On the Victory Trail Read online

  “Sooze is in another room,” Mr. Chambers said. “She’s got a nasty bump on her head. She’s still a little dizzy, but the doctor thinks she’ll be okay. It’s a miracle you two weren’t seriously injured — or killed! The truck is totaled, but God had his hand of protection on you two. No doubt about it.”

  “When will she be released?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

  “We need to keep her for observation. You can prob-ably take her home tomorrow. However,” Dr. Wang directed his words back to Skye, “you take it easy for a few days. You’ve got some serious bruising, and those stitches above your eye need time to heal. No cartwheels or jumping out of airplanes or anything. Okay?”

  “What about Sooze — Susan Bodmer — across the hall?” Mrs. Chambers asked. “May we take her with us too?”

  Dr. Wang looked through another set of papers. “Hmm,” he said, deep in thought. “Preliminary skull X-rays show something that we’d like to examine a little further. She got a nasty bump on the left side of her head. We’d like to keep her a few more days for observation and run more tests. It’s probably nothing, but we want to make sure. She’s complaining of a severe headache.”

  “Sooze has a lot of headaches,” Skye said.

  Mrs. Chambers’ face reflected deep concern. “She’s been our foster child for less than a week. She hasn’t told us about the headaches, and her health records show no such problem.”

  “Like I said,” Dr. Wang replied, “it’s probably nothing, but I would like our neurosurgeon to take a look at the test results. We’re going to move her upstairs now. If you wait a little longer, you should be able to see her.”

  “Yes, we’ll wait,” Mr. Chambers said. “We’ll go grab coffee and wait in Skye’s room.”

  “The nurse will let you know when you can see Susan,” Dr. Wang said. “She’ll direct you to Susan’s room. I’m sure she’ll be very glad to see you.”

  In the dimly lit hospital room, Skye sipped chocolate milk from a carton while Mr. and Mrs. Chambers drank coffee from Styrofoam cups like two robots. All three struggled with heavy eyelids.

  Mrs. Chambers broke the hush. “This place makes you want to whisper, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” Mr. Chambers said. Finishing his coffee, he stared at Skye. “How do you feel?”

  “Okay,” she said. “Just a little stiff is all.”

  Mrs. Chambers sipped her coffee. “Where did you girls think you were going at that hour? And what made you two think Sooze could drive a truck?”

  Skye set down her carton. “You probably won’t believe me, but I was trying to stop her. She wanted to drive to some friend’s house about an hour from here. I went with her to try to talk her out of it. I know I could’ve been killed!”

  Skye felt her face flush. Tears streamed down her face and onto her hospital gown.

  “What’s the matter, Honey?” Mrs. Chambers gently rubbed Skye’s back and handed her a tissue.

  “I’m just so sorry,” was all Skye could manage between sobs.

  “We know you are,” Mr. Chambers said. “There will be some consequences later, but for now we want you to know that we still love you.”

  “I don’t mean just this,” Skye said, rubbing her tearfilled eyes. “I mean I’m sorry for everything. Mr. C., I’ve been thinking about what you said in devotions the other night — you know, about God’s gift? I want to ask Jesus to forgive me and save me. Would I have to wait until church on Sunday to do that?”

  Mr. Chambers’ face broke into a smile. “Skye, that’s the best news ever. We’ve been praying every day that you would feel the need to turn your life over to God. And no, you don’t need to wait until Sunday. You can do it right here — right now.”

  “What do I do?” Skye asked.

  Mrs. Chambers reached over and took Skye’s hand.

  “We can pray together right here,” Mr. Chambers responded. “Remember what we’ve said about God being so holy that sin can’t exist in his presence? As a righ­teous judge, the sentence he requires for sin and rebellion is death. But as soon as the sentence was announced, God asked his own son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in your place. And that’s exactly what he did. Jesus wasn’t guilty of anything, but he took all the sin of the world, including everything you’ve ever done wrong, and died for you so that you wouldn’t have to.”

  Skye couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You mean, I should have gotten the death penalty, but Jesus took it for me? I don’t understand. Why would he do that?”

  “He did that because he loves you, Skye, more than you will ever fully know. Tell you what,” Mr. Chambers said, placing his cup on a table, “let’s pray right now. God doesn’t expect any fancy words, Skye. All he wants to know is that you want to accept his wonderful gift and receive forgiveness.”

  Folding her hands, Skye bowed her head. Different from all the other times she had prayed, she closed her eyes, concentrating on Jesus, the one who had always loved her in spite of her faults.

  “Dear God,” she said, “I know I’ve been rotten, and I don’t blame you if you’re mad at me. But if it’s true that you want to forgive me, I’m asking you to do that right now. I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done wrong. Jesus, thank you for taking my sin on yourself so I can be for-given and go to heaven. Amen.”

  Skye glanced at the only two ­people who had ever shown real care and concern for her. She couldn’t contain her smile as she reflected on what she had just done.

  “Skye,” Mrs. Chambers said, eyes sparkling with joy, “we love you so much.”

  “Yes, we do,” Mr. Chambers added, “and according to the Bible, God does too. Now, young lady, you are part of another family — the family of God.”

  Skye took in a deep breath of air, but the bruises that made it painful to breathe. It didn’t matter how she felt on the outside, though, because, for the first time in her life, Skye felt really clean on the inside. At last, she was free from the anger and hatred that had weighed her down. Now she was free to love, starting with the two greatest ­people she had ever known.

  “And I love you both — Mom and Dad.”

  chapter six

  At home, Skye focused on her nightstand clock and shot upright in bed. Pain flashed through her body, even though one whole day had passed since the accident.

  “Ten o’clock! Ow! Oh — oh,” she groaned and fell back on her pillow. Then she remembered. The accident — the hospital — the cut above her eye — the bruises. No wonder she felt like she’d been run over by a truck!

  Skye struggled to roll over to sit on the edge of her bed and caught a glimpse of herself in the dresser mirror. Yikes! she thought.

  Skye unfolded herself, one sore limb at a time, and struggled to stand. It’s cool that the Chambers let me sleep in. I wonder how Sooze is doing?

  Despite the bruises on the outside, Skye felt as though a cool stream fl owed through her soul, bringing peace. Now she could face the morning with a smile, one that came from the depths of her new spirit. She couldn’t get over how different she felt — new. She limped to her window and looked out.

  The day was already a muggy, overcast gray, but even the weather couldn’t dampen the sunshine Skye felt inside. Something special had happened! Like a dirty stable made clean, her own heart had been “mucked out.”

  This was the second day of her new, sparkling-clean life with God. The Chambers had kept her in bed and quiet after she got home from the hospital the day before, but today she would be able to talk to Morgan. She could hardly wait to tell her the good news.

  Despite her pain, Skye hurried to dress and brush her hair. She hobbled out of her bedroom and made her way down the hallway into the dining room. The welcoming fragrance of coffee and buttered toast greeted her along with Mr. and Mrs. Chambers.

  The ­couple sat close to one another, enjoying a late breakfast. The dogs, Tip and Ty, crouched under the table, stalking any handouts that might come their way.

  “Did Mary Brannigan call you?�
� Mrs. Chambers asked her husband. “Her computer froze, and she thinks her hard drive crashed. I saw her at the market yesterday.”

  “No, not yet. I hope she does though. I can always use the business.” Mr. Chambers then directed his atten-tion to Skye. “Well, good morning, and where do you think you’re going?”

  Mrs. Chambers swallowed a bite of toast. “Honey, you can’t possibly do chores today. We’re going to do them for you. Oh my, just look at your poor face!”

  “Where’s Morgan?” Skye said as she leaned against the table. “You didn’t tell her, did you? Where is she?”

  “Whoa, take it easy, girl. She’s down at the barn,” Mr. Chambers said, eating the last of his scrambled eggs.

  “And yes, we told her about the accident,” Mrs. Chambers added, sipping her coffee.

  “No, no, I don’t mean about the accident. I mean about me — and God — what happened at the hospital.”

  “No, we didn’t tell her,” Mrs. Chambers said. “We figured you’d want to tell her all about that yourself. Now sit down and have some breakfast.”

  “But I want to tell her right now. Can I? Please? Then I’ll eat.”

  “Sure,” Mr. Chambers grinned. “The decision you made to accept Christ was the most important one you’ll ever make. Go on.”

  Mrs. Chambers smiled. “I’ll keep the eggs warm in the microwave. Now go ahead before you forget what happened.” Both she and Mr. Chambers laughed.

  Skye hobbled down to the barn as fast as her aching legs would go. She squeezed through the sliding door and hurried past every stall. Frustrated, she finally yelled, “Morgan!”

  “In the tack room!” Morgan yelled back.

  Skye hurried to the small room decked with saddles and bridles hanging on the walls. The pungent aromas of leather, horses, and hay saturated the air. Morgan sat in the center of the room, polishing a saddle mounted on a sawhorse.

  “Hey, sleepyhead! You’re finally among the land of the living!” Morgan kidded and then looked up. Her green eyes gawked in disbelief. “No way! Look at those black eyes! What were you two trying to prove?”

  Skye limped to the center of the room. Overturning an old bucket, she placed her aching body gingerly in front of Morgan, who went back to soaping the saddle.

  “You know the fair is only a month away,” Morgan started. “We have tons of work to do before — ”

  “Morgan, I’ve gotta tell you something,” Skye interrupted.

  “If it’s about the accident and Sooze, I already know. Mr. and Mrs. C. told me. I sure hope her test results come out okay. She may get shipped out after pulling that little stunt. Man, that was stupid. And you too! Where’s your head, girl?”

  “No, I don’t mean about Sooze. It’s about me.”

  Morgan paused, her freckled face troubled. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. I did something last night that I had never done before. In fact, I thought I would never do it.”

  “Now what? Did you get yourself into more hot water?”

  “No, nothing like that.” Skye shook her head and took a deep breath. ”Well, that truck accident made me think things through. All that stuff you and the Chambers have been telling me about God and all — well — all of a sudden, it sank in. I mean about needing God in my life, just like you said, and last night at the hospital I asked Jesus Christ to forgive me and to come into my life. I can’t believe it, Morgan, but I feel like a whole new person. Like you’ve been telling me, it is so cool.”

  Nothing came out of Morgan’s open mouth, and her eyes grew wide as she stared at Skye.

  “You’re kidding!” Morgan finally screeched. She dropped the cream tin and cloth in her lap and reached her arms toward Skye. “That is so great!”

  “Ow!” Skye said as the two embraced. She pulled away sharply. “I am one big bruise.”

  “Sorry,” Morgan said, “but that is such great news! Wait till Pastor Newman and the kids at church hear this. They’ve all been praying for you, you know. Even Chad.”

  “Chad?” Skye felt her face flush.

  “Yeah, you heard me. The one and only Chad Dressler,” Morgan giggled. “You know, he really likes you. I mean — he really, really likes you. Wait till he hears that you’ve become a Chris­tian. He’ll be totally impressed. And wait till he gets a look at the new you!”

  “Very funny!” Skye replied. Then said softly. “I like him too, sort of.”

  “Sort of?” Morgan cackled as she picked up the saddle cream and cloth. “Sort of? Yeah, right. Every time his name is mentioned you turn five shades of red. I think you’ve got a crush on him. Anyway, I’m so glad you’ve become a Christian. Now you’re my sister for real — my sister in Christ.”

  For once Skye was glad it rained in Shade Valley for the next three days. Watching Morgan ride would have been pure agony, but Skye’s battered body wouldn’t have even been able to sit on Champ. By the end of the week, the rain stopped. Feeling well enough to ride, Skye joined Morgan for a quick breakfast and headed to the barn. While low clouds hid the summer sun, they worked their horses in the large paddock, practicing for the upcoming horse show at the Snyder County Fair.

  Morgan had just finished working Blaze in barrel racing and now sat on her mount, watching Skye practice for the Advanced Trail Class. Skye, in the center of the field, was engrossed in maneuvering Champ through a wooden gate between two posts.

  “Careful, Skye,” Morgan cautioned. “Champ tends to swing his rump too far to the left when you reach for the gate. If he bumps that post, you’ll get docked some points!”

  “Got it,” Skye replied. “I’ll try it again, this time a little slower.” Skye positioned the horse carefully and reached down, gently swinging open the gate.

  “Easy, Champ,” she said. She rubbed his belly with her left leg; at the same time she tugged his reins to the right, prompting him to step sideways. Carefully, she nudged him through the narrow opening and turned him around. She reached down for the gate and clicked it closed while her horse stood like a statue.

  “Voilà!” Morgan cheered. “That one was too perfect. Too bad you can’t videotape it and send it to the judges. You’d take first place!”

  Skye laughed as she jogged Champ toward Morgan. “He’ll do it again,” Skye insisted as she reached down and stroked the horse’s silky mane. “This wasn’t the first time. And he’s been great with the water obstacle and the log step-over. I just need to catch up with his brilliance!”

  “How’s it going, girls?” a man’s voice yelled from the backyard.

  Skye turned to see Mr. Chambers walking toward them from the house. “Great, Mr. C. — uh, Dad,” Skye yelled back. “Want to see Champ do the gate thing?”

  “And Blaze is still blazing up a storm in her barrel cuts, Mr. C. You want to see a run of that too?” Morgan asked.

  “I’ve got some work to do first,” Mr. Chambers said, leaning up against the fence. “Maybe later in the after-noon when I get done.”

  “Did you bring Sooze home?” Skye asked.

  “Yes, we did.” Mr. Chambers’ face grew deadly serious.

  “Well, how is she? Does she get to stay here?” Morgan asked.

  “Yeah,” Skye added, “and where is she?”

  “Skye, she wants to see you alone,” Mr. C. said as he pointed toward the picnic grove next to the house. “She’s over there. You go ahead, and I’ll cool down Champ.”

  “What’s the matter?” Skye asked as she dismounted. “Does she have to leave? Is she okay? What’s going on?”

  Morgan prodded Blaze and they started walking away. “I’ll wait for you over at the barn, Mr. C.”

  Mr. Chambers crawled between the boards of the fence and took Champ’s reins. “Sooze wants to tell you herself. Now go on,” he gestured again, “she’s waiting.”

  Beyond the fence, Skye could see the towering pines swaying around the picnic pavilion in the breeze. A lone figure, her back toward the field, stood by the
pavilion.

  “Sooze!” Skye tried to yell. She squeezed through the fence boards and pushed her body as fast as it would go across the lawn, over the bridge at the stream, and to the grove. By the time she got there, Skye was gasping for breath, her nostrils filled with the heavy, moist scent of pine.

  I hope Sooze isn’t in terrible trouble, she thought anxiously. We never should’ve taken that truck!

  “Sooze!” Skye gasped a quick breath. “What’s going on? Do you have to leave?”

  chapter seven

  Sooze turned slowly, her bruised face flooded with tears. Her body, covered with black and blue scrapes and bruises, looked just like Skye’s.

  “They did a whole bunch of tests.” Sooze’s voice sounded strangled. “I’ve got a brain tumor — and I’m scared.”

  “A — what?” was all Skye could say. Disbelief threaded its way through every inch of her aching body.

  “A tumor. They found this thing in my head. That’s what’s been giving me the terrible headaches.”

  Sooze sat down at the table, lowered her head onto her arms, and began to sob. Still standing, Skye felt para-lyzed by what she had just heard.

  Sooze has a brain tumor? Skye’s thoughts were racing, groping for the right words to say — any words to say.

  “Just be a friend in the tough times,” Pastor Newman’s words from one of his sermons prodded Skye’s memory. “Jesus is your best friend, and he’s always there. You too can be that kind of friend to someone in need.” Skye lowered herself gently and slipped an arm around Sooze.

  As though God were weeping too, the skies opened and raindrops pelted the carpet of pine around the pavilion. With the rain, the air immediately grew cooler. Skye took a shaky deep breath. In seconds, a steady downpour brought distant thunder.

  Sooze raised her head and wiped her eyes with her fists. “What am I going to do, Skye?”

  Skye squeezed Sooze’s shoulder. “I don’t know,” she answered. “But I do know someone who can show you what to do.”

  “Who?” Sooze’s voice filled with hope. She turned and looked at Skye.