Everlasting Love

by Valerie Hansen

  James sighed. “Yeah. He’s been through a lot.”

  “So has Roxy.”

  “Does this mean you don’t think we should throttle them?” An eyebrow arched to emphasize that he was teasing.

  “Not yet. Let’s get them back to civilization first,” Megan said with a sweet smile. “Then we’ll sit them down under really bright lights and badger them with questions till they break.” She giggled. “You did order extra vials of truth serum, didn’t you?”

  “Okay, okay. You’ve made your point. I’m glad to have them back, too. But how do you propose we find out what really happened?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” she drawled. “Hey, here’s a novel idea. What do you say we ask them?”

  “You are an optimist, aren’t you?”

  “Uh-huh. And you should be thankful for it. Anybody else might have figured it was no use and let go of that bridle when the rein snapped.”

  “I know. I thought for sure the kid and I were going for a swim. I can’t imagine where you found the strength to hang on long enough for me to get my feet back under me. It’s amazing.”

  “Oh, I think it’s a lot more than that,” Megan told him with a deep sigh. “It’s almost miraculous.”

  Riding alone, Zac said very little as they headed for Camp Refuge. Roxy, on the other hand, trotted beside Megan and jabbered incessantly.

  “I didn’t know Zac was watching me or I’d have waited,” the girl said. “He followed me out of camp, giving me a lecture like he was my boss or something.”

  “What were you doing out in the woods alone in the first place?” Megan asked.

  “Well, duh. Running away, of course.”

  “But why? Where did you think you could go?”

  Roxy waved her scratched, dirty hands in the air. “I don’t know. It didn’t matter then. I just wanted to get away, so I left.”

  “You didn’t care how worried I’d be, did you?”

  “No.” Roxy’s brashness faded. “I didn’t mean to hurt anybody. Especially you, Meg. I’m sorry.”

  “What about Zac?” Megan asked. “What happened to him?”

  She hadn’t thought the boy was paying any attention to their conversation till he interrupted with, “I fell. That’s all.”

  “It is not,” Roxy insisted. “He saved my life. There was this big snake. I almost stepped right on it. Zac pushed me out of the way and knocked me down. We missed the snake but we landed in a heap.”

  “That’s when he hurt his leg?”

  Nodding, Roxy had tears in her eyes. “Yes. By that time I was real lost. We both were. I couldn’t just run off and leave him.”

  “Of course you couldn’t. What happened then?”

  “We decided we’d spend the night under a bunch of leaves, only Zac got really cold. I gave him my jacket—I mean your jacket—but it wasn’t enough. We were trying to move out of the wind when we saw a place to hide.”

  “The cave where we found you.”

  “Uh-huh. It was warmer in there. I gathered wood and Zac told me how to make a fire. We thought maybe his leg would get better if we rested so we sort of made camp.”

  “What about food?”

  “I had some candy bars and a bottle of water with me. We got real thirsty. Finally I took the empty bottle down to the river and tried to scoop up some clean water.” She made a sour face. “You should have seen that awful stuff. Zac used his T-shirt to strain out the bugs.”

  “Sounds like he was using his head.”

  Blushing, Roxy grinned. “I know. Isn’t he wonderful?”

  Megan had been leading Buckets while James walked behind and to the side to look after Zac. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see the man give the youngster a smile and a proud pat on his good knee.

  Silently rejoicing, she marveled over how everything had worked out for the best. Funny how the worst circumstances could turn around that way, wasn’t it? The tough smart-aleck who had delighted in causing trouble had been given the chance to use his wits for good and had proven more than worthy. And the self-centered teen with a chip on her shoulder had sacrificed her own comfort and safety to care for an injured companion. What a blessing!

  And James? Megan smiled. James had probably changed the most. He’d mellowed unbelievably for starters. It was going to be a pleasure to complete her animal therapy project, knowing she now had his full support.

  And after that was over? The smile spread into a wide grin. Afterward, maybe they could combine their efforts and find a way to work together continually. It gave her goose bumps just to think of spending every day with a wonderful, supportive man like James Harris.

  James was not only intelligent and compassionate, he now had a whole life of God-given gladness and amazing surprises ahead of him. A life she planned to share.

  Megan giggled as her thoughts focused on specifics. Her lips tingled. There were lots of reasons why she wanted to spend the rest of her life with James, and the kiss he’d recently given her was right at the top of her list.

  Chapter Fifteen

  By the time Megan led Buckets back into camp the place was buzzing with morning activity. She and James were immediately surrounded by adults and children, everyone yammering at once.

  James lifted a tearful Bobby Joe and placed him astride the horse behind his big brother, cautioning the child to be careful not to bump into Zac’s injured leg.

  As soon as James was certain both boys were safely settled for their happy reunion, he raised his hand to bring order and spoke with authority. “Okay. Let’s get organized. Aaron, you call the sheriff. Tell him we’ve found the kids and have him send an ambulance for them. Zac’s got a leg that needs attention. I want Roxy to go along and be checked out, too. They both drank untreated river water.”

  “Yes, sir.” Aaron pulled James aside to speak to him privately, then left to follow the director’s orders.

  James was all business when he turned toward Megan. “You’ll need to go along and look after your sister, at least until one of your parents shows up.”

  “Of course, but…” She glanced in the direction of her cabin. “I don’t know if I can get all my animals fed and watered and wash the mud out of my hair in time to ride in the ambulance.”

  “There probably won’t be room for passengers, anyway. Aaron can drive you to the hospital if you’re not ready to leave here when I am. I’ll need to sign a release before they’ll treat Zac. There’s no rush with Roxy.”

  “Okay.” Megan smiled at her bedraggled sister. “I suppose letting her take a shower and change before she leaves is out of the question?”

  “I doubt there’ll be time. I’ll give her and Zac a little to eat and drink while we wait. Can’t give them too much right away. It might make them sick.”

  Megan steadied Buckets while James helped Bobby Joe dismount, followed by Zac. The older boy gritted his teeth but didn’t cry out as James carefully cradled him.

  Rushing to Zac, Roxy grabbed the boy’s hand, fussing and cooing as if she were his mother. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. I’ll stay with you, just like before. I promise.”

  Megan was waiting for James to say something else to her. She didn’t expect him to express his personal feelings in front of the staff and the children, but she was hoping for a kind word or at least a smile of encouragement.

  Instead, he merely turned and carried the injured child through the crowd of onlookers without even bidding Megan a casual goodbye.

  Aaron showed up at Megan’s campsite a few minutes later and volunteered to help with chores.

  “Just tell me what to do. I can take care of everything while you grab a shower,” he said.

  “There’s only Wiggles left to feed. I’ll do that. His food’s inside anyway. Would you mind rinsing out all the water pails and refilling them with clean drinking water?”

  “No problem. Mr. Harris just left. Soon as you’re ready we’ll head for the hospital, too. Might even beat the ambulance, slow as they are som
etimes.”

  “Oh. Well, I suppose there’s no rush. Zac hurt himself a couple of days ago.” She yawned. “It seems like a lot longer. I feel like I haven’t slept a wink since, oh, maybe last November.”

  Aaron chuckled. “That’s how Mr. Harris looks, too. I’ve never seen him so beat.”

  “It was a really long night.”

  “Yeah. I gathered.”

  Something in the young man’s tone gave her pause. “For the record, between the storm, the river, rescuing the kids and bringing everybody safely home, we didn’t have time to mess around. Understand?”

  “That’s what he said, too.”

  “You don’t sound like you believe us.”

  The young man shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what I do or don’t believe. Harris is cooked. I just hope I can find another part-time job this summer.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Camp Refuge is closing down.”

  “What? When?”

  “Soon as possible, or so I heard.”

  “Does James know?”

  “He does now. I just told him.”

  “When we first got here.” It wasn’t a question. No wonder James had suddenly become so preoccupied, so distant. Who wouldn’t be? His life’s work was being terminated, yet all she’d been thinking about was herself. Roxy wasn’t the only one with a few lessons to learn, was she?

  “Yeah,” Aaron said. “He didn’t act nearly as upset as I thought he’d be. Guess he’d seen it coming. It figures, especially after—”

  Megan scowled when he broke off. “After what?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. Finish what you started. Why would James not be surprised?”

  “You ought to know.”

  “Me? What do I have to do with this?”

  “I can’t say.”

  Frustration banished her weariness. “Fine. Have it your way. Just don’t disappear on me, okay? I’ll be cleaned up and ready to go by the time you finish watering my animals.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Muttering to herself, Megan did an about-face and ran for the cabin. She didn’t know exactly what had happened to put an end to Camp Refuge but she had a strong suspicion Zac’s disappearance had been the last straw. If that were the case, Roxy had been directly responsible.

  And Megan shared the guilt.

  The redbrick facade was the most impressive part of the tiny rural hospital. Everything else was painted a sickly pale green. Aaron drove Megan around to the emergency entrance and let her out by the concrete ramp.

  “Thanks for the ride.”

  “Welcome. Want me to wait?” he asked cheerfully.

  “No. You’re still needed back at camp. Inez can’t do it all.”

  “In a few days she’ll be able to. John and Robbie are leaving tomorrow. Mark’s supposed to go to a foster home then, too.”

  Megan paused and leaned in the passenger-side window. “What about Kyle?”

  “Already gone.”

  “They didn’t waste any time, did they?”

  “Guess not. I heard you might have some pull with the board. That true?”

  “I used to think so,” she said pensively.

  “Well, in case I don’t see you again, good luck.”

  “Thanks. And thanks for the information—what little there was of it.”

  “Hey,” he said, grinning and raising his hands as if surrendering, “I didn’t tell you a thing.”

  Megan couldn’t help but chuckle. By not revealing certain details of the camp closure, he’d told her more than enough. She sobered. Whether James Harris liked it or not, she intended to dig until she learned the whole truth. Then she’d go to work making amends for all the trouble she’d inadvertently caused. By presenting justification for James’s actions to the board of directors and placing the blame on herself, where it belonged, there was a fair chance she could get him reinstated.

  She huffed in disgust. Convincing the board that Camp Refuge was a valuable asset shouldn’t be as hard as explaining Roxy’s latest misadventure to their skeptical parents. What fun that was going to be.

  The moment she entered the hospital waiting room, Megan’s attention centered on James. Though there were several others in the room, he was seated apart, his head bent, his shoulders slumped, his elbows resting on his knees, hands folded.

  She approached slowly and stopped in front of him. What should I say? Nothing earth-shattering came to mind. Nothing helpful did, either.

  Softly she breathed only his name. “James?”

  He looked up, gave her a brief smile and pointed. “Your sister’s in exam room three. Your mother’s with her.”

  “Mom’s here already? Uh-oh. That was fast. How did she and Roxy seem?”

  “If you mean were they yelling at each other? No. It’s probably safe for you to join them.”

  “They’ll be better off without me. Besides, I didn’t come here to see my crazy family,” Megan said, taking the empty seat next to him. “I came here to be with you.”

  His head snapped around. “Why?”

  “Maybe I like grumpy men.”

  “Well, you’re in the right place for that. I take it you heard what’s happening to Camp Refuge.”

  “I heard a little. I’d like the whole story from your point of view.”

  James shook his head and went back to staring at the floor. “There’s not much to tell.”

  “Then let me guess. You’d mentioned something about too many disciplinary problems. When Zac ran off after Roxy, I assume you caught a lot of flack, especially since we had to call in the sheriff. Is that why they’re pulling the plug?”

  “Close enough.”

  “I’m so sorry. How can I help?” To her relief, he didn’t resist when she reached for his hand. Instead, he laced their fingers together before he answered.

  “You can’t help. Nobody can.”

  “I can talk to the board for you. Tell them it was all my fault. They’ll have to listen.”

  “No. I don’t want you to beg. I gave it my best. It’s over. Time to move on.”

  “You’re quitting?”

  James squeezed her hand as he shook his head, smiling. “Oh, no. Not in a million years. I’ll just find another way—a better way—to help troubled kids.”

  He paused, studying her expression. “I’ve been sitting here, trying to decide how best to do that.”

  “And?” Megan’s heart was thumping so loud she felt like the drum section in a marching band.

  “And I thought maybe you and I should join forces. We could combine our expertise, write a program together and apply for new funding. What do you think?”

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea!”

  “You hadn’t considered it before?”

  “Me? Perish the thought,” Megan teased. She gave a nervous laugh. “Actually, I haven’t been able to think of anything but working with you. We’ll make a great team.”

  “We sure will.”

  “And because there are two of us, the family dynamics will be much better.” Elated, she was warming to her subject and dropping her guard. “We’ll be just like a real parents, 24/7.”

  James coughed. His eyes widened. “Whoa. Did you just propose to me?”

  “Uh-oh.” A lump of embarrassment the size of Buckets clogged her throat. “I—I thought that was what we were talking about. Oh, dear.” She jerked her hand free and headed for the door.

  James jumped to his feet, grabbed her and spun her around to face him. “Hold on. Don’t you want my answer?”

  “Only if you’re going to say yes.”

  He beamed. His eyes sparkled. “Tell you what. Let’s do it this way. I’ll ask you to marry me, too. Then we can both say yes at the same time.”

  “Yes!” she blurted out in a loud voice.

  Every person in the room froze and stared at them.

  Laughing, James took her in his arms. “You in a hurry, lady?”

  “I guess
I am. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all. I was going to wait a while before I brought up the subject of marriage, but as long as you’re sure we’re not moving too fast, it’s okay with me. I can’t believe how ready I am to settle down all of a sudden.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Just one little promise before we set the date.”

  “Oh?” She eyed his wry, comical expression and speculated. “The squirrel stays.”

  “It’s not about Rocky.”

  “Wiggles sleeps on the floor in my bedroom.”

  “That’s fine, too.”

  “Then what? What?”

  “Horses,” James told her, struggling to keep a straight face. “If we ever go on another rescue mission, I want you to promise me I won’t have to ride a horse.”

  Megan giggled with relief and joy. “You don’t want to be my knight in shining armor?”

  “The shining armor is fine,” he said, breaking into a wide grin. “I’d like nothing better than to be your hero for the rest of my life, as long as I get to do it with both feet on the ground.”

  “Well…” she drawled, “I’ve always dreamed of being married on horseback, sitting on a silver-mounted saddle, with my wedding dress spread out over the horse’s rump, but if you insist…”

  He looked so dismayed, she had to confess. “Relax. I was kidding.”

  “That weird sense of humor of yours is going to take some getting used to.”

  Megan stepped closer, slipped her arms around his waist and laid her cheek against his chest. “Don’t worry. We have the rest of our lives to figure each other out.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.” He tilted her chin up with one finger and gazed into her eyes.

  Just before she reached on tiptoe to kiss him she said, “Me, too. I can hardly wait to get started.”

  Epilogue

  Megan’s heart was filled to the brim with love for the handsome man waiting for her at the far end of the aisle. She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day, or a more beautiful setting, for an outdoor wedding.