Untitled

Chapter Forty

The early morning sun peeking through the center crack of the blinds shone in Lisa's eyes, awakening her. She instinctively rolled over to look at the bed next to her. Christine was gone. The bathroom light was off, indicating she wasn't in there. "Christine!" she yelled. She searched the motel room. Her belongings were gone. She was gone.
Lisa's heart sunk. 'I was too hard on her, she thought. 'Nobody would have been able to convince me to call home when I was running. Why should I expect her to be any different?' There was a kick at the door. She opened it. There stood Christine with a shallow cardboard box in her hands. It contained two cups of coffee and two cinnamon rolls.
"Where have you been?" scolded Lisa. "You scared me to death."
"Didn't know you cared," chuckled Christine.
"I thought you left, you little stinker. Where's your bag?" Lisa spoke in an exasperated, yet relieved tone of voice.
"It's hanging on the hook behind the bathroom door. I'm ready to roll. Ain't you gonna thank me for breakfast?"
"Yeah! Thanks!" Lisa playfully jerked the box from her hands and set it on the table.
"In case you wanna know, I got it with your ten bucks." They both enjoyed a needed laugh.

On the road again, they left Kansas City and drove through the Kansas plains. It was a typical Indian summer day with temperatures in the low eighties. The Kansas wheat fields had yielded their crops and farmers were preparing to winter in.
They had driven about three hundred miles so far. Lisa was feeling very comfortable with Christine and vice-versa. They mostly entertained themselves with small talk and listened to country western music on the radio.
"Hey Christine?"
"What?" she answered in a frisky voice.
"Do to you know how to drive?" asked Lisa on impulse.
"Yeah, I can drive," she replied, suspiciously. "Only got a learner's permit but I learned to drive on my Grampa's farm when I was twelve. He's my stepfather's dad and a lot nicer."
"OK, how about we put the top down and you take over for awhile. In this part of the country it's mostly flat with a few rolling hills. I think it'll be safe."
In typical teenage slang, Christine screamed out in delight, "All right!"
Soon they were again on their way with Christine at the wheel. "I've never driven such a nice car and I've never even been in a convertible before I met you." She was talking excitedly. Her beautiful black hair blew wildly in the wind. Lisa was smiling, pleased that her young friend was having such a good time.
About an hour passed and they were traveling up a small hill. Suddenly, with a jerk of the steering wheel, Christine abruptly pulled to the side of the road. The car came screeching to a halt. Startled, Lisa turned to Christine. "What the hell are you doing?" she shouted, angrily.
Before Christine could respond, a diesel big rig truck appeared at the top of the knoll. It was on the wrong side of the road. Lisa frantically reached over and slammed her hand against the horn.
The truck driver, whose truck was now heading directly at them, lifted his head and swerved the huge vehicle into the right lane. He faced them as he went by. His eyes expressed both gratitude and fear. 'He apparently dozed off,' thought Lisa. Dumbfounded, she looked to Christine for an explanation. "What! How did...," she stammered.
"I don't know," Christine interrupted. There was a confused look on her face. "I heard a loud voice in my head. It was a women's voice. She said 'Christine, pull over.' The message was so urgent that I pulled over as fast as I could. You didn't say anything, did ya?" she questioned Lisa.
"No, I didn't," responded Lisa in a solemn tone, her knees still shaking from fear. "I better drive for awhile." For the next ten minutes they rode in silence, still in a state of shock.
"Who was she?" wondered Christine outloud.
"Are you sure it was a women's voice?"
"I'm positive. I even know what she looks like."
"How do you know that?"
"I don't know except her face flashed through my mind. She had dark skin. A lot darker than mine. She was old but not real old. I only saw her face. Her skin was smooth and she had black hair with gray running through it. She had a very loving, peaceful look in her eyes."
"Has anything like this ever happened to you before?"
"No," replied Christine with a baffled look on her face.
"Whoever she was, she sure saved our lives. If you hadn't pulled over when you did that truck would have smashed into us at the top of that hill."
"I know."
'Thank you God,' Lisa whispered to herself. "I'm sorry I yelled at you." Christine wasn't listening. Preoccupied, her hands were trembling.
Lisa decided it was time to call it a day. She took an off road leading to the next town. She hadn't gone far before her eyes caught a sign ahead. The sign, hanging from a wooden support structure at the side of the road read "Heaven's Rest Bed and Breakfast." 'Sounds appropriate to me,' she mused while pulling onto the gravel driveway.
Dinner and shopping in town and, later, a hot shower had a settling effect on them both.
"Sleeping in a bed two nights in a row. I don't know if I can handle that," joked Christine. Lisa chuckled politely, setting the stage for a relaxing evening. They stayed in one of two small cottages that were nestled under some trees behind the main house, which was the home of a retired couple who rented out the cottages to supplement their income.
Included in the daily rate was a home-cooked breakfast, which was served at 8:30 a.m. sharp, they were told. Jack and Helen Johnson had their own vegetable garden and raised chickens as well. And Jack Johnson raised flowers in season to sell to merchants in town.

A rooster crowing at sunup served as an alarm clock for Lisa and Christine. Jack and Helen's two guests arrived for breakfast, right on time.
"This is the best vegetable omelet I have ever eaten," complimented Lisa. Christine nodded in agreement. And their host returned a thank-you smile.
The subject of yesterday's terrifying experience came up with Christine starting to tell Lisa that she just remembered that a dream last night had jogged her memory regarding the voice she heard. Lisa interrupted to briefly tell Jack and Helen what had happened on the road the previous day.
"Ohh...how frightful!" exclaimed Helen.
Christine continued. "Anyway, when I was a little girl, I fell out of a tree. I landed on my back and couldn't breath. I saw a glimpse of the same face I saw yesterday. That time she said, 'You'll be fine.' Then I felt calm and started to breathe again. My mom said I broke my shoulder and got the breath knocked out of me. When I told her about the face and the voice, she casually said, 'Maybe it was your guardian angel.' Wow! Isn't that weird?"
"God sometimes moves in strange and mysterious ways," testified Helen, directing her comment to her young guest.
They were finishing breakfast when Helen again opened the conversation. "Speaking of truck drivers, our son drives a truck. In fact he came through here yesterday." She pointed to a photo sitting on a chiffonier standing against the wall behind them. Lisa and Christine simultaneously turned to look.
"That's him," they gasped in amazement. They turned around to face their hosts. Helen and Jack registered shock on their faces.
Lisa was next to speak. "I recognize his face. I saw him clearly as he drove by. And I can't mistake that big chrome star he has as a hood ornament."
Helen and Jack looked at one another. Jack was obviously shaken. Helen, the more religious one of the two, quickly composed herself. "He looked tired when he came through here, but I didn't think he was that exhausted. I pray for that boy every day, don't I, Jack?" Jack nodded and took his wives hand. "Me and Jack worry about him. He's our only child. And he's been working too hard lately. He's got a wife and three kids to support." She pointed to a family photo resting at the other end of the chiffonier. "I pray this will convince him to slow down a bit. And I'm sure grateful that the good Lord had your guardian angel around."
Christine spoke up, "What a coincidence that we ended up here after what happened."
Helen's eyes became glassy from emotion. "Children," she said, "there are no coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous and at the same time letting us know He's here."
Lisa's head bobbed up and down in agreement. She recounted in her mind the string of coincidences that brought her friend Bernice into her life and led her home, finally, after years of separation.
"Now," said Helen. "With this story, maybe I can get that son of ours and his family back in church." She sent her husband a sheepish grin and playfully poked a finger in his ribs.
Lisa saw that Helen had accepted this occurrence as another miracle in her life. Her eyes sparkled, and there was an underlying wisdom in her face, much like that possessed by Doc Summers.
A friendly hug from Helen and a handshake from Jack and they were again on their way. Christine drove and Lisa studied the road map. Lisa had an impulsive idea.
"A few more miles down the road you should see the Highway 24 junction. Take 24 south." She had decided to take the southern route the rest of the way. That evening they arrived in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where they spent the night.

The following morning Lisa again approached Christine about calling her mother. "Christine, you don't have to tell her where you are. Just let her know that you're alright. This is very important to me. Will you do this one thing for me? And I'll tell you what. If you want to, when we get to California, you can stay with me and my friend for awhile until we get you settled."
Christine looked into pleading eyes. "You would do that for me, a complete stranger?"
"You're not a stranger anymore."
"OK! OK!" she said impatiently, yet with a tone of appreciation. 'My stepdad won't be home now so I guess I could give her a quick call."
Lisa was not encouraged with what she heard on Christine's side of the conversation. Christine slowly hung up. Her eyes were sad.
"At first, my mom sounded relieved. I could hear her sniffling over the phone. She said that I should get an abortion and come home. She said she would get the money somehow and send it to me. She said that she was not going to tell my stepfather that I was pregnant or even that she heard from me. She wants me to call her back. Well, I'm telling you, I'm not going back. And I am definitely not going to have an abortion. And furthermore, I'm not going to call her again," Christine said defiantly. Then her shoulders slumped. Her voice became small, hardly audible. "Lisa, she didn't even say she loved me." Tears began to roll down her cheeks. Lisa went over and sat beside her on the bed, put her arms around her, and held her tight. She let her cry it out before speaking.
"That don't mean she doesn't. Your mother is mixed up right now, I'm sure. I am also sure that she is afraid of her husband. Don't be too quick to judge. She loves you. Give it another chance." Lisa's words of assurance brought a pitiful, yet hopeful smile.
"Now, you get yourself in that bathroom and freshen up. I have to make a phone call and we've got a lot of miles to go today."
Bernice answered her ringing phone. "Hello."
"Hi Bernie, It's me."
"Where the Sam hill are you? I've been worried sick."
"Right now I'm in New Mexico. I told you it was going to take me six days and so far it's only been four."
"Yes, but you could have called."
"I know. I'm sorry. A few little things came up along the way that have delayed me a day."
"Any problems? Are you OK?" Bernice changed her manner to one of concern.
"I'm just fine Bernie, I'll tell you all about it when I get there. There is one favor I need to ask you though."
"What is it that you have up your sleeve little lady?" she asked sensing a hint of innocent mischievousness in Lisa's voice. This allowed her worry to fade. "You know there isn't anything in the world I wouldn't do for you."
Lisa relayed to Bernice the situation with Christine. "So, is it alright with you if she stays with us for awhile?"
Bernice, warmed at the idea, replied without hesitation. "Of course it's alright with me. We go into business a little early, that's all."
"You'll love her Bernie," Lisa said excitedly. "She reminds me of myself so many years ago."
"I'll have a room ready for her. And by the way, Lieutenant Ben finished his investigation last week. I'll save that story for when you get here.
Not detecting concern in Bernice's voice over the matter, Lisa let go of her feelings of uneasiness about it and signed off. "You're the greatest Bernie, see you in a couple of days. Bye."
"Bye, bye, dear." For a moment Bernice sat quietly staring into space,worried yet not knowing why.
Lisa was happy. The happiest she had been since before Mama's death. It dawned on her that since picking up Christine she had not dwelled on that sad time. Nor had she thought much about Tim. She had directed her energy toward something positive; helping another human being. She again enjoyed a warm, inner peacefulness. She was becoming accustomed to it. And she also felt a sense of fulfillment. It was similar to the feelings experienced after delivering Martha's baby and helping to save the lives of those little children back at the clinic that day.
She noticed, though, that her sensitivity and degree of satisfaction was more centered and acute. She felt she could attribute this, at least in part, to the wonderful moment of illumination she experienced on the porch at Doc Summers ranch that last day.

Christine had been eavesdropping through a crack in the partially closed bathroom door. She was ecstatic at the idea that two strangers would take her into their home. She returned to the bedroom trying to keep a straight face. But Lisa knew the girl had been listening, and it wasn't hard to read the relief and happiness in Christine's eyes.
"OK kid, let's hit the road." Lisa affectionately booted her friend in the behind as they went out the door.
"Next stop, Arizona," announced Lisa. "If we can get across the border, we can easily make California the day after." Christine took the wheel for the first three hours.
With prompting from Christine, Lisa poured out her life history. However, she stayed mindfully aware so as not to allow the pains of the past to emotionally seduce her. Attention to driving and sight-seeing helped divert any negative focus. She spoke in a frame of reference befitting Christine's personal circumstances. This was the object and sole reason for divulging her sordid past. In particular, she emphasized the trauma associated with living on the streets of a big city. She rarely permitted herself to go back like that, but she did, for Christine. She exposed herself in intimate detail with an openness she had only shown to one other person. And that was her friend Bernie.
Christine was shocked at the atrocities to which her new found friend had been subject, yet in awe at her courage and resolution. Even with the presence of her temporary benefactor, Christine grew more afraid. The arrogant, know-it-all attitude which had possessed her at the beginning of her journey had all but vanished. Even though she was listening closely to Lisa, a part of her mind was occupied by a jumble of "what if's" about the future, and conjecture over her guardian angel.

It was approaching dusk when Lisa noticed in the rearview mirror that a pair of headlights was weaving and approaching at a high rate of speed. Soon a large black pickup truck passed them. Lisa estimated its speed at about 85 miles an hour plus.
"Look at that crazy idiot," shouted Christine as he passed. "He must be drunk."
Ominous clouds were beginning to show themselves. Thunder and lighting flashes followed, announcing the arrival of a storm.
"We passed the city of Gallup a little while ago. Do you think we should go back there for the night or mush on to the next town?"
"I say mush on," Christine adventurously replied. It started to rain hard. They drove on.
"Lisa, stop!" Lisa promptly complied and pulled over.
"What's the matter? Don't tell me it's your guardian angel again," she joked.
"No!" Christine said seriously. "I think I saw a car lying in the ditch back there." Lisa began to back up along the shoulder of the road.
About fifty feet back, Christine yelled. "There it is!" She was pointing out the window.
"I see it. Let's get over there." The car was lying on its side with the driver's side facing up. Based on the car's condition Lisa surmised that it probably had been hit and then rolled over several times before landing in the bottom of the ravine, which was about fifteen feet deep. In her travels she had seen similar accidents.
She reached the edge of the ravine and shouted orders back to Christine. "Switch on the CB like I showed you and try and reach someone, anyone. Tell them we're about thirty miles south of Gallup. Tell them we need everything. We got a bad one."
Lisa slid down the now muddy slope. 'Why does it always have to be muddy?' she wondered ruefully, remembering her trudge down the muddy farm road the day Martha's baby was born.
She saw a man's arm dangling out of the window. She reached in placing her fingers on his neck under the chin. "He's alive," she whispered to herself. There was no one else in the front seat. She tried pulling the door open. The smell of gasoline was in the air.
"Christine, I need help down here." Christine was quickly at her side. "Help me with this door. We have to get this guy out fast." They both pulled and the door finally started to move, but its movement was restricted by a build-up of mud at the bottom.
"Mommy," a little voice cried out.
"My God Lisa, look, there's two little kids in the back seat. We have to get them first." The smell of gas was strong and Lisa saw tiny sparks coming from one of the taillights. The back door was hopelessly jammed shut and locked. Lisa reached through the front window, her fingers searching for the electric window and door lock controls. Miraculously, they still worked. The door clicked and then the rear window slid down.
In an instant, Christine had slipped her body through the window and was tugging at the children. "Seat belts, damn it," she muttered. She released both belts and somehow positioned her body so she could reach under the first child's body. She shoved the child's upper torso through the window where Lisa was braced to pull him the rest of the way out.
"Hand me the little girl now." Lisa pulled the second child out. Christine's slender body then came slithering out. Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
They carried the children to safety at the top of the ravine. All the while, Lisa kept one worried eye on the sparks that continued to pop and flash from the rear of the car. "I can't ask you to come with me but I have to at least try and get that guy out. This car could go up any second." Before Lisa had finished her sentence Christine was sliding down the bank. They pulled the door open just enough to allow the man's frame to fit through.
Christine climbed back through the rear window and positioned herself in the passenger seat so she could brace herself against the other door and push the man's body with her feet while Lisa pulled. Slowly, he began to move. His limp body now laid in the muddy ravine beside the car. They pushed and pulled with all of their strength. Finally they reached the top of the bank.
The car exploded. Soon it was engulfed in flames. Even the now pouring rain was useless against it. They could feel the heat against their bodies as the flames licked wildly into the air.
Looking down away from the fire's glare, Lisa saw heavy bleeding coming through the man's right pant leg. "Quick, give me your belt," she ordered. Christine quickly stripped off her belt.
"Now go check the kids for bleeding. Lisa wrapped the belt tightly around the man's thigh and notched it as tightly as she could.
"I don't see any heavy bleeding, came Christine's call. The boy is awake. He says his stomach hurts inside and he's shaking all over."
"Run to the car and get those blankets in the back seat," commanded Lisa. "And bring that small suitcase of mine too." Christine obeyed. Lisa scurried over to where the children were laying. "Put a blanket over the boy and then the girl." She used the small suitcase to elevate the boy's legs.
"I want my mommy," cried the little boy. Lisa caressed his face with her hand and gently ran her fingers though his hair with the other. She spoke to him softly. "You're going to be all right now." Christine attended the little girl who was regaining consciousness.

The distant whine of sirens was a welcome sound. Within minutes they were surrounded by emergency vehicles with flashing red lights. Paramedics took over as Lisa and Christine watched, only now able to feel their own shock and exhaustion.
The fire chief quickly deduced from the mud tracks how the victims had been dragged up the embankment. He took a closer look at the burning car, which was now being dowsed with fire retardant, and suddenly dashed over to where Lisa was still standing, watching paramedics attend the children. He recognized them.
Two police officers approached with blankets for Lisa and Christine. "Here, you must be freezing." They were both cold, wet with mud, and utterly exhausted. The officers draped the blankets over their shoulders.
"Thank you." Lisa gratefully pulled the blanket tightly around her and watched as two ambulances screamed away into the night.
"Billy," said the obviously distressed Chief, addressing one of the officers, "would you please escort these young ladies to town and put them up at the Waldon Hotel. The City will pick up the tab. Is that OK with you? We'll have your car brought in for you." The chief directed his question to Lisa, but his eyes were on the fire.
"Thank you, that would be nice."
Then one of the firemen raced up and grabbed the chief's arm. "Chief," he said intensely, "we found two more. You better come over here right away." The chief abruptly turned and hurried away with the fireman in the direction where the other two victims had been found.
"I should have looked," stammered Christine.
"You did all you possibly could," responded one of the officers.

On their way into Gallup, Lisa began to regain her composure. The officer in the passenger seat turned to face her. "Ma'am, you two did an awful brave thing back there." His face glowed with respectful admiration. Lisa attempted a smile but could only manage a grimace.
"If you're up to it, I'd like to take a brief statement from you."
"I think I'm up to it," she replied, taking a deep breath.
"Your name."
"My name is Lisa Simmon and this is my daughter Christine." A thrill peeked inside Christine with mention of her as the daughter of this lady whom she had come to ardently admire. Lisa went on to tell the complete story, beginning with the black pickup truck. She suspected it might be involved and that the driver may have been drinking. At its mention, Billy picked up his radio mike and put out an APB for a possible hit and run.

The Waldon was one of the nicest hotels in western New Mexico. Lisa and Christine's suite was luxuriously decorated. It including fine furniture and offered many amenities, including a large screen TV, two queen-size adjustable beds, and whirlpool bath.
"Wow! I've never seen anything like this except maybe in the movies." Christine was flabbergasted. Exploring the delights of the suite provided temporary relief from thoughts of her recent harrowing experience. Their selected luggage was soon delivered. Later, after bathing, they were treated to a delicious dinner delivered by room service. After spending a short time discussing the accident, Christine fell asleep. Lisa watched over her for awhile as she slept. 'She is so beautiful, and so vulnerable and yet so brave-hearted,' she said to herself. 'How do I deserve to have such wonderful people come into my life?'

This led her to thoughts of Bernice; to thoughts of Doc Summers; and finally to pleasant thoughts of Mama. Then, for the first time since leaving Georgia her mind interrupted her by injecting memories of Tim. She was struck with heartfelt pangs of anxiety. This time she stopped herself, not allowing a negative scenario to develop.
Indeed, she was learning that entertaining negative thoughts of whatever nature did not serve her best interest. Nor did they serve the best interest of anyone else, be they directly involved or not.
"Dear God, I pray those children and their family will be alright," she said aloud, ending her prayer.
Her final thoughts before submitting to sleep were of the good doctor's words, "Don't be too quick to judge another in a given situation. Every soul deserves, and will get, a second chance."
"And that most certainly includes Tim," she said to herself.