Once Lost

by Brenda Dugas

  A sharp beam of light suddenly flashed from the point below bringing into view a distant lighthouse. Evening had come quickly, and she still had much to do. She slid into her car and turned back down the main road, looking for a familiar landmark to signal her turnoff. Instead, she had to be content with turning in what she thought was the general area where she had emerged onto the main road. As darkness took over, the side roads all seemed to look alike, each meandering around curves and up hillsides.

  On and on Leah drove, until she was sure that she had driven around too many curves and up too many hills. The road gradually narrowed and became a trail, confirming now that she had definitely taken a wrong turn. She searched frantically for an area wide enough to turn around, but the trail grew even fainter and more overgrown until quite unexpectedly, it disappeared completely... and nature took over in the form of a large, swift-running stream!

  Braking quickly, she sighed with relief, managing to halt just before the car lost its grip on stable ground. This relief was to be short-lived, however, for when she shifted to reverse and tried to back away, the wheels spun uselessly and the car refused to budge. She felt the weight of the metal below her sink by what felt like several inches! Panicking now, she applied more pressure to the accelerator, but the spinning wheels sank even deeper. You’ve got to be kidding me! This cannot be happening again! Really, God?

  Jumping out, she ran to the front of the car, and saw that, even though she was still a few safe feet from the edge of the bank, the same storm that had caused her earlier accident must have weakened the ground beneath her. The front wheels had sunk deeply into the soft mud, and her shoes left deep imprints with each step.

  "This time I’ll have to have a tow truck!" she moaned. I wish Dustin Brannon would show up now... Leah opened her cell phone to call 9-1-1, and again, she realized quickly there was no signal in the forested area. Looking down the trail, she saw no sign of civilization; no cars, no houses, and of course, no street lamps.

  After several failed attempts to find an area around her car that had cell phone signal, she finally decided the only thing to do was walk for help. She grabbed a flashlight from her glove box, but was disappointed by the dim light it produced. It was still early evening, so she hoped to walk back far enough to reach a house before its inhabitants retired for the night. Locking up the car, she grabbed her purse, slung it over her shoulder, and then put on her coat. She hadn’t yet transferred her funds to a local bank; the only money she had to live on for the present was inside this purse. She hoped her coat would hide it from anyone with the wrong intentions that she happened to meet on the road…not that I’m likely to meet anyone, Leah thought as she started out on what would be the longest walk of her life.

  As she forced one numb, cold foot in front of the other, Leah wondered how she could have left the village so far behind. The trail wound gradually around the hill as she trudged on and on in the brisk New England spring night with only a few stars and a tiny crescent moon to light her way. Time passed slowly, as the moon inched ever closer toward the treetops. The road became harder to see in the darkness that was now beginning to envelop her, but she had no choice other than to continue walking. She was at least now back on paved road, which did bring some comfort.

  Leah was beginning to fear that she could be walking further away from the town. Realizing she had to have turned off in the wrong direction, her anxiety began to build at the thought that no one knew she was lost in the woods! So no one will be searching for me! She listened intently for any sound that would signal a nearby vehicle, but the woods remained stoically silent as the night wore on. She finally came upon one old, rundown house which appeared to be abandoned. It was very dark, there were no vehicles or lights present so Leah kept walking.

  It seemed like an eternity had passed when the distant roar of a lone car engine and lights further down the hill revealed a car to be climbing in her direction. The lights came closer, and the main road finally came into view a short way ahead. Even though she was relieved that help could be on the way, the fact that Leah was alone and defenseless made her unusually cautious. Rather than stepping out into view and accepting a ride on a dark road with a stranger, she decided to stay out of sight. She would watch to see the direction the car took and walk there, hoping to find safety in a group of people.

  Leah had just satisfied herself that she was completely hidden, when the vehicle came into view through the trees, passed by, and turned off a little further up the road. Emerging from the woods, and putting all the energy she could muster into what she hoped would be the final stretch of this journey, she followed the road in the direction the car had traveled. There were no houses in sight; however the road revealed a curve at the end. As she rounded this curve and then another, she was rewarded by the sight of a huge house...no, a mansion. Breathing a sigh of relief because the lights had not yet been turned out for the night, she quickly approached the lit walkway that led to a beautiful glass front door. An exhausted Leah made the last hard climb up the steps, an unnecessarily large number for a house! She rang the doorbell. There were no voices inside and she started to wonder if anyone was home here after all. After a long, anxious moment she heard approaching footsteps. As the door was swung open, Leah looked up into the incredulous face of none other than …Slade Coleman!

  Naturally, he found his voice first..."What are YOU doing here?" Leah’s spirits were at their lowest ebb, and to her humility, she burst into tears. "What the, where’s your vehicle Miss—Liles, isn't it?” She nodded. “How did you get here?”

  “I got lost going home from town! Dustin was going to draw a map, but you… now my car is stuck up to its axels in mud! Which, thankfully, saved me from driving right into a stream! Then I had to walk for miles in the middle of nowhere… believe me, you are the last person I would have chosen to ask for help!” Realizing that she was completely at this man’s mercy, Leah fought to regain her composure, "I... I'm sorry," she stammered, as a fresh flood of tears overcame her.

  Her tears again seemed to soften his stiff demeanor. He insisted she come inside the warm house and led her into the den. "Please try to calm down. I'm sorry I reacted as I did, you were just the last person I expected to find when I answered the door at this hour. I can see that you're exhausted, cold, and probably hungry. Have you eaten since lunchtime?" Leah acknowledged that she hadn’t. He helped her to remove her jacket. “I'll be back with something for you to eat, you can rest here.” She was too exhausted to argue and the next thing she knew, Slade Coleman was bringing her a tray with a warm bowl of soup. Is this the same man I met earlier today? Leah enjoyed the much needed meal. "I don't think I've ever been this hungry -- and I don’t remember the last time I cried, before today!”

  She spoke apologetically as she sipped a steaming mug of hot chocolate, "Mr. Coleman, I know I've caused an awful lot of trouble.”

  "Slade, please, and it was no trouble, Miss Liles…” and he paused expectantly.

  “Please call me Leah…” and she launched into a detailed account of how she had lost her way, nearly driven into a stream, and then walked in search of help, making more sense this time.

  "But how did you know where my house was?"

  "I didn't." Leah admitted that she had been afraid to stop someone on the road, so she had hidden in the woods and then followed his car.

  "You did the right thing," he assured her, "but who do you think you could call for help this late? I’m sure you'll need a truck to pull the vehicle out.”

  "I was going to call 9-1-1, but my cell phone couldn’t get a signal. I kept trying as I walked until it finally died. My flashlight battery didn’t last much longer.”

  "There's really nothing that can be done before morning. While you were eating, I had a room prepared upstairs. Please stay here for the night and we'll get your car in the morning." Seeing Leah's worried expression, he added, "I can assure you that, as it seems your vehicle is stuck on my property, it’ll be quite safe. I�
�m sure you’ll find all of your belongings exactly as you left them."

  "Mrs. Croft!” he called to the stairs where a maid appeared, looking as though it were quite the ordinary to be rousted from her bed and preparing a guest room in the wee hours. There really seemed to be no reason to argue…Leah was exhausted and didn't even know where to find her new home, so she thanked him for his kindness.

  She followed the maid upstairs and down a long hall to a room on the back side of the house. She was given a ladies gown that was slightly too big, but not large enough for Mrs. Croft's large frame. Making her apologies to the patient maid, she fell quickly into the welcoming, incredibly soft, warm bed wondering sleepily whose gown she had borrowed and whether the owner would mind. Was Slade Coleman married? There was no ring, she was sure she would have noticed. If he isn't married, whose gown am I wearing? Oh, who cares – just be thankful I’m out of those dang woods!

  Chapter 3

  The sun was shining brilliantly when Leah reluctantly opened her eyes to the not-so-new day. At first, she was puzzled over the unfamiliar and lavish surroundings. The huge room was tastefully decorated, with plush beige carpet, fine and soft as silk, and exquisite white French furnishings. Frilly white-trimmed Cape Cod curtains framed the windows; a beautiful blue, that matched the duvet and the tablecloth and napkins on a small breakfast table that was cleverly tucked into the bay window.

  The events of the previous day flooded Leah's memory and she sat up in alarm when she realized that she should have been up hours ago. As if on cue, there was a tap on the door and Mrs. Croft entered with a tempting tray of bacon, eggs, toast, juice, and coffee. "Good morning, Sunshine," she greeted, smiling broadly. “Did you get some rest?”

  "Good morning," Leah returned the greeting then added guiltily, "I know I've caused a lot of extra work for you and I'm truly sorry. I should have been up hours ago and now you've had to cook breakfast again just for me, no doubt."

  The elderly woman smiled, "Don't worry so Child; it's been a pleasure to have a lady like you in the house… someone other than Alaine.” Leah was almost sure she caught Mrs. Croft rolling her eyes. From this comment, Leah concluded that Slade Coleman was indeed unwed.

  “Here we go,” Mrs. Croft said wedging open the French shutters. The curtains billowed with the gentle flow of the fresh ocean breeze. “I said lady, that Miss Anderson is no lady, that's for sure!" she chuckled to herself as she left the room.

  Leah settled into a cushioned wicker chair facing the window, taking in the lovely view of the village down below her. "Has Mr. Coleman left for work yet?" she inquired when Mrs. Croft returned to clear the table. Now that she was fully awake, Leah's concern for her belongings returned.

  "Yes, Miss, he left early, but he said to tell you that he'll be home before noon with a truck to pull your car out. If you'd like to shower and freshen up a bit, you should be able to get in a quick tour of the estate before he returns."

  As Leah looked uncertainly for her clothes the maid produced them from the closet, freshly laundered with even her shoes buffed to look like new. "Is there anything you don't think of?" Leah exclaimed bringing a beam of pride to the older woman's face. Having someone look after her this way brought back so many wonderful memories of dear Mrs. Mullen.

  The promised tour of the huge house revealed many large rooms, all tastefully furnished with antiques and portraits that Leah was informed had been in the Coleman family for generations. On the whole, she came to realize that Slade Coleman was one very wealthy man.

  As they reached the downstairs living area, Leah paused to examine a painting with a view that struck her as being oddly familiar. “A gift from that Miss Anderson, she’s an artist.” Mrs. Croft seemed unimpressed. Leah then recognized it as being the same scene she had viewed from the bedroom window and wondered what other “gifts” this Miss Anderson had given him.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his voice as he entered the foyer. He greeted her and she noticed with relief that he seemed to be in a good mood. Even after the unspoken truce of the previous night, Leah was still in awe of this man and was uncomfortably aware of his presence. "How do you feel today?" he asked as she managed to smile in greeting.

  "A little stiff and sore," she admitted, not adding that she felt weak and a little shaky since he had entered the room. She was relieved when he suggested they leave right away to get her vehicle. Slade seemed lost in his thoughts and Leah was left to enjoy the ride on this bright, clear day. The roads that seemed so mysterious and foreboding in the dark now seemed harmless in the daylight. It wasn't a short distance, even when riding, Leah realized as they finally reached her crippled Blazer.

  Slade was obviously thinking the same thing. "How did you come this far out of your way?" he asked sternly. "You could have asked for directions from anyone in the village.” He now turned to face her, "I hope you won’t allow yourself to land in a predicament like this again. Some people who were lost in these woods were not found until it was too late to help them. Some of these old trails are also prone to mudslides, and may give way when weakened by heavy rain. A few of the steeper roads have sections that have broken off completely; most have been barricaded, but to be safe, you should stick to the main roads in the future. If you lose your way, you’ll at least be where help is close by.”

  Leah recalled her first meeting with Slade Coleman, and her reaction when he objected to her moving into the Mullen house. This time she reacted differently, assuring him that she would be much more cautious in the future. Satisfied, he turned his attention to the task at hand. Leah was relieved to think that she would soon be back on her own.

  It took some careful maneuvering on his part to back the large truck into position on the narrow trail, but within minutes Leah's SUV was pulled free. She didn’t argue with his instructions to follow the large company truck back to town to have her vehicle inspected for damage. She noticed that his truck had the same company logo she had seen on Dustin’s less luxurious version.

  Arriving back on the now familiar Main Street, he turned into Milner’s Automotive. After speaking with the attendant, an inspection was underway. A few minor adjustments later, her vehicle was returned and she was on the way to her new home. Slade instructed Leah to follow him as he led her to her house. She concentrated on memorizing a landmark for every turn as she followed him through the winding village roads. This time I'll be sure to remember the way!

  Leah thought about the differences between the two men who had rescued her: There was Dustin, blonde and good-natured. Then there was Slade Coleman, (somehow she couldn't think of him yet as just "Slade"). He was dark and volatile, a man of wealth, obviously highly respected in this community…a man Leah found that she could no longer dislike.

  This time when Leah followed her guide into the overgrown drive she was quite sure that she could find now find her own way around. Slade seemed to have no trouble opening the front door that Dustin had struggled with the day before. This came as little surprise to Leah. It wouldn't dare. She suppressed a grin he caught as he turned to face her. The expression that crossed his face left Leah with little doubt that he could read her mind. He went through the house making a list of the necessary repairs and then instructed Leah to ride with him into the city. She felt a slight bit resentful being ordered about by a man she hardly knew but she later had to admit that it would have taken her much longer to get so much done on her own.

  He drove with speed but with total command and the journey to the city was accomplished in a matter of minutes as the powerful black truck climbed the hills effortlessly. They stopped first at an electrician's shop where arrangements were made for the wiring in the house to be inspected the next day, then on to the utility companies. The next mission was to schedule roof repairs. Slade Coleman's word obviously carried clout, Leah observed, as she was promised the roofers would arrive early the following morning. She began to be genuinely relieved that he had appointed himself as her spokesman, since she di
dn't understand the technical jargon that passed between him and the various professionals.

  They enjoyed delicious clam chowder for lunch at a small cafe with a staff that obviously knew and liked Slade. The bubbly red-haired waitress went all out to see that he and Leah were served quickly. Before long, they were on their way again.

  At Leah's request, he stopped at a nearby bank and she started the process of transferring her funds from the Florida bank to a new local account. Upon returning to the village, Slade made one last stop at a nearby farm, leaving with the promise that a tractor would arrive early the following morning to cut the overgrown brush on Leah's property.

  They arrived back at her house late in the afternoon satisfied that all the major initial repairs would be done and services would be connected in the two remaining days of the work week. Leah was assured that no payments would be necessary until the first of next month when statements would be sent to “my very own address”, she thought with pride.

  "I really appreciate everything you've done for me," she said earnestly as they sat on the tailgate of his truck in the driveway. "I know that if you hadn't been with me this work would have been delayed until credit checks were made and deposits would have been required that I wouldn't be able to pay until my money has been transferred.”

  "Where will you stay for the next few days?" He questioned. "Surely you're not planning to stay here?"

  "Yes, I intend to stay here tonight." Leah stated resolutely.

  "You should wait at least until the water and electricity are turned on. You’re welcome to stay at my house as long as you like." But Leah felt that she was already indebted to this man more than she cared to be and insisted on moving into the house as it was. He programmed his cell number into her phone, and had her verify with a test call. He then moved toward the door to leave.