"I know. I'd better let you go." If he didn't hang up now, he'd take the next step, what he wanted to do with all his heart—ask her if she'd come back into his life.
"Okay."
"Joella, remember what I said to you that last night at Smith Point. Good-bye." JD clicked off his cell and batted at a tear on his cheek.
Chapter Twenty-Three
"Tammy, if you don't hurry up, it's going to be noon before we get started." Joella, exasperated by her sister’s delays, straddled her bike. What in the world was she looking for in that fanny pack anyway?
Thank the Lord for Saturdays off. The chance to get out in the fresh air instead of pining away for JD in her lonely apartment.
A hundred yards ahead, at the end of the parking lot, an arrow on a wooden sign pointed to Upper Ormond Canyon. Joella squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to remember the day JD, arm muscles flexed, lifted her bike out of the truck and set it beside his.
Their adventure had begun when they sailed off toward the canyon's rim. Her ears burned as she recalled how they'd rested on the grass in the little meadow and … Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel harder. She wasn't doing a good job of forgetting the man who stole her heart.
The ache hadn't faded in more than two months since they said good-bye. Hearing his voice when he called about Dale Burchett had destroyed the meager progress she'd made. But most difficult was knowing JD hadn't trusted Jesus as Savior. Even if they never saw each other again, she prayed he would find the Lord.
"Give me a minute. I need my lip balm." Tammy, clad in spandex shorts and a red tee, balanced her bike between her legs and continued to fumble in the bag.
Joella tugged her ponytail. "T-a-m-m-y. Come on!" When her sister had agreed to go biking on her day off, Joella's optimism soared. Maybe they could salvage their precarious relationship after all. Tammy offering to pick up hers and JD's bikes the day of his accident had been a good start. But now she tested her patience.
"Okay, girl. I'm heading out. You better keep up."
In the parking lot, six women in skirts stood beside their bikes chatting. Their uproarious laughter met Joella's ears. Skirts? Really? Who in their right mind would wear that on a bike ride?
With a shrug, Joella raised herself onto the bike's seat, lifted her feet to the pedals, and shoved off. The paved path led to the route she'd chosen—north toward the Sierra Nogales foothills. The trail formed a horseshoe that curved around to the east on the upper canyon's edge and back south on the opposite rim.
Joella glanced over her left shoulder.
Tammy had refastened the fanny pack and jumped on her bike.
"Hey, Tammy." She yelled back to the straggler. "I'm not kidding. Stay up with me because the trail gets narrow and treacherous. Keep away from the edges." The paved path merged onto an earth-covered trail leading to the upper rim, forcing Joella to pedal harder.
She would've thought since Tammy had graduated from NCU, matured a little, and taken a job at El Camino General, their relationship might improve. Who knew?
"Okay, okay." Tammy caught up with her and rode a few feet behind on the narrow route.
In the distance, the Sierra Nogales Mountains touched the sky, remains of winter snows dusting the top peaks. Closer, the foothills dotted with Manzanita shrubs and blue oak, became visible as the trail bent and hugged the vertical sides of the canyon with Big Camino Creek below.
Joella glanced over her shoulder again. Sure enough, Tammy lagged behind about a hundred feet. Why didn't the girl holler? Joella slowed, waiting for the sound of her sister's tires crunching over dead leaves on the passageway.
The path rounded toward the east with the Sierra Nogales foothills before her. She stopped, placed her foot on the ground, and twisted around. A mature pine tree at the point where the pathway changed directions blocked her view. No Tammy.
The distinct smell of smoke met her nostrils. Not good. The mountains beyond the foothills loomed in the distance. Thank God she didn't see any sign of fire.
Joella lifted her hand to her forehead and scanned the landscape toward the mountain's base. To her horror, several towering columns of smoke rose into the air like gray pillars. Was the heat her imagination? Turning back to find Tammy was imperative now. No telling what she would do if she saw flames.
She retraced her route about a hundred yards. Still no Tammy. Joella swallowed the lump in her throat. Directly ahead where she'd ridden only moments ago and blocking the path, tongues of fire lapped at the vegetation on either side of the trail. Upper Ormond Park was famous for fast-spreading fires, but she never expected to encounter one today. Was Tammy on the other side of the blaze?
Joella coughed, her lungs irritated by the smoke filling the air. She blinked. Between her and the rapidly moving blaze, one of the Skirt Women hurried alongside her bike, gripping the handlebars, tears running down her face. Something about her looked familiar.
"Hey." Joella screamed. "Did you see a girl on a dark blue bike … spandex shorts with a red top?" Where is Tammy? Dear Lord, protect her.
The blonde nodded and sipped in a breath. "I … I passed her about ten minutes ago. She stopped to take a drink from a water bottle. I rode on. That's when I looked over my shoulder and saw the blaze behind me." Her voice broke. "It … it came out of nowhere. I'm scared."
A moment of relief washed over her. Maybe Tammy was safe—if the fire hadn't spread that way.
Alarm crossed the woman's face. "The hills are on fire behind us. What are we going to do?" Her chest heaved with rapid breaths as she brushed tears off her cheeks.
They had no choice but to continue on toward the other side of the canyon. "Ride this way, quick!" Joella shouted at her. "We have to outrun the fire. It's spreading." Looking back at the frightened woman, Joella drew her arm in a wide arc, beckoning her to follow.
The blonde hopped on her bike and pedaled hard.
Joella kept a slow pace, waiting for Skirt Woman to catch up. "C'mon. We've got to hurry." If they could get past the foothills on the canyon's eastern side, they might be safe. Maybe the columns of smoke in that direction hadn't flamed yet. They had to take the chance. "Dear Lord, guide us. Please keep Tammy safe."
The trail curved around a stand of maple trees. Joella's mouth dropped open. The scattered smoke columns no longer dotted the foothills, but dozens of small fires consumed the area moving quickly in their direction, fueled by buckbrush and shrubs. Their route became impassable as grass and leaves caught fire. Flames jumped the path spreading to the foliage and down the canyon wall in the distance.
Joella tried to calm herself. If they had any chance of getting out of this alive, she couldn’t give in to fear. The terrified biker depended on her.
Okay, think. What are our options? Joella looked around, her hopes plummeting.
Ground vegetation, vines, roots, and low-lying bushes grew on the canyon wall nearest them. Only one way out. They had to abandon their bikes and scramble down before the steep sides caught fire. She shuddered. The last twenty-five feet they'd have to navigate a treacherous rocky ledge before they reached the creek bed.
"Leave your bike!" Joella shouted. Suffocating fumes grew thicker, clogging her throat. "Put something over your mouth."
Orange flames roiled into the air, like looking into a fiery furnace. Crackling bushes consumed by the blaze blended with the panic-filled cries of the other woman.
Joella's bike crashed as she dropped it beside the path and started down the canyon. Sharp rocks gouged her ankles as growing heat sent waves of panic.
Ignoring the prickly cuts on her hands, she spit on the ground, trying to rid her mouth of tasteless, dry ash.
A steep path, cut out by some kind of animal zigzagged through the bushes and rocks. Joella slid a short way before glancing back. The blonde perched at the top, frozen in place, as if mesmerized.
Joella's heart raced as smoke threatened to cut off her air supply. She screamed up to the canyon's ridge. "We'v
e got to get out of here. Now!"
The girl said nothing, a blank look on her face.
Oh, dear God. What can I do? Joella couldn't leave her. She'd die in the fire. But if they didn't get away in the next few seconds … Only one choice.
The several hundred steps back up the incline seemed like a thousand. Joella grabbed the blonde's hand and tugged her down the side of the canyon. Every minute counted. Above, fire consumed the trail, feeding on dry underbrush and shrubs, moving relentlessly toward them.
The terror-filled biker stopped halfway down. "I can't. Those rocks are too steep."
The going had been bad enough through the underbrush. Now steep boulders lay before them. "Come on."
Her companion shrieked. "No. I'll fall."
The same fear inundated Joella, but they had to keep going—had to survive. A vision of JD's pale blue eyes danced before her. For him … even if they didn't have a future together. And for the Lord. "It's our only chance!"
Her companion's face turned ashen as her body trembled. Her nostrils flared and she whimpered. With bulging eyes, she looked down in horror at the steep canyon side they'd have to traverse.
"Sit down. We'll slide on our backsides. Together." Her long cumbersome skirt might catch on rocks and bushes, but it would be easier to go down like that.
With woeful eyes, the other biker inched her way to Joella.
Joella's foot slipped on a near vertical rock. A jagged edge gouged her leg. She grimaced with pain but had to keep going. After what seemed an eternity, the Big Camino Creek, snaking through the canyon's floor, appeared below.
The frightened blonde laid a hand on Joella's arm. "Please … I've got to … stop for a minute," she huffed.
A horizontal layer of rocks from where they'd climbed arrested the fast movement of the flames pursuing them. Downstream no signs of smoke were visible. "I think we can sit for a moment." They perched on a slab of rock and stared at the blue river flowing downstream away from the mountains.
Her companion licked her lips. "I… I'm afraid. Are we going to die?" She chewed her fist.
"We're okay for now." Joella breathed out a sigh. "We can follow the creek to the parking lot."
She wrung her hands. "I hope my friends are all right."
"And I pray my sister is okay." Dried blood and dirt caked her leg. With the absence of cuts on the other girl's arms and face, Joella figured she'd avoided serious injury from the bushes and underbrush.
Another image of JD popped into her head … the time he'd suffered a bloody leg after she ran over him with her now incinerated bike. Shaking her head didn't dispel his handsome face from her mind.
Better to think about her companion. "I'm Joella Crawford. This was supposed to be a quiet day of biking with my sister."
"I … I'm glad I saw you. I don't know what happened when we started down." Moisture dampened her eyes. "I wouldn't have made it by myself."
"If you've rested enough, we should get moving again." Joella patted the girl's arm and smiled. "We can hike along the bottom of the gorge hugging the creek. The fire department should be on the way."
Joella had safely navigated through dread, alarm, and panic…until now. Was Tammy waiting for her at the parking lot? Was she safe?
Finally after traversing the rocky terrain for twenty minutes, they passed another group of low bushes and the blacktop appeared to the right. Though the route around the canyon rim was at least fifteen miles, the short cut down the sides couldn't have been more than a couple. Yet she prayed she'd never have to take that way down again.
Joella's breath caught in her throat.
Tammy stood in the parking lot, her hands folded under her chin.
"Oh, thank you, Lord."
Her sister leapt over her bike, and ran toward Joella grabbing her in a fierce hug. "I was so scared." Her shoulders shook. "Thank God you're okay. I … I wasn't sure."
"I was worried about you, too. Praise God. He protected us both." Joella turned toward her biking companion. "This is my sister, Tammy Crawford."
Grime blended with scratches on the petite woman's face. She grimaced and wiped away some of the dirt on her plain brown skirt, now full of rips and tears. "Hello, nice to meet you. I don't know what I would've done if your sister hadn't come along. I'd probably be dead." She pointed toward a group of women standing on the other side of the parking lot waving to her. "That's the church group I came with."
Sounds of blaring sirens blasted through the air as red fire trucks rumbled into the parking lot.
The woman signaled to her group of young ladies. She grasped Joella's hands and looked up with bright blue eyes. "I'll always remember how brave you were. I can't thank you enough." She smiled. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Betty Ann Roberts."
*****
Not until she arrived home did Joella realize how close to death she'd come. Had the winds taken another turn or the flames lapped up the trees any faster, she may have met the Lord sooner rather than later. She groaned, relaxing into the couch that supported her exhausted body.
Betty Ann, the frightened young woman she'd befriended up on the trail, touched her heart. When she remained immobile at the canyon's rim, Joella knew they were in trouble. But God had spared both their lives. And Tammy’s. Thank you, Lord, that she lagged behind.
Inviting Champ inside again for a visit might be a good idea. She needed another doggie hug. But then he always evoked her tears. How many times had she wept since last seeing JD? There hadn't been a night when her pillow remained dry. More than once her colleagues at work had asked if she was getting enough sleep. Surely the heartache of losing JD would ease.
After analyzing the situation a thousand times and weighing the alternatives, she always came to the same conclusion. Converting to his religion was not an option.
Thank God for Dave … for the many times he'd prayed for her.
She stretched her arms and sighed. Even though her appetite had vanished after the death-defying morning, she still had to eat. A small snack would work but first getting off the couch might be painful.
Resting her hand on the coffee table, she started to push up. A set of colorful brochures caught her attention and sent disappointment twisting through her emotions.
With trembling fingers, she picked up the first leaflet with a photograph of the Château des Dames in France. Another described the original furnishings of Ashford Castle in Ireland. The opportunity to visit might be years away now.
A soft knock drew her up from the couch. Before she reached the door, Tammy's voice met her ears. "Joella, may I come in?"
Joella's shoulders sagged. She didn't have the energy to argue with Tammy. Maybe her sister wanted to scold her for suggesting a bike ride in Ormond Park.
Tammy stood at the door with an expression Joella couldn't interpret, different than Tammy's normal haughty attitude. "It'll just take a minute."
"Sure." Joella stepped back and allowed her to enter. Getting up reminded her how every bone in her body ached.
Tammy strolled toward the couch. "May I sit down? I need to talk to you."
Her sibling had never asked permission before. With a nod, Joella held out her hand. "Sure. Have a seat. What's up?" She sat beside her on the couch.
Tammy looked away from hands held tightly in her lap. "Uh … I'm sorry about today. But thank God we escaped danger."
"For once, it's a good thing you fiddled around." Joella patted Tammy's hand. Her attempted laugh sounded more like a whine.
The new college graduate ran her fingers over the light beige couch fabric. "Yeah. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"What, you wasting time?" Joella folded her hands over her chest and leaned back on the couch pillow. Some kind of confrontation would be next.
"No, but I deserve that remark." She pulled a tissue out of her pocket. "Things changed today." Something over Joella's shoulder became her focal point. "The fire brought a couple of things into perspective."
Joella straightened. "What are you talking about?"
"After we got separated and I saw flames on the foothills …" Tammy wiped her cheek and sniffed. "I … thought that I'd … never see you again." She covered her face. "That maybe I'd lost my only sister." A different Tammy sat in front of Joella.
"Well, the Lord brought me back and even allowed me to help the other woman get to safety."
Tammy nodded. "Yes. You're a brave person … and sincere. I can see that now."
Surely her sister didn't mean it. Joella frowned. What did she want this time?
Tammy lifted her palms. "I've always believed you thought you were better than me—the way you never had time for anything but college and interior design."
Every muscle in Joella's body tensed. "No, Tammy. I never thought that. I'm sorry if I neglected you. I do stay busy, but that's no excuse to ignore my family." She rubbed her neck. Her sister spoke the truth. Family had come last too often.
She nodded. "And then when you got pregnant and gave your baby away, Mom and Dad didn't even seem to blame you. They just made excuses for you."
"Oh, Tammy. They were as ashamed of my behavior as I was, but they knew I'd paid for my mistake a thousand times over when I had to put my baby—your nephew, up for adoption. I think they thought I wouldn't be able to take their rejection, too, so they chose to show me God's love instead."
"I can see that now. At the time it felt like they were partial to you, but I'm learning how wrong I was. Today made me realize something … I don't know what I would do if I lost you." She reached for Joella. "I … I love you."
Joella hugged her sister. "I love you, too. We'll always be sisters. I pray we can be friends as well. Forgive me for not spending more time with you."
Tammy leaned back. "There's more. I feel so rotten—accusing you of stealing from me." She took a gulp of air. "I need to tell you how sorry I am. I found the tennis bracelet in my car. It slipped off my wrist."
"Well, I'm glad you located it."
"I think my problem stems from my own insecurities. You've always been so perfect, made such good grades, and now you have a successful career." Tammy reached for a tissue.
"Do you call my reprehensible slip-up in college perfect?"