Wind on the Sand (The Winds of God) Read online

  Lauren got ready for work, reminding God to give angels charge over Jack. She drove across town, reminding God to give angels charge over Jack. She started her work the same way. Every time she thought about Jack, she reminded the Lord to send angels his way.

  Right before closing, Ryan called Lauren into his office. "Shut the door."

  Was she in trouble? Ryan didn't look upset. Then she saw Sue sitting to the side.

  "Hey, what's up?"

  "Sit down, we want to talk to you." He waited for her to get settled. "You know we don't have any children of our own. In fact, we've begun to think of you as the daughter we never had. We don't want to adopt you." He grinned at her. "You're too old for that. But we thought we'd like to make you a partner in the firm."

  "I...I don't understand."

  Sue reached over to hug her, and Ryan stood. "Lauren, sweetie, we got the account!"

  Lauren was swept in a three-person hug.

  "I don't know what to say. I don't have anything to offer the firm. Why would you make me a partner?"

  Sue patted Lauren on the hand. "We've been thinking about what would happen to you if you left the firm. You don't have any family to take care of you. You're not married, and some predatory males could take advantage of you. We want you to feel this is your home. That you have something invested here...roots."

  When Sue paused, Ryan continued. "We don't think we would have gotten those accounts if not for the creative way you have of displaying your research. It backs up our marketing pitches beautifully. We don't want you to be drawn away by a bigger advertising firm because we need you, and…Sue and I feel responsible for you."

  Lauren stared at them, too much in shock to respond.

  Sue reached for her hand. "You don't have to decide now. It's a lot to think about."

  "Well, what would it entail?"

  Ryan explained the legal ramifications of being a partner. It didn't take long for Lauren to become confused. This step would require a lot of thought and prayer.

  When she left the office, she tried to make since of what Ryan and Sue had shared with her. God, what do you think about it? It seemed a strange coincidence to her that the day after she'd asked God if she could belong to Him, someone else was holding out a carrot asking her to belong to them. But it felt like a cheap substitute.

  Chapter 8

  For days, Jack watched anxiously for the mail truck. He had learned the rhythm of the mail, such as it was. Sometimes Lauren's letters were dated as much as two weeks earlier. With each one, he searched for signs she still cared for him.

  The last few days, Juan had become less talkative. He repeated his English lessons, but he didn't make any comments about the subject matter. After almost an hour of surly glances and mimicked answers, Jack closed his Spanish Bible and stared at the teen.

  Jack's stature was impressive, increasing the formidable presence he tried to convey to Juan. "What's bothering you?"

  His eyes darted to the ground then to the side. "You gringos better get out of here if you know what's good for you."

  "Is that a threat?"

  "I don't make threat...it is warning."

  "From what?"

  Juan shook his head. No amount of continued interrogation brought any answer. Jack finally gave up. "Ok, we're done for the day."

  Juan stood in the doorway of the hut, looking back. "You don't forget what I said. Get out while you can."

  Later that evening, the three young missionaries recounted their experiences of the day. Jack listened to Brad and Dr. Sam before mentioning Juan's strange behavior. After he related their conversation, he waited for their response.

  Dr. Sam spoke first. "I've seen no indication from the villagers that their attitude toward us has changed. There were just as many people in the clinic as usual. What about you, Brad?"

  "I'd like to think it was teenage Hispanic bravado, but we can't afford to take a chance. I'll ask around tomorrow. Meanwhile, I think we better pray."

  The next morning they all began their routines much the same. Jack waited for the young children to come to school, and Brad waited with Dr. Sam for patients in the medical clinic. They waited in vain.

  By lunch-time, it was clear something was definitely up in the village. The three men met together again.

  "It should be obvious now. Something's going down," said Brad.

  "I think we should confront Pedro. He's the big man in the village, and it was his son who warned us. If Pedro doesn't know what's going on, no one does."

  The other two men agreed to accompany Jack. They walked through the village to Pedro's house. As usual, he sat outside his door, drinking. He made no move to greet them as they stood in front of him. In fact, he curled his lip and spit right at Jack's feet.

  Jack ignored the insult. "Buenos tardes, Senor Vardez. We have been waiting to help the villagers all day, but none of the children have come for school. Neither has anyone visited the clinic."

  "We don' need your help. Time you left. I take care of my villagers."

  "By drinking yourself into an early grave?"

  "It is not me that will end in early grave. I made deal. This village and all others...eating out of my hand...or smoking." He gave a sickening smile. "It matters not. Either way, I profit."

  The three missionaries recognized the thinly disguised reference to marijuana. Jack was reminded of a verse from the book of Mark. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

  Pedro's eyes narrowed dangerously, and he fingered the knife at his waist. "Is that your way of telling me to go to hell, teacher?"

  "At this rate, you'll make it on your own. We were trying to change that."

  "Get out before we have to carry you out."

  The missionaries retraced their steps with heads held high. When they reached the haven of their hut, Dr. Sam collapsed on a bunk. "Jack, I thought he was going to kill you right there."

  Brad agreed. "He's angry. But you do seem to bear the brunt of his spleen. Probably because you've been teaching Juan the Bible."

  Jack remained standing in the doorway, scanning the village for movement. "What do we do now? We couldn't leave if we wanted to. We have no transportation and even if the mission had a bus available, it would take almost two days to reach us."

  Brad's vote carried the most weight. He had to stay with the people after Jack and Sam left. "I'm going to get on the radio and call in our situation to the Mission Center. I don't think any of the other villagers are dangerous, but neither do I think they'd come to our rescue if Pedro got nasty. We better stick close to our hut for awhile."

  Jack hated inactivity. He thought about Lauren. What would she think about him if he came running home after six weeks?

  He couldn't think that way. That's how the enemy would defeat him. I'm sorry, Lord, I'm in this for the long haul, whatever You want. Tell us what to do.

  At the end of the town-square, Jack spied the dilapidated mail truck. Brad was still fiddling with the radio. He glanced sideways at Dr. Sam, but his friend was lying back with his eyes closed.

  Jack caught Brad's attention and pointed outside. "Mail," he mouthed.

  Brad raised a hand in acknowledgment, and Jack walked out the door.

  He'd only passed about three houses when he saw Juan off to the side. Juan looked very frightened.

  Jack stopped. "Juan?"

  Juan looked into the jungle behind him then turned toward Jack. He motioned Jack over. Jack cut a longing glance at the mail truck. If he missed the truck, the man would leave their mail with someone.

  Jack walked in between the houses to the edge of the jungle. The closer he got, the worse Juan looked. When he got close enough to speak, Juan turned away and walked into the trees. He must not want anyone to see them together.

  Jack followed Juan for several minutes until warning signals flared through his brain. He looked back. He had no idea where he was. The jungle had completely swallowed them up. When he turn
ed, Juan had disappeared. Oh no, here it comes. He began to pray.

  Lauren had made up her mind what to tell Ryan and Sue. She drove by their house after work and shared what God had done for her. They were receptive and expressed the desire to go with her to church. Then they talked about the partnership. She explained that she didn't feel comfortable making any decisions about her life until Jack came back.

  "So, it's that serious?" Ryan questioned her like her father would have.

  "It is for me. I believe it is for him. At least, I think it will be when he finds out I'm a Christian. I think that was holding him back."

  "I see."

  While Ryan considered what Lauren had said, she waited patiently for his reaction.

  "All right, Lauren. We want what's best for you. We'll wait on the partnership until Jack comes back. If you feel that your life is tied up with his, that's all right with us, too. In fact, I'll even give away the bride."

  Sue's eyes were starry with excitement. "Can we go shopping for a wedding dress?"

  "He hasn't proposed yet, but...that would be great. Soon, I hope."

  Lauren went home in a much better frame of mind. When she saw several letters stuffed in her mailbox, her heart soared.

  She grabbed them then rushed to open the door. She had three letters from Jack and placed them in order by the dates he had written them. Then she settled back on the couch to get caught up with her man. Each letter had a poem at the end. Lauren cheated and read the poems first.

  Roses are red,

  Violets are blue.

  This poem is corny

  'cause I'm missing you.

  Lilies are white,

  Daisies are yellow.

  With you in my life,

  I'm a blessed fellow.

  Jack was right. They were definitely corny, but Lauren loved them. She finished reading the rest of the letters then thought of all he'd said. If she read between the lines, she could tell he was worried about her continued refusal to accept Jesus.

  All that would change when he received her last two letters. She had laid it on the line for him. She'd told him about getting saved, about Ryan and the partnership. She'd also asked him what he thought and confessed that she was waiting for him to make any decisions about her life. Then she had taken the big step. She had admitted she was in love with him. If he was interested, she would follow him to the ends of the earth.

  Before Lauren went to bed that night she prayed for all of Jack's needs then she put his name in Psalm 91 and spoke it out loud to the Lord. As she was drifting off to sleep, she reminded the Lord one more time. Send those guardian angels.

  The dream came again. Jack disappeared into the jungle and no amount of calling his name brought him back. But this time, she had seen what lured him into the jungle. It had been a boy. Lauren blinked her eyes as she woke and reached up. Tears.

  She prayed. Something was definitely happening to Jack.

  On the way to work, she reached for her cell phone. It was finally late enough in the day to call the Jamiesons. They said they would be praying.

  Near the end of the day, Lauren was summoned to Ryan's office again. As she neared the door, she heard Ryan speak to his secretary. "Call my wife and tell her to get here as fast she can."

  What was so important that he would need Sue, and why hadn't Ryan just phoned her himself? He had a phone in his office.

  As Lauren walked past, the secretary waved her in. The girl didn't even stop from her task to say hello.

  Lauren stood framed in Ryan's doorway, and she knew when she looked at his face that he wasn't the one in trouble.

  It had to be Jack. Ryan had called Sue in because it was so bad he didn't know how Lauren was going to react.

  The phone was lying off the hook to the side. Lauren noticed all of this in a matter of seconds. "What is it? What's happened to Jack?"

  Ryan handed her the phone. He pushed her down in a chair, but he sat on the chair arm with his arm draped protectively around her.

  Lauren looked at the phone like it was a deadly serpent then put it to her head. "Hello, this is Lauren Tate."

  "Lauren, this is Thomas Chaney, Director with the Globe Mission Board. Your phone number was given as a contact number by Jack Wheeler. I regret to inform you that he has been officially listed as missing. It is feared he was taken hostage by a group of terrorists and drug runners. The proper authorities have been notified and everything that can be done to locate him is being done. Of course, I don't have to tell you that we're all praying. Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"

  Lauren was in shock. There was only one thing she could think. Where is he? It kept running around in her head. Where is he? Even though she knew it was useless, she asked anyway. "Where is he?"

  "I'm sorry, Lauren. I don't know. If I find out anything, we'll be in touch. The Wheeler family would like to call you. I'm sure you'll be hearing from them soon."

  Was he going to hang up? "Wait!" She almost yelled at him.

  "Yes?"

  "He's in the jungle."

  "Yes, he's been in the mountain jungles for almost two months."

  "No. I mean I saw him."

  "You saw him?"

  "I know it sounds crazy, but I've had a recurring dream. Someone, a boy, maybe even a teenager, lured him into the jungle then disappeared."

  "That's very interesting. May I share that information?"

  "Of course." Her voice became pleading. "Will you call me again? Do you have my home number?"

  "Young lady, you must be very important to Jack. I have your work number, your home number, your cell number, and the number of your close friends, the Jamiesons. I'll find you when I have anything to report."

  Lauren sat the phone down. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. She should call the Jamiesons, but she didn't move. Her mind was moving too fast for her to concentrate on any one thing. Somewhere in the midst of it all, she thought of the Lord. How could You let this happen? I trusted You.

  I trusted you. I gave you the dream, didn't I?

  Was that God? Talking in her head? God had warned Lauren to pray with the dream.

  When exactly did Jack disappear? There were things she should have asked Mr. Chaney. She would have to start a list.

  When Lauren reached for a sheet of paper, Ryan started talking. He had let her sit in silence for a few moments, but now she was scaring him. She wasn't reacting at all like he thought she would.

  "Lauren, sweetheart, talk to me. Are you all right?"

  "I forgot to ask questions. I need paper." Her mind could only grasp one thought at a time.

  He handed her a yellow legal pad. "Here, you go. Have you got a pen? Here, take mine."

  Sue rushed in at that moment. "Ryan...Lauren, what is going on? Your secretary wouldn't tell me anything. She said she didn't know."

  Lauren kept writing because she didn't want to forget what was in her mind. Ryan shut his door and pulled Sue around to Lauren.

  "Jack has disappeared in the jungles of Honduras, and they think he's been taken by drug runners or terrorists."

  "Oh, my God, no." She dropped to her knees beside Lauren.

  "I think Lauren is suffering from shock. She just wants to write down questions she forgot to ask." Ryan looked at his wife helplessly.

  "Perfectly logical." Sue patted Lauren on the knee. "When you finish your list, let us see. Maybe we can add something."

  Lauren made eye contact with Sue for the first time. "All right."

  "You see? She's fine. Of course she's in shock, but she'll make it." Sue watched Lauren's face. "Ryan, have you called the Jamiesons?"

  He shook his head.

  "Call them now. Lauren, sweetheart, what is the Jamiesons' phone number?"

  Lauren stared at Sue with a blank look. "I…I can't remember."

  "Doesn't matter, dear. Finish your list. Ryan, look it up in her personnel file."

  Lauren could hear everything they were saying. Did they think she was crazy? It didn't
matter. She had to think about Jack first...then she would talk to them.

  Ryan opened his office door. "Lilly, get Lauren's personnel file. I want the Jamiesons' phone number as fast as you can find it."

  "I've got it on my Rolodex from when Lauren was staying out there." Lilly handed Ryan a slip of paper.

  "Here." He dialed then handed the phone to Sue.

  She explained the situation and then asked Mrs. Jamieson to pray for Lauren.

  Sue handed the phone over to Lauren.

  "Lauren, are you listening?" asked Mrs. Jamieson.

  "I hear you."

  "Don't be afraid, darling. I know you've lost a lot, but God is still in control. Look at the dreams He gave you. He prepared you for this. He will take care of you, and believe it or not, He's taking care of Jack. I don't know why and I don't understand this, but I know if I trust God, I don't have to understand. He just expects me to pray. So, we're going to pray for you now. Are you ready?"

  "Yes, I'm ready." Tears began to flow down Lauren's cheeks as she listened to the faith and power in Mrs. Jamieson's voice. Her hope soared.

  "Now, you call us if you hear anything. It doesn't matter what time, day or night. And we'll keep praying."

  Lauren set the phone down. "I think I'm done with my list."

  "Let's take a look." Ryan's hearty voice made Lauren smile. He and Sue would do anything for her.

  While they were studying the list, the phone rang. They all jumped. Ryan yelled at the door to Lilly. "I told you no calls, Lilly!"

  "It's for Lauren, sir."

  Lauren grabbed at the phone. "Hello? This is Lauren Tate."

  "Hello, Lauren. This is Chris Wheeler. I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to hear your voice. I wish it was under better circumstances."

  Why did people always say that? "Yes."

  "My brother left a letter here for you. He told me if anything happened to him, I was to give it to you. I'll send it right away."

  "Can you read it now?"

  There was a short silence. "Are you sure? It's likely to be extremely personal, knowing my brother."

  "I'm sure."

  "Hold on. I'll open it."

  When he started to speak it was if Jack himself were reading the words. Their voices were so much alike.