney finally pulled into view. Reagan flinched with each jolt.
“Can’t you guys take it easy on her?”
One of the paramedics grunted as the gurney skidded to a halt on a rock. “There aren’t smooth surfaces down here. Want us to carry it?”
Colton focused on Reagan, trying to gauge her status. The paramedics wheeled to a stop next to him.
“Colton.” The word whispered from her like a caress. Then her gaze darted around. “Where’s Garrett?”
“On the way to the hospital.” There was no way to sugar-coat it.
“How bad?” Even in the dim light, he could see her tremble.
“I don’t know.”
“Is the … where’s the …”
Colton didn’t know what to call the man either. Thug? Enforcer? Criminal? “The police have him.”
A uniformed man stepped into view. “I’ll follow you to the hospital. We’ll need your statement as soon as you can give it.”
The next hours were a whirlwind. Answering questions. Piecing together what had happened. Waiting to see if Garrett would pull through surgery. Through it all, Colton stuck close to Reagan.
He held her hand in the ambulance, assuring himself she was all right. He sat next to her as the doctor examined her ankle then sent her to get it x-rayed. He felt relief when the diagnosis came back as a massive sprain, not a break. She’d have to stay off it for a while but would recover.
Finally, the police left, the waiting room quieted, and she curled against him.
“You okay?” The question seemed inane, but he couldn’t read her quiet reserve.
“I’ll be okay.”
He waited a minute, but she didn’t elaborate. “Can you believe Garrett got involved in gambling?”
She shuddered against him, and he eased her closer. “I don’t like it. He knows better. But it does explain some of his disappearances and tension. To think the man from the boat was the one in the cave. All because Garrett acquired gambling debts.”
“I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “Me, too. I don’t know what to say to him.”
“That makes two of us.” Colton would never understand how Garrett had hatched a plan to “stalk” his sister. How could he think that was okay? Maybe he thought he’d protected her, but Colton didn’t buy it. An awful lot of fear and worry had resulted from those selfish actions.
The doors opened, and the surgeon came out. “You folks waiting on Garrett Graham, right?”
Reagan straightened as much as her extended leg allowed.
“Yes.”
“Good news. Garrett’s out of surgery and doing as well as we could hope. The bullet missed his organs, so he’ll be sore, but as long as he avoids an infection, he should heal.”
Reagan relaxed. “Can I see him?”
“You can, but don’t expect much. He’ll be under anesthesia awhile longer. It’ll be tomorrow before he’s aware of much.”
Colton helped Reagan to Garrett’s room. The young man matched the white sheets. Colton was glad the surgeon had told them everything went well because, based on what he could see, Garrett looked terrible.
After holding Garrett’s hand for a minute and praying softly, Reagan turned back to Colton. “Can you take me home?”
She had no idea how much he wanted to do just that. As he helped her to a wheelchair and then wheeled her to a waiting taxi, he knew what mattered now.
It wasn’t winning some contest.
It wasn’t even figuring out everything with Garrett.
No, where he wanted to focus the last couple of weeks of summer was on the beautiful woman seated next to him. If he did nothing else, he vowed to remove the weight from her shoulders and show her how very special she was.
Chapter 12
The next days passed in a fog. Reagan and Garrett’s mom arrived within twenty-four hours, and Colton slipped into the background. Colton stayed helpful but distant. She’d wanted to protest the change—missing the comfort of his presence and arm around her shoulders—but didn’t. Reagan wouldn’t be able to take care of Garrett when his doctor finally discharged him, not while every hobble sent shocks of pain racing up her leg. So Mom spent her days at the hospital while Reagan grew tired of the condo’s four walls. What had seemed more than adequate before had shrunk now that she felt trapped and alone.
Colton must be busy finding more caches. But when he came over the next afternoon, he denied it. Reagan crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. The feeling that he’d abandoned her left her empty. “Then where have you been?”
“Thinking.” His thinking must have involved the outdoors, because a layer of pink was showing through the tan he’d built over the summer. When he walked on campus after a summer of hiking, he’d turn the head of every unattached female student. The thought made Reagan want to either fight or crawl under her covers and not come out until she was suddenly transported back to her life in St. Louis. Orderly rows of numbers marching in boring rows across reams of paper.
The realization that that wasn’t enough anymore left her cold.
What more did she want?
The answer smacked her so hard she sank onto the couch. She wanted an adventure. An adventure with the man seated at the island. An adventure like the one she’d had this summer.
They watched a movie, a classic black-and-white with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. But instead of laughing at their antics, she could barely hold back the tears.
Her fairytale summer had reached an end. The least she could do was send Colton off as the champ. Even that was impossible, if he didn’t seek more caches. As soon as the ending credits scrolled across the TV, she turned to him.
“What cache are you hitting tomorrow?”
“Don’t have any plans.”
“Why not?” She studied his face, hunting for the answer. “You haven’t given up?”
He shook his head with a serious turn to his mouth. “Can’t go out without my best girl. It doesn’t seem right.”
She rolled her eyes. “All I’ve done is take photos.”
“And found a few caches. Don’t forget that. Maybe I’m content with second.”
“Since when?” She reached over to touch his forehead, and he jerked back.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure you haven’t got a fever.”
“Do you want to get out of here? Go get a custard or drive around the lake?”
Reagan considered him then nodded. “I’ll need a minute to get ready.”
“No way. You look great, so let’s leave now. There’s nothing to hide from. Not now that the police have taken care of the stalker.”
“Sorry. This girl isn’t going anywhere without makeup.” She went to her room and freshened up. Even though he made her feel like a million bucks, she hadn’t put makeup on in days and didn’t want to scare everyone else. When she came out, Colton had pulled his car to the door.
She hobbled outside into an afternoon alive with sunshine and the cloved aroma of the tea roses beside the door. The humidity smacked her after the air conditioning, but she rolled down the window and enjoyed the drive a
long Osage Beach. She smiled as he pulled into the parking lot of Randy’s Custard. “You read my mind.”
“I figure it’s time for another turtle.”
“Absolutely.”
Colton helped her to the bench then ordered the sundaes. A few minutes later, he returned with the treats.
As they sat shoulder to shoulder on the bench, she could almost ignore the heat and humidity. Instead, she enjoyed the moment and the company.
“You ready to head back to St. Louis?”
His question snapped her back to the reality pressing down on her. The hunt would end, and they would go their different directions. “I guess it’s coming.”
“Yep.” He kept looking at the passing cars. She twisted to try to read his eyes but couldn’t.
“Ready for law school?” She didn’t want to think about what that meant. He’d be too busy for her. After all, he’d made it clear from the beginning that he wouldn’t start the school year with anyone special in his life. She couldn’t really blame him, could she?
The next morning Garrett’s parents moved him back to St. Louis. Colton considered the mess that awaited Garrett. Reagan insisted she wouldn’t press charges, but that wouldn’t be enough to keep Garrett from facing the consequences of what he had done. At the minimum the district attorney would be interested in all his efforts to keep the police hunting for a nonexistent stalker. Then there was his outstanding debt. Colton doubted Garrett would make it to law school—as soon as all this broke publicly, his acceptance would probably be revoked.
His phone rang, and he smiled when he saw Reagan’s number. “Yes ma’am?”
“I’m sick of this condo. Find a cache that doesn’t require hours of hiking. I’m ready to get more points.”
He laughed. “Your ankle must feel better.”
“Almost good as new. All this time off it helped. We only have a few days to close the gap.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” The gap created between first place and where he rested was daunting. Still, he scanned the list of caches they hadn’t hit and grinned. How had he missed this one? It would be the perfect hunt for Hopalong Reagan.
In no time, he had her in downtown Osage Beach. When he stopped in front of the custard shop, she frowned. “I don’t want another sundae, Colton. That won’t get you points.”
“Us points. And yes, it might. Listen to this:
Where the turtles cross the window And the sweet treats flow, Look high, but focus low, To find it take a bow.”
Reagan groaned. “These clues aren’t getting better.”
“But it paints a picture.”
“I’ll give you that. What if the cache is at our bench?” Color blushed her cheeks in a way that made him want to lean close and kiss them.
“I like that. And why not? Let’s start there.” It didn’t take long to look around and find the box. This cache was practically tucked in plain view underneath the bench. “You were right.”
Her smile reached her eyes and made them shine. He leaned close then hesitated. A question appeared in her eyes, but she didn’t pull away, so he closed the distance. The kiss tasted sweet, everything he’d imagined and more. She sighed, and he eased back.
A dreamy expression coated her face. “If that’s what happens every time we find a cache, we should find more.”
Her words surprised a laugh from him. “Let’s get our names in the logbook and find another one.”
Over the next couple of days he tried not to second guess the kiss. And he resisted the urge to sweep Reagan into his arms every other moment. Instead, Colton spent the early morning hours hiking and asking God for direction and wisdom.
He’d always planned that law school would be his sole focus over the coming three years. Yet the more he evaluated, the more he realized it was simply that: his plan. Had God brought Reagan into his life at this moment for a reason?
What if God had?
The answer to that question could change everything. Suddenly, law school didn’t have to be the consuming focus of his life. Maybe it could fill a large part of it, but time would remain for other things, like learning if he and Reagan had a future.
The morning of the final rally for the Rainbow’s End hunt, Colton prayed for direction. Tomorrow, they’d each drive back to St. Louis.
The summer had ended.
Now he had to decide if he’d also let it signal the end of their friendship—and the hope of so much more.
Reagan dressed in a new pair of denim capris and a frilly blouse she’d found at the outlets. She added makeup and left her hair down, knowing she looked overdressed for the final hunt rally. But she couldn’t shake the feeling this was also her last night to spend time with Colton.
When the summer had started, all she’d wanted was a place to escape the fear of the spring. She never imagined that her stalker would turn out to be a fabrication that was replaced with the real thing. She never dreamed Garrett’s demon would be exposed or the cost it would carry. Or that her heart would fall for the strong, godly man Garrett had brought along. Instead of annoying her like he once did, she now feared her heart would shatter when they climbed into their separate cars and headed for their separate worlds in St. Louis.
Taking a final glance in the mirror, Reagan practiced a smile until her lips didn’t tremble at the edges. Time to end this.
Colton stood at her door, fist raised, when she opened it. “Ready?”
“Um-hmm.”
The short drive passed in silence. She couldn’t think of anything to say worth pushing past the lump in her throat. The quiet felt heavy and oppressive rather than easygoing like it had in the past. Colton dropped her off at the park’s entrance. “I’ll go find a parking place and come meet you.”
“All right.” The park overflowed with a smaller group than at the opening rally. The same stage stood at the far end, and a celebratory air filled the area. Balloons weighted to each picnic table danced in the cooling breeze. She turned her face into the gentle wind and imagined it wiping away her disappointment.
“You okay?” Colton’s voice and the way he touched her shoulder made her want to cry. Instead, she forced a smile and turned to him.
“Ready to see who won?”
“You can’t answer my question with a question.”
She started to respond but shut her mouth when the pastor approached the microphone.
He took her hand and led her away from the crowd. He seemed relaxed, but she slowed, surprised he’d walk away from the results. “Colton?”
His steps slowed when they neared his car. He leaned against the side then wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into the safety he offered.
“The results will be announced back in the park.”
He shrugged. “I’d rather be here with you.”
Reagan reached up to touch his face. “Colton … what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” His hold tightened, but not in a way that made her feel trapped.
“You wanted to win.”
“Sure. Who wouldn’t?” He tipped her chin up, and she fell into the light in his eyes. “But I learned there was something else I needed more. A prize that is greater.”
She wrinkled her nose as she tried to make sense of his words. “What do you mean?”
“I found you. If you’ll have me, I’ve won far more than they offered. You.”
Her mind couldn’t quite keep up with his words. “What about your plans and law school?”
“I’ve been thinking and praying. I’m still going to school, but I don’t have to do it alone. I want you by my side. If you’re willing.”
His words hung in the air as she tried to inhale. Were her dreams coming true? “Colton, I want nothing more.”
“Then I have a bigger prize than this contest could ever give me.”
As he leaned down to kiss her, she melted against him, thanking God for bringing this amazing man into her life.
Love had found her, when she least wanted
it or expected it … the greatest prize of all.
Cara C. Putman lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. She’s an attorney and a ministry leader and teacher at her church. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska and George Mason University School of Law, Cara loves bringing history to life. Learn more about Cara and her books at her website, http://www.caraputman.com, and her Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/caraputman. Cara loves interacting with her readers.
WELCOME
HOME, LOVE
by Nicole O’Dell
Dedication
This story is dedicated to all of the women—old, young, and in between—who struggle with low self-esteem and a poor body image. Having camped there most of my life, I know the stronghold well.
May you rise up with wings of beauty and take flight with your Savior as He gazes upon one of His most beautiful creations—you.
Chapter 1
The rented SUV glided up the cobblestone driveway toward the quaint cottage. It stood like a scene right out of a Thomas Kinkade painting, complete with window boxes and lanterns, exactly as Hadley Parker remembered it from her childhood summers when the house belonged to her grandmother. Flowers burst from every corner of the yard and dripped from every inch of the wraparound porch. The lawn was plush and expertly preened—not a weed or errant dandelion in sight. The porch beckoned with its two swings and four rocking chairs. This was a house accustomed to visitors, just as it was when Grandma was alive.
As though anticipating a friend, a tray with a pitcher of iced tea and two water goblets sat waiting on a side table. Hadley could get used to staying here again—two months hardly seemed long enough after thirteen years.
She climbed the white wooden steps toward the front door—open to let the summer breeze into the parlor. Parlor? Hadley hadn’t thought that word, let alone used it, over the past decade. But it seemed so natural there. She stepped around the wind chimes tinkling their airy song and reached for the buzzer. Before she could press it, a plump—oh, how Hadley hated that word—woman appeared at the door, wiping her hands on her apron.
RAINBOW’S END: FOUR-IN-ONE COLLECTION Page 21
