We drove slowly back the way we’d come, believing Father would have to be somewhere between town and the Strauss place. Using the flashlight helped some, but the snow was so thick the light only cut through the whiteout conditions so much before fading out.
“I doubt he’ll be far from the road,” Noah said. “Look for the buggy. I can’t figure out why we haven’t spotted it yet.”
As his words sunk in, realization followed. “Noah! The ravine. He must be in the ravine. That’s why we haven’t seen the buggy.”
He slapped himself on the forehead. “What an idiot I’ve been. That’s the first place we should have looked. Hold on, Lizzie. We need to get there as quickly as possible.”
I grabbed onto the handle over the window. Noah wasn’t kidding. He sped up, sending us careening down the road a lot faster than I thought safe. Somehow he kept us on track. The fact that no one else was stupid enough to be out in the storm kept us from running into other vehicles. It took us ten minutes to reach the road to Kingdom. When Noah first turned the wheel, I was convinced he’d miscalculated, because there was no way to actually see the turnoff under all the snow. Thankfully, he knew exactly what he was doing, and he quickly found the ravine. If Father was down there somewhere, it could take time to locate him. The deep crevasse ran at least a half mile long.
“You stay here,” Noah shouted. “I’m going to look for him. If he’s not here, we’ll move down some.”
I started to argue with him. Getting my father out might take the two of us, as he was a big man, but since we actually needed to find him first, I decided to stay where I was. At least for the time being. I could see the light from Noah’s flashlight bouncing down the road. A couple of minutes later, he returned.
“Nothing yet.” He put the truck into gear and drove a little farther. Then he repeated the same procedure. Still nothing.
The third time, I watched the light as Noah searched the ravine. Suddenly it stopped. Then he held it up, waving it back and forth. He must have found Father. I prayed fervently that he was still alive. Finding my childish picture in his Bible had touched my heart. Maybe Mother was right. Maybe he really did care about me. Instead of being angry, I just wanted another chance to see if we could find a way to carve out some kind of relationship. Maybe we’d never be really close, but at this point, I’d even settle for civility.
Noah’s light disappeared as he left the safety of the road. The wind blew the truck with ferocity, and I couldn’t see anything except snow. Not willing to let Noah sacrifice himself for my family, I pulled my knit cap down over my ears, dug my gloves out of my coat pocket, put them on, and pulled on the door handle. With the wind blowing directly against the side of the truck, it was a struggle to get it open.
When I finally managed to push the door ajar enough to slide out, I was immediately whipped in the face by blinding snow. It felt like grains of sand against my skin. The headlights shone straight ahead, so I wasn’t really worried. All I had to do was watch for the light from Noah’s flashlight. I felt my way down the road, being careful not to walk out of the security of the headlight’s glare. The wind kept trying to push me sideways, and before long the lights were no longer illuminating the path in front of me. When I turned around, I could barely make them out.
Where was Noah? Why couldn’t I find him? There was no light off to my right, and I didn’t dare move any farther toward the sharp incline that could lead me to the same fate as Dave Parsons. When I looked behind me again, Noah’s headlights had completely disappeared. Fear gripped me. Maybe I should have stayed in the truck, but what if Noah and my father needed help? There was no one else but me. I called out Noah’s name into the darkness, but the wind just shoved the words back down my throat. No one would be able to hear me over the roar of the storm.
“Oh, God,” I prayed, yelling as loudly as I could into the void that surrounded me. “Please guide me back to the truck. And please, please keep my father alive! Help Noah get him to safety. I need your help, heavenly Father!”
I kept pushing against the strong wind gusts, trying to go toward the place where I believed the truck was parked, but there were still no lights visible anywhere. I had no idea how long I’d been out in the blizzard, but it felt like hours and my strength was waning. All I could think about was Charity. That kept me fighting as hard as I could to get to safety. She needed me, and I had no intention of letting her down. Suddenly, my foot hit a hole in the road, and I fell. I was so tired, I couldn’t get up. I told myself it was okay to rest a bit before trying again, but something inside me told me to get up and keep going, so I struggled to my feet. I’d only taken a few steps when a light shone in my face, almost blinding me.
“Lizzie!” It was Noah’s voice calling out my name. I fell into his arms, my energy spent. He picked me up and began walking. It wasn’t long before the headlights of the truck shone through the blanket of white that surrounded us. Noah opened the door and lifted me into the passenger seat.
“I told you to stay in the car.” He glared at me. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”
“I . . . I thought you might need help,” I mumbled.
“Well, having to rescue you didn’t actually help me much. You were way off the road on the other side, by the way. It’s a miracle I found you.” He slammed the door shut and went around to the driver’s side.
“Wh-what about Father?” I asked when he got inside.
“I am here, Elizabeth Lynn,” a deep voice said from behind me. I twisted around in my seat and found my father staring at me. His usual black hat was gone, and his hair stood on end, giving him a grunge-rocker look. He had the blanket Mother had given me wrapped around him. He was shivering, and there were smudges of dirt on his face, but other than that, he looked all right.
Noah put the truck into gear and began the drive back to town.
“Oh, Father,” I said, tears of joy running down my cheeks. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
“No, Daughter, I am fine. Just very cold and a little bruised. Thankfully, the deep snow kept me from serious injury.” He held out his arms and moved them around. “I am thankful my limbs seem to be working.” He shook his head. “I should not have taken a chance in this storm. I thought I could make it, but obviously I did not plan well. The buggy slipped into the ravine, and down we went. It fell right on top of me. The horse was able to free itself, but I could not. The more I struggled, the deeper my body burrowed itself into the snow. Has the horse been found? Is he all right?”
“Yes, Father. It showed up at Avery’s house. He’s the one who contacted Noah.”
“But how did you know where to look?”
“Mother thought you might be staying at the Strauss place, so we went there first. When we discovered you weren’t there, we figured you had to be somewhere between the house and town. It wasn’t until we couldn’t find the buggy that we realized you might be in the ravine.”
“That ravine is dangerous,” Noah said. “Two people have gone off the road in almost exactly the same place within a week’s time.”
“I certainly agree,” Father said, his words stilted by his chattering teeth, “but the ditch helps to drain overflow from the rain. Without it, the road could easily flood and our farmers who live out beyond our borders could not get into town.”
“Maybe some kind of fence could be erected,” I said.
“A very good idea, Daughter. It certainly would have made a difference for me tonight.”
“Are you two getting any warmer?” Noah asked. He’d cranked up the heater all the way and pointed the vents toward my father and me.
“I’m starting to feel less like a Popsicle every minute,” I said, smiling.
“I must confess, although I feel better, my body seems to have a mind of its own,” Father said. “I cannot stop shaking. However, I am very grateful for the warmth.” He hesitated a moment. “I do not have the words to tell you how thankful I am you came looking for me, Noah. You had no reason to put yourself at risk for my sake, but I am grateful you did. The snow had almost covered me by the time you found me. I do not know how much longer I would have lasted.”
“We are brothers in Christ, Matthew,” Noah said, “and that gives me all the reason in the world.”
“Thanks for saving me too,” I said. “Seems like you’ve rescued the Engels family twice tonight.”
Noah took his attention off the road for a couple of seconds. His emerald eyes bore into mine. “I promised long ago to take care of you, Elizabeth Lynn, and I intend to keep my word. As long as I can.” He turned his attention back to the road ahead, though I had no idea what he saw through his windshield. There was nothing but white in front of us. It seemed impossible to find the way back into Kingdom in this blinding storm, but somehow Noah did it. We were soon pulling up in front of Cora’s, the only building in town with light shining through its windows. As soon as we stopped, the front door flew open, and my mother came running out. I climbed out of the truck.
“We found him, Mother,” I shouted, trying to be heard over the wind. “He’s in the back.” I opened the door and pulled the seat forward. Father tried to get out, but he was still a bit wobbly. It took Noah’s help to extract him completely from the truck.
“Matthew!” Mother ran to him and was almost knocked to the ground by a sudden gust of wind. “Thank the Lord you have come back to me!”
Father leaned on Noah and Mother as they helped him inside. I ran ahead and held the door open for them. Once inside, Father collapsed onto a chair while Mother hurried into the kitchen to get him some hot coffee. Charity took in the dramatic scene with big eyes.
“Mama, is Grandpa okay?”
I went over and gave her a big hug. “Yes, Cherry Bear. He’s fine.”
She wiggled out of my embrace. “Mama, you’re all wet. Have you been playing in the snow?”
I laughed. There was a slight tone of petulance in her voice, as if she was upset to think that I’d been having fun without her. “I wasn’t playing in it, honey, I got lost in it. Noah found me. This isn’t the kind of snow that’s fun. You wouldn’t like it.”
As if emphasizing my comment, the building shuddered against the gale. Charity’s mouth turned into an almost perfect circle.
“Mama, that is a bad snow.” She looked over at Noah. “The prince saved you, didn’t he, Mama?”
If my face wasn’t already red from the cold, it surely turned crimson at that moment. “Charity, I already told you that Noah isn’t Prince Phillip. He’s just a regular man.”
Noah chuckled. “As a matter of fact, Charity, my middle name is Phillip. And if you want me to be a prince, I’ll be one. Just for you.”
My daughter grabbed my hand. “See, Mama? I told you so. And you didn’t believe me.”
I frowned at Noah. Encouraging Charity to think he was our Prince Charming wasn’t healthy. Especially since we were leaving Kingdom. All I needed was for her to think we were leaving our “prince” behind.
“We’ll talk about it later, Cherry Bear. You wait here a minute while I run upstairs and get some dry clothes. Okay?”
“Okay, Mama.”
Normally, she might have been afraid to be in a room with my father, but with Noah there, she seemed perfectly relaxed. She was smiling at him, and he smiled back, obviously taking the whole “prince” thing in stride. Before I could make my exit, Mother came back into the room with Father’s coffee.
“I’m going upstairs to change, Mother. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded, frowning. “Where’s the blanket I sent for Matthew? It belongs to Cora. I would hate to lose it.”
“It’s still in the backseat. I’ll get it.”
“You stay here,” Noah said. “I’ll get it.”
Not looking forward to another duel with the weather, I quickly agreed. I waited while he retrieved the blanket. It was crumpled into a big, wet wad. I held out my hands.
“I’ll run it downstairs to the washer before I change,” I said.
“I’ve already got a grip on it. Why don’t you let me carry it for you? Lead the way.”
“Thanks. Follow me.”
I led him to the kitchen and down the basement stairs. “Just put it on top of the washer,” I said, pointing to the old machine in the corner. “I’ll take care of it in the morning.”
He put it down where I told him. I’d turned to go back up the stairs when he called out my name.
“Lizzie, wait a minute.” He stood next to a large wooden support beam in the middle of the room. “I’m probably not going to be able to talk you out of your plans with Clay. But this might be the last chance I have to be alone with you, and I’d like a chance to say my piece.”
“I . . . I don’t think—”
“I don’t care what you think,” he said flatly. “It needs to be said. At least I’ll always know I did everything I could.” He took a deep breath. “I love you, Lizzie. I’ve loved you ever since we were children. You didn’t know it back then, because I was afraid sharing my real feelings would tear us apart.” He shook his head. “Maybe that was a mistake. If I’d been honest, it’s a good chance you wouldn’t have gotten mixed up with Clay Troyer.”
His eyes locked on mine. “Regardless, I’ve always tried to take care of you. Look after you—even when you didn’t know it. I realize it’s been hard—with your father and everything. You needed someone to protect you when you were young, and you need someone to protect you now. That’s why I have to say something to you, whether you like it or not.
“Elizabeth Lynn, marrying Clay is a mistake you’ll regret the rest of your life. I’m convinced of it. Stay here, Lizzie. Please. Marry me and stay in Kingdom. Help me make life better for this town. For everyone who lives here. I’m convinced there’s nothing you and I can’t do together.”
I stared at him, trying to find a response, but it was as if my mind was locked up. “I . . . I . . .” was all I could get out.
He came over to me and took my hands in his. Once again I felt lost in his eyes. “You know me, Lizzie. You know me better than you think. And I know you. I know you better than anyone on this earth. Search your heart. If you do, you’ll admit you don’t really love Clay. I believe you love me as much as I love you.”
I knew he was going to kiss me again. I could have stopped it, but I didn’t want to. His lips felt soft and sweet. When he pulled away, I kept my eyes closed because I wanted the moment to last.
“I’m leaving now,” he said. “I’ll be back in a couple of days. Please think about what I said. You have a choice. Stay here with me or leave with Clay. No matter what you choose, I will love you till the day I die.”
I opened my eyes to see him walking up the stairs. The door shut behind him, and I waited for a few minutes, hoping he’d be gone by the time I went upstairs. As I stood there, some of the words from the theme song to Sleeping Beauty began to play in my mind. “I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream. I know you. . . .” Noah was certain he knew me. Just like Prince Phillip knew Aurora.
I suddenly realized how ludicrous that sounded. “Oh, come on, Lizzie,” I said out loud. “You’re starting to sound as silly as your six-year-old daughter.” I shook my head and laughed. Then I went upstairs. Noah was gone.
Mother and Father sat at the table together with Charity across from them. My father’s hands were wrapped around his coffee cup, as if he were depending on it for warmth. His color was back to normal, and he’d finally stopped trembling.
“There you are,” he said when I came into the room. “I want to say something to you and your mother before I leave. Would you sit with me a minute, Daughter?”
I was beginning to shiver in my wet clothes, but I nodded. “Sure, but you should stay here tonight,” I said. “Both of you. It’s too bad outside to venture out again. Especially all the way to the Strauss farm.”
“Before we make a decision about that,” Father said, “I would like to speak my piece.”
That got my attention. It was almost the same thing Noah had said in the basement.
“Elizabeth, when I lay in that ditch with the snow coming down as if it wanted to bury me alive, my mind could only think of your mother . . . and you. I . . . I have tried to be a good father to you. Anyway, I thought I had. It has been difficult for me to understand why you have rebelled against me so.
“I also began to remember how I felt as a child when my father said things to me that may have been . . . unkind.” Tears filled his eyes, and my mother reached for his hand. “Although I tried to understand that he was attempting to make me a good man who would serve God and my family with integrity and holiness, I must admit now that over time I grew angry because I could never seem to please him. To live up to his expectations.”
He shook his head. “I have come to the realization that my actions may have caused you to feel the same way. If this is true, I must ask your forgiveness. Perhaps I should have led you more by example instead of harsh words.” He quickly wiped away a tear that snaked down his cheek. “All I can say in my defense is that I tried to be the kind of father I thought you needed.” He stared into my eyes. “I am sincerely asking you to forgive my failures, Daughter. I cannot promise that I will change overnight. But you have my promise that I will do my best to treat you . . . and my granddaughter differently if you will afford me the chance.”
He turned his gaze to my mother. “And I will work just as hard to be a better husband, Anna, if you are able to be patient with me. Perhaps someday you will allow me to come home. However long it takes . . .”
My mother put her fingers on his lips, stopping his words. “It takes only this long, Husband. Let us go home now. The wind has died down, and I am sure we can make it safely. You need warm clothes, and I want to draw you a hot bath.”
Tears coursed down my father’s rugged face. “You can take me back so quickly, Anna? After the way I treated you?”
“Of course, Matthew. You are my dear husband, and I love you with all my heart. Nothing will ever change that.”
“You are my heart, Anna,” he answered brokenly. “My heart.”
As I wiped away my own tears, I felt a tug on my sleeve. Charity stood next to me. “Mama, I don’t think Grandpa is a bad man anymore. Can I hug him now?”
I nodded, unable to speak. Charity ran over and wrapped her little arms around my father, who returned her embrace although somewhat stiffly.
“Thank you, Granddaughter,” he said. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“I prayed for you, Grandpa, and I knew God would help you,” she said sweetly.
Father gave her a tentative smile. “Please keep praying, Charity. Your prayers are very important to me.”
It was too much to believe that my father could change years of negativity overnight, but at least he was trying. That meant more to me than words could express. Maybe we actually had a chance to mend our fractured relationship. My heart, which was soaring with joy, suddenly dropped like a stone. We wouldn’t be here for my father to make good on his promise. The ache in my chest was almost physical.
“Father and I are going home,” Mother said, rising to her feet. “The wind has calmed down in the last few minutes, but I am not sure how long it will last.” She grinned. “As your grandmother used to say, we had better ‘get going while the going is good.’”
I smiled at her. “Grandmother had lots of sayings like that. I wasn’t sure what some of them meant, but it didn’t matter.”
“No, it didn’t matter one bit.”
She kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you, Lizzie. For everything. If the weather improves I will see you tomorrow.” She snuck a quick look at Father, who nodded.
“When the roads are better, perhaps your mother and I will come back and have dinner.” He looked around the dining room. “I have heard many good things about this place.”
“That sounds wonderful.” I went up to him cautiously. Hugging my father wasn’t something I’d tried since childhood. Although he seemed a bit rigid, he wrapped his strong arms around me. His beard tickled my cheek.
“I do love you, Lizzie,” he whispered, “and I am sorry it has taken me so long to tell you.”
It was the first time he’d ever called me by my nickname. It touched me deeply, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but there was a question that had to be asked. I couldn’t let my chance to ask it slip away. “Father,” I said quietly, “please don’t be angry, but I must know the truth about something. Whatever you tell me now I will accept.”
He stared down at me. “As I told your mother, it was a deer, Daughter. You have my word.”
I looked into his eyes and saw his complete sincerity. “Thank you, Father.”
With that, my parents left. I watched them drive away in their buggy, Blackie prancing in the snow, almost as if rejoicing that his master had returned. As Mother had said, the wind was calmer, even though snow still fell. Maybe the storm was finally moving out. At least one storm in my heart had quieted as well. I believed my father. He didn’t kill Dave Parsons. I’d found it hard to believe that my father would ever resort to murder, but I consoled myself with the knowledge that even my mother had been unsure for a while.
So did Dave Parsons really die accidentally? Or had someone else killed him? I shook my head as I stared out at the snow-covered ground. How could that be possible? No one in Kingdom knew the man. The past few weeks had caused me to start looking for monsters around every corner. Sometimes, corners were just corners.
After getting out of my wet clothes, I got Charity ready for bed. She dropped off almost immediately. However, the excitement of the day wouldn’t allow me to sleep quite yet. I realized I’d never had dinner, so I went downstairs to make a sandwich and pour a glass of milk.
I felt so confused. Clay’s revelation that the police were looking for me, my decision to leave Kingdom, Noah’s pronouncement of love and proposal of marriage, my father’s rescue and the turnaround in his behavior . . . All of it together seemed impossible to take in. How could I tell my parents I was moving to Seattle? My mind had made a decision, the one I felt was best for my daughter, but what about my heart? Was it selfish to follow it instead of what seemed to be the right choice for my daughter?
A look at the clock revealed it was after midnight. I’d had no plans to open in the morning, but another look outside showed the snow becoming lighter. Surprisingly, the wind had created huge drifts that lined the road, but the street itself wasn’t too bad. Knowing the hardy folks in Kingdom, I’d be smart to get some sleep. One of our farmers could be knocking on the door first thing in the morning. As I headed for the stairs I suddenly remembered the blanket on the washer. Letting it sit wet might cause it to mold. I hurried down the stairs and grabbed it, shaking it out first. Something fell out on the floor. Noah must have accidentally picked up something in his truck when he got the blanket out of his backseat.
As I bent to pick it up, I froze, horrified by what I saw.
A blue envelope with my name written on the front.