By Summer's End (Christian Fiction) (24 page)

Brianna
cast
a furtive glance at the driver beside her.  He looked like a kid.  Or … maybe
he was a man.  She couldn’t tell.  He turned toward her and smiled.  Something
about his smile made her uneasy.

She met his eyes.  They held a predatory
gleam.

This was wrong.  All wrong.  She had
gotten into a car with a stranger—with a man who had already set off warning
flags to both her and Holly.  She should have known better but she’d been so
upset and angry, she hadn’t been thinking clearly.

That’s not true.  She had been thinking,
but for a brief amount of time, she hadn’t cared about the consequences.  She
hadn’t cared what happened to her.  Suddenly, she did care.

Her thoughts turned to Holly.  She was
going to be devastated when she realized that on top of losing their land, she
was also losing her sister. 

But leaving was the right thing to do… 

For Holly’s sake… 

Wasn’t it the right thing to do?

Brianna glanced ahead and spotted the
commercial district of Battle Ground.  They reached a major intersection and
came to a stop at a red light.  But something was wrong.  Matt suddenly pulled
into the left turn lane.

“Where are you going?” she asked, her
senses on high alert.  “Vancouver is that way,” she directed, pointing.

“We’ll stop by my place first, if you
don’t mind.”

“But…”

The light changed and he turned left. 
He continued east until they reached another stop light.  It turned red.  As
the seconds ticked away at the light, the driver became more agitated and
jittery.  He began gnawing on his left thumbnail.

“Get out of the car.  Now!”   

Brianna glanced around.  Who had just
spoken to her?  She turned toward Matt but he wasn’t even looking her way. 
Instead, he was now clutching the wheel with both hands, his knuckles white
from the exertion.  He was leaning forward, but suddenly his eyes darted her
way.  He smiled, but it was more a leer.  His right leg began to bounce against
the gas pedal.  The car surged.  “Turn green,” he muttered.

“Get out of the car.  Now!” 
The
voice was adamant. 

Almost of their own volition, Brianna’s
hands reached for the door handle.

“Now!  Get out!”

She flung open the door and practically
tumbled out of the car. 

“What the…?” Matt cried, as the light
turned green.  He hesitated and reached a hand toward her.  “Get back here! 
Now!”

“Run!”
the
voice commanded.

Brianna veered past a car in the right
lane beside them and ran to the sidewalk.  There, she continued running, but
opposite the direction of the Dodge.  She glanced back, but to her horror, the
Dodge did an illegal u-turn and began traveling in her direction.

Brianna spun around, to run in the
opposite direction, when she collided with a rock hard body.  Two strong arms
shot out to steady her.  “You’re all right,” the voice said.

She looked up into the face of a police
officer and then heard a lot of commotion as the Dart was pinned in by two
patrol cars from opposing directions.  She heaved a sigh of relief as the
officer escorted her to an awaiting patrol car.

“You’re a lucky girl,” the cop said, as
he helped her inside.  “You shouldn’t have gotten into a car with that guy in
the first place, but thank God, you had the good sense to get out.”

***

An officer arrived at Holly’s place of
employment with Brianna in tow.  He relayed what had happened.

Holly listened in abject terror.  She
realized she hadn’t told Brianna about the guy’s rap sheet when Ryan had filled
her in.  Regardless, her sister should have known better than to have gotten in
a car with him.

Holly nearly collapsed from the weight
of ‘what could have been,’ and if Ryan hadn’t shot forward to grab a hold of
her arm, she would have ended up crumpled on the floor.

“Brianna, why?” she murmured.  “Why
would you get in a car with that man?”

Brianna opened her mouth to speak, but
no words came.  Ryan stepped forward, to finally, finally explain everything,
but Brianna found her voice and began screaming at him.

“You need to leave!  We trusted you! 
How could you?”

Holly sat still, stunned by her sister’s
outburst.  She’d yet to process that her kid sister had voluntarily climbed
into a car with a pedophile.  Why was Brianna screaming at Ryan?

Suddenly, Annabelle and Harrison
arrived.  “Brianna!  Are you all right?” Annabelle cried, as she crossed the
distance between them.  She gathered Brianna against her.  “Honey, why?”

Brianna began struggling and pulled
away.  “You know why!  You lied to me!  You lied to us!”

Annabelle’s face fell.  She turned to
Ryan and shook her head.  She began crying as Harrison wrapped an arm around
her.  “We wanted to tell you…” she began, but Brianna would have none of it.

“You should have told us.  You should
have!”

Holly shook her head to clear it.  Her
nerves were frazzled, her heart still pounding erratically in her chest. 
Brianna had willingly climbed into a car with a bad man.  What had possessed
her?  

“Brianna, come here,” she said, and
patted the chair beside her.

Brianna moved to sit beside her and
watched her expectantly.

“Brianna, talk to me.  Why did you get
into that car?”

Tears began flowing down her cheeks and
her lips trembled when she spoke.  “I decided it wasn’t fair for me to stay. 
You have enough to deal with as it is, but now…”

“Now what?”  She glanced up at Ryan and
Annabelle, who looked absolutely heart sick.  “What is happening?” she
demanded.

Ryan stepped forward.  “Holly, tonight,
Brianna overheard me talking to Jim about…”  He swallowed hard.  “Listen,
it’s…”

“What?” she cried.  “Somebody tell me
what’s going on.”

It was Annabelle who finally said the
words.  “It’s just…  I mean…”  She took a shoring breath.  “I’ll just say it.  Holly,
you own the manufactured home you’re currently living in, but the land beneath
it…”  She took a tremulous breath this time.  “Well, it belongs to Ryan and
me.  My father and your uncle had a verbal agreement whereby Ben was permitted
to live on the property until his death.  Upon his passing, the home was
supposed to be moved.  Ben’s executor was supposed to tell you, but…”  She
shrugged helplessly.

Holly’s jaw dropped open.  She sat in
stunned silence.  Finally, she directed her words to Ryan.  “Why … didn’t you
tell me?”  

“I didn’t know how.”

She shook her head and emitted a
beleaguered sigh.  She turned to Brianna and smiled.  “We’re going to be okay. 
As long as you’re here, safe with me, I’m going to be fine.  Nothing else
matters…  The land, even the house…  Without you…”  She shook her head, as if
the possibility was too horrible to bear. 

She reached for her sister and pulled
her into her arms.  She held on as if her life depended on it and burst into
tears.  Finally, she swiped at her eyes.  “I can’t imagine life without you,
Brianna.  I was so alone before you came along…”  She clutched her sister’s
hands.  “Promise me right now you’ll never pull a stunt like this again.  I
don’t think I could live if something happened to you.”

Brianna nodded.  “But…” 

“Brianna!  Listen to me.  Yes, we love
our little house, but I love you much, much more than four walls and a roof. 
As long as we’re together, we’re home.  Do you understand?”

The girl sniffled.  “Yes.”

“Now, promise me you’ll never try to run
off again.”

“I promise.”

Their eyes held for a moment and then, together,
the sisters rose from their respective chairs.  Holly wrapped an arm around
Brianna’s shoulders.  “Let’s go h—”  She forced a reassuring smile.  “We’re
going to be fine.”

***

“Have you talked to her yet?” Jim
asked.  He had called Ryan over to the church to help him with some heavy
lifting. 

“No.  Holly won’t talk to me, nor will
Brianna.  The kid won’t even accept Annabelle’s invitation to ride our horses
whenever she’d like.”

“They feel betrayed,” Jim said without
apology.  “Exactly what you expected.”

“I know.”

“If Holly was here right now, what would
you say to her?”  Jim pinned him with a look.  “What would you say?”

***

“Brianna, come on.  Jim is waiting for
us at the church.”

“I don’t want to go,” the girl moaned. 
“I just want to leave Battle Ground and forget about everybody and everything.”

“I know,” she commiserated, “but it’s
not fair to your friends in youth group for you to leave without a proper
goodbye.  The kids are waiting for you.”  She tapped her sister on the chin. 
“Try to hold your head high and keep a smile on your face.  We’re fine, you and
me.”

Brianna forced a bright smile.  “Yes, we
are.  Nobody can get us down,” she said with conviction.  “We have each other
and God.  That’s all we need.”

“That’s right,” Holly said, smiling and
sending a glance heavenward.  “Thank you,” she mouthed once again.  She’d been
doing that a lot lately, after Brianna had related to her that she had jumped
out of the pedophile’s car only after hearing a voice tell her to do so.  She
was dead certain her sister had heard the voice of God.

As they drew near to the church, Holly
sighed.  “I’m going to miss this church,” she admitted.

“Me, too.  And I made some pretty good
friends here.”

“You did,” she agreed.  “Oh, well, we’ll
have to find a new church in our new home town.”

“Have we decided where that might be?”

She shook her head.  “I think it’s best
we wait to make any big decisions until after we sell the house.”

“I wish we didn’t have to sell it,”
Brianna said, for the umpteenth time.

“I know, honey, but we have to.  I
looked into the possibility of moving it ourselves, but it’s just too
expensive.”

“But we
could
use the money Uncle
Ben left you…”

Holly shook her head as she parked her
car.  “No.  I’m going to pay off my mother’s hospital bill with it.”  She
forced a bright smile.  “Just think, we’ll be debt free.  And then, once the
house sells, we can use the proceeds to start fresh wherever we choose.”

“I like it here,” Brianna said softly.

“I know you do, but…”

“I know.  We can’t stay.  It would be
too hard for you, seeing Ryan…”

“What?”

“Oh, Holly.  Cut the nonchalant act. 
You’re as in love with Ryan as he is with you.”

Holly was about to protest, but she
couldn’t muster the strength.  She had loved Ryan—probably still did, but… 
Everything was messed up, too convoluted, and there was no fixing it.  Perhaps
with God’s help, but…  Did she even want a relationship right now? 

She shrugged away the question.  It
didn’t matter.  Ryan was no longer a part of her life.  It was for the best.

As the women entered the church, they
were greeted by many new friends.  Members of the youth group had strung a farewell
banner across an archway, and an assortment of goodies awaited them in the
fellowship room.

“Oh, Holly, Brianna, Jim needs a word
with you in the small conference room,” said a young woman, who often helped
out with the youth group.  “Please join us when you’re done.”

“If
Holly was here right now, what would you say to her?”

Holly heard Jim’s inquiry, just as she
and Brianna entered the small conference room.  Both women came to an
instinctive stop when they spotted Ryan just ahead.  Holly was frozen in place,
Brianna was simply taking her cues from her sister.

“What would I say to her?” Ryan said
with a sigh, as he raked his hand through his hair.  “Well, first I would
apologize—to her and Brianna.  I would tell them I should have been forthright
with them from the beginning.”

“Why weren’t you?” Jim asked, folding
his arms across his chest.

Ryan shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I mean… 
When I encountered them beside the road, and followed them home with the desk,
I had no idea where they were leading me.  When it turned out to be Ben’s
place…”  He paused and sighed.  “I don’t know.  It threw me for a loop.”

“Okay, but why didn’t you tell them soon
after?”

He arched his brows and spread his hands
in front of him.  “Love at first sight,” he said, his voice questioning, and
then he laughed.  “Truthfully, I think that was part of it.  I sensed right
away what a wonderful person Holly is, and of course, Brianna got to me.  She’s
such a great kid.  They seemed to love the house so much.  They
appreciated
it so much.”

“And you didn’t have the heart to
destroy their dream?”

“Exactly.  And as I got to know them,
and came to understand what they’d been through, and how much their home really
meant to them, I just didn’t have the heart to pull the rug out from under
them.  And then, as time passed, I couldn’t actually bear the thought of them
leaving at all.”  He dropped his eyes to the floor.  “I still can’t.”

He finally glanced up.  “When I think
about Brianna getting into that car…”  He wiped a tear from his eye.  “It kills
me.  If something had happened to her…”

“But it didn’t, and you had something to
do with that.”

Ryan glanced up, his eyes questioning. 
“My prayer, you mean?”

Jim nodded.  “Do you remember how you
asked God to tell her—
to tell her
—to get out of the car, and asked Him
to make her listen?”

He nodded.

“I understand that Brianna heard a voice
tell her to get out of the car.  God heard your prayer, Ryan, and He spoke to
her.  And thanks be to Him, Brianna listened.”

Ryan nodded, his eyes filling with tears
again.   “It’s funny, but Jim, I’ve been so lost for so long.  I tried to be
someone I wasn’t.  I tried to be … my dad.  I’ve been miserable for so long,
but now…”

“Yeah?”

“Traveling, giving up the business,
saying ‘no’ to the offer for our property, it’s like, I’m finding myself again.” 
He smiled.  “I’m talking to God again!  And do you remember how much I always
loved animals?”

“Yes, I do.  You always had a way with
all kinds of animals.”  He chuckled.  “Mom still says you were the most
tender-hearted little kid she’d ever met.”

“My dad always belittled me for my
affinity for little things.  He viewed me as being ‘too soft’ and ‘weak.’  But
loving animals—loving, period—doesn’t make you weak.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“I love Holly.  I love that sister of
hers.  I want the best for them.  I want them to forgive me and I want them to
stay here, with me.  I wish Holly wasn’t intent on selling the little house.  I
think I know why Ben left the place to Holly.”

“You do?”

He nodded.  “Yes.  Ben was married
once.  Did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“I don’t know why I suddenly recalled
this, but anyway, Ben lost his wife when she was young.  He told me she was the
finest woman he’d ever met—had a faith in the Lord that couldn’t be broken. 
Anyway, he said he’d never met a woman like her, but that he’d met a little
girl of such a strong, unshakeable faith—his great niece.  I recall him telling
me about meeting her for the first and only time at a family reunion. 
Apparently, her father had just left her mother, was dating someone else, and
had brought both his girlfriend and Holly to the reunion. 

“The guy was apparently doting on the
woman and virtually ignoring his daughter.  Ben said he sensed a sadness in the
little girl and that he sat down to talk to her.  Apparently, they got to
talking about the impending divorce of her parents.  She divulged to him that
her father wasn’t around much, but that it was okay because her real father is
in heaven.  She told him He was her dearest friend and that He would protect
her from anything and never leave her.  Ben said he was surprised at her
absolute confidence in God.”    

“And her faith remains strong to this
day,” Jim commented.

Ryan nodded.  “Anyway, I remember him
saying he hoped I’d meet a girl like her someday, and I have a feeling ol’ Ben
orchestrated our meeting by leaving her his house.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me a bit,” Jim
said with a laugh.  “Ben was determined that you find your way back to God, and
that you find a godly woman.”

“God and I are on pretty good terms
now,” Ryan said with a smile, but then laughed without humor.  “Holly and I, on
the other hand…”  He sighed.  “I’ve finally found the woman I truly believe God
wants me to be with, and she’ll probably never forgive me,” he said miserably. 
“I have done a lot of praying about…”

“I forgive you, Ryan,” Holly interrupted,
as she took a step toward him.   

He spun around, mouth agape at the sight
of her.  “You … do?”

Holly knew full well Jim had
orchestrated this meeting, but she was suddenly okay with that.  Ryan had made
a mistake by keeping the truth from her, but she could understand how difficult
it would have been for him to tell her the truth.  If the situation had been
reversed, she would have had a hard time too.

“I do forgive you.  I can’t expect God
to forgive me, if I’m unwilling to forgive others.  Besides…”

Brianna spun toward her and broke into a
smile.  “You’re finally going to admit it.”  It was a statement, not a
question.

“It’s about time I got honest with
myself, too,” she said, looking intently into his face. 

Ryan took several steps closer to her. 
“Honest?  About…?”

 “I love you too, Ryan.  I tried to deny
it to myself, but I do love you.”

He closed the distance between them. 
“You … love me?”

She nodded. 

“Will you stay here?  In Battle Ground? 
With me?”  He laughed.  “I mean, not with me, until we’re married, of course.” 
His eyes widened, as if an idea came to mind.  “You can stay in your home,
until we’re married.  In the meantime, we’ll design our own place.  I’ve always
wanted a home on the rise in the north pasture.”

“You have?”

“Yes.  Annabelle has always loved the
big house, but me…”

“It’s too big,” Holly said. 

“I’d like something a bit cozier,” he
admitted.

“Me too,” Holly said, smiling widely and
thrilled they were on the same page.

“Uh, over here.  Where do I fit in?”
Brianna asked drolly.

Ryan reached out without looking her way
and pulled her toward them.  He wrapped his arms around both women.  “I love
you, Holly.  And I love your kid sister.”  He pulled back slightly.  “We’ll
keep Ben’s place for Brianna, for when she’s an adult.  Just in case she should
want it.”

“I want it!” she cried.  “And while
you’re at it, can I get a horse?”

“Yes,” he said, still looking intently
into Holly’s eyes.  “Well, if it’s okay with your sister.”

“It’s okay,” Holly said, but suddenly
looked alarmed.

Ryan too became alarmed until he saw
Holly visibly relax in front of him.  “All right?” he said.

She nodded.  “I remembered I’m in debt,”
she said, “but then I remembered that thanks to Uncle Ben, I’m in a position to
pay off my debt.”

“Your mother’s hospital bills…” he
murmured.

“Yes.” 
How did he know about her
debt?

He read her mind.  “Brianna told me, and
I already paid them,” he said.

“You
what
?” she cried.

He raised his hands as if in surrender. 
“Please don’t be angry.  Those bills were an obstacle to … us.”

She searched his face and then smiled
with relief.  “I’ll cut you a check.”

He only shook his head.  “Put it in
Brianna’s college fund.”

The girl grinned impishly.  “Or, I could
buy a stallion and…”

“We already have a stallion and another
should be here by summer’s end,” Ryan informed. 

“We’re going to breed horses?” Brianna
said eagerly.

Ryan laughed with delight.  “
We
are.  We’re also going to develop the property into Annabelle’s vision of an
equine paradise,” he said.  “Suddenly, I can see it in my mind’s eye.”

“Me too!” Brianna cried.

“How ‘bout you, Holly?” Ryan asked,
watching her hopefully.  “Can you see it?”

“I can see it,” she said with a serene
smile.  “But most importantly, I see
you
.  The man God picked just for
me.”