His Winter Rose and Apple Blossom Bride (40 page)

The cougar was getting braver. She had to get a fire going.

Cold seeped through her clothes. Her fingers were growing numb but still Ashley kept foraging, searching for bits of anything she could burn. Finally she had a small pile of debris gathered in the bag she’d brought. It was time to snap down some larger dead branches to feed the fire, keep it going long enough to warm them both until help came.

She backed into the cave, sensing the animal following her, feeling its feral study of every move she made. It was waiting, she knew that. Biding its time until it could strike.

“Oh, God, protect us. Keep Tati safe,” she whispered.

“Is it still there?” Tati’s voice, weaker now, came from the back of the cave.

“Yes. It’s still here.” Fear clawed its way through her body as Ashley caught the glint of eyes studying them, the snap of teeth that could tear apart a deer. She shuddered, fought to remain calm as she prayed without speaking.

And suddenly she realized that the fear she’d lived with for so long was like that cougar. It had already robbed her of so much. If left to prowl her mind it would devour everything, her security, peace, joy. All the things she as a Christian was supposed to have had been diminished because of fear. Even the love she’d found in Serenity Bay would be gone because she hadn’t dealt with the root that grew its tentacles around her spirit.

Now she understood why Michael had pushed so hard, why he’d insisted she talk to Ned. With a clarity she’d never found before, Ashley realized that the only way to live, to fully engage in life, was to challenge the fear, to meet it head-on. Freedom from fear lay in facing the worst and dealing with whatever happened next.

She’d been told that before, of course. But until this moment she’d never quite understood how important taking a stance and holding her ground would be.

Ashley made up her mind. She would do it. The moment she got out of here she would face Ned and ask for an explanation. A wisp of uncertainty trembled on the edge of her mind, but she pushed it away. She would know the truth. And perhaps it would set her free.

But that would come later.

Right now she had to find a way to hold off the cat.

She huddled down on the ground, assembled her pitiful stash of materials. But she kept one eye on the opening. Removing the box of matches, she opened it carefully, lifted out one, struck it against the side of the box. It flared. She quickly set it against the bed of pine needles and bark she’d placed in a tiny heap, but a whisper of wind blew out the yellow-orange flame before it could take.

“It didn’t work,” Tati rasped.

“Not this time. I’ll try again.” She did, striking match after match but with no success. “Paper. I need some paper.”

Ashley rifled through the pockets of her ski pants, found a tissue. She tucked it under the needles, lit another match. The tissue caught, flamed, then went out as quickly, barely skimming the needles.

“Light,” she begged. “Please light.”

But either the material was too wet or she wasn’t doing it right because one by one the matches lit up the darkness for a second, maybe two, then went out. Soon she had only three left.

“Ashley?”

Tati’s hushed whisper drew her attention to the cave opening. The big cat stealthily approached, his ominous growl sending shivers over her body.

“Get out of here! Go!” She grabbed a big branch and waved it wildly, jabbing forward in thrusts aimed at him as she yelled. The cougar backed down, turned and moved back. But it didn’t leave.

Ashley knelt, tried another match. But her fingers were shaking too badly and the match went out. The others fell to the damp ground as the big cat edged stealthily closer.

Forget the fire. She had to fight him with what she had.

Ashley grabbed a thick straight stick and jabbed at the glow of eyes. She hit something. The cat growled, backed away, but soon slunk forward again. She jabbed harder and kept at it, even though she had to crawl on hands and knees.

And she prayed.

Finally she’d backed it up to the cave opening. Just a few more feet, then she could stand, use the fallen willow as a weapon. She swung once, twice, then slipped on the rock.

In slow motion she felt herself go down, down, until she hit rock and the stick flew out of her hand. She felt the swipe of a paw against her arm, felt the fabric of her jacket tear.

In that second she thought to bury her head, protect her face. But Michael’s words rang clearly through her mind.

Don’t ever show your fear. Face it head-on.

She lifted her head, glared at the cat as she scrabbled behind her for something to strike with. She felt a small stick, grabbed hold and swung with all her might, striking the animal so it backed off long enough for her to rise.

“Get out of here,” she hollered as loudly as she could. “Go!”

But the cougar knew his advantage. He moved forward, closer, closer.

“I tried, Michael,” she whispered as the cougar prepared to pounce. “I really tried.”

In a flash of fur the animal jumped toward her.

* * *

Now!

Michael inhaled, took his shot and pressed the trigger.

The big cat fell directly on top of Ashley and for a moment he thought he’d missed. He tore through the bushes and brambles, uncaring of the scratches they left. He had to get to her.

She lay almost covered by the cougar’s thick fur coat. One check ensured he’d caught his prey squarely between the eyes, then he dragged it off her, lifted her head.

“Ashley? Come on, sweetheart. Talk to me.”

“Tati,” she whispered. “Inside the cave. She’s hurt.”

Michael’s blood ran cold at the scratch on her cheek that could have been so much worse. He grabbed his radio and asked for two stretchers.

“Not for me,” she husked, dragging herself into a sitting position. “But Tati needs one. I think she hurt her ribs.” She pushed him toward the mouth of the cave. “In there.”

“Stay here,” he whispered, brushing his lips across her forehead. “Someone will help in a minute.”

She nodded, twisted to touch her arm. Blood.

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine, Michael. Now go get Tati.”

Because her voice was so strong he did as she asked, hunkered down and eased inside the cave.

“Tati? It’s Daddy. Where are you, brave girl?”

“Here.” Her voice was faint, her face so pale his throat clogged in terror. “I hurt, Daddy.”

“I know you do, sweetie. Just lie still while I check.” His measly first aid course wasn’t much help but he guessed ribs, too. “I’ll put my coat over you so you’ll warm up.” He stripped it off, laid it over her. “There. Pretty soon some men will bring a little bed and we’ll get you out of here.”

“Why can’t you carry me, Daddy? Did it hurt you?”

“No. I’m fine.” He brushed the hair back off her face. “I just want to make sure you don’t have some broken bones before we go up the hill. Wanda hurt her arm. She went to the hospital but she said to tell you she’s not mad that you wore her coat.”

“Where’s Ashley?” Tati tried to sit, moaned and put her head back down.

“Ashley’s waiting for you just outside. She stopped the cougar from coming in. It scratched her, but she’s going to be okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” He heard a noise. “I’m going to go tell the men we’re hiding in here. Will you be okay by yourself for a minute?”

“Yes. I prayed, Daddy. I prayed really hard for you to come. I was scared.”

“I know, baby. But you’re safe now.” He went outside, used his radio and waited until he saw someone heading toward them. Then after a shared look with Ashley he slipped back inside the cave to wait by Tati’s side.

“We didn’t mean to disobey, Daddy. We fell down the hill.”

“I know. It’s all right. Here’s the doctor.” He moved aside, pointed to his ribs to indicate the injury. The paramedic, a young man obviously at ease with children, soon had Tati cared for and fastened to a stretcher. Michael slid his coat back on while the others moved her out slowly, careful not to jar her. Ashley sat outside with another man who held a thick pad of gauze against her arm as he taped it.

“How bad?” he asked the medic.

“Several stitches and a tetanus shot. She was very lucky.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it.” Ashley might be hurting but she’d lost none of her spunk. “I had a whole lot of help from the Man upstairs. And from this guy right here.” She grinned at him.

“If you knew how long it’s been since I shot a gun—” Michael shook his head, helped her stand. “We are going to need a second stretcher,” he said. “There’s no way Ashley can climb with that arm.”

“You always have to be right,” she complained as she accepted his help to get across the rocks. “You okay, Tati?” she asked, leaning over the bundled little form.

“Yes.” But she looked terrified.

Ashley kissed her forehead. “You’re going to get a ride up this big hill now,” she explained.

“I’m scared,” she whispered as they began to fasten the ropes that would help carry her to the top.

“That’s okay. We all get scared sometimes. You just close your eyes and pretend you’re sitting in your dad’s lap and he’s rocking you to sleep.”

“Is that what you did when you got scared? Really?”

Ashley nodded. “Really.”

“Okay.” Tati closed her eyes. A tiny smile curved her blue-white lips. “See you at the top, Daddy.”

“Yes, you will, baby. I love you.”

He stood back, let the rescuers do what they were trained to do. Then he helped fasten Ashley into another harness.

“When did you start dreaming of rocking in your father’s arms?” he asked, prolonging the moment before they took her away.

“Fairly recently.” She grinned. “About two seconds before you shot that rifle, when I thought heaven was pretty close. Thanks for being there.”

He shook his head. “You saved my daughter.” His eyes sought hers. “I’ll talk to you later,” he promised before kissing her.

“Count on it.” And for the first time Ashley kissed him back without restraint.

The search-and-rescue guys snickered as they elbowed him out of the way. “Can you folks maybe pick this up later?”

“Absolutely.”

While they pulled Ashley topside, Michael grabbed a free line and began climbing up. Only when he’d reached the top did he remember.

“I left Ned’s rifle at the bottom,” he told Bud Neely, the police chief.

“I’ll see that it’s put back in his cabin. They took him to the hospital. His leg’s bad.” He looked grim. “I’m glad you got that creature. Now you’d better go with your little girl.”

“Yes.” Tati lay in the ambulance. He climbed in beside her, looked around for Ashley.

“Her friends said they’d take her,” the paramedic told him. “She said you needed time with your little girl.”

“Thanks.” He and Tati did need time. But that didn’t mean he would let Ashley leave, not without begging her, one last time, to stay where she belonged—with him.

Chapter Fifteen

A
shley eased into the room, trying not to make a sound.

The man she’d feared for so long lay on the narrow white bed covered by a thin sheet and a pale blanket.

She stared at his face, went over each detail in her mind. As it had with the cougar, fear crept forward, tried to take over. She didn’t fight it. She invited it, let herself imagine all the things it promised.

And when none of them came to pass, it quietly died.

“Hello.” Ned peered at her through the gloom. “Is the little girl okay?”

“She’s fine. Bruised ribs, a cut on her forehead and very cold, but otherwise she’s fine.”

A smile flickered across his face. “I’m glad.”

“Me, too.” She didn’t know where to start. “How are you?”

“Tougher than old boots. They had to do some work on my leg but it will heal. Word is the girl’s father shot the cat.”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad. Every so often you get one like that. Gets a taste of humans and won’t quit until it’s stopped.” His face changed, saddened. “One of them attacked my granddaughter once. Killed her.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” A wave of empathy filled her.

“She was a beautiful child. Happy, easy to be with. And boy, did she ask questions. I’d let her come with me to my cabin for a few days every summer. That child loved the woods as much as me.” He fell silent, reminiscing.

“Did she fall down that ravine? Is that how you knew where to look for Wanda and Tatiana?”

“No. She was playing in a sandbox I’d made her, waiting for me to pack some sandwiches so we could go to the brook and fish.” He gulped, paused, then continued, his voice broken. “I heard her scream. Couldn’t think what was the matter. Raced outside and there it was, tearing at her poor little body.”

Oh, God, forgive me for causing this man any pain.
The silent prayer burst from Ashley’s heart.

“I got her to the hospital as fast as I could. She lived for three days but she’d lost too much blood. I was too late.”

“I’m so sorry, Ned.”

“Yeah. I went to Toronto for her funeral. Then I came back here and I hunted for that monster.” His face blanched, his teeth clenched. “I looked all over the place, spent weeks searching, but I couldn’t find the thing. Not one sign. I’d given up, was leaving town the day I saw you.”

“By the apple blossom tree,” she whispered, closing her fingers around the hard steel of the bed frame as her throat tightened and her knees melted.

“Yes. You were crying. I was going to drive past until I saw it.”

“A cougar?”

He nodded. “Crouched behind you about fifty feet, deciding whether he could get you or not. It was the same animal. I recognized the marks on his left hind.”

“I didn’t know,” she whispered, aghast at the thought of what could have happened. “I didn’t hear a thing.”

“You wouldn’t. They’re good hunters.” His finger played with the coverlet. “My rifle was in the trunk, I didn’t have time to get help. All I could think of was to get you out of there.”

“So you grabbed me, shoved me in your car.” Suddenly she remembered the way he’d kept looking in his rearview mirror. “When I got out at the coffee shop, why didn’t you come in, explain?”

“I had to get that cat. I couldn’t risk letting it take another child. I tracked it and I shot it. I thought I’d feel better.” He shook his head. “But it didn’t bring my granddaughter back. I knew I had to get out of there if I was ever going to put it behind me. I never came back. Then last summer I got a letter. Someone wanted to buy the old cabin.”

“You decided to sell?”

“I was going to. But I had to come back one more time.” He shook his head. “I’m retired now. No job I have to get to, my time’s my own.”

Ashley said nothing. It was enough to absorb each word, fit them together and see the truth.

“A lot of time has gone past. When I got back last June, the first thing I saw were the wildflowers. Lara always called them bluebells. Then I found the sundial we’d made. I listened to the waterfall and I thought I could hear her laughter.”

“It was your healing place,” she whispered.

Ned nodded. “I used to carve things. I thought I’d try that again. Not to sell, just for something to do. Summer passed, fall went and winter came and I decided I didn’t want to leave. I liked feeling close to God, talking to Him, listening to the ways He talked back to me. I decided to stay through the winter.”

“I’m so glad you did.”

He blinked, studied her.

“I never meant to hurt you. If I’d known what you thought—I never realized you’d be so scared or I’d have come back, explained. But I thought you’d know. I’m very sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You saved my life. I would never have known that if I hadn’t come back to Serenity Bay, stayed here and faced my fear.”

“And I couldn’t have found peace about Lara if I hadn’t come back,” he whispered.

Awe filled Ashley at the wonder of God’s ways.

“Thank you,” she whispered when she’d finally absorbed it all. “Thank you so much.”

“I second that, Ned. I don’t know what we’d have done if you hadn’t been there.” Michael stood behind her.

“God would have found another way. His plans for us are good and right. He always follows through on His promises.”

“Yes.”

The nurse hurried in and asked them to leave so the patient could rest. After assuring Ned that they’d be back, Ashley followed Mick out of the room, to a waiting area.

“Tati?” she asked quietly.

“Is asleep. I’m going to hang around here tonight.”

“Of course you are. That’s what loving parents do.” She reached up, touched his cheek.

“I do love her. More than anything.” His face glowed. “I’d do anything for her, Ashley. I’d die for her if she needed that.”

“She doesn’t. Tati needs you to live, to love her, to be there for her. She doesn’t care whether you’re famous or not, whether you’ve had the most successful showing in North America. All any little girl really wants is to know that her daddy will be there for her.”

“I know. And I will be,” he promised. “What about you, Ashley Adams? What do you need?”

She took her time before answering. “Not a job in Paris.”

“Oh?”

“Nope. Too far. And I don’t need a sports car or a big strong he-man like Kent to protect me, either.” She smiled, let him see her joy. “I’ve got God. I’m free, Michael. Free. I faced the monster—and it was me.”

He didn’t ask questions, didn’t need an explanation. He simply smiled, opened his arms and said, “I’m glad.”

She relaxed into the warmth of his hold, tucked her head under his chin and told her daddy in heaven how much she loved this man.

“You didn’t answer my question. What do
you
need, Ashley?”

She picked up the challenge without a qualm, leaning back in his arms to study his dear face.

“I’ll tell you what I need, Michael Masters. I need love. Real love, not the pretend stuff that wears off during the tough times. I need a man who isn’t afraid to tell me the truth, to push me until I figure out the hard parts. I need a man who won’t let me get away with skating by on life, a guy who will insist I dig in and live every moment.”

“I think I might know someone like that,” he murmured, his eyes dark and melting.

“So do I.” She drew him close. “I love you. When I was fifteen I had a crush on you. Who would have guessed it would last all this time and then blossom into love?”

“I always thought you were a very discerning fifteen-year-old when you were hiding behind my mother’s ficus plant.”

“Say it,” she begged.

“I love you, Ashley Adams.” He bent his head, covered her lips with his as he told her how much he cared. And he never used a single word.

By the time she drew away Ashley was breathless—and happier than she’d ever thought she could be.

“When are you going to marry me?”

She stared at him as the events of the past months fluttered through her mind. What an amazing God they served.

“Ashley? You are going to marry me?”

“Of course I am. In the spring, under the apple blossom tree. And I’m going to ask Ned to give me away. Fitting, don’t you think?”

“Perfect,” he said.

“You do realize I have to okay all the wedding plans with Tati first?” Ashley grinned.

He didn’t say anything for a moment, which was unusual for Michael. Then he touched her cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“Excuse me, Mr. Masters?”

“Yes?”

The nurse beckoned. “Your daughter would like to speak to you.”

“Ashley’s coming, too. We’re getting married.”

“Congratulations.”

They broke the news to Tati who was so excited she couldn’t get back to sleep. Finally Ashley leaned down to whisper something in her ear.

“But you have to keep it a secret and you have to go to sleep now so you can get better. Promise?”

Tati’s eyes closed immediately.