Lone Defender (Love Inspired Suspense) (23 page)
Read Lone Defender (Love Inspired Suspense) Online
Authors: Shirlee McCoy
Her hand went limp, her breathing heavy.
Giving in finally.
Bruised, battered, alive.
He brushed hair from her forehead, pressed his lips close to her ear, whispered. “Here’s another thing for the records, if you ever jump in front a bullet meant for me again, I’ll bring you out in the desert and leave you exactly where I found you.”
To his surprise, she laughed, the sound ending on a soft groan. “It isn’t nice to make a woman with a busted collarbone laugh.”
“You’re supposed to be sleeping.”
“It’s hard to sleep when every bone in my body hurts.”
“I can call the nurse.” He reached for the button, but she touched his hand.
“I have a better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“Tell me about you.”
“You already know about me.”
“Not the stuff we’ve already talked about. Tell me about climbing mesas and exploring the desert. Tell me what it’s like to feel like you belong where most people wouldn’t dare go.”
“Sky—”
“Tell me, because some day I want to go back with you. I want to walk the desert and see it through your eyes instead of the eyes of fear. I want to climb the mesa and camp in the cave, look out at the stars. Just be. With you. And God. The whole world…” Her voice faded.
Asleep?
Awake?
“Tell me. Give me something to dream about,” she whispered, and he couldn’t resist her.
He lifted her hand. Gently. Gently. Stroked her knuckles.
Spoke the poetry of the desert into her ear. Spoke it as he had never spoken it to another person. Sharing his heart in a way he’d never imagined he could, the words flowing with his love for Skylar.
Just as they should.
Just as he wanted them to.
God’s plan, God’s will, playing out through grief and joy and everything in between, bringing Jonas to exactly the place he was always meant to be.
EPILOGUE
“Y
ou didn’t tell me it was going to be this hot in May.” Skylar took a long swallow of lukewarm water and eyed her husband as he rolled up a sleeping bag and hooked it to his backpack. His long-sleeved shirt was unbuttoned, his chest chiseled and hard, his abdomen smooth.
He looked good.
No.
He looked great.
Too bad it was their last morning in the desert.
She was really enjoying the scenery.
She smiled, fingering the arrowhead at her neck.
A reminder of another time.
Another trip to the desert.
A reminder of how far she and Jonas had come together.
How far they still had left go.
A lifetime, stretching out in front of them. All those dreams she’d given up on, finally being fulfilled.
“I would have, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
“If that’s your idea of a surprise, I think I’ll pass next time.”
“Really?” He nuzzled her neck.
“No.”
“That’s what I thought. I love you, Skylar. Even if you do wilt in the heat.”
“Plants wilt. I’m frying.”
He chuckled.
“The sun is barely up. Look.” He turned her, his chest pressed to her back, his breath ruffling her hair as he pointed to the horizon.
Gold sun.
Deep pink clouds.
Blue, blue sky.
“It’s just like you said it would be, Jonas. Breathtaking.”
“More so when I have you to share it with.”
“I almost wish we didn’t have to go back.” She twisted in his arms, the secret she’d been carrying for a week, begging to be told.
Would he be happy?
Sad?
Both?
“We don’t. The Clovis brothers have been convicted of first degree murder. Smithson’s trial won’t start for another two weeks. We can stay here until it starts. Just show up when it’s time to testify.”
“You’re forgetting a few very important things.”
“Am I?”
“We’re expected in New Mexico in two weeks so you can start your new job. We have a house to pack up. I have two very pressing cases that I need to tie up before then. Not to mention our anniversary.”
“What anniversary?”
“Rat.” She slapped his chest, and he grinned.
“One entire year married to you. I don’t think I need a reminder of that. As a matter of fact, since we’re going to be busy packing to move on our official anniversary, I brought
your gift with me.” He knelt by his pack, pulled out a small box.
“What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
She lifted the lid, her eyes welling when she saw the arrowhead necklace.
“I know you have the one my grandfather made, but I wanted to give you something from my own hands.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“
You’re
beautiful.” He lifted the necklace from the box, slipped it around her neck.
She held the arrowhead in her palm, squinted at the tiny letters engraved in it. “You wrote something on it?”
“It
is
our anniversary. It had to be special.”
She read the words, her eyes welling again.
For the record, I love you always.
“You’re not crying, are you?”
“No.”
“Really?” He traced one tear down her cheek.
“Okay. I’m crying a little. I brought your gift, too, Jonas.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s here.” She took his hand, pressed his palm to her still-flat abdomen, saw the wonder fill his eyes.
“Are you happy?” she whispered, and he pressed his forehead to hers, looked into her eyes.
“How could I not be?”
“The memories—”
“Will always be there. The past will always be there. But this is now. This is you. Our baby. Our future.” He kissed her deeply, tenderly, endlessly.
And she wanted to stay right where she was. Forever.
Wind howled. Chopper blades churned.
Reality intruded, and Jonas broke away, breathing deeply,
his eyes blazing with love and passion. “I guess that’s our cue to get out of here.”
“We could ignore it.” She kissed him again, and he smiled.
“We could, but we have a house to set up in New Mexico. A nursery to set up, so I think it’s time we got on that chopper and got on with our future.” He patted her belly, and her heart swelled with love for him.
For the child they’d created.
For all that God had done.
All that He had yet to do.
Swelled because it was so filled up, it could do nothing else.
“You know what, Jonas Sampson? I think you’re right,” she said.
And Jonas swept her into his arms and carried her toward the chopper and all the beauty and trials and joy God had in store for them.
Dear Reader,
Tragedy often brings us to a place of choices. Will we hold tight to our faith or will we doubt what we believe? Jonas Sampson has stood in that place. After the murder of his wife and unborn son, he questions his purpose and struggles to hold his faith. When he’s asked to help find missing private investigator Skylar Grady, he agrees. But getting Skylar back to safety is more complicated than he expects. As he and Skylar work to uncover a killer’s plan, Jonas must search his heart and learn that no matter how far we roam, God is only a prayer away.
I hope you enjoyed reading
Lone Defender
as much as I enjoyed writing it! I love to hear from readers. If you have time, drop me a line at [email protected].
Wherever you go, whatever you do, may you feel the fullness of God’s ever-present love.
Blessings,
Questions for Discussion
- Skylar Grady is a survivor. What characteristics do you think make a person a survivor?
- How has Skylar’s past shaped her personality and character?
- Jonas has suffered a horrible tragedy. What is his response to it?
- How strong is his faith before the tragedy?
- Does that change after the murder of his wife and son?
- Is it hard to keep believing in the goodness of God’s plan when your life seems to be falling apart?
- What promises has God made regarding difficulties in life?
- Are there Bible verses you find comfort in during troubling times? What are they?
- Jonas’s guilt leads him to give up his work as a border patrol agent. Do you think that was the right decision?
- Have you ever made a decision based on emotion and regretted it?
- What is it that draws Jonas and Skylar together? Would you characterize them as similar or different in personality?
- Skylar has a difficult time trusting others, but she does trust Jonas. Why?
- Jonas knows that he must move on with his life, but doing so isn’t easy. What is it that leads him to finally move forward?
- Is there something in your past that keeps you from moving forward into God’s plan for your life?
- What Biblical principles guide us in dealing with past trauma and heartache?
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1285-5
LONE DEFENDER
Copyright © 2011 by Shirlee McCoy
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Love Inspired Books.
® and TM are trademarks of Love Inspired Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
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