Pearl Valley

by Felicia Rogers

  “No, you can’t! What if something happens? I’ll be stuck here on the ledge by myself. I can’t, you can’t.”

  The cord wouldn’t hold both of them, and if he let her go first and the line broke… The thought made his throat clench.

  In the cool night air, her silken gloved fingertip against his exposed forearm shot tingles down his spine. His heart raced when she said, “I believe in you.” Right then, he knew his second purpose in finding Jane Dossett — she would be his wife.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Confused by his dreamy expression, Janie snapped her fingers. “Hey? Are you there? We need to get down from here before there’s a rockslide or something worse.”

  He guffawed. “How could it possibly get worse?”

  “Please don’t ask.”

  He tugged the rope. “Look, I don’t know how far this rope reaches or if it will hold. I think I should go first, just to be safe.”

  “Didn’t you listen when I said I can’t be left alone?”

  He held her face and kissed her roughly on the lips. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, he was gone. Looking over the side, she saw him. Fiercely she prayed for his safety. Along the way he called up to her.

  “I think the line is long enough. How does it look up there?”

  Janie directed the light to the rock holding the cord. Fear gripped her throat until she couldn’t speak. The line had inched up the boulder. First she wrapped her backpack around the cord, but she couldn’t get a good grip. Then she grabbed the line with her hands.

  “What’s going on up there?”

  Strained she yelled, “Find a place to drop.”

  The line burned as it slid through her fingers. Closer and closer it came to the end. Right when the end was near, the line slackened, and she fell backward. Regaining her balance, she called, “Trevor! Trevor, are you okay?”

  His voice drifted upward. “Yes. And you?”

  “The rope slipped off.”

  “It’s okay. You just need to secure it again.”

  “What?”

  “Can you tie knots?” he called.

  Janie mumbled under her breath. “Why do women always have to do something to get anything done right?”

  She secured the line. Lowering herself over the edge, she was happy for the dark. Step by step, she walked down the side of the mountain, grateful for her gloves. The narrow, thin, cord was hard to grasp.

  “You’re almost there. Keep coming.”

  Trevor touched her leg, and she took one more step and found herself on the ground at the base of the mountain. She felt like kissing the dirt, she was so happy.

  “Is this the mountain we drove up earlier?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  He lifted his gaze. “And my truck is on the top?”

  “Yup.” She hitched her shorts higher on her waist and started walking toward the road. Wolf howls echoed around her, and she stopped.

  “Don’t stop,” whispered Trevor.

  “But—“

  “Don’t stop. Keeping moving.”

  Bushes rustled as they rushed past. Janie shone the flashlight in front of them. She tripped, and Trevor reached forward and caught her arm. Moonlight glistened off Trevor’s knife. The wolves hollowed again, and Janie picked up the pace.

  The gravel road was up ahead. They would have to climb up a dirt hill to reach the road. Chest heaving from exertion, Janie stood at the side of the road. Headlights blinded her, and she shielded her eyes.

  Trevor moved in front of her. A rattling jeep stopped before them.

  A man leaned across his seat. “Hey, there. Can I help you?”

  Janie pushed Trevor aside and said, “Marcus, is that you?”

  “Sure is. Is that you, Janie?”

  “Yes.”

  “You shouldn’t be out here. There have been some wolves on the loose.”

  “Yes, Marcus, thank you. Do you think you might be able to take us to the top of the mountain?”

  “Well, I suspect I could. I was just on my way to the top to check on things.”

  Janie opened the door. “Thanks.”

  Trevor climbed in beside her.

  “Odd seeing you two out here. Most people don’t come from that direction. Used to be there was a trail hereabouts that people would take when they wanted to hike. Is that what you were doing?”

  Trevor opened his mouth, but Janie squeezed his thigh and said, “Yes. I took Mr. Jacobs for a hike to show him around Pearl Valley.”

  “Oh, that’s good. There ain’t near enough youngsters care about our town anymore. They all the time buried in the television or playing a game or being on that there newfangled computer.”

  Janie shook her head in agreement. Marcus must have enjoyed his audience because he expounded. “When I was a young’un, we would walk along the base of this mountain, and there was this cave you could climb into, and it was like climbing backward up a slide. We had the funnest time. Everything was good until those people ruined the oyster farm.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Trevor. “I thought that the oyster farm dried up.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Jacobs.” Marcus held a hand in front of Janie and the two men shook. “Sorry I ain’t been around town to introduce myself. My wife is up in town at the hospital. They done diagnosised her with cancer, and it ain’t looking good.

  “But back to the oyster farm, I reckon you can say it dried up. But it was the funniest thing. Everyone knew the water was coming in from somewhere. I always figured it came from under the mountain, but just like that,” he snapped his fingers, “the water dried up, and we didn’t see any more. I worked as a supervisor at the farm. We came up one morning, and all the water was just gone. We kept looking for more to shoot out, and it never did, so we just had to shut it down.”

  “Did anyone ever investigate?” asked Trevor.

  “I reckon that a geologist that was friends with the doc came by. He said sometimes these things happen and probably the fake mountain had caused a problem.” The old man shrugged. “Whatever the case, it has been bad for this town. We used to have jobs and young people and tourists. Now all we have is the old people left. I don’t have a problem with them, I’m old myself, but even I know if you don’t get some new people, then the town will die out. It’s just a shame.”

  Marcus crested the top of the hill, drove through the valley, and stopped in the parking lot beside Trevor’s truck.

  “Thanks for the ride,” Janie said.

  “Not a problem, I’m glad I could help. And it sure was nice talking to you folks.”

  He let them out and pulled back onto the road. Trevor climbed behind the wheel of the truck, and Janie settled in the passenger seat. Every muscle in her body ached.

  The motor fired up and Trevor drove the truck down the mountain.

  ****

  Trevor was so overwhelmed to be safe that he didn’t know what to say. Janie leaned her head back and emitted a soft snore. When he pulled up to her house, he pecked on her shoulder and she jumped.

  Rubbing her eyes, she said, “Are we home?”

  The words had never sounded so beautiful. “Yes, we’re home.”

  She didn’t move, and he jumped out and opened her door. Together they stumbled to the porch. She pulled a key from her purse. Inside the house she flipped on the light switch, and he gasped.

  “What?”

  “We have to go to the hospital. We need to go now.”

  She moved away and stared at herself in a full length mirror. Dried blood covered her legs and arms. Her hair was matted and filled with dirt and twigs.

  “I–I just need a good shower.”

  “No, you need to get checked out.”

  “And what about you?”

  She moved him in front of the mirror. His pants had two fang holes; deep gashes lacerated his prosthesis. Dried blood covered his forehead, and his hands were red and raw.

  “We’ll both go.”

  “No, I ca
n’t. If we go to the hospital, they will ask questions about what happened to us, and then reporters will come back again, and I just got rid of them.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and almost grimaced with pain. “If you won’t go to the hospital, then where will you go?”

  She gnawed on her lip. “I’ll go see Doc Robinson.”

  “You mean Doc Giles?”

  Her gaze lowered, she said, “There’s no one else to go to. And, I–I trust him.”

  Trevor felt like she was lying to pacify him and keep her personal mandate to stay in Pearl Valley but he nodded in agreement anyway.

  Instead of showering or changing clothes, they climbed back into the truck, and she directed him to the doctor’s office. The two-story house with maroon shutters and white trim was highlighted by a streetlamp. The interior lights were dim.

  “What if he isn’t taking patients?”

  “Trust me.”

  They strode to the door and Janie knocked. The door opened, and Doc Giles, with his shirt hanging half off his body, opened the door.

  “Janie?”

  “Doc, can we come in?”

  He pulled the door back wider and narrowed his eyes.

  “We were hiking and had an accident.”

  Trevor noted that Janie didn’t tell where they were hiking and filed that away to ask her about later.

  “Come in.”

  “Thank you.”

  He led them through a long hallway to a room on the back of the house. Lights flickered on, and Trevor and Janie took a seat along the wall.

  “Who’s going first?”

  Janie raised her hand and disappeared behind a thick blue curtain. Trevor placed his elbows on his knees. When they reached his truck, he had placed his phone in his pocket, now it vibrated. A quick glance at the screen revealed a text from Rory. Shoving it back in his pocket, he decided to call him later.

  “I’m going to step out while you put on this gown.”

  “Doc, is that completely necessary? Most of my scrapes and bruises are visible.”

  Water poured from a sink behind the thin veil. Trevor tilted his head to the side as Janie groaned. Afraid, Trevor rose, snagged the curtain, and pulled it aside. Doc Giles rubbed a damp cloth over Janie’s legs. She squirmed and wiggled all over the doctor’s table. She held her hand out to Trevor, and he clasped it and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

  Doc Giles lifted his brow but didn’t comment. Instead he went back to cleaning her wounds. He rolled the stool away, walked to a cabinet, and gathered medical supplies. Arms laden with antiseptic and bandages, he returned to his post.

  “You two look like you’ve been through a war zone. And, Mr. Jacobs, you will need to order a new prosthesis.”

  Trevor glanced at his leg. Rocks had penetrated all the way through his jeans and into his prosthetic leg. As he had noted before, deep gashes marked the plastic. Later he would change into his spare one and then call his orthopedist. But right now, all he could think about was Janie.

  “There, all done. I don’t see any broken bones or serious injuries, although without an x-ray I can’t be sure.”

  “No x-rays. I’m fine.”

  “Suit yourself, but might I suggest that next time you decide to go hiking, why not pick an established trail?”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Okay, Mr. Jacobs, your turn. Just take off your shirt and your pants and we’ll see what we have.”

  Trevor refused to expose his infirmity to Doc Giles, miracle doctor of Pearl Valley. He said, “No, thanks. After a shower and a change of clothes, I’m sure I’ll be as good as new.”

  “As you wish. Just remember that I did offer.”

  Trevor and Doc walked from behind the curtain, and Janie redressed. Finished, she came around the curtain. Trevor stood, and they walked to the door to leave. Janie said, “Thank you.”

  “Not a problem. Come anytime.” Doc lifted Janie’s hand and kissed the back.

  Trevor jerked Janie onto the porch and helped her into the truck. He thought about swinging by the hotel before taking her home but changed his mind. They arrived at her house, and he waited in the living room while Janie showered.

  Above, the pipes creaked and groaned as hot water gushed through their insides. The running water soothed him, and he lay back to rest his eyes.

  ****

  Janie felt like a new person. She threw her dirty clothes in the laundry room and padded barefoot along the hardwood floor. Soft snores emitted from the living room. Peeking inside, her face transformed into a grin. Trevor had lay on his side and curled into a ball. His fist was curled under his face like a pillow, and drool dripped from the corner of his mouth.

  She knelt beside him and gently nudged his shoulder. “Trevor?”

  “Uh.”

  “Trevor, you can go to your hotel now.”

  “Do I have to?” he asked in a childish voice.

  She rolled her eyes. “If you want to stay here, you have to shower and sleep in the guestroom.”

  Trevor groaned and rolled into a seated position. “And to think I was having the best dream.” He smiled slyly and pushed to his feet. “I think I have some clean clothes in the truck.”

  He retrieved his things and escaped to the bathroom. When he finished, she was sitting on the couch enjoying a cup of cocoa.

  “There’s hot water on the stove if you want some.”

  “I think I’ll pass. Just direct me to that guestroom.”

  Later that night, Janie settled in bed. She read chapter thirteen of I Corinthians. She also read the Song of Solomon from cover to cover, blushing at some of the descriptions.

  She covered a yawn and laid her Bible beside the bed. As sleep overtook her, she dreamed of fire trucks screaming past her window.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Incessant banging flooded Janie’s dreams, and she used her pillow to cover her head. It failed to muffle the sound, and Janie threw her covers off the bed and reached for her robe.

  “I’m coming!”

  It was Tuesday, and her volunteer calendar was free until Thursday. Who would stop by for a visit… she paused at the hallway clock … at seven o’clock in the morning?

  Water dripped from the gutters. She rounded the corner and looked toward the back door. A fine drizzle fell. Doc peered through a slit in the curtain. Opening the door, she noted his posture. He held his hat in his hands, and his shoulders slumped as he studied the ground.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Janie, I have bad news.”

  She pulled the robe tighter and clutched the door facing for support. A million thoughts ran through her mind in that brief space of time. Had something happened to her father? Had something happened to the school? What in the world could it be?

  “The hotel burned last night … and well, your friend, Trevor Jacobs, he is gone.”

  Behind her, the guestroom door creaked open. Bare feet slapping the floor echoed through the hallway. Trevor yawned and stepped beside her. “What did you say?”

  Doc blinked rapidly. He dropped his hat and picked it up slowly from the floor. His jaw twitched.

  “Obviously, the reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.”

  “Obviously,” repeated Doc as he stared at her.

  Janie felt heat rush to her cheeks. Trevor shrugged on his button-up shirt, letting it hang loose. He placed his hand on her shoulder. Inwardly, Janie groaned. How could she rectify Doc’s misconception that they had spent the night together? That he thought such a thing had happened was plainly written all over his face. And in truth, he wasn’t wrong. Trevor had been in her home, just not the way Doc thought he had.

  The warmth of Trevor’s touch fogged her brain, but when his fingers massaged her in a slow rhythmic motion, she thought she would come unglued.

  “I can see you’re busy,” said Doc, backing away. “Sorry I bothered you. And I’m glad you’re all right, Mr. Jacobs.”

  He reached the edge of
the porch, and Trevor said, “Is there anything we can do to help?”

  Doc shook his head. “No. The firefighters and paramedics have everything well in hand.”

  “Thanks for the information.” Trevor pulled her hand free from the door facing and slammed the door. Through the parted curtains she saw Doc proceed to his vehicle. He glanced at her house once more before shoving his hat on his head, climbing into his vehicle, and driving away.

  “Come away from the door, Janie.”

  Mindlessly she obeyed. She sat on a stool in the kitchen. Settled, the phone rang. Trevor handed her the receiver while he rifled through the cabinets.

  “Hello?”

  “Oh, Janie. I’m so glad to talk to you. Have you heard?”

  “Dad?”

  “Can you believe these fires we’re having? The council is worried we have another arsonist like ten years ago. No amount of assuring them to the contrary is working.” He paused before adding, “I’m sorry about your friend. He was the only one they couldn’t find. The fire was so hot they found only the remains of a prosthesis.”

  Janie eyed Trevor as he whistled happily in her kitchen. Everyone counted him as dead. Should she tell her father the truth? If she didn’t, would Doc share the news?

  ****

  Janie’s face showed a variety of emotions. One minute her lips twitched upward, the next minute they fell. She twirled a stray hair around her finger. Then she stared at him.

  Whoever was on the phone had said his name. Probably in relation to the fire.

  The fire. Everything, his clothes, computer, extra prosthesis, his leather luggage set had all been in that hotel room. If he hadn’t thrown an extra set of clothes in the truck, he’d only have what he’d worn on the hike.

  Admittedly, there were worse things than losing his stuff; he had experienced worse himself, but the event hit him like a car accident. All of the sudden he jolted with the realization that he could have died in the hotel.