by Terri Reed
Adrian.
The world tilted as the blood drained from Lauren’s brain. He hadn’t taken the bait. And now they were at his mercy.
EIGHT
Heart pounding with fear for Lauren, Sean started the truck and pressed on the gas. “Where are we going?”
“Head to Highway 101 and go south,” Posar said, leaning forward to stare at Sean as he removed his hat and peeled away a fake beard.
Sean tried to stifle his reaction to the horrible scars marring the right side of Posar’s face. The twisted and puckered skin made his eye bulge in a grotesque way. His ear, now visible without the cap, was nothing more than a hole in his head.
The muffled shouts of Officer Garrett drew Sean’s gaze to the rearview mirror. The officer was running after them. Gripping the steering wheel tight, Sean said, “You’ll never get away with this.”
The man chuckled, a sinister sound that reverberated through the cab of the truck. “We’ll see.”
Sean glanced at Lauren. She appeared to be in shock. Her face had gone pasty white, her breathing shallow as she stared straight ahead.
Posar slid his arm around Lauren, his gloved hand clamping on her shoulder. “Miss me?” Posar said. She whimpered and leaned toward Sean.
Anger mushroomed in Sean’s veins. “Leave her alone.”
Keeping his hold on her, Posar waved a nasty-looking gun at him. “You mind yourself there, jogger man. I’m the one with the gun and I’ll do as I please.”
Their lives were in the hands of a madman. A shudder of dread coursed through Sean. Only God could protect them. He sent up a silent plea for God’s protection, because Sean couldn’t protect them any more than he could have saved the boy in his counsel. There was nothing he could do.
No, wait. He dropped one hand from the steering wheel and put his fingers to Lauren’s side and felt for the wire, following it until he reached the small battery transmitter-box taped at her waistband. Yes! It was still there.
Sean chanced a risky glance to his hand where it exposed the little black box. Shouldn’t there be a light indicating it was active?
He met Lauren’s frantic gaze.
“Two hands on the wheel, jogger man. Safer that way,” Adrian said.
Sean found the power switch and flipped it before replacing his hand on the steering wheel. He hoped he’d just activated the device.
Roughly thirteen excruciating miles later, a parking lot just off the highway became visible in the glow of the truck’s headlights. No cars were present.
“This is good,” Posar said to Sean. “Pull over.”
“Cape Falcon. Why here?”
“Because I said so.”
Sean did as commanded, praying the wire would still transmit even though they were far from Cannon Beach. But in case it didn’t, his mind ran through possible plans of escape. He was going to have to try to take the gun from Posar. That would be the only way to get Lauren out of this. He brought the truck to a halt. Posar slid out the passenger door and yanked Lauren out with him.
Still holding the gun on her, he said, “You, too.”
Sean climbed from the truck and rounded the front.
“Start walking.” Posar gestured with the gun toward a trailhead barely discernible among the giant spruce trees and salal plants covering the forested ground.
“We can’t negotiate the trail to the cliffs in the dark,” Sean said, hoping Jarvis heard.
“Doesn’t make much difference to me if I kill you now or later.” When Sean didn’t move, Posar aimed the gun at his chest. “Your decision.”
Sean met Lauren’s terrified gaze. He had to stay alive long enough to help Lauren escape. He wasn’t going to let this monster kill the woman he loved.
He sucked in a quick breath. He did love her. And would willingly die trying to save her. Failure was not an option.
“Fine. We’ll head up the trail.” Sean turned and set out in the dark.
Posar pushed Lauren ahead of him. She stumbled as her bum foot hit an uneven patch in the crude hiking trail. His hand bit into her arm as he steadied her.
“Walk,” he barked.
“I’m trying, but I can’t see where to step,” she replied through gritted teeth.
Pain shot up her leg. Fear beat against her temples. They’d been hiking for a while along a forested ridge. The sounds of the highway had long faded to be replaced with the noises of small birds and nocturnal animals foraging for food in the underbrush. The temperature had dropped significantly, making her limbs stiff with cold. Damp, salt-scented wind added to the chill. The roar of the crashing ocean grew louder.
Up ahead, she could see Sean’s silhouette, a dark shadow in the inky night. He kept glancing back. Though she doubted he could see her face clearly, she tried to be brave for him but tears of terror and pain still slipped from her eyes. She prayed to God to keep him safe.
“Veer to your right,” Adrian called out.
Sean headed in that direction. She and Adrian followed.
They came out of the forest into a clearing. The moon’s light revealed the sharply distinct edge of a cliff.
Sean stopped and turned to face them.
Adrian pushed Lauren toward Sean. Startled, she cried out as she fell, coming down hard on her already bruised knees. Pain exploded when nerve endings sizzled at the impact.
Sean moved swiftly to her side.
“Stop!” Adrian shouted.
Without acknowledging him, Sean squatted beside her. In a low whisper, he said, “Follow my lead.” Louder, he asked, “Can you stand?”
Anxious yet encouraged that he had something planned, she nodded. “Yes.”
With his help, she managed to get back on her feet.
With his arm around her waist, Sean faced Adrian. “What now? You shoot us?”
At Sean’s gentle nudge, she slowly moved away from the cliff.
“Oh, no. That would be too easy, too quick,” Adrian gloated. “Step away from her.”
“No. You want her, you’ll either have to shoot me or come through me to get her,” Sean said, his voice hard and determined.
Lauren swallowed back the bile that rose as alarm bubbled in her gut. They were slowly inching their way farther from the edge.
Adrian moved closer. “Don’t you think I’m tempted to just shoot you and be done with it? You’ve caused me enough trouble already. If it weren’t for you, I’d have had her days ago!”
Continuing to inch their way back toward the forest, Lauren taunted, “You’re a monster who deserves to be locked up for the rest of your life.”
Adrian sneered. “Prison walls can’t keep me. I’ll just burn them down again. And again. And again. And again.” His deep, guttural laughter revealed more about his insanity than his words.
“Detective Jarvis will hunt you down,” she said.
“Not if I get him first,” Adrian stated. Now his back faced the cliffs. “Stop moving. I know what you’re trying to do but you won’t get away. I’ll drop you both before you take two steps.”
Sean gave her side a quick squeeze before removing his arm from around her. She didn’t know what he planned to do. She wanted to grab his hand and keep him from trying anything foolish. But he stepped away from her.
“You’re nothing but a coward,” Sean taunted as he moved farther away from Lauren. “Put the gun down and let’s see who drops who.”
“Good try, but I don’t think so. My mama didn’t raise a fool. I know I couldn’t beat you in a fist fight, but I’m smarter than you are, pretty boy. And I have the advantage.” He raised the gun.
“No!” Lauren shouted.
“Run!” Sean commanded.
Adrian swung the gun in her direction.
She froze. Sean launched himself at Adrian, knocking him back. They grappled for the gun. Sean was bigger and stronger, but Adrian had a wildness that could have only been fueled by madness. Sean drove Adrian toward the cliff’s edge as they struggled for control over the weapon. Lauren’s heart
slammed against her chest in painful beats.
“Oh, please, dear Jesus, protect Sean.”
The sharp, loud retort of the gun firing echoed inside Lauren’s head. She watched in horror as blood spread across Sean’s shoulder, and yet he didn’t give up struggling to push Adrian toward the edge.
Adrian slammed his fist into Sean’s wound. Sean grunted and seemed to deflate slightly. The momentum of the fight turned and Adrian began to push Sean toward the cliff. Fear and love for Sean galvanized Lauren into action. She couldn’t just stand there while Adrian killed the man she loved. She ran as fast as her injured foot would allow and collided with Adrian. Caught by surprise, he staggered back, precariously close to the cliff’s edge, his feet slipping on loosened earth and rocks. The gun he’d wrenched control of swung toward her.
With a primal growl, Sean rammed his shoulder into Adrian’s gut, sending him stumbling sideways. Adrian cursed and attempted to turn toward Sean, but lost his footing on the uneven ground. Arms flailing, he tried to regain his balance, but couldn’t.
Lauren watched in shock as he went tumbling over the cliff’s edge. His scream echoed through the inky night—and then all was silent.
For a long moment, Lauren stared at the spot where Adrian had been. Then her gaze fell on Sean, who’d fallen to his knees. She dropped to his side. “You’re going to be okay,” she said, her voice breaking with a sob.
“I did it,” he said in a weak voice. “I saved you.”
“Yes. Yes, you did.”
Sean smiled before slumping over. He’d passed out. Frantic, Lauren shook him. “Wake up. Wake up.”
How was she going to get him out of here?
A crashing sound coming from the forest sent new fear sliding through her. Would she now have to contend with some other sort of monstrous beast?
Then Jarvis and several other officers charged into the clearing, flashlights blazing and guns drawn. Blinking, barely believing what she was seeing, Lauren said, “How…? How can you be here?”
Jarvis knelt beside her. “The wire. We heard everything once it was switched back on. Plus, it has a tracking device.”
In all the chaos of the last few hours, she’d forgotten. She clutched his arm. “Sean’s been shot. We need to get him to the hospital.”
“I know.” He took her elbow and pulled her away from him. “Let the EMTs take care of him.”
Lauren nodded as two uniformed emergency personnel moved in to tend to Sean. They bandaged his wound and lifted him onto a litter before carrying him out of the clearing.
“Where’s Posar?” Jarvis asked.
She looked to the cliff. “He’s gone.”
Jarvis left her side to peer over the edge of the cliff. When he returned, he put his arm around her and steered her toward the trail. “Let’s get out of here.”
Sean lay in the hospital bed, staring at the porous, stuccoed ceiling. He could make out the faint strands of a Christmas carol playing on a radio somewhere outside the room.
His shoulder was on fire again but he didn’t want to ask for more pain medication because it made him loopy and sleepy. Aunt Mary had said Lauren had kept a vigil while he was in surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his shoulder and was now waiting to come in. He wanted, no needed, to be fully awake and coherent when she arrived.
Now that the threat to her life was gone, was she preparing to return to California? She’d once said there were too many memories there, but was that still true? If she didn’t leave, would she stay in Cannon Beach? Were there too many memories here as well?
Was she coming to say goodbye?
Anguish seared his heart.
He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted her to stay. With him.
Was the need to confess his feelings selfish? Would it be better to hold back? Didn’t she deserve the truth?
Did he deserve to have a chance with her?
He was afraid the answer to that question was no. He didn’t deserve her. He didn’t deserve happiness.
His eyes slid closed as tears threatened to escape.
A whisper of movement alerted him that he was no longer alone. He opened his eyes and focused on Lauren’s beautiful face. She smiled, her dark eyes lighting up.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you, but I’m glad you’re awake,” she said in a rush. A blush pinkened her cheeks.
“You didn’t wake me.” He held out his hand on his uninjured side. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
She grasped his hand and held on tight. Her eyes shifted to his bandaged shoulder. “Does it hurt terribly?”
He let out a short laugh. “Yeah. Like crazy.”
“I’m sorry. You were so brave.” Tears filled her pretty eyes. “This shouldn’t have happened to you.”
Frustration spiked his pulse. “It wasn’t your fault. You have to stop owning Posar’s actions.”
“But I brought that monster into your life.”
She also brought love. And salvaged his relationship with God. He squeezed her hand. “Stop it. I wouldn’t change one thing, because otherwise I would never have met you.”
She blinked, clearly taken aback. “Really?”
How could she not know how he felt? One of his grandfather’s sayings floated through his mind, In for a penny, in for a pound. “Yes, really. I love you, Lauren. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you.”
“You love me?”
She said it as if she had trouble believing him. He wished he could take her into his arms and kiss her until she believed him. His injury wouldn’t allow that, so he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. The long sleeve of her bright green sweatshirt rode up, giving a peak of the grafted skin beneath. “I do. But I know I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve such happiness.”
With her free hand, she tugged the sleeve down. “No. It’s me who doesn’t deserve you. I’m so ugly. My scars are so ugly.”
The vulnerability in her expression tore at his heart. He touched a finger to her lips “I don’t ever want to hear you say that again. You are beautiful. Inside and outside. And I’m humbled by your bravery of overcoming your past.”
Joy exploded in her expression. “I love you, too. I don’t want to live my life without you, either.” Her eyebrows drew together as her expression dimmed. “Only…” Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip. “You taught me the only way to healing is to face my fears. I think the same can be said of you. We can’t be together until you’ve come to terms with your past. I know you have the strength to. With God’s help, you can do anything.”
The air left his lungs in a rush. Face his past. Face the fact that he couldn’t help a boy who didn’t want to be helped.
Grace.
His heart hammered as the word echoed through his mind. For a moment he fought to hold on to the guilt, but with Lauren clutching his hand and God knocking at the door to his heart, his mind and soul, he finally let go and felt the inpouring of love, joy and peace of God, filling him to overflowing. It wasn’t a complete healing. It would take time to overcome all his guilt and grief. But it was a start.
Feeling lighter than he had in six long months, he said, “You’re right, Lauren. So very right.”
A smile played at the corners of her mouth. “I am.”
“But I can’t do it alone. I’ll need you by my side.”
“Just try to get rid of me,” she teased.
He pulled her closer until her lips were inches from his. “What a wonderful Christmas present God has given me this year,” he murmured.
“He’s given this gift to us both,” she replied before closing the gap between them.
Dear Reader,
The setting for this novella, Cannon Beach, Oregon, is one of my favorite places. The quaint town and beautiful beaches, whether in summer or winter, draw crowds of Oregonians as well as tourists from all across the world. The idea for this story came to me many years ago while vacationing here. As I sat on the warm sand one summer day, with
the surf as background music and the majesty of Haystack Rock looming out of the water, I closed my eyes and let my mind go. I saw Sean running down the deserted beach on a cold, winter’s evening. I heard Lauren’s cry for help. And from there the story morphed into what you’ve read.
I hope you found Lauren and Sean a compelling couple with problems that seemed insurmountable but, as we know, with God anything is possible. Even overcoming a madman bent on revenge. But most importantly, finding healing and love through faith.
Until we meet again, may God’s loving hand be upon you.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
In what ways were Sean and Lauren realistic characters? How did their romance build believably?
Sean felt guilt for the suicide death of the boy he was counseling. Was the death something Sean could control? Have you ever had someone close to you commit suicide? How did you handle their death?
What did you think of the villain, Adrian Posar? Do you feel, as Lauren did, that God shouldn’t allow men like him to have free will? What would human life be like if there was no free will?
Lauren was angry and questioned why God allowed her to be hurt. Can you tell of a time when you felt this way? How did you come to terms with the feeling?
Lauren felt that her scars made her ugly. Is outward appearance the only way we can feel ugly? Do you have scars, either physical or emotional, that make you feel ugly? How can we overcome this feeling?
Sean and his aunt opened their home to a stranger in need. Was there a time when you were given an opportunity to open your home to someone in need? And if you invited them in, tell how the experience affected you. If you didn’t invite them in, tell why not.
Did you notice the Scripture in the beginning of the story? What application does it have to your life? What are the differences between a heart of stone and a heart of flesh? Why would God want to do this?
CHRISTMAS TARGET
Stephanie Newton