Chapter One

Please, let there be a gas station soon!


Rounding a bend in the highway, Beth spotted an exit advertising a gas station.

“Yes!”

She took the exit and followed the signs.

“One mile?”

Looking down at her gas gauge, she saw the needle already rested below the empty marker. “Please, hold out for one more mile. Please! Just one more mile,” she said.

Her car sputtered to a stop.

"Great! Just great! What am I going to do now?” She groaned and, as she dropped her head onto the steering wheel, tears threatened to spill. I can't dial 911 over an empty gas tank. But, a mile walk in the middle of nowhere? Not a good idea. What now, Lord?

Rocking her head back and forth, she said, “I am such an idiot! Why did I leave town to begin with? It’s not like me to panic and run.” Then, her mind flew back to the evening before.

~

Hugging her sides, Beth paced the tiny apartment. Her body trembled as every hurt, past and present, rolled over her wave upon wave. Her legs wobbled like gelatin and she wondered what kept them from giving out.

Stopping next to the answering machine, she pressed the button and let the messages replay.

Friday, April 15, 4:15 p.m. Beep. “Liz. It’s Kyle. Some of the guys and I are heading to Blaine’s lake house. I should be back for church Sunday night. See you.”

Sunday, April 17, 6:37 p.m. Beep. “Liz. Me again. Listen. The weather turned a little iffy, high winds and heavy rain, so I’m hanging out here until tomorrow. I’ll try to get back by the time you’re off work. Let’s plan on pizza and a movie. See you then.”

Her finger punched the stop button and she resumed pacing. Why did he call when she was out? She was at work the first time he called and the second time he knew she would be at church. Was it just coincidence? Or did he purposely wait until he knew she wouldn’t be home?

“And when did I become so cynical?” Maybe it had something to do with seeing “some of the guys” at church. Her absolute trust in Kyle had slowly cracked like a pot of earthenware over the past several months. Now, it was nearly shattered.

She took a deep breath and wished the spinning of her head would go away.

What would he think if I up and left town for a while? It would be so nice to get away. Go some place where I can think straight…clear my head. Maybe I will.

But, should she? She had never traveled far from home and she certainly had never taken a trip by herself.

Her stomach knotted with apprehension. There were her parents to think about. They would be worried about her traipsing across the country on her own. She and her dad might be somewhat estranged, but she still didn’t want him and her mom to fret over her. No. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. Besides, Kyle would probably hunt her down and drag her home.

But, can I stay? How can I face him after…after tonight?

Suddenly, the frantic whispering she had heard in the restroom at church blazed through her memory. Every fiber of her being churned with roiling emotions and she thought she might vomit. Could he possibly be capable of such a thing?

Forgetting every reservation, Beth packed in a fury. Everything she thought she might need to live on, she threw into suitcases. Everything else she crammed into empty boxes she had saved. Finding a pen, she snatched a sheet of stationary to write her landlords a note.

Dear Phyllis and Larry, Thanks for allowing me to live in your apartment. I'll never forget your kindness and Christian hospitality. I’m going out of town for a while. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone. I just need some time away to sort things out. Feel free to send my stuff to Mom’s if you need the apartment. Don’t worry about me, but please pray for me. All my love, Beth

Her slender hands shaking, she managed to stuff the letter into an envelope, address it and lay it on her nightstand. I’ll just leave it on their windshield on my way out.

Checking the clock, she realized it was nearing two in the morning. “Yikes! Time to wrap things up.” Making sure every last detail was taken care of, she crawled into bed. She would talk to Tiffany first thing in the morning about taking a vacation or a leave of absence if necessary. She had to get away even if it meant losing her job.

She wasn’t sure where to go. There will be time enough to figure that out tomorrow. Refusing to give in to tears, she squeezed her eyes shut, burrowed deeper into the safety of her covers and fell into an exhausted sleep.

~

Now, as she sat in her car on the side of the road, it all churned like an oncoming hurricane. The all-too-familiar longing to talk to someone who would understand and give her some sensible advice paralyzed her in its grip. Why did you leave me, Josh? I need you!

But, her brother was gone. Kyle had been the one who was there for her when the life she had always known crumpled by the impact of a semi. Kyle loved her no matter how guilty, alone, and unlovable she felt. And he wanted to marry her, making soothing promises that everything would be okay. He would take care of her.

And he would. Wouldn’t he?

Last night’s scene in the church restroom flickered across her mind again.

Her forehead still pressed against the steering wheel, a sob escaped.

Oh, Lord! Please help me!

Tap, tap, tap!

Beth’s lungs froze. Her body trembled. Slowly, she tilted her head just enough to see a man peering through her car window. Dear God, help me!

Tap, tap, tap. "Hello…Miss…Are you ok?"

Beth eased her head off the wheel, waves of terror surging through her. As she looked out the window, a pair of dark blue eyes locked onto hers. Her ears roared as she tried to steady her breathing.

"Are you ok?" His deep voice reverberated through the window and glided over her nerves. For some reason, it soothed her. The concern in his eyes as he searched her face called for trust and she relaxed a little more.

Taking a calming breath, she told herself to get a grip. God, you’re with me, right? Help me, Father! She gave him a shaky smile and lowered the window a few inches.

“Are you hurt?”

“N-no…I’m fine,” she said.

"Are you out of gas?"

She nodded. Ok, Lord. What are you doing? Who is this guy? A murderer? Rapist? Or someone you sent to help? I suppose he could be an angel in disguise--

"I'll run down to the station and get you a couple gallons,” he said, interrupting her inner monologue. “Lock your doors. No telling what kind of creeps are running around."

Crinkling her brows in confusion, she glanced at her lock and said, "My doors are…locked." Her mouth formed the word “oh” when she saw that he was correct. Reaching over, she quickly hit the lock and then gave him a sheepish grin.

A slow smile spread across his clean shaven face. "It's a good thing I'm not the creeper," he said. "I'll be back in a jiffy with your gas. I won't leave you alone for long."

His slight twang told her he was a Southerner. The sound of it somehow comforted her. In a sweeping glance, she took in his stained and faded jeans, and ragged flannel shirt. He stood at an average height and his build was muscular and broad. Black curly hair framed a tanned face, enhancing the dark blue of his eyes. There was an imprint in his curls indicating he must have left a hat in his truck.

"Will you be ok?"

"Um…sure…" She cleared her throat. "Thank you."

"Good. Sit tight. I'll be right back."

As rattled as she felt by his appearance, her nerves jumped into high gear as he pulled away. So, she started singing.

“My Jesus, I love thee. I know thou art mine…”

By the time he returned to empty the gas into her tank, she felt composed.

"Alright, little lady. You’re all set. That should get you to the station."

His gentle manners and heart-warming, dimpled smile wrapped her in a blanket of security…a feeling quite foreign to her of late.

"You know, I’m beginning to think God sent you to rescue me.” She grinned. Embarrassed for being so transparent with this stranger, she shook her head and grasped for something else to say. “Maybe this will finally teach me to watch my gauge."

He chuckled and said, "So this is routine for you, is it? God was definitely looking out for you. This isn’t the best place to get lost. A lot of truckers and transients come through here. Glad I was here to help. If you're ready now, I'll follow you over. I was heading that way myself."

She shuddered at the thought of what could have been. Smiling up at him, she said, "Thank you. I’m more than ready to get going.”