A Romance Rekindled (Heartsong Presents)

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

  She swiped at tears threatening to slide down her face. “I’m scared. You know how much I hate fire.”

  He drew her trembling body into his arms and rested his chin against her hair. “We’ll pray for a way out.”

  “Good idea.”

  “Lord, we are in a pretty bad situation and need Your help. Please guide us and help us to get off this mountain safely. And please be with the firefighters as they battle the blaze. In Jesus’ name, amen.” He planted a soft kiss on her forehead. “We’re going to be okay, Susan.” He leaned back and captured her gaze. “You ready to get moving?”

  She nodded.

  He released her and set a swift pace back the way they’d come.

  * * *

  Susan smothered a cough. “The smoke is getting worse, Blake.” Her heart thundered in her chest. They’d been making their way toward the cabin and his Jeep for at least thirty minutes. Would the fire consume their escape before they could reach it? She didn’t want to die like this. She coughed and fanned the air in front of her face.

  Blake stopped and pulled a T-shirt from his pack and ripped it in two. “Tie this around your nose. It’ll help you breathe.” He wrapped the other half around his own face and nodded his approval when she did the same. “Let’s go.”

  She peered around and suddenly everything looked the same. “Which way?”

  “Down. I was able to tell the 9-1-1 dispatcher where my Jeep was and that we’d be en route before I lost the connection. Let’s go before the flames beat us there.”

  Susan nodded and jogged behind him through the brush and trees. So far so good, in fact, the smoke seemed to be thinning, but still stung her eyes. She took a deep breath—big mistake. A racking cough doubled her over.

  Blake stopped, and she ran into him. “You okay?” Concern laced his eyes as he studied her face. “Let’s slow down.”

  “No! We have to hurry.”

  “Won’t do us any good to hurry if we breathe in too much smoke.”

  Susan still didn’t see any flames. All of a sudden the sound of breaking branches and crunching brush filled the air. She pointed. “Look there!” A family of deer ran toward them, followed by a bear. They darted behind a large tree trunk for protection until the herd of deer and bear passed. “It’s like watching Bambi. If those creatures are heading our way they’re running from the fire. Maybe we should follow them.”

  He shook his head. “Our only hope of getting off this mountainside is to get to my Jeep before it goes up in flames. There is no way we can outrun a wildfire.”

  Susan understood his reasoning, although she wasn’t sure she agreed.

  A loud crack ripped the air. She looked up and screamed. Lightning! Susan grabbed Blake’s hand and propelled them forward. No way was she going to stand around and wait for more fires to start. “Come on. We’re running out of time.” Lord, please help us! Her pulse thundered in her ears, and she was certain her heart would pound out of her chest.

  A tap on her shoulder stopped her forward motion. She looked back at Blake.

  He pointed to their right.

  The road. They ran for the open space, and just as they reached it the sky opened up, dumping huge raindrops. Thank you, Jesus! The parched dirt quickly turned to mud. She slipped. Blake caught her and pulled her close.

  His gaze locked on hers. “We’re going to get out of this.”

  She stood focused on his eyes. Strength and confidence reflected back as he held her.

  He broke the connection, and they slipped their way together down the mountain. Each step getting them closer to the fire and their mode of escape.

  “Look, there’s the cabin.” Blake pointed to a spot about a quarter mile away.

  Susan’s heart sunk. Flames licked nearby. Would they get there in time?

  * * *

  Blake kept a tight hold on Susan’s hand. They were so close, but so were the flames. The good news—the flames weren’t big, and the trees hadn’t caught fire. He wouldn’t give up. His lungs burned from the smoke, but the closer they got to the fire, the less smoke they inhaled. His Jeep finally came into view. Thankfully, it hadn’t burned. “We’re almost there.”

  “I read once that if you’re caught in a wildfire, and you can’t escape, to stay inside your house. Maybe we should just hunker down in the cabin.”

  “No way. It’s not made to withstand a wildfire. Our best chance of escape is driving out of here.” Smoke burned his throat. His eyes stung and watered. He looked around praying for firefighters, but they were too high up the mountain for the firefighters to have made their way to them. They would attack the fire from below to protect the town. He ran the last few yards to the Jeep. Two nearby trees were fully engulfed. “Hurry. Get in,” he shouted over the roar of the fire.

  He put the vehicle in four-wheel-drive, turned on his lights and headed down the slippery road. Rain pelted the windshield, giving him hope. “Look, the rain is snuffing out the flames.”

  “Only on the ground. Those trees are still burning.”

  A loud crack split the air.

  “What was that?” Susan ducked, then looked up through the windshield.

  “Another lightning strike?” Blake didn’t have time to worry about the sound. The slick road took all his concentration and the deluge of rain rendered his wipers virtually useless.

  A thunderous crack made him jump. He caught a glimpse in his rearview mirror of an enormous pine falling. The earth bounced beneath them. Susan screamed. He wrenched the wheel to compensate for the pull to the left. “Guess we know what the sound was now.” He grimaced and thrust the accelerator. “Hold on.”

  The Jeep bucked over the water-filled potholes. Blake rounded a corner and discovered a water truck blocked the road ahead. He honked repeatedly and removed his foot from the gas. They slowed, and he whipped around the water truck.

  A man decked out in fire gear waved them to a stop. Blake rolled down his window.

  “You the people who called 9-1-1?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The man nodded. “Glad you’re okay. And thanks for the call. No one else had reported it. Did you see anyone up there?”

  Blake shook his head. “How bad is it?”

  “We don’t know yet. But the rain is a huge help. Looks like the town is safe. You folks take it easy the rest of the way down. You’re past the fire line.”

  * * *

  A sob built in Susan’s throat. She refused to let it free, but couldn’t stop the steady stream of tears scrolling down her face. Blake rolled up the window and kept the vehicle at an easy pace the rest of the way to the bottom.

  He stopped at the RV park and got out. Susan followed and looked the way they’d come. “It doesn’t look bad from here.”

  “Yeah. I hate to say it, but I’m glad we were up there. Otherwise who knows how long the fire would’ve burned before it was reported.” Blake rested an arm across her shoulder.

  “Do you realize God saved us?” She turned and clung to him, burying her face in his chest, overwhelmed by her desire to be near him. When had this happened? “He gave us a second chance.”

  With his finger, he tilted her chin up. “I don’t want to mess up this time.”

  “Me neither.” The warmth of his breath tickled her cheek. His lips were mere inches from hers.

  His eyes lit with passion and her heart fluttered, as she closed her eyes. His lips touched hers, softly probing. She responded, deepening the kiss. He pulled back and captured her face in his hands. “I could kiss you all day, but I’d better get you home. We’re both a sopping, muddy mess, and if Katie finds out about the fire before she sees me, she’ll be an emotional wreck.”

  “Call her.” She snuggled against his chest while he held her with one arm and phoned his sister with the other.

>   “Hey, Katie. Just wanted to let you know I’ll pick you up in about an hour. Would you put Mitch on the phone?” His chest vibrated as he talked with Emily’s dad.

  Susan blocked out his conversation and focused on the steady beat of his heart.

  “Hey.” Blake rubbed Susan’s back. “We need to go.”

  She released her hold on him. “What did Mitch say?” She climbed into the passenger seat and buckled up. The inside of the vehicle reeked of smoke.

  “He didn’t know about the fire. He’s concerned, of course, and said to be careful.” Blake started the engine and headed toward town.

  Susan nodded. “Your sister okay?”

  “She’s clueless about the fire, or that we were anywhere near it.”

  “She won’t be for long, once she smells the inside of this thing.”

  “Good point. Think I’ll have Mitch or Julia bring her home and let the Jeep air out.” A frown tugged at his lips. “This day sure didn’t turn out like I expected.”

  “Me neither, but I don’t have any regrets.”

  He shot a wry look her way and quirked a grin.

  Chapter 20

  Sunshine filtered in through the windows at Blake’s house, and Susan couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. Ever since the fire that summer, she couldn’t get Blake and his sister from her mind. Katie remained clueless about how close they’d come to the fire and succumbing to the smoke. Sadly, Julia and Mitch’s cabin didn’t survive, which made their escape all the more amazing. She’d had more than one conversation with God these past couple of months expressing her gratitude, not only for their lives, but for her and Blake’s restored relationship. It seemed God had a plan for them.

  Katie and Blake sat at the kitchen table playing checkers. Katie looked her way. “I’m winning!”

  Susan grabbed the glasses filled with ice and lemonade and brought them to the table. “Good for you.”

  Blake sent her a private wink and reached for the glass. “Thanks.” He took a long swallow and studied the board. “I don’t like losing.”

  “Neither do I, big brother.” Katie jumped his black chip. “King me.”

  Blake shook his head. “You just wait. This game isn’t over yet.”

  Susan soaked up the friendly banter while gazing out the window. Blake had a nice piece of property with an open field to the rear. He’d chosen this place well.

  Clapping pulled her from her thoughts.

  “I won!” Katie jumped up and down, smacking her hands together.

  The child definitely knew how to celebrate.

  “This is the first time I ever beat him!”

  Blake pushed away from the table. “Good job. But don’t gloat.”

  Susan hid a smile behind her hand.

  Blake caught her eyes and wagged his finger. “I see that grin. Your eyes give you away.” He pulled her close and captured her lips with his.

  “Eww.” Katie ran to her bedroom and shut her door with a thud.

  Blake chuckled, then cradled the back of her head and deepened the kiss.

  Tingles zipped through Susan from head to toe. Breathless, she pulled back. “This has been a nice day, but as much as I’m enjoying both of you, I need to get over to Keira’s. Can you believe her wedding is only seven days away?” She touched his cheek with her hand. “I’ll be swamped this week helping Keira. But I’ll see you there.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  * * *

  Blake fingered the tiny box in his pocket.

  Katie’s small hand slipped into his. “The yard is so pretty. I wish I’d brought my sketch pad or a camera.”

  Blake looked around and marveled at the transformation of Keira’s in-laws’ backyard. A portable gazebo stood at the front of several rows of white wooden folding chairs. Simple purple, red and yellow flower arrangements sat on either side of the gazebo. A young woman in a long black dress sat off to the side playing Pachelbel’s Canon in D on a harp, setting a peaceful tone over the hushed guests.

  Susan walked out the back door of the house, and he caught his breath. A lavender sundress rested just above her knees revealing her shapely calves. He’d never seen her in anything but black or white, and this was definitely a good color for her. She waved, but veered toward an usher.

  “Come on, Katie. Let’s get seated.” The rows were filling quickly, and the ceremony would begin in five minutes, if things were on schedule. They were ushered to a seat on the bride’s side near the back.

  * * *

  Susan held Keira’s bouquet of white roses and marveled at the serenity her friend exuded. The couple said their vows and exchanged rings, and then Pete drew Keira close and thoroughly kissed her, until their guests began to giggle.

  The happy couple pulled apart, and Susan handed back the bouquet. Her friend glided down the aisle on Pete’s arm, floating in a lacy tea-length white dress with cap sleeves. She’d curled her normally straightened hair to frame her face in a cute twenties style and clipped one side with a rhinestone bobby pin. Understated elegance described Keira perfectly.

  Susan followed and waited behind the seats for the ushers to dismiss the guests. She couldn’t wait to see Blake. She’d had a busy week and had missed spending time with him. A few moments later he stood by her side.

  “Hey, beautiful.” He placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

  “Hey, yourself. Where is Katie going?”

  “She spotted Emily and her family and wanted to say hi.”

  Susan laced her fingers with his. “Let’s get in line for cake.” Her friends had kept the wedding simple, choosing to serve cake and punch at their reception rather than a meal, which was fine with her. She was all about keeping things uncomplicated.

  Keira held a small piece of cake to Pete’s mouth. He took a huge bite then he held out a piece to her. Susan sighed. They both behaved themselves and didn’t smear cake on the other. She would have let Blake have it if it had been them. She giggled at the crazy thought. Her friends turned to Cody and stuffed a piece in his mouth. The boy’s eyes widened and everyone laughed.

  Blake whispered into her ear, “You’re glowing.”

  Susan’s cheeks warmed. “I’m so happy for them. Keira and Pete are perfect together. He’s so good for her.”

  “I’m sure she’s good for him, as well.”

  Susan nodded. Warmth that had nothing to do with the sunshine overhead filled her. She shivered in the light breeze.

  “You cold?”

  “A little. This fall air has a little nip to it.”

  He pulled her in front of him and ran his hands up and down her arms. “Better?”

  “Much. Thanks.” She looked over her shoulder and smiled.

  * * *

  An hour later, the reception was still going strong, but Blake sensed the moment had come. He spoke into Susan’s ear. “Take a walk with me?”

  “Sure.” She stood up.

  Katie smiled and gave him a thumbs up, well aware of what he was about to do.

  Thankfully, it appeared Susan hadn’t noticed. He guided her to the quiet side of the yard, away from the celebration. A canopy of trees shaded them.

  “Didn’t they look happy?” Susan turned to him, her eyes glowing.

  “Absolutely.” He fingered the box in his pocket. “I’d like for us to be that happy, as well. This past summer has had its ups and downs, but the ups have been pretty special, and you’re the reason. I don’t want to waste another moment of our lives.” He dropped to one knee and pulled out the velvet box, opening it to reveal a princess-cut diamond that Katie had helped him pick out. “I love you, Susan, with all my heart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes!”

  He stood and reached for her left hand, then sli
d the ring onto her finger. “A perfect fit.”

  She stared at her hand and tilted it from side to side. “How?”

  “I have a good memory.”

  She looked up with glistening eyes. “I love you so much, Blake. This feels like déjà vu, but this time I know it will last a lifetime.”

  “You can count on that.” He cradled her cheek in the palm of his hand, and then lowered his lips to hers, sealing their promise with a kiss.

  * * * * *

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  ISBN-13: 9781460333938

  A ROMANCE REKINDLED

  Copyright © 2014 by Kimberly R. Johnson

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  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 Harlequin Books S.A.