They were finally on their way to Denver when Steve spoke for the first time about what they had been through. “Your mom and I were really heartsick last night—afraid for you, and disappointed when we thought you had let us down by doing something irresponsible. Now I see that you were doing what God asked of you—and I can’t argue with that. I’m proud of you—all of you. Really, really proud!”
It was nearly eleven o’clock at night when they finally reached the hospital in Denver. Visiting hours were over, but the nurses allowed them in for a few minutes to see Rachel. She opened her eyes the moment they tiptoed through the door.
She held her arms open. Kristi was the first to reach her mother’s embrace, with Skeeter close behind. “Oh, Mommy,” she sighed. “You smell good! I’m so glad to be with you again!’
Rachel laughed a broken little laugh. “Well, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you stink! Like smoke, I mean! I’m just teasing—I’m glad to be together again, too. Thank you, Lord, for bringing our children—all our children—back to us,” she prayed as she closed her eyes. Tears squeezed from beneath her lids and she sniffed.
“Here, Mommy—blow your nose!” Kristi giggled, handing her mother a tissue. Rachel giggled, too.
She looked at the battle-worn group before her. “You all look awful—but wonderful! Are you sure you’re all okay?”
“Yes, but what about you, Mom?” Dan asked.
“I’m doing alright. My surgery will be tomorrow, now that I know that you’re all safe and sound.”
“Rachel, I want you to know before we leave that you can be very proud of every one of these kids,” Steve said, taking his wife’s hand. “You’ll hear the whole story later, but for now all you need to know is that they were doing God’s work, in His way and time, and in the process they saved a special little girl’s life and brought an old man to know the Lord as his Savior. It’s a story of many miracles.”
“Yes, I realized as I lay here praying all day, that He was in control—and that is why I had my accident. He had to take us out of control, Steve, in order for Him to use our children—for we surely would have never let them go out on their own like that.”
“You’re right, honey. And now we need to get out of here before the nurses kick us out. It’s going to be another miracle if you get any sleep tonight before your surgery after all this excitement.” Steve kissed his wife, and one by one the teens bent to kiss or hug her, as well.
“We’ll see you in the morning, Mom,” Kristi said as they were leaving. “At least we get to be here for your surgery now. Love you! Good night!”
They were on their way home to California a few days later. Rachel’s surgery had gone well and now she was in a cast with steel pins. It was uncomfortable, but the doctors had promised her a full recovery in a few months. She and the girls were flying on a commercial jet rather than in Steve’s little plane. There was no way she’d fit in the tiny cockpit with the cast, and besides, the flight on the jet was much faster than flying in the Cessna.
Kristi, Robyn and Anna had come along to keep her company and help her through the airport. As they sat in the plane, preparing for take off, Kristi prayed for the safety of her dad and the boys, taking off soon from the other side of the airport. She looked out her window as the jet taxied down the runway and soared into the air. Moments later she was seeing the ‘teepees’ of Denver’s airport disappear, and the mountains looming before them.
Rocky Mountain rescue, she thought. Reunions with family—and God. And miracles. The miracle of God’s beautiful creation. The miracle of His protection and His angels. The miracle of a child’s first smile, her first words. The miracle of God reaching down to a lonely old man and bringing him back to Himself. She was glad she had been a part of it all. Their vacation had not been what they had expected, and they were all going home battered and bruised, but she wouldn’t change a moment of it. It had been a miracle.
The End
Rocky Mountain Rescue (Kristi Cameron Book 3) Page 8