by H. L. Wegley
“This story is sounding eerily familiar.” Jennifer’s gaze moved from Katie to Josh. “I don’t think I want to hear the details. But thanks for taking care of her, Josh.”
“Familiar? You mean like you and Lee in the cave?” Katie used the place Lee and Jennifer fell in love to probe her mom’s feelings about Josh and her.
“Is this something I need to know about?” Josh asked.
Katie gave him her enigmatic smile. “That remains to be seen.”
Jennifer didn’t respond.
A half an hour later Katie sat beside Josh on the patio outside a coffee shop. It was 10:00 AM and the sun was warm on this second day of July.
“Mom is very impressed with you.” Katie yawned.
“Obviously more impressed than you.” Josh yawned too, and then laughed. “Impressed. She has a funny way of showing it.”
“Sometimes. But she was probably thinking about how close you and I came to being killed. It frightened her. She’s faced death several times. That changes a person.”
“Tell me about it.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do.” She paused and reflected on the events from five years ago. “Twice I thought Mom was dead. I couldn’t stop crying. But she was alive. Both times. And so are we, despite that car chase.”
Josh shook his head. “And if we had been killed, Kate—”
“If we had been killed…I…I would never be able to see you again.”
“That’s obvious. We’d both be dead.”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“So it’s that Christian, non-Christian thing again?”
“Yes, but for the Christians there’s a resurrection. Death loses.”
Josh’s serious frown was back. “How can you know that, Kate?”
“Look, Josh. Hundreds of people—people who actually saw Jesus alive after His crucifixion—died horrible deaths rather than deny His resurrection.”
“Is that what your Bible says?”
“And history.”
“What if the Bible, well…changed over time?”
“Not likely. We have too many manuscripts. The manuscript evidence alone proves the Bible we have today is what was originally written.”
“But what if the writers lied?”
“The writers were some of the same people who were tortured to death because they wouldn’t recant their beliefs, the beliefs stated in their own writings. Would you let someone torture you to death, rather admit you lied, when the admission would set you free?”
“You’ve got an answer for everything, don’t you?”
“No, Josh. But in the end, the truth prevails. It’s time you started looking for the truth with an open mind or you’ll regret it for eternity.”
“Eternity. That’s a long time, Kate.”
“I know. I…I wish I could plan on you being there with me.”
The combative expression on Josh’s face softened. “Why don’t we plan something that we can do together?”
“After all we’ve been through I—”
“You mean after all you stirred up, don’t you?” He forced a smile. He’d also changed the subject.
“It wasn’t like I made you come with me, Josh.”
“How could I have turned you down?”
The look in Josh’s eyes and the expression on his face were entirely new to her. Together they shredded Katie’s heart even more than his puppy dog look. Something was going on in that stubborn mind of his and he wasn’t telling her. She decided to wait and see if he volunteered it. Maybe she could make it easier to talk about.
“So …” he took her hand, “…what do you want to do tomorrow?”
Some down time would be nice. “We can’t take a real vacation. Or go to that South Pacific island and live off coconuts. But there’s a spot on the outer Peninsula, near Rialto Beach, that I would like to see on a sunny day.”
“That’s a long drive for a day trip.”
“Yes, but it’s where Jennifer and Lee rescued me and some other girls from the traffickers. Josh, if we left early we could spend the entire day on the beach. And if we hike in a mile, we can have a big sandy shore all to ourselves.”
“A beach all to ourselves. Are you sure, Kate?”
“Positive.”
“What time would we have to leave?”
“How about 5:00 AM? We could be on the beach by 9:30.”
“My family has way more cars than we need. I can borrow my father’s car and I’ll drive tomorrow.”
The coffee wasn’t having much effect. And the warm sun was only increasing Katie’s drowsiness. She yawned and leaned her head on Josh’s shoulder.
He put an arm around her, making it a very comfortable place to lean. So very comfortable…
Katie awoke with a start. She couldn’t move her head. Josh’s sleeping head had pinned hers to his shoulder.
Two teenage girls stood in front of them and one girl pointed the camera side of her iPhone at them. She pushed the button and the two hurried away giggling.
Josh raised his head and looked at his watch. “It’s noon, Kate.”
“Yes, it’s noon. And by 12:30 our picture will probably go viral on Facebook.”
“If they can see your face, I’m sure it’ll go viral.”
Katie yawned. “You should probably take me home now. We need some rest if we’re going to leave at 5:00 AM.”
Josh was looking at her in a strange, new way. Or maybe his eyes looked different to her. Something about him had changed. Or maybe it was changing.
“Another day, another adventure with Kate Brandt. I can’t wait.”
33
Dressed in shorts and a tank top, Katie stood near the big living room window of her house looking eastward toward the Cascades. At 5:00 AM it was twilight in the low lands, but the mountain tops were blazing red, orange, and yellow, while the high, wispy clouds above turned from pink to a golden yellow with the approaching sunrise.
A car turned the corner on the boulevard and rolled down her street. A very nice car. She did a double take as the car stopped in front of the house. A European luxury car. Josh had said his parents were into money and things, but they weren’t just into money, they had it.
This was going to be a fun, relaxing day, and she wouldn’t approach the subject of contention until the trip home. Unless Josh brought it up. But he probably wouldn’t. He didn’t like conflict.
Katie hurried to the street, where Josh stood holding her door open. She kissed his cheek. “Good morning, Josh.”
He smiled. “Yes, it is. A very good morning. And the forecast for La Push…eighty degrees and sunny right on the beach.”
She slid in and set her bag by her feet. “Good thing I brought sunscreen.”
Josh focused on her legs. “Kate, with your tan, I doubt that you’ll need it.”
Soft leather caressed her bare legs, and the seat conformed to her body as if tailored for it. She scanned the dash. Everything was extravagantly luxurious.
Josh slid behind the wheel, looking very nice in cargo shorts and a tank top.
“This car is incredible. Is it your dad’s car?”
He swiveled toward her before starting the engine. “Yeah. Dad saw your picture on the news yesterday. He was, how shall I say this, very impressed. Offered me his car when I told him you and I were going to the beach.”
“Be sure to thank him for me.”
The engine was purring now, a deep sound that hinted of power to spare.
Josh tapped the controls for the sound system as they rolled down the street. “It’s got an incredible stereo. What kind of music do you like?”
She probably wouldn’t get contemporary Christian music from Josh’s agnostic father. “How about the really old oldies?”
“Lift the lid on the console.”
She pushed a button and the top of the console rose.
Inside, the spines of at least thirty CDs were carefully arranged by year. Billboard hits beginning with 1957
and going into the early 80s.
“Cool. Must be your dad’s collection. What do you say about us getting lost in the 50s and 60s today?”
“You pick the year, Kate.”
When the powerful car accelerated down the on ramp to I-5 South, Katie slid in the disc for 1962 and hit the randomize button.
A slow, soft song started with piano and a stringed bass, then an unmistakable voice crooned beautiful, soft, poetic words.
Katie gasped and looked at Josh from the corner of her eye, not wanting to meet his gaze.
Josh was doing the same thing to her.
She flipped the CD case nervously in her fingers, then stopped and ran a finger down the back until she found the track that was playing, a song about someone who couldn’t help falling in love, by who else—the king of rock ‘n roll.
Josh took his right hand off the wheel and left it laying across the console, palm up, invitingly empty.
Katie wasn’t about to comment on the song or its message. It hit far too close to home.
Josh wasn’t saying anything, either.
In a few more seconds, some random song would play and she could avoid the message and her feelings. She took Josh’s hand, closed her eyes, and leaned back in her seat, her heart beating so hard Josh could probably feel it in her fingers. The moment would end and would probably be forgotten. Girl, who are you kidding?
Katie drew a deep breath and exhaled as the song ended. She opened her eyes, and the next song started. But it wasn’t another song. The song was repeating, driving its message home.
“Josh, the randomizer isn’t working.” Her words came out in a hoarse whisper.
“It’s working fine, Kate. But it does stop randomizing when someone pushes the repeat button.”
So Josh was responsible. What would she do about that? Nothing.
She closed her eyes, relaxed in the soft leather seat, and squeezed his hand.
Eventually, her pulse rate dropped to near normal, and she listened to the soothing melody and voice while trying not to analyze the lyrics, or Josh, or her own heart. Then she slipped into the gray fuzziness of her fatigue.
****
Katie’s eyes popped open. The sun shone brightly. She looked out the windshield. Tall spruce and cedar trees told her they were on the outer Peninsula.
Josh’s huge hand was still wrapped around hers.
The music was no longer playing.
He glanced her way. “You must have been tired, Kate.”
“Where are we?”
“We just passed Ruby Beach.”
“You mean I slept for 150 miles?”
“Yeah. I assumed you were tired after the past forty-eight hours, so I let you sleep.”
“And captured my hand, I see.”
“I think I’ll keep it.”
“You can have it for today. Then…we’ll see.”
“I’ll take whatever I can get.”
“Mom warned me guys were like that.” She gave him a smirky smile.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Kate.”
“That’s what they all say.”
“Changing the subject…which beach did you decide to go to today?”
“Beach 2, below La Push. We’ll need to stop in Forks, buy lunch to go, then we hike in about a mile, walk a quarter mile down the beach and voilà, we have a huge sandy beach all to ourselves. It doesn’t have coconut trees, but it’s as close to a South Sea island as we’re going to find in the Pacific Northwest.”
He shot her a glance before entering the winding stretch of road leading to the Hoh River. “Regardless, it will have what I want on it.”
Josh was not being subtle today. Did that donnybrook with the president give him a little more spunk? No matter what it was, Josh had changed, and much of the change had come in the past twenty-four hours. Maybe on the drive home she could probe to see what had transpired.
In a few minutes, they entered the south edge of Forks. Katie looked at the clock on the dash. 8:30 AM. “How fast were you driving while I slept? You gained a half-hour, Josh.”
“But I kept you safe, Kate. Night before last, I endangered you enough for a lifetime.”
“Let’s forget about night before last. Now, what can we get to eat that won’t go bad in our packs in three hours?”
“Junk food.”
“Josh, I won’t let you do that. You have to stay in shape and stay healthy.”
“And why are you concerned about what I might look like a few years from now?”
The implication of her words was obvious. She didn’t answer.
“Kate?” He would keep pushing until he got an answer.
“After what we’ve been through together, I’ll always be concerned about you.” Maybe that would keep Josh at bay for a while.
“You’re getting soft, Kate. A lot softer than when we made that trip to Whistler.”
Josh pulled into a parking space at the big supermarket.
Katie jumped out. “Come on, let’s get lunch.”
At 9:10 AM, they pulled up to the Beach 2 trailhead.
Katie surveyed the parking area. “Good. There aren’t many cars here yet. Let’s go claim our private section of beach.”
Josh parked and slipped out of the car. He opened the back door to get his pack. “Would you mind telling me why privacy is so high on your priority list today?”
“Yes, I would mind.” She slid out and turned toward Josh. Beyond him, on La Push Road, a large, dark sedan flew around the turn toward them, and then braked hard.
Katie gasped. “Josh! It’s them!”
He saw the arriving vehicle.
A gun jutted out the nearest window of the sedan.
Josh dove onto the trunk and slid across it. He landed on the ground beside Kate. When he pulled her to the ground, the window above them exploded.
The spray of bullets came wrapped in a staccato of popping sounds. An automatic rifle.
Josh’s big hand clamped on her shoulder. “We jump down the bank, keep the car between us and them, and run down the trail.” He hooked her arm. “Now, Kate.” He yanked her to her feet and pushed her ahead of him, shielding her body.
Katie leaped over the guard rail and landed on her feet on the trail, eight feet below.
Josh landed beside her as the popping sound resumed.
Dirt exploded into the air underneath the guard rail two feet above their heads.
Katie sprinted down the trail. It cut back sharply to the left.
Josh was right behind her.
She rounded the turn, giving them temporary shelter. Katie slowed as they climbed a steep hill. She looked up the trail. The trees at the top would provide more shelter from bullets. She yanked on Josh’s arm. “Hurry.” She sprinted all out up the hill as Josh’s feet pounded on the trail behind her.
In the distance the crunching of gravel came from the parking area. A dark-haired man and woman ran toward the trailhead, each carrying a rifle.
Katie stumbled.
Josh’s strong hands grabbed and steadied her. “Let’s get over the top of the hill. We’ll be out of sight. We can lose them.”
Ten yards from the hilltop, the trail widened and Josh pulled alongside of her. “How far to the—”
Bullets chewed up the spruce tree beside them, filling the air with the pungent odor of evergreen tree sap.
Josh clamped two powerful hands on Katie’s hips. He lifted her off the trail and sprinted to the top of the hill at an incredible speed. At the top, he set her down and nudged her forward.
Despite the danger, she noted Josh’s incredible hand and arm strength.
More bullets tore up the ground as the line of exploding dirt raced toward them.
Josh tackled her from behind and rolled her to the ground.
Bullets decapitated a small tree, six inches above Kate’s head. They pruned the bushes beside the tree.
The shooting stopped.
“Go, Kate! I think they’re reloading.”
&
nbsp; They sprinted through the forest at a breakneck pace, jumping patches of mud and protruding tree roots.
“To the beach or through the woods?” she yelled at Josh.
“We can outrun them if we stay on the trail. Build up a lead. Then lose them near the beach.”
“But, Josh, there are big steps, maybe 200 of them, descending the hill to the beach.”
“Let’s run them, too, and then run the beach until we run completely away from the shooters.”
“OK. But I don’t know where the beach leads.”
“Kate, it leads to safety. Just run!”
They sprinted side-by-side on the trail until it narrowed, passing through a thicker stand of trees.
Josh moved behind her again. He was shielding her. Every move he had made over the last five minutes he had made to protect her.
She wanted to stop. To tell him that she loved him. But they couldn’t stop. And now she might never get that chance, unless they got away from their pursuers. “Josh, let’s leave them in the dust.” Katie kicked in her afterburners and sprinted at top speed, concentrating on her stride and her breathing. Had she run away from Josh? She listened as she ran.
His feet pounded the trail a step or two behind her.
The trail suddenly plunged downward.
Katie could smell salt water.
The big stairway lay only a few yards ahead. They needed to slow down, or they would fall on the steps. A sprained ankle would be a fatal injury at this juncture.
“Concentrate on the steps, Josh. I’m slowing so we won’t fall.”
The trail angled downward and Katie hit the first step. The steps varied in length and height, making traversing them a matter of intense concentration.
She slowed further to take the steps two or three at a time. But her legs were still weak from the sprint. She lost her balance and pitched forward.
A powerful force caught her belt and yanked her upward.
She caught her balance and slowed once more to control her body as she bounded two steps at a time. In another ten seconds she rounded a sharp switchback, and saw the base of the steps thirty yards ahead. “Almost down, Josh,” she managed between deep breaths.
Another obstacle loomed ahead of them. Where the trail flattened at the base of the steep hill, a tangle of driftwood logs of all sizes lay between them and the smooth sand on the beach.