Ryan's Crossing Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Coming Soon!

  Also by Carrie Daws

  Book Club Discussion Sheet

  For more information. . .

  Ryan’s Crossing

  Ryan’s Crossing

  by

  Carrie Daws

  Ryan’s Crossing

  © 2012 by Carrie Daws

  All rights reserved

  Printed in the United States of America

  ISBN: 978-1-62020-102-2

  eISBN: 978-1-62020-152-7

  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture was taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

  Cover Design and Page Layout by Matthew Mulder

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  My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come

  knowledge and understanding.

  Proverbs 2:1-6

  Chapter 1

  THE BLACK MUSTANG ROARED INTO town, its small block 302 engine disturbing the peaceful January afternoon in Crossing, Oregon. Ryan Griffin looked out the windshield, taking in the picket fences. Just another small Oregon town, he thought.

  Slowing as he entered the square, he looked for Micah’s Hardware where he was supposed to meet his parents. As he parked in front of the blue, two-story building, he turned off the engine and sat quiet for a minute. Rachel, he thought. After ten years, they actually found my sister.

  He opened his door and stepped out as a sheriff’s truck pulled up behind him. A uniformed man got out, looking him and the Fastback over.

  “Nice ride,” the sheriff said.

  “Thanks,” said Ryan, taking in the neat uniform that wasn’t starched and pressed to crisp seams. Professional, but still casual.

  “What year?”

  “Sixty-eight.”

  “Working on restoring it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Didn’t sound completely stock as you drove down McKillican Street back there.” The sheriff turned from inspecting the car to look directly at Ryan, his breath clearly visible in the chilly air.

  “No, sir. I’ve upgraded it a bit here and there.”

  The sheriff dipped his head a little. “As long as the upgrades keep within the legal speed limits, you’ll have no problem with me.”

  Ryan nodded his dark head at the sheriff. “Yes, sir.”

  The sheriff walked back around to his truck door and took one more look at Ryan’s car. “Really like that red pin striping down the side. Nice choice.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ryan watched the sheriff drive away before turning to Micah’s. He squared his shoulders and mentally prepared himself to greet his dad. It’s only for a week, he thought.

  Just as he took his first steps toward the store, his younger brother Keith burst through the doors.

  “Ryan!”

  Ryan smiled. “Hey!”

  Keith slammed into him, embracing him in a hug. He’s done some growing since I last saw him. Keith now stood almost even with Ryan’s five foot, nine inch height, although the skinniness of youth still encompassed his rib cage.

  “Can we not wait six months between visits?” said Keith. “I missed you at Christmas!”

  “I know,” said Ryan. “It was really busy at work. I ended up working most of December.”

  “Come on, Mom’s excited to see you!”

  Keith led Ryan up the three steps and through the front door. Aisles of tools angled to lead people to the front counter lined the old wood floor. An older man was unpacking saw blades near the cash register.

  “Hey, Mr. Micah! This is my brother, Ryan.”

  Micah looked up from the box. “So I see.”

  “Mom!” said Keith. “Mom, he’s here!”

  “You yell a bit louder there, boy, and I suspect Hood Village’ll hear ya right good,” said Micah.

  Ryan stopped to look at the gruff man, his paramedic brain assessing Micah before considering the man’s demeanor. Tall, maybe 6 feet. Probably just barely 140 pounds. Older, maybe 65. Reminds me a lot of Clint Eastwood.

  “Ryan!” said his mom as she came from the back of the store. She gave him a hug, going up on her tiptoes so her chin fit comfortably over his shoulder.

  “Hey, Mom. You look good.” She’s put on a little weight! She’s not all skin and bones any more.

  “Thanks.”

  Her smile took in her whole face, which had a bit more color than he remembered, and her short brown hair bounced. Finding Rachel has been good for her.

  “I can’t wait for you to see Amber!” said Keith. “She’s really cool. And she remembers that old tire swing we found!”

  “Amber?” said Ryan.

  “Yes, your sister goes by Amber now,” his mother explained. “I think bad memories made her switch to her middle name, but Peter is changing all that.”

  “Her fiancé, right?” said Ryan.

  “Wait ‘til you meet him!” said Keith. “He’s really great with wood. He’s going to teach me some. He knows all about the trees and stuff. Can tell you just about anything you want to know about the forest.”

  “You always this spastic around your brother, boy?” said Micah.

  “Sorry,” said Keith. “It’s just there’s so much to tell him!”

  “No sense overwhelmin’ him all at once. You’ll scare him out of town just so’s he can get a moment’s peace! Now get on wit’ ya. You still got work to do.”

  Ryan raised his eyebrows at Micah’s treatment of Keith. His mother laid a hand on his arm.

  “Don’t mind him,” she said softly. “He’s all grizzly bear on the outside, but in truth, your brother has brought some life back into him. He just lost his wife last summer, and Allie says he was really struggling. They were married over forty years.”

  Ryan just nodded his head like he understood. “Allie?”

  “His daughter-in-law,” said Victoria. “She works just on the other side of the square and stops over almost everyday to check on him.”

  “Dedicated girl,” said Ryan. Or controlling, he thought.

  “Come on,” said Victoria. “Let’s leave these men to their work. Would you like to wait for your dad or go meet Amber? I believe she’s still in town.”

  “Where is Dad?” said Ryan.

  “He’s over at the newsp
aper sending off a couple stories. We’re staying upstairs for now, and Micah doesn’t have Internet access here.”

  His dad’s ability to write from anywhere made chasing his daughter these last several years possible. As long as he made his deadlines with quality stories, editors from the various publications were happy to send the check to whatever location he dictated.

  “If Dad’s working, then don’t bother him.”

  “All right. Then let’s go meet your sister. I think she said she’d be working with Allie all afternoon.” Victoria walked to the back and grabbed her coat off a peg, swinging it around her shoulders. “We’re going to see Amber, Micah.”

  “Don’t you go fallin’ on no ice patches,” said Micah as he cut through the tape on the bottom of the box and laid it flat.

  “I’ll be careful,” said Victoria with a tolerant smile.

  Ryan held the door open for her then offered his arm as they walked down the block.

  “She’s just down here at the law office,” said Victoria.

  Ryan was shocked. “She’s a lawyer?”

  “No. You see, the town lawyer is Andy, Micah’s son. And his wife, Allie, is the town accountant. Amber is thinking about going back to school, but in the meantime is taking some lessons from Allie so she can help out more at the logging office.”

  Ryan shook his head. “Town lawyer, son of town hardware store owner, married to town accountant teaching my sister how to take over at the town logging office? You really know a lot about these people.”

  Victoria laughed. “I suppose it does sound that way. Crossing is a small town, and most of these people have lived here their whole lives. Once you are accepted by one of them, the rest just kind of adopt you.”

  “You’ve been adopted?”

  “Yes, I suppose we have. Oh, Ryan, this town. These people.” She moved in closer to Ryan as a breeze swirled around them. “They are just incredible. Like a family. I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to live here among them in the Cascade Mountains.”

  Ryan didn’t quite catch his Mom’s enthusiasm. “Live here? So you’re moving here now?” He looked around, raising his eyebrows at the old architecture in the town square. They all seemed to be well maintained, but the newest building has to be circa 1950s.

  “Yes. We’re still working out all the details, but Micah’s letting us live above the store until we figure it all out. It’s not much right now because Micah’s been using the upstairs for storage for many years. But we’re getting it cleaned out.”

  Ryan wasn’t sure what to say. They are moving again. Maybe if Rachel’s here, it will be permanent this time. Wonder how long until Dad expects me to move here too?

  “Micah actually owns an old log cabin just outside of town that we may purchase from him. It needs some work—they stopped using it a couple years before his wife died. The walls are solid. It’s not that big, but Keith is getting older. We won’t need much after he moves out.”

  “Sounds like you’ve already decided.”

  “Perhaps.” Victoria stopped outside a two-story frame building with a picture window in front. “Well, here we are,” said Victoria, looking up with anticipation in her face. “Are you ready?”

  “I guess.” Here goes nothing.

  Chapter 2

  RYAN HELD THE DOOR OPEN for his mom and then stepped in behind her. The small office included a receptionist’s desk with a woman sitting behind it studying something on her computer screen. The room was also furnished with four chairs that lined the walls, and a small table with a coffee pot and a few mugs. Stairs tucked away in one corner of the office led to the second floor, and two open doors were before him, one to Ryan’s left beside the receptionist’s desk and the other slightly to his right. As the door closed behind him, a brown and white Australian shepherd came to stand in the doorway to his right.

  “Hello, Rose,” said Victoria to the woman at the desk. “How are you this Thursday afternoon?”

  Ryan watched the hair on the dog’s brown back raise slightly.

  “Doing good. I’m just taking care of a few of the year-end things. Must get some of these older things filed away so I can make room for this year.”

  “Of course. Is Amber here? I thought I saw the Yagers drop her off earlier.”

  A young woman came up behind the dog. “Mom?”

  Short and skinny, five feet, two inches. 110-115 pounds. Mid-twenties… Rachel? Ryan paused in his assessment to look at the woman his sister had become. Her long, dark hair fashionably layered to frame her face, rich chocolate eyes full of life. Wow.

  “Ryan?” said Amber. Her eyes seemed to be watering slightly, but she hung back with the dog.

  “Guilty,” said Ryan. Now what? Is she waiting on me to make the first move?

  “Sass,” said Amber, looking down at the dog beside her and laying her hand on top of the dog’s head. “Friend, girl.” The dog immediately sat, although Ryan noticed it didn’t take its eyes off of him.

  Amber crossed to where they were standing. She seemed unsure of herself, and Ryan wasn’t sure what to do, either.

  “It’s good to see you,” said Amber.

  “Yeah,” said Ryan. “You too.”

  A trim, curly-haired blonde just a couple inches taller than Amber appeared in the doorway near the dog.

  “Hello, Allie,” said Victoria. “Our son Ryan is finally here!”

  “Hi, Mrs. Griffin.” Allie walked forward to join the group near the reception desk. She held her hand out to Ryan. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Ryan returned the firm handshake. “Thanks.”

  Amber looked up at Ryan. “You grew tall!”

  “You didn’t,” said Ryan.

  “Thanks.” She smiled at him, shaking her head just a bit. “When’d you get into town?”

  “About thirty minutes ago.”

  “Still getting your bearings, huh?” Amber looked at her mom. “Do you guys have any plans for dinner yet?”

  “No,” said Victoria. “Your dad is filing a couple stories, so he doesn’t even know Ryan’s here yet.”

  “Okay. Well, you know, Mom, that Faye will want all of you over for dinner. She can’t wait to meet Ryan.”

  “Who’s Faye?” said Ryan.

  “Peter’s mother,” said Victoria.

  Amber smiled at her brother. “She loves a party. And frequently uses any excuse she can think of to cook for an army and have people over to eat it. If you guys don’t come over tonight, then she’ll insist on this weekend.”

  “I don’t think we have any plans tonight,” said Victoria, “but I really should check with your dad. Are you too tired from traveling, Ryan?”

  “Mom, I can do whatever. McWilliam’s not that far of a drive, and I haven’t worked since Tuesday. I just need to find a place to stay.”

  “That won’t be hard,” said Amber. “Crossing doesn’t really have any hotels, but Faye has an extra room if you don’t mind staying down the hall from me. Or Peter has space if you’d rather live bachelor-style with him.”

  “We are planning to clean out space this weekend for you to stay with us,” said Victoria. “If you can manage with Amber or Peter for a couple days, you can always stay with us after that.”

  “Whatever you’re comfortable with,” said Amber.

  “Amber,” said Allie, “why don’t we call it a day so you can enjoy your family? We can get together again next week if you have any time.”

  “Sounds good, Allie. Thanks! Let me grab my coat, Mom, and we’ll go find Dad.”

  The trio left the law office with the dog, Sassy, close behind and headed further around the square to the newspaper storefront.

  “How long have you had the dog?” said Ryan.

  Amber giggled. “She adopted me shortly after I got here in November.”

  “That’s twice now I’ve heard that,” said Ryan.

  “What?” said Amber.

  “Adopted,” said Ryan.

  “Well, she didn’t give m
e much choice,” said Amber. “She’s really Peter’s dog.”

  “Did you start giving her treats or something?” said Ryan.

  “I didn’t do anything,” said Amber. “In fact, when I first got here, I was afraid of her. But it seemed the more I avoided her, the more she wanted to hang around me. Now she follows me pretty much everywhere.”

  “It appears that you’ve gotten over your fear,” said Ryan.

  “At least where Sassy’s concerned, I guess,” said Amber.

  “If you two wait here,” said Victoria, “I’ll run inside and ask Owen if your dad is still here.”

  Without waiting for an answer, she disappeared through the doorway, leaving Ryan and Amber standing on the front walk mostly cleared of snow.

  “So what do you do?” said Amber.

  “Besides pick on annoying brunettes?”

  “I was hoping you’d outgrown that.”

  Ryan grinned at her. “I’m a paramedic.”

  “Really! Did that require a lot of school?”

  “Depends, I guess. Nothing like a doctor, but it’s still hundreds of hours of training, ambulance calls, and clinicals.”

  “I’m impressed,” said Amber, pushing her mitten-clad hands into her coat pockets.

  “Thanks. How about you?”

  “Not much. I never finished high school, which is pretty limiting on the job market. But, I’m thinking about taking some online accounting classes through Oregon State so I can help out more at the logging office. I have to get my GED first, but Allie says I’m picking up on what she’s teaching me pretty quickly.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to stay here?”

  “Yeah. Peter plans to take over his dad’s business. I don’t see us moving anywhere.”

  “Ryan!” Thomas Griffin came out of the newspaper office, backpack slung over his shoulder, and hugged his son. His short-cropped grey hair was a bit disheveled, an indication that his editor had requested some quick revisions.

  “Hey, Dad,” said Ryan. “Get your stories filed?”

  “Yes. Now my evening is free to spend with my three children!” He placed one hand on Ryan’s shoulder and wrapped his other arm around Amber’s waist.