Page 65 of Burning Escape

The lighter sparked.

He lit the limb on fire, the birch bark catching quickly. With it, he set fire to the base of the trees surrounding the one Tori was clinging to.

“Are you crazy? Stop! You’ll light this whole forest on fire!”

“Goodbye, Tori.” He dropped the burning branch and jogged back to the canoe.

“Damian!”

He flipped the canoe over and climbed in.

Thick smoke curled up, choking Tori. She coughed, grabbed her shirt to cover her nose.

The hymn she’d kept hearing at the Refuge ran through her mind.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come:

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

Here she was in the middle of the danger. Where was grace?

It had been there in the hospital when Orion had stayed by her side. She’d prayed and known God was there. Had she lost Him already?

What was it Orion had said?

He wants you, Victoria.

Wanted.

He is light. And He’s not going to leave you or push you away. He’s always with you.

Good. Cuz she could use some help.

Lord, I cried out in that hospital bed, and I believe You rescued me then. If what Orion said is true, then You’re here too. And I could use another rescue. And…thank You for not leaving me alone. Lead me home, to safety.

And though she couldn’t explain it, the thought settled deep down to her bones.

No matter what happened, she would be okay.

FIFTEEN

Orion peeredfrom the rescue helicopter. The S-70 Firehawk with its pilot and two crew members had arrived today from an Oregon base to help the out-of-control wildfire. The timing couldn’t be a coincidence.

He’s the Good Shepherd.

Strapped in, Orion leaned to see out the other side’s windows, but with the smoke and ash blocking his view, it was useless. He hated not being able to see.

“He couldn’t have gotten that far,” he said into the microphone. Damian, that creep from the gym, must’ve taken Tori in the chaos of the militia showing up at the commune.

“We’re following the river. Won’t stop till we find her.” The pilot’s voice was confident.

The river made the most sense. Amos and Abraham had been the ones to realize one of their canoes was missing. And being the ones who could paddle fastest, since Orion’s shoulder was out of commission, they’d launched a canoe and taken off to look for her.

And here Orion sat on his backside, riding around. What would Grandpa Jack think of this failure of a fire season?

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