Her Mistletoe Protector

The backseat was hardly comfortable, but that wasn’t the reason she couldn’t sleep. Images of Joey kept flashing through her mind, haunting her to the point where she almost couldn’t stand it another moment.

“Nick?” she said softly, breaking the silence. “You don’t think the kidnappers will hurt Joey, do you?”

“Try not to torture yourself thinking the worst, Rachel.”

“I’m not trying to torture myself, but every time I close my eyes I picture that man grabbing Joey and slinging him over his shoulder. Don’t you see? I’m the one who told Joey to get out of the car and run. It’s my fault he was kidnapped.”

There was a long pause, then Nick said, “Rachel, it’s not your fault. I’m sure he would have gotten Joey even if you hadn’t told him to run.”

“Stop trying to placate me,” she said sharply.

There was another brief silence. “Look, Rachel, I don’t know if you believe in God, but if you do, praying can help you get through this.”

She remembered how Nick had prayed before eating their fast-food dinner. Maybe he believed but she wasn’t sure she did. “My parents weren’t very religious. When I was growing up the only time we went to church was at Christmas and Easter.” She hadn’t thought about church or God in a long time. “I’m not sure I believe there really is a God, or that He cares anything about me or Joey.”

“There is.” Nick’s voice exuded confidence. “And He does care about you and Joey. If you keep an open mind and an open heart, you’ll be rewarded.”

“Rewarded?” She couldn’t hide the sarcasm in her tone. “I hardly think having my son kidnapped is anything close to rewarding.”

“You’re twisting my words, Rachel,” he said quietly. “I meant that God can help you through difficult times.”

“There’s nothing more difficult than having your child in danger.” She fought the rising anger. Who was he to preach to her at a time like this? Her son was missing and he wanted her to pray?

“I do know a little about what you’re going through, Rachel. Two years ago, I lost my wife and my daughter in a terrible car crash. I nearly went crazy during the hours they were missing, before they were found dead in the bottom of a ravine. And trust me, I wouldn’t have made it through those dark days without God’s strength and the power of prayer.”

His blunt statement surprised her and caused her to feel ashamed. Why was she taking her anger out on Nick? None of this was his fault. Clearly, he knew what it was like to lose someone he loved. Losing his wife and a daughter had to have been horrible. But prayer? She wasn’t sure she was buying that idea.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d prayed, if ever. And she wasn’t sure that prayer alone would make her feel better about losing her son.

She wouldn’t survive if Joey died. Everything inside her would die right along with him.

“I’ve been praying for Joey’s safety,” Nick went on in a low voice. “And I want you to know, I’ll keep on praying for Joey and for you.”

Tears pricked her eyes and her throat swelled, making it hard to speak. Knowing that he would pray for her son brought a surprising level of comfort. And she suddenly realized that he was right. She did need to keep an open mind. Because if Nick’s prayers could really help, she would gladly take them. She would take anything she could get if it meant keeping Joey safe.

She cleared her throat, trying to hide the evidence of her tears. “Thank you, Nick. And I’m sorry I snapped at you. I didn’t know you lost your wife and daughter. I guess you really do know what I’m going through.”

“For a long time I wanted to join them up in heaven,” he admitted. “But God chose another path for me, so I’ve decided to dedicate my life to putting bad guys away and leading a Christian life, until God calls me home to be with my family.”

She wasn’t sure what to say in response to that, since truthfully, his plan sounded a bit lonely. Although who was she to argue about being alone? She wasn’t interested in having a relationship again, either, especially not while she was raising her son. She was too afraid to trust her instincts about men after the way she’d messed up with Anthony.

Was Nick subtly warning her that he wasn’t interested in being anything more than friends? If so, she was happy to oblige.

Right now, she didn’t care about anything except getting her son back safe and sound.

As the minutes passed slowly, she stared out through the car window at the stars scattered across the night sky. And suddenly, she found herself uttering a simple prayer to a God she wasn’t even sure existed.

Please keep my son safe.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.