11

 

When Creighton knocked on her door, the day brightened.

She gave him what she hoped was a dazzling smile and put a lilt in her voice. “I hope you don’t mind if I take back more than I brought down?” She grabbed the wide strap on a large piece of soft navy luggage.

“I think I can handle it.” He slid the strap from her hand.

“Thanks.” She swung a canvas tote behind her back as she locked the door and pulled her sunglasses over her eyes. “Ready if you are.”

“I’m always ready to leave the city,” he responded.

Before they left her driveway, Shana laid her hand on his forearm. “Creighton, I’ve been putting this off. I need to stop at the bank.”

He looked at her, raising his brows.

“I know you want to get back, but it’s on the way out of town.”

“Now that Rita and the baby are OK, I’m all yours.”

Oh, how I wish…wait until I tell you about my house and car.

 

****

“I thought we put a hold on the account. When I spoke to the bank manager last week, only $2,400 had been taken out.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, there’s nothing in the account.”

Shana’s hands trembled as she pulled her checkbook from its blue leather case. This can’t be happening! “Look, my last statement balance was over $4,900. And I’ve written only a couple small checks. There must be some mistake. Could you check again?”

The teller apologized and stepped off his perch behind the high counter.

The manager left her office, and the security guard approached from behind Shana.

Creighton’s hand at the small of her back felt like a lifeline, her only connection to reality.

“Ms. Arnold, I’m Nancy Tompkins. Sorry to meet under these circumstances.” The branch manager extended her hand. She indicated for Shana to precede her into the office.

Creighton stepped in behind.

I don’t understand. I was ready to buy my first house. “There has to be a mistake.” Shana dissolved onto the vinyl-covered guest chair while the guard set a cup of water in front of her.

“Ms. Arnold, when you called earlier in the week we put a freeze on the account, as you asked. However, before I could place a hold on it, someone withdrew the remaining funds. We are investigating. But it will take time to find out what happened. “

Shana’s hand trembled as she reached for a sip of water.

“I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of this in no time,” the manager’s voice sounded muffled against the drumming in Shana’s ears. Nancy Tompkins clicked fingernails over the keyboard. “You not only have your checking account with us, but I see you have your car loan with us, too.”

“Yes.” Shana’s voice sounded faint, even to her. “But my car appears to be missing, too.”

Creighton planted his feet flat on the floor, at military attention.

“Did you report it?” Ms. Tompkins asked, revealing concern.

“Yes. The policeman came to the house this morning.” Shana didn’t know if she should disclose that her house had been broken into, too.

Creighton spoke for the first time. “Do you call the police now, or does Ms. Arnold?”

A half hour later, Investigator Brian Shelbourne took a report from both Shana and Nancy. His phrasing and questions all rolled together. “Happens all the time…fraud alert on your credit report…privacy rights involved.”

When they parted company and headed for Creighton’s pickup, Shana leaned her forehead against his upper arm. “Take me away. I’m about to get good and mad.”

 

****

 

Creighton scanned the open landscape as they hummed west on the interstate. Taking in the gifts of creation, Creighton searched for words of comfort. He guarded his time alone, but he was thankful that he hadn’t refused Rita when she asked him to help her best friend. What to do? There was only one answer as far as he was concerned. “Shana, I’ve been wondering.”

“Hmmm?” She sounded as though her thoughts were far away. “What’s that?”

“Now that you’ve had a few days in God’s country, exposed to the beauty of His creation, have you changed how you feel about the Lord? Seems to me that you need Him.”

“I don’t think so.”

He had no idea how he’d react in her shoes, except pray.

“I’m sitting here, pretty much penniless, and you expect me to respond with warm and fuzzy words?” She turned back to the window. “I guess He’s there for some people. If they want to believe.”

“I’m convinced from studying the Old Testament that Adam and Eve were created just as written, by God’s spoken word. The movement of His hands, and His breath.” How could he get through to her? “No unrecorded event happened. No life form changed into something else. No ape first, no early form of people, or whatever.” He went on talking. “Just man and woman. Adam and Eve looked like you and me.” You and me. What am I thinking? A “you and me,” could only happen if Shana believed.

“Yet, isn’t there more to religion than God’s creation of the world?”

“Sure. And to clear the record. Christianity is more than religion.”

“Excuse me?”

“Christianity is Christ-in-you-i-ty. Which means, Jesus lives within a person. It means sin is real. And sin separates us from God.”

“But what if we don’t believe in sin? I mean, I’ve never taken a life. Certainly never ruined someone else’s life by stealing every dime they own. I’m a good employee. And a loving daughter.” She jerked sideways to face him, fighting the safety restraint. “I’ve always dreamed of a house to call my own. I may have lost it before I had it.”

“How about looking at it differently? You can’t lose what you never had.”

At her blanched look, he knew he’d blown it big time. Why not go deeper?

She stared out the windshield.

“When God created man, and woman, He gave us a choice. And, when Adam and Eve chose to sin in the Garden, that disobedience has come through all generations of history. We’re all born sinners.” Wow, did I mess up.

He sounded like a preacher even to himself. And his timing couldn’t have been worse. Sorry, Lord. Show me how to make You real to her and to make up for my clumsiness.

Shana was staring out the side window, shoulders slumped.

“I guess what I’m saying is that those of us who have committed our lives to Christ believe that any sin can be forgiven. We’re also conscientious that what can be sinful for us is not a sin for others. For instance, you can probably drink a glass of wine and it’s no big deal. If I take a first drink, I’m consumed by the desire to take another. And that addiction is a sin because it takes my eyes off Jesus.”

“Creighton, I’m confused about a lot of things right now. I’m not so obtuse as to fail to see that you and Valerie are different than other people I know. Rita and Ray, too. But I’m not sure that I’m ready to see all of this your way. So”—she hesitated—“can you just back off a little?”

“I can do that. But I need you to try to understand a couple things. First, being a Christian doesn’t mean we have less trouble in life. In fact, we often have more. But faith can give us hope and assurance and power and peace.” He gave a sheepish shrug. “I know that I sound a little preachy. But the second thing is, and I’ll be blunt. I’m attracted to you, in much more than a friendship sort of way. And that conviction I mentioned? For me to consider involvement in any kind of relationship, I can only move closer to a woman who believes the same way I do.”

They were near the York exchange already.

Creighton flicked on his turn signal and slowed for the upcoming stop. He wished he could erase the thick tension in the air between them. “Are you hungry now, or do you want to wait?”

“Either way. I’m easy.”

Well, she’s not that easy because she doesn’t look at life the way I do. And I can’t let thoughts of her interfere with God’s work. “We’ll see if we can hit a family restaurant down the line.”

“I don’t mean to pry, but I’m curious—”

“About what?”

“Maybe due to my lack of a car right now. Creighton, how can you have this nice new truck? Dually, is it called? I mean, it doesn’t seem that Roger Mills has enough cattle to enable you to pay for a new vehicle. And those cabins, you didn’t purchase them with your good looks, did you?”

A surprised laugh burst out. Creighton had expected a question about Jesus, or faith. Maybe identity theft.

She did know how to change the subject.

“You know, something I’m really beginning to like about you is that you come up with things out of the blue. Maybe I should start to worry when you’re quiet. That means your wheels are turning.” He grazed her face with his thumb and returned his hand to the steering wheel. “No, this is not a dually, which has an extra set of tires. It’s called a club cab. And it’s not new.”

She nodded.

“As for the other side of your curiosity. I sell real estate from time to time. It seems I have a knack for the right buyers and the right sellers to get together.”

Just the way God has the knack for the right time for men and women to get together, when the people involved see only the impossible. Maybe this wasn’t an impossible situation…from God’s point of view.

 

****

 

Creighton has the knack for keeping me off balance. The word “balance” brought checking and savings to mind. What was she going to do? Not much she could do, here in the truck. She’d have to sit tight, on the ranch, until the investigator got back to her. She paid little attention to the route Creighton took, but soon didn’t recognize where they were. She looked left, forward, right, back.

“You’re right,” Creighton answered as though she had voiced her question. “I don’t like to always go the same way. We’re in no hurry. I enjoy the change of scenery along this highway.”

“No GPS?” Shana grabbed the Nebraska state map. “I like to get my bearings.”

“Find York. See where 39 veers off to the northwest?”

She traced the thick red line of the interstate. “Got it. Thanks.”

Did he find her as easy to read as this map? If so, he could probably tell how much he meant to her. She could easily fall for him. She had already fallen for him.

He carried the invisible scars of his past as nonchalantly as those on his hands from working horses and repairing fences. Yet for the most part, Creighton appeared content in the present.

Good grief, was this really love sneaking up on her? What kind of future could they have? She might be able to live on the ranch—it was her reality right now. But would that be enough? Not according to Creighton. He claimed she needed to share his faith.

Her sense of loss and security—could she leave it in Lincoln? Concentrate on one issue at a time? What about the career she’d invested in, with so much time and schooling?

Shana took in the passing view again. This highway route was less traveled, full of scenic curves. Green pastures, idle fields, some golden brown with corn and beans waiting for harvest, farmsteads, and wildlife. Her gaze roamed. “What in the world were those?”

“What?” Creighton asked as he pulled his concentration from the road to her face.

“Those cattle. They looked like some hogs that I’ve seen. Black with a white stripe around the middle.”

“Oh. They’re Belted Galloways.” He chuckled. “I admit they take some getting used to. They look like a chocolate sandwich cookie to me. But they remind me of Angus cows.”

“The black ones, right?”

He belonged in his environment, an environment so different from what she was used to.

They rounded a curve where trees filled the ditch. A thick cloud of noisy blackbirds took flight.

“Goodness, they startled me.” Shana gasped. The squawks and flaps carried through the open windows as they passed.

“That’s a sure sign of fall, when those birds congregate like that,” Creighton commented.

They each became lost in their separate contemplations. Somewhere along the line they’d agreed to snack on the trail mix Rita had sent along and not stop for lunch.

Shana drifted off on the thought of the two of them agreeing on the big things in life as well as simple fare. She jerked to full alertness when the truck slowed. “What’s up?”

“I thought I’d give you a little tour.” Creighton turned off the highway instead of continuing north out of Neligh. “We’ll go into the park.” He drove slowly. “And, downtown? It might be kind of fun.”

“Sounds good to me. A transition between the city and the range would be welcome.”

The road rounded Penn Park.

“There’s history here, and some rebuilding since the Elkhorn flooded. Oh, yeah.” Creighton pointed. “We’re coming up on Neligh Mills, it’s on the list of Historic Places. Real interesting to tour, but it’s closed for the season.” He nodded to the south. “The Mill Bridge there has been restored.”

She glimpsed the sign that read Narrow Bridge, and imagined the clip clop of a horse’s hooves ringing atop the wood.

Creighton stopped at Highway 275 and turned south into Riverside Park.

The brown water of the Elkhorn River meandered on the right and a baseball field, complete with enclosed bleachers, rose on the left. There was a closed swimming pool on a sunny hill and playground equipment in the park. He stopped the truck.

Creighton’s hard-to-resist smile lit his face. “Ever crossed a river on a swinging bridge?” He lifted her to the ground from the truck. The weight of his hands against her sides lingered, warmer than the sun. But it was a brief touch. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into a jog. “Come on, I’ll bet you can’t run across.”

Shana giggled when he swung her around in front and gave her a slight push. She took off at a stumbling run.

They paused at the deepest sway of the bridge.

Creighton’s warm words tickled her ear, “Wobble. Wobble.” He stepped back, and the ropes and boards joggled from side to side.

Shana planted her feet on the planked slats. The sun-kissed woven cable felt warm beneath her fingers. The drab water frothed and flowed swift. Sunlight caressed her upturned face. Shana put her worries aside and cherished the moment. She sniffed the air around her. It smelled fresh, not fishy. Birds performed in concert. Her body swayed with inward motion. Creighton created a greater commotion in her body than this swinging bridge.

He sauntered her way, as easy as a sailor on the deck of his ship. The tremor opened her eyes wide. A breath caught somewhere before it reached her lungs. The clutch in her stomach had nothing to do with the motion of the bridge or the flow of water beneath.

Golden light reflected from the sun on the murky water. Outdoors, with the river expanse surrounding them, Creighton’s maleness was more contained in that space around them than when they were in the cab of his truck.

Creighton’s gaze locked on hers. “Hi.”

Every fiber of Shana’s flesh felt his softly spoken greeting. She faced him. Where have you been all my life?

Birdsong and the musical waters faded. Only Creighton filled her world.

“Where have you been all my life?” Creighton said, as low as the breeze.

She gulped, unable to blink or get the air she needed to fill her lungs. She opened her mouth, but she didn’t want to spoil the moment with her voice.

A fish slapped the water beneath the bridge and broke the spell.

Even her toes needed oxygen.

 

****

 

Creighton set the wooden slats of the bridge to swaying. The sight of Shana, gilded in the sun, suspended over the water, hurt something deep inside his chest. She looked like a dark haired angel. But she was all woman. The combined trickery of the bright sun and his imagination had silhouetted her form as swollen with child, welcoming him.

Was it the near miss with the life of his niece or nephew that made him look at Shana in a whole new light? Why not enjoy the time they could spend together? She needed a distraction from her troubles in Lincoln. He really didn’t have anything else to do with his time. Why not go ahead and spend some of it with her? He rested his hands on her hips to help her plant her feet again. Or was it to reassure himself that she was really here, in the flesh? Just as fast, he released her. Touching her filled him with unbelievable longing.

Shana froze.

Creighton pictured a rabbit waiting for a foe to pounce first. “Wanna go downtown? I’ll treat you at the coffee shop.” He waited for the bridge to still from her steps. Then he raced across. Were her senses as muddled as his? He asked the Lord for strength on how to lighten the moment.

Back inside the truck, Creighton turned at the first corner and then proceeded north on Main. He drove in deep thought for three blocks. Then he pointed out the courthouse with the statue of an antelope perched on the peak of the roof. At the library, a block farther, he made a U-turn and backtracked.

The tavern looked busy, judging by all the cars out front. He swung the steering wheel to the left and parked.

Evidently accustomed to the height now, Shana jumped out of the truck as soon as it stopped moving.

Creighton scurried ahead to reach the door of the renovated brick building in time to let her precede him.

The fragrance of coffee beans hit him head-on.

“Wonderful!” She stepped across the black and white tiled floor. Ecstasy glowed across her face. “They have cappuccino.”

Shana’s sparkling smile gave him hope. Maybe she could overlook his dark behavior. He searched for something to talk about. Should he ignore whatever this was between them, pretend that no way could she get under his defenses? But she was already there. Big time.

The soda fountain boasted an array of flavors and drinks to match any big city establishment. He straddled a stool and opted for regular coffee over any fancy cold fountain drink. “On second thought, I’ll take a squirt of white chocolate syrup in that regular blend,” Creighton said to the barista.

Shana hooked her feet on a rung even with his knees and ordered white chocolate raspberry cappuccino. She swiveled on her stool, knees turning to knock his.

They shared a quick smile before her gaze roamed around the quaint establishment.

He was thrilled at her obvious pleasure with the place.

Machines ground and swished and spurted behind the circular counter. Sweet flavors mingled in the air, and met those of scented candles from the far reaches of the room.

Creighton nodded towards the inviting deep sofa, paid for their drinks, and moved in that direction. With a sigh, he eased into the cushiony depths.

Shana was graceful as she sat on the edge and then slid back with the heavy, hot mug.

He sipped the flavored coffee.

Shana slid forward. “This thing feels like it’s swallowing me up. I’m going to check out the candles over there.” She eased off the sofa, and then ambled away.

He liked the way she wore her simple red shirt and khaki pants. She appeared more petite than ever, maybe because a couple of athletic football-player-sized teens were the only people nearby. She picked up a mint green candle and held it to her nose.

Creighton walked over. “Is that your choice?”

Shana’s elbow brushed his side. “It’s outdoorsy. Piney, but not pungent. Reminds me of you.”

“Thanks, I think.” Creighton plucked it off the shelf and whiffed. “A touch of sage, as well.”

“How can you tell?”

“I grew up smelling sage.” He took the candle and her empty mug to the register. Creighton drained his own man-sized mug, set it on the counter and paid for drinks and the candle. Back outside, he asked, “Is there any shop that calls your name?”

“You get that from Rita.” Shana laughed. “She says certain places at the mall ‘call her name.’”

Creighton’s smile widened as an idea struck. The Starlite Drive-in called his name. “Have you ever been to a drive-in theater?”

“An outdoor movie theater?” Her voice sounded incredulous.

“Yeah. There’s one here, just outside of town. Only one of three left in the state.”

“Let’s go see what’s playing.”

On the road again, he mentally booted himself. The need pressed in to build distance between them. Had he totally lost it? He should have his head examined at the idea that he could spend two hours in a darkened vehicle without the compulsion to hold her close and kiss her luscious lips.

 

****

 

Shana tensed every muscle in her body to keep from losing it. How could she handle the intimacy of spending two hours alone with Creighton, in the dark confines of his truck? Her heart raced. In minutes, they were parked in front of the gated Starlite Drive-In. If it was a good movie, she could forget her soon-to-be dire straits for an interlude of time.

A huge notice beneath the marquee sign read: Closed for the Season. See you at the New Moon Theater.

Oh, thank You, God. You must be watching over me after all.

Shana drooped in relief. After he awakened her senses on the bridge, she needed some breathing room.

Creighton sighed and dropped his chin onto his wrists resting on the steering wheel.

“It was a nice idea, Creighton.” She surprised herself by sharing his disappointment. How could her feelings go so squishy? She wanted him to touch her. She wanted him to not get too close. She had enough to deal with in her life.

“Yeah.” He straightened in the seat. “We would have had to find something to do until the sun set, and I guess I’m ready to get back to the ranch.”

When they were on the blacktop approaching Highway 14, she said, “Creigh.” The shortened version of his name barely squeaked past her lips. “Creighton,” Shana repeated a little louder.

“Hmmm?” He answered offhandedly.

“Stop the truck.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just stop. Please.” He had to stop, fast, or she’d lose all courage.

He checked his mirrors, pulled the pickup off onto the shoulder. Then he half turned, his brows raised in question.

Shana had already unbuckled her seat belt. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and leaned in close. She held eye contact until the very last instant, when her gaze dropped to his mouth. She ran her tongue over her own lips to erase any lingering hint of cappuccino. Then she kissed Creighton. It was the slightest touch possible, a mere meeting of tender flesh, but she tasted his coffee. And the essence that could only be Creighton. Every nerve ending made its presence known. Shana leaned back on her heels.

Had Creighton even blinked?

She couldn’t believe her rash action, but it had relieved tension. She sent him a smile, now trusting her impulsive action as the right one. “Thank you for the candle.” She moved back into her seat. “Now, if you think that was some awful thing to be afraid of, get over it ‘cuz I’m not sorry.”

He still sat dumbstruck.

Confidence renewed, she drew a breath. “But, if you’re up to the challenge—”

“Oh, I’m up to the challenge. After all, I have yet to beat you in Scrabble.” He burst out a laugh. With an earnest tone that gave her a thrill, he said, “Rest assured, you won’t see my kiss when it comes.”

Any more than you saw mine.