Peter's eyes sprung open and he coughed.
Harrison sighed with relief.
"Good job, mate." Spencer slapped him on the back. "You found him."
"Ginger? Where's Ginger?" Peter's voice was hoarse and he coughed again.
"The chicken?" Spencer asked.
"Yes, Ginger, my chicken. The monster was coming for her."
"She's fine, Peter, and so are you. The monster's gone away. Come on, let's get you out of here."
Spencer lifted him up and carried him to the truck, placing him in the middle of the seat and giving him a drink of water.
"Grandma's not coming back. Grandma's dead." Peter coughed as he squeezed the water into his mouth.
"It's very sad, Peter," Spencer said. "But she's gone to heaven."
"Grandma's gone to heaven. She's with God."
"That's right. She's with God."
As Harrison listened to the conversation between the two, he warmed to Spencer. He cared about Peter, he really did. He wasn't putting it on. Seems he wasn't a bad sort after all.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Zoe's phone buzzed. Her heart thumped. Harrison… Had they found Peter, and if so, was he alive? Her chest heaved as she tapped the green flashing phone icon. "Harrison—have you found him?" She held her breath.
"Yes, we've found him, Zoe. He's fine."
Zoe's hand flew to her chest and tears streamed down her cheeks. "Where was he?"
"Hiding in the barn."
Zoe let out a small chuckle. "Of course he was. Under some hay?"
"Yep."
Zoe shook her head. "I should have thought of that."
"It doesn't matter, Spencer did."
Was she hearing right? Harrison was promoting Spencer? Unbelievable. "I need to call Mum. She's on her way to the hospital with Dad."
"I'll see you soon. I love you, Zoe."
She smiled. "I love you too, Harrison."
Zoe called Mum straight away and gave her the good news. Mum was so relieved. That meant everyone was accounted for. No lives had been lost, although four farmhouses, including the Coleman's, had been destroyed, along with several hundred head of cattle and thousands of acres of farm land. She felt so bad for the Coleman's. Like her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman had worked so hard, and now they'd lost everything. Could they rebuild and start again? Would they want to?
Zoe let out a sigh as she walked outside and waited for Harrison, Spencer and Peter to arrive. The glow from the fire still lit up the night sky, but at least the air had cleared a little. The fire fighters were still out there trying to gain the upper hand in the cool of the evening before another hot day dawned. No-one would be going home tonight, but tomorrow they'd get to see the full extent of the damage.
Headlights appeared in the distance and drew closer. Spencer's truck pulled up in front of her and Harrison climbed out, followed by Peter. She drew both of them into her arms and hugged them tight.
"Zoe, you're hurting me." Peter said.
She laughed. "I'm sorry, Peter, I was just glad to see you."
"The monster's gone, Zoe. Ginger's safe, and Grandma's in heaven."
She smiled over Peter's head and met Harrison's gaze, her heart warming at the look of him. Pieces of straw stuck in his beard and his hair, and his face was smudged with soot, but she'd never seen him look more handsome. The rugged look really suited him.
Once Peter was cleaned, fed, and settled on one of the makeshift beds, Zoe slipped her arm around Harrison's waist. "Come for a walk?"
"I've been waiting to be alone with you, Zoe." His hand rested on her shoulder as they headed for the door.
After the heat of the day, the cool night air, although still laced with smoke, was fresh on Zoe's face. They walked along the pavement, arm in arm, past all the closed, empty stores until they reached open space. The moon was blood red and looked larger than normal as wispy grey clouds drifted around it.
They reached the bridge crossing the Glen River, just a dry river bed waiting for water to fill it so it could flow again. Stopping in the middle, they leaned on the railing and looked down onto the sand below. Somewhere in the distance a dingo howled, but closer, raucous grunts of nesting bush turkeys reached their ears.
"Thanks for coming out, Harrison," Zoe said quietly.
"I'm glad I came." He traced her hairline with his finger and turned her to face him. "And I'm glad we found your dad and Peter." He held her gaze.
"I was so relieved." Her pulse quickened as he cupped her cheeks in his hands.
"I love you, Zoe."
She smiled up at him as she pulled another piece of hay from his hair. "I love you too, Harrison."
He lowered his face and kissed her gently.
The following morning, the buzz in the hall grew as the fifty or so people who'd slept on the floor began to stir. Zoe reached out and touched Harrison's cheek. "Hey."
His eyes opened. "Hey yourself." His eyes sparkled as he pulled her close and stroked her hair.
Zoe stifled a giggle. "Harrison, not here."
"I don't see why not." A smile grew on his face. "I look forward to waking up with you every morning, Zoe."
Zoe drew a breath and let it out slowly. Waking up with Harrison every morning would be wonderful, but she still couldn't bring herself to set a date. Not yet. She gave him a winsome smile. "You'll just have to have patience a while longer."
His lip came out in a pout as disappointment filled his face.
"Are you two going to kiss?" Peter appeared beside them.
Zoe chuckled. Trust Peter to come to the rescue. "No, not here, Peter." Pulling herself up, she slipped her arm around Peter's shoulder. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"I've never had a sleep-over with this many people." His eyes sparkled.
"Neither have we." Zoe chuckled again. "Have you seen Mum?"
"She's over there with Mrs. Coleman. She gave me breakfast."
Zoe's gaze shifted to the tables sitting against the side of the hall where Mum and Mrs. Coleman were helping serve breakfast. She shook her head. How could they do that after getting back so late from the hospital? They were both hard working and generous women, but the love and care they were showing others in the midst of their own grief challenged Zoe. It wasn't all about them and what they'd lost. It was about what they could give. She could learn a lot from them.
The day passed in a hive of activity. A trip to the hospital to see Dad. He was being treated for smoke inhalation, but had to wait until the swelling went down in his leg before his ankle could be operated on. He'd be out of action for some time. Zoe, Harrison, Mum and Peter went with the Coleman's to inspect the charred remains of their home and property. Tears streamed down Mrs. Coleman's face as they sifted through the rubble, occasionally finding an item that somehow hadn't been burned, but they were few and far between.
"I'm so sorry." Zoe wrapped her arms around Mrs. Coleman without thinking. Her heart went out to this family who'd lost everything.
"It's okay, dear. We can rebuild, and we still have each other. That's the main thing." She wiped her eyes. "God will provide for us."
Zoe gulped. How could she be so positive about it all? "But where will you stay in the meantime? And how will you survive?"
"I don't know yet, Zoe, but I'm sure He'll look after us."
"Maybe you could stay in Grandma's cottage." Zoe choked on her words. They hadn't even buried her yet.
Mrs. Coleman pulled back and dabbed her eyes. "Zoe, what a lovely thought, but you'd better check with your mum about that."
"I don't think she'll mind, in fact, I think she'll be more than happy." Zoe gave Mrs. Coleman a warm smile as Mum appeared beside them. "And here she is now." Zoe turned to face Mum and placed her arm around her shoulder. "What do you think of the Coleman's staying in Grandma's cottage?"
Mum's eyes lit up. "Of course they can. I should have thought of it myself."
"Shall we start cleaning it out?" Zoe asked.
"It has to b
e done, so now's as good a time as any." Mum turned to Mrs. Coleman and took her hands. "You'll have a bed to sleep in tonight, Hilda."
Tears ran down Mrs. Coleman's cheeks. "Thank you, Ruth. It's so kind of you."
Zoe, Mum and Mrs. Coleman spent the rest of day cleaning out Grandma's cottage, while the men, including Harrison and Spencer, cleared her parents' house of soot and ash and made it liveable again. Other neighbours dropped in with items of clothing and a range of household goods that the Coleman's might need. Their generosity was overwhelming, and the sense of community heart warming.
Cleaning out Grandma's belongings was challenging, with many tears shed between Zoe and Mum, but when Zoe came across a box full of Bible verses lovingly hand-written by Grandma, she had trouble containing herself. She placed the old shoe box on her lap and sat on Grandma's lounge room floor and began reading. Many verses she knew, others she didn't, but all were precious.
"Take it, Zoe." Mum placed her hand gently on Zoe's shoulder as she sat on the lounge chair behind her. "They're precious, aren't they?"
Drawing in a deep breath, Zoe nodded. She lifted a few papers to her nose and breathed in the delicate scent of the paper. Grandma would never be far away now she had this box full of precious treasure.
By late afternoon both houses were in order, and the two families gathered outside under the poinciana tree for a well deserved drink. The air had cleared of smoke, but the fire had left its mark on the surrounding hills. No longer green or brown, the ground was black, and charred trees stood bare, stripped of all their foliage, naked and totally exposed and standing like stick figures in a kid's cartoon.
Zoe turned to Harrison and took his hand. "Will you stay for Grandma's funeral, Harrison?"
Soft brown eyes lifted to hers, melting her heart. He squeezed her hand. "I'd love to, Zoe. The clinic will survive without me…besides, Spencer's invited me to go up in his plane tomorrow."
Zoe threw her head back and laughed. "You're joking, right?"
Spencer appeared beside her, a smirk on his face. "He's not joking, Zoe. I said I'll take him up to check out the damage."
She raised her eyebrows. "So, do I get an invite?"
"You've had your plane ride, Zoe. Let us have a boys' outing." Spencer's eyes held a twinkle as he held her gaze.
Zoe shook her head, but she couldn't stop chuckling at the turn of events. It'd do Harrison good to spend time with Spencer, and besides, she had a funeral to get ready for.
"Fine. Just look after him."
He waggled his brows. "Of course."
The rest of the evening passed pleasantly. With Dad in hospital, Mr. Coleman, cooked hamburgers and onion on the barbecue with help from Harrison and Spencer. Mum found enough food in the fridge and freezer to feed everybody, and to finish it off, she brought out ice-creams. Thankfully, the back-up generator for the fridges had kicked in when the power went off.
Once the Colemans' left, Zoe and Harrison stayed seated outside in the cool while Mum put Peter to bed.
"I'm glad you're staying, Harrison." Zoe snuggled into his shoulder.
"So am I, Zo." He stroked her hair gently.
"Do you ever think about all this?" Zoe angled her head and gazed up at the sky.
"What do you mean?"
"Like, what it's all about…" She shrugged. "Dad could easily have died out there yesterday. And with Grandma dying…" Zoe's voice caught. Harrison pulled her tighter and kissed her head. "It just makes me realise we never know what's going to happen from one day to the next."
"I hadn't given it much thought, to be honest, but you're right." He brushed her hair with his hand. "I guess we never know."
"No, but God does." Zoe straightened and looked into Harrison's brown eyes. She lifted her hand to his cheek, rubbing her thumb through his stubble. "I don't know what life has in store for us, Harrison, but I want us to do it together, and with God."
Harrison's shoulders fell. "Zoe…"
She lifted a finger to his lips. "Don't say anything. Just think about it?" She angled her head and smiled at him.
He drew a slow breath and turned his gaze to the sky.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Grandma's funeral was held two days later. The small chapel on top of the hill had been untouched by the fire, but all around were reminders of just how devastating it had been. It seemed all of Bellhaven had turned out for the occasion. Esme Davis had been a well-respected member of the church and was well-known throughout the whole area for her kindness and generosity. But the fire seemed to have tightened the whole community, and even people Mum didn't know turned up to pay their respects.
When Zoe arrived with Harrison shortly before eleven a.m, she greeted the family and friends gathered outside the chapel with a smile, although inside her heart was a mess. Leaning on Harrison's arm, she made her way to the front seat and sat beside Mum, Dad and Peter. Zoe fought hard to hold back her tears as the organist played Grandma's favourite hymn, "Abide with Me". How was she ever going to stand in front of all these people and deliver the eulogy?
She leaned against Harrison as her focus was drawn to the casket at the front. The family had requested no flowers, and instead, donations could be made to help the bush-fire victims. However, one beautiful wreath of white oriental lilies, chrysanthemums, orchids, and roses sat on top of the casket. Tears pricked Zoe's eyes. Grandma would have loved it. As much as Zoe had been dreading saying her final farewell to Grandma, peace settled on her heart. Death was just a doorway to another world, and Grandma was in a better place. That didn't mean she wouldn't miss Grandma, but having that assurance gave Zoe peace and hope that one day they would be reunited. She squeezed Harrison's hand as the priest stood and moved to the pulpit.
"We're gathered here today to say farewell to Esme June Davis and to commit her into the hands of God. Please join me in singing one of Esme's favourite hymns, 'To God be the Glory'."
Zoe inhaled slowly. As Harrison placed his arm around her shoulder and joined in the singing, she was surprised to hear him singing as if it meant something to him… he hadn't told her too much about what he and Spencer had talked about on their flight the day before, but she sensed a change in him. Not something tangible, but real, nonetheless. God was working in his heart, of that she was sure. She smiled as his voice rang out, "Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice. Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He has done."
As the music faded, the priest smiled at the congregation. "Let us pray." Unlike a normal service, everyone remained standing but bowed their heads as the prayer began. As Harrison pulled her tighter, Zoe leaned into him.
"Our Father in heaven, we thank You that through Jesus Christ, You have given us the gift of eternal life, and that nothing, not even death, can separate us from Your love. We thank you for the abundant life You give us here on earth, but we thank You even more for the eternal life which is ours through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
"Esme knew Your love, and lived her life with You as Lord and Saviour. We thank You for her life, and the example she gave us of what it is to live a truly Christian life. As Ephesians 4, verse 1 says, may we all "live a life worthy of the calling we have received", just like Esme did. Help us in our mourning, and help us to live each day with a heart of gratitude for the life You have given us, to treasure each day, and to be a blessing to those around us, just like Esme was. Give us a living faith in your Son Jesus Christ, who suffered death for our sins, and who rose from the grave to give us hope and a future. Amen."
Zoe dabbed her eyes as she sat. The eulogy was next, and she needed to steady herself. She'd spent most of the last two days preparing what she would say, but now the time had come, God was laying different words on her heart, and so when she moved to the front of the chapel, she put her paper aside and took a deep breath. She swallowed hard, and then smiled at the congregation. So many familiar fac
es, but also many she didn't know. But Grandma knew them, and they knew her.
"Esme, Grandma, was such a precious lady. She was gentle and kind, but had a strength of character that made her a heroine in my eyes. Grandma knew who she was. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, but first and foremost, she was a child of God. Grandma's faith in God never wavered, despite times of trial and challenge, of which there were plenty throughout her eighty-three years. She always trusted that God would provide for her and her family, a truth I need to be reminded of again and again. 'God is faithful, Zoe', she would always remind me. 'He knows how many hairs are on your head, He knows your thoughts before you even think them. He loves you, Zoe. He'll take care of you.'
"I had the privilege of having Grandma pray for me whenever she put me to bed when I stayed with her and Grandfather when I was little. I feel bad that I strayed from my faith for a while when I moved to the city to study, but I fully believe it was Grandma's prayers that brought me back. She was my spiritual mentor and guide throughout my growing years, and now, as I embark on my career as a doctor, and I plan my wedding to my fiancé, Harrison, my greatest desire is that I do her proud in all I do, say and think. If I can be half the woman Grandma was, I'll be pleased." Zoe paused and took a deep breath. "There are so many stories I could share, but I'd love my brother, Peter, to come and share his thoughts with you." Zoe shifted her gaze to Peter, and smiled at him. "Peter, come up with me." She held her hand out as he rose from his seat and stepped to the front and stood beside her. "Peter, tell everyone about Grandma."
Zoe put her hand lightly on Peter's shoulder. It was a risk having him here, but it was the right thing to do. Peter wanted to say good-bye to Grandma too.
He stuttered, and turned his head to Zoe.
"It's okay, Peter, whenever you're ready." She smiled at him.
He turned his head to the front. "Grandma's in heaven. She's in heaven with Jesus. She used to tell me stories about heaven and what it would be like. She said it's the best place ever, and that once we're there, we'll be able to see God face to face. Grandma was my friend and I'm going to miss her. She used to make me apple pies and she gave me lolly pops every time I visited. She hugged me when I was upset, and told me Jesus loved me." Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he turned to Zoe. "Zoe, I can't say any more."
Promises of Love: A Contemporary Christian Romance Page 13