Nodding, everyone began to put Dean’s plan into place.
Joelle touched Dean on the shoulder. “Be careful,” she whispered.
“I will.” He gave her a sad smile. Joelle knew he blamed himself for Eagle’s flight.
As soon as they left the church, Ashlynn said, “This night sure has been a disaster.”
“It’s not a disaster yet, and it only will be if they don’t find Eagle,” Joelle said.
Fiona smirked. “You say that as though finding Eagle would be a good thing.”
“Fiona, you’re so bad!” Ashlynn mocked.
She shrugged. “They might find him in jail. I’m sure he’s got drugs on him.”
Joelle sighed. “I feel sorry for him. For both of them.”
“I don’t,” said Fiona, plopping herself in a comfortable chair. “They’re troublemakers.”
Though Ashlynn remained standing, Joelle sat on the adjacent couch. “But look where they come from. It can’t be easy to conform when you don’t have any support from your parents.”
“Oh, stop blaming the parents, Joelle,” Fiona sneered. “My parents divorced when I was in junior high. I didn’t use that as an excuse to be a juvenile delinquent or to run away from God.”
“But didn’t your parents at least take you to church when you were little? Didn’t you have a chance to learn about Jesus?”
Fiona’s lips narrowed into a thin line. “Yes, they did. I have to admit that.”
“From all appearances, these kids didn’t have that chance. Can’t you see they have no relationship with God at all? How can you run away from Someone you never knew?”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Good,” Ashlynn interrupted. “Now instead of wasting time arguing, why don’t we pray?”
“That’s the second good suggestion we’ve had all night,” Joelle said.
The three women joined together in good-natured chuckles before turning serious. Joining hands, they stood in a tight triangle and prayed aloud for the safe return of all involved.
Dean hopped into his car and started the engine. He paused for a moment before pulling out of the gravel parking lot. “Dear Lord,” he prayed, “please guide me as I search for Eagle. Keep him in Your care, that he doesn’t run into any wild animals or anyone who will hurt him. Help me to find him, then be with me as I bring him back to Zach. In the holy name of Your Son, amen.”
After exiting the lot, Dean felt led to make a left turn. The country road was so narrow, two cars passing could easily sideswipe each other. Hairpin curves didn’t help matters. Even though Dean had driven over this road time and time again, he had no choice but to keep his speed down. “Eagle was on foot,” Dean reasoned to himself. “He couldn’t have gone far.” He had a disturbing thought. “Unless someone picked him up.”
The road was never heavily traveled, but since Saturdays were busy with people running errands, going out on dates, and getting together with family and friends, the probability that Eagle had encountered someone was high. He groaned. “He might have made it to town by now.” If he had money with him, Eagle could have hitched a ride into town, found the bus station, and bought a ticket for who knew where.
Dean consulted the digital clock on the dash, noting that a half hour had passed since Raven told them his brother was missing. That meant Eagle had about a forty-five-minute head start. “If one of us doesn’t find him soon, we could lose him altogether.”
Nervousness caused his stomach to lurch. Zach was Dean’s friend, and Dean would never do anything to hurt Zach. He felt responsible for Eagle’s outburst. If any harm fell upon Eagle, how would he face Zach? How could they both tell Zach’s mother the awful news? No. Eagle had to stay safe. Dean had to find him. “Please, Lord, keep Eagle from going too far!”
Dean scanned the countryside. Night had fallen in full force, covering the earth with a blanket as black as Eagle’s leather vest. Remembering Eagle’s ebony boots, Dean held no hope that he’d be able to spot a thin glow-in-the-dark strip of light on athletic shoes meant to protect nighttime joggers. He’d just have to be vigilant in looking for movement and for any form that could be a human.
Realizing that Eagle might not be walking along the road, he peered into the surrounding forest. The trees had long since budded. Their branches were now laden with leaves that were impossible to see through. But he had to keep searching for Eagle.
Though he tried to investigate each side of the road while driving, Dean had a feeling Eagle didn’t venture into the forest. Since he was used to concrete and city lights, the boy most likely would feel more comfortable staying with the road. Eagle put on a brave front, but Dean wasn’t confident the scrawny teenager would want to go head-to-head with the occasional black bear that roamed these parts.
After driving several more minutes at a pace not unlike a tortoise, Dean gave up. “I’ll just have to turn around in the Nelsons’ driveway,” he uttered, thinking aloud. “I guess then I’ll go back by the church and try the other direction.”
Rounding the next curve, Dean concentrated his gaze on the right side of the road. The Nelsons’ driveway was marked by a black mailbox that tended to vanish into the night. If he wasn’t careful, he’d miss it and would be forced to drive another mile or so before he could make a three-point turn in safety.
The headlights had just beamed on the mailbox when Dean detected movement a few feet beyond. His heart beat in rapid rhythm. “That looks like Eagle!”
Slowing down even more, Dean’s headlamps illuminated the figure. Blond hair straggled midway over a black vest. White T-shirt sleeves extended over tattooed arms. In one hand was a lighted cigarette. “That’s got to be him.”
The object of Dean’s attention stopped walking and spun on his heel. To Dean’s relief, he stared into the expressionless face of Eagle. The boy placed the cigarette between unsmiling lips. His left hand tucked into his pants pocket, with his free hand he stuck out his thumb, waving it proudly in the night.
“Yeah!” Now Dean had every reason to stop. Passing Eagle by only a few feet, he eased his vehicle to the edge of the road, letting the tires on the passenger side glide onto the shoulder. Unable to pull his car completely off the road, Dean put the car in park and hoped no one else would choose that moment to speed by.
After reaching the car in haste, Eagle opened the passenger door, dropped his cigarette, and smashed it with his foot. “I need a ride to—” A look of recognition and horror crossed his face. “It’s you!”
Seeing Eagle’s fright, Dean leaned over and tried to grab him. Eagle proved too fast. Leaving the door open, the boy fled in the opposite direction.
Dean wasn’t about to give up. He killed the engine, opened his door, and hopped out, quickly shutting it behind him. Eagle’s dark clothes didn’t keep Dean from spying the youth as he fled toward the Nelsons’ driveway.
Dean soon overcame him. Eagle was at least thirteen years younger, but he wasn’t fit enough to shake off Dean, who kept in shape by running three miles a day. At that moment, he was grateful that he had put in the time running each morning. As soon as he got within arm’s reach of Eagle, he grabbed him by the vest.
Eagle tried to escape but didn’t think quickly enough to shrug out of his vest. In a flash, Dean reached out his other arm and grabbed him by the biceps. Eagle writhed and attempted to hit Dean with his other fist. Dean adroitly stepped out of the way of the swinging hand. Twisting Eagle’s arm behind his back finally subdued him. The pain caused the teenager to stop fighting. He became still.
“Okay. I give.” Eagle’s breathing was hard. “Will you let go of me?”
“I won’t let go, but I will stop twisting your arm,” Dean promised.
“Okay.” His ragged breathing became slower.
Dean untwisted Eagle’s arm, keeping both hands in a vise-like grip around his undeveloped biceps. For an instant, Eagle started writhing again, but Dean tightened his hold. Apparently seeing the futility of fighting further, Eagle
stopped.
“Had enough?” Dean asked.
Eagle nodded, glowering all the while.
“As long as you don’t fight me, we’ll get along just fine.”
Eagle scowled but acquiesced and kept pace with Dean as he led him back to the car. Suddenly, the youth looked at him with a surprised expression. “Hey, you’re not even breathing hard. What’s up with you? Are you a pro basketball player or something?”
“Hardly.” Dean chuckled in spite of himself. At five feet, eight inches in height, he wouldn’t have made third string on his high school team, much less have a shot for a place on a professional team.
“I thought I could outrun somebody as old as you, no problem.”
“Well, for one thing,” Dean answered, “I don’t smoke.”
“All right. I’ll get more than enough lectures when I get home. I don’t need another one now.”
Dean had no doubt Eagle was right. Unwilling to antagonize him further, Dean remained quiet as they drove back to the church. To his relief, Eagle didn’t pull any more stunts in an effort to escape.
Grateful the teenager had been found, Dean said a silent prayer of thanks to the Lord.
The women were still praying when Dean arrived at church later, holding Eagle by the wrist.
“They’re praying for me, aren’t they?” The teen was breathing with anger. “Tell them I don’t want their prayers.”
“Where did you find him?” Joelle asked.
“He’d made pretty good progress on foot. He was near the Nelson place, trying to hitch a ride.” Dean looked at his young charge. “You weren’t too happy when you found out the guy in the car was me, were you?”
“I knew you were old, but I didn’t think you’d have a car that bogus,” Eagle countered.
Joelle grinned in spite of herself. “You must not have thought it was too bogus, or else you wouldn’t have tried to thumb a ride in it, would you?”
“I would have taken anything with a running engine at that point. I might have known I’d end up with just another do-gooder in this hick place.”
“Now what?” Fiona asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Eagle answered. “As soon as I get out of here, I’m calling Dad and telling him we’re flying back to L.A. on the next plane out.”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Fiona said. “Dean, we can’t leave the others out there all night, searching for him.”
Dean looked at Eagle, then sent the women a glance that said Eagle was tough enough for him to handle, let alone them. “Joelle, why don’t you call Zach from my car phone? As for Raven, let’s just wait. He promised not to stay in the forest longer than a half hour.” He looked at his watch. “And that’s almost passed now.”
Time seemed to move slowly as the group, including one sullen teenager, waited. Eventually Raven returned, followed several minutes later by Zach.
As soon as Zach expressed relief that his young charge had been found, he switched gears. “Eagle, what did you think you’d accomplish by pulling a stunt like that?”
For once, Eagle had no comeback.
Zach took Eagle by the bicep and began leading him to the door. The spindly teen didn’t try to resist his buff cousin. “Let’s go.”
Twelve
An hour later, Joelle and Dean were seated at a table in Mary’s eatery. All around them were other diners. Most, like Joelle and Dean, were indulging in late evening desserts.
They both ordered comfort food—generous slices of lemon meringue pie and two mugs of decaffeinated coffee. Dean made small talk until their desserts were set before them, meaning they could converse in relative privacy without being disturbed by the waitress for a time. Dean hadn’t made a display of his feelings as long as he’d remained at the church. Once they were alone, however, he was honest with Joelle about what he was really thinking.
“I wish I’d done a better job of reaching those kids.” Dean didn’t look at her, but stirred his coffee more than necessary to dissolve two spoonfuls of sugar. “If only I could have said something to break through. I had the best of intentions, and even then I ended up losing Eagle.” His mouth curved into a frown. “Literally.”
Joelle reached across the table and patted the hand Dean had wrapped around his mug. “You can’t go blaming yourself, Dean. I thought you were great, all things considered.”
“Thanks.” He began cutting into his pie. Joelle could see that the cheap fork easily slid through the crust, which flaked all over the unadorned, but serviceable, cream-colored dessert plate.
“Pulling off a lesson and entertainment without notice is no easy feat,” Joelle added.
“I could have done a much better job if I’d been prepared.” Dean lifted his overloaded fork halfway to his lips. “I wish Nicole had been more considerate. I can’t believe how she left all of us hanging high and dry like that. Eagle and Raven must think we’re the most disorganized group they’ve ever seen.” He placed the pie in his mouth and chewed, although he looked too upset to enjoy the treat.
“I don’t know about that. I doubt very seriously Nicole would have had a better lesson, even with prepared materials. She just doesn’t have your experience, and she sure isn’t anywhere near where you are in her faith walk.” Copying her dining companion, Joelle indulged in a bite of her own pie.
“Thanks for the compliment, but comparing my behaviors to others’ isn’t the way to go about deciding how to conduct myself.” He sighed. “Not to mention it’s obvious that Raven and Eagle think I’m a boring old adult with my mellow acoustic guitar. Wonder if they realized before tonight that not all guitars come with amplifiers.”
“I doubt it.” Joelle laughed. “They think we’re all a bunch of Jesus freaks. And you know what? They would have thought that no matter what. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Nothing that went wrong tonight was your fault.”
Dean shook his head. “I let Zach down.”
“No, you didn’t. If Zach were here, he’d be the first to agree with me.” Joelle set her fork on the table. “If anything, he’d say he let you down by bringing the boys, and then by not keeping them in line once they got there.”
Dean moved his mug in a series of circles, swirling the hot coffee. “Maybe Eagle would have stayed if I’d delivered a more effective lesson and played some songs he knew.”
Joelle swallowed a tiny portion of pie. “What are you trying to say? That if you had known they were coming, you would have bought an electric guitar and learned a bunch of hard rock songs just to please them? Or maybe have even gotten a tattoo?” She shook one finger at him, letting it wave once with each word. “I don’t think so.”
“I assure you, the tattoo would have been one of those temporary ones that comes off the next day. Nothing too radical, either. Maybe just a heart.” He flashed the endearing smile she had loved for so many years.
“What? You wouldn’t have picked one that said ‘Mother’? Your poor mom would be disappointed.” She clicked her tongue in mock derision. He laughed along with her. “I’m just glad Ashlynn didn’t find out Zach was bringing his cousins,” Joelle observed. “If she’d known in advance they look like hard-core rockers, she probably would have worn leather clothes and covered her hair with a spiked wig. She might have even used henna tattoos on her arms and ankles.” Joelle shook her head. “Anything to impress Zach.”
“As if she would actually trade in her smooth Twila Paris and Rachel Lampa CDs for bone-jarring alternative music.”
Joelle chuckled. “Maybe the boys would have been more comfortable the night we played Twister.”
“I doubt it. My guess is they would have thought that game is silly too.”
“Probably,” she admitted. “But there’s no point in saying ‘woulda, shoulda, coulda’ now. We can’t go back and change the meeting, and we shouldn’t have to. We can’t be expected to tailor our evenings to please everyone.”
Dean thought for a moment. “You know something? You’re right. I wouldn’t h
ave changed a thing. Even if I had tried, they would have been able to tell I was putting on an act. Secular folks can spot hypocrisy in Christians faster than we can see it in each other. Or ourselves.” He drank a swallow of coffee and set the mug back down on the table. “But I feel bad that those boys didn’t feel comfortable with us. I mean, when someone literally runs away and tries to hitch a ride somewhere else, that’s saying a lot about your hospitality. . .and it’s all negative.”
“Eagle’s problems didn’t begin tonight, Dean. His running away like that is the result of many years of alienation.”
A trace of a grin touched his lips. “Sounds like an accurate diagnosis, Ms. Psychologist. Too bad he couldn’t have waited one more night before deciding to act upon his feelings.”
“You would have blamed yourself, anyway.” Joelle finished her coffee.
“True.”
“I don’t think we can count their boredom as our failure. You can’t expect everyone who walks into our church—or any church—to become converted instantly. Raven and Eagle are very, very far from the Lord. They’re living a totally different lifestyle. Although,” she said thoughtfully, “I think I saw a glimmer of interest in Raven.”
He nodded, his eyes alight with hope for the first time that evening. “I thought so, too. Let’s just pray it’s not short-lived.”
“Just like the parable of the seeds?” she ventured. “You’re afraid your words may have fallen on rock?”
“Precisely. Even if Raven’s interest is piqued, he still hasn’t made a commitment to Christ. At least, he didn’t say so.”
“It’s too soon,” she pointed out.
“You’re right.” He twisted his paper napkin around his fingers, although his faraway expression indicated he was too absorbed in contemplation to be conscious of his gestures. After a moment, he returned his full attention to Joelle. “Even if he tries to change, he has no motivation to alter his behavior once he gets back to L.A. He’ll still be playing in the band with Eagle, and he won’t have Zach bringing him to church.”
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