A Long Bridge Home Read online

  Dedication

  To Northwest Hills United Methodist Church,

  my church family.

  Thank you for standing in the gap for me,

  for reminding me that God is good all the time,

  and for making me think about what I believe and why.

  Epigraph

  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

  John 14:6

  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

  1 Timothy 2:1–4

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Featured Families

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  29

  30

  31

  32

  33

  34

  35

  36

  37

  38

  39

  Discussion Questions

  Acknowledgments

  An Excerpt from Over the Line Chapter 1

  Deutsch Vocabulary*

  About the Author

  Acclaim for Kelly Irvin

  Other Books by Kelly Irvin

  Copyright

  Featured Families

  1

  West Kootenai, Montana

  Even the fresh scent of bleach couldn’t overcome the acrid stench of smoke from the Caribou wildfire that raged in Kootenai National Forest.

  Usually Christine Mast approached her work with steely determination to smite every dust particle, ferret out every stain, and banish every germ. It seemed silly to clean a house that might burn to a crisp in the next few days. On the other hand, on Wednesdays she cleaned the Drake house. Period. DeeDee Drake didn’t sacrifice cleanliness for anyone or anything. Labor Day weekend might be a time for holiday celebrations, but for Christine, it meant laboring. The Drakes’ ranch-style home better be spick-and-span or DeeDee would have plenty to say about it. That’s why she and Christine got along so well. Cleanliness was, after all, next to godliness.

  The evacuation order could come any second, and yet Christine stood in the Drake living room with her trusty dusting rag in one hand and a Willow Tree figurine of a woman and man holding a newborn baby in the other. These delicate carvings were so sweet. DeeDee had more than a dozen on her mammoth fireplace’s wooden mantel.

  Christine held the figurine family close to her chest and closed her eyes. What would it feel like to rock her own baby to sleep on a cold winter night? Her beau, Andy Lambright, talked about marriage, but he never came out and asked her. Sometimes he looked as if he might pop the question any second, and yet, nothing. Wouldn’t it be the pinnacle of happiness—cleaning her own house for a husband who appreciated all that hard work?

  Neither the man nor the woman holding the baby answered. Their faces remained blandly blissful.

  “Christine. You need to go—now!”

  DeeDee’s voice boomed behind Christine. She jumped. The fragile sculpture slipped from her fingers and hit the pine plank floor. It shattered in a half dozen pieces.

  “Ach!” Christine sank to the floor. She gathered the pieces of the happy family, their faces a puzzle that couldn’t be put together again. “I’m so sorry. Your beautiful figurine—”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s not the end of the world.” DeeDee knelt next to her. “Stop, you’ll cut yourself.”

  Indeed, the end of the world did roar down the mountains, and this tiny bit of beauty seemed too precious to lose. Christine would glue the family back together. No, it would never be the same. Like her serene, orderly life.

  A pointed shard pierced Christine’s thumb. Blood dripped on her apron. She clutched her hand to her chest, trying to stymie the flow from a small cut. “I’m such a clumsy girl.”

  “You’re not clumsy. It’s my fault. I scared you.” DeeDee heaved herself to her feet and offered her plump hand. “Let’s get you a bandage and get you going. We just got the Code Red Reverse 911 call. It’s time to evacuate. The fire’s coming.”

  With one last look at the broken family, Christine scampered after the other woman. A quick fix in the kitchen and she rushed out the door. DeeDee followed. They hugged as if they might never see each other again. Being hugged by DeeDee was like being enveloped in a soft, down-filled comforter that smelled of Dove soap and lavender shampoo. A safe, clean fragrance.

  “I didn’t finish the bathrooms.” A sob caught in Christine’s throat. Letting go and leaving this kind woman who had been a neighbor for Christine’s entire life seemed impossible. “Alex left a terrible mess in the kids’ bathroom.”

  The oldest Drake son was a teenager sure he needed to shave those three spindly blond hairs on his chin and wear large quantities of a stinky aftershave that made Christine sneeze.

  “Honey, God willing, they’ll still be here when we come back and you can scrub them extra hard.” DeeDee gently tugged free. “We’ll see you and yours in Eureka. Don’t you worry.”

  A conversation played in Christine’s head. One she wasn’t supposed to hear. Mother and Father whispered over glasses of iced tea in the kitchen after the little ones went to bed. Father wanted to go home—to his home. Kansas. Mother argued against it, but if things went as usual, Father would have the final word.

  Christine had been two when Father pulled up stakes and moved the family to Montana, drawn by the gorgeous vistas, hunting, fishing, and mountaintops he said brought them closer to the God who created them. Kootenai was their home. Christine had graduated from school here in the eighth grade, cleaned houses for four English families since she was fifteen, and been baptized at eighteen. She went on camping trips with her family to Lake Koocanusa even though tramping around outdoors with the mosquitoes and snakes numbered far down her list of favorite activities. She’d hike in the mountains a hundred times a year to stay here.

  All she remembered from trips to visit family was a shimmering asphalt ribbon that cut a straight line through endless flat fields of golden wheat and corn as far as she could see—and dirty convenience store restrooms. Even as a child, she’d rather hold it than relieve herself in such stinky, miserable quarters.

  The future heaved in front of her, a winding mountain road that suddenly buckled under the weight of a rock slide. “I’ll pay you back for the figurine.” Tears choked Christine as she grabbed the bike she’d left leaning against the back porch. “I’m so sorry I broke it. It was so beautiful.”

  “Knickknacks can be replaced.” DeeDee swiped at her dimpled cheeks and then shooed her with both hands. “Go, girl, hurry. Your daddy and mama will be looking for you.”

  Christine slid onto her mountain bike and pedaled down the gravel road. The thick smoke stung her eyes and hurt her throat. The entire world smelled like a wood-burning stove. The bandaged cut on her palm throbbed.

  She glanced back. DeeDee stood on the porch waving as if she had all the time in the world. Behind her, black
smoke loomed over the house, a sinister, growing monster lurching closer and closer. The towering pines and spruce that normally guarded the grounds with such stately dignity quivered and shrank as if they could see the seething flames roaring down the mountain, bringing with them the demise of every living creature and plant in their path.

  Don’t look.

  Gritting her teeth, she faced the road and pumped harder. Her muscles complained. Her parched throat ached with each intake of harsh air.

  A horn blared. A shiny blue pickup truck loaded down with furniture, boxes, and suitcases swerved around her. She skidded to a stop at the intersection with Wilderness Road. The truck barreled past her. Gene Dickson’s wife yelled an apology from the passenger’s seat. Her words whirled away on a gust of wind, dust, and smoke.

  Christine’s legs quaked. She gasped for air and then regretted it. Smoke burned all the way to her belly.

  Go, go, go. Gott, help me.

  A buggy came into view with a familiar chocolate-colored gelding pulling it. The steady clip-clop of horse’s hooves thudding on packed dirt steadied her.

  Andy.

  He always showed up when Christine needed him. He showed his love in every way possible—except one.

  Now she might never get a chance to hear those words.

  2

  West Kootenai, Montana

  Gott knows what’s in a person’s heart. That’s what Christine’s dad always said. How surprised would Andy be if Christine hopped from her bike and jumped into his arms? Rather than shocking him half to death, she settled for a sturdy wave. He plowed to a stop in the intersection, hopped from the buggy, and strode toward her with a frown on his tanned face.

  “I couldn’t believe it when your daed said you went to work this morning with the preevacuation notice hanging over us.” He punctuated the statement with emotions—anger, worry, fear, love—in that gruff voice that never failed to send goose bumps hiking up Christine’s arms. “You should’ve been on the first wagon out of here.”

  As usual her heart took a quick vacation from beating as she stared up at his unlined face with his forest-green eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips. His normally crisp, clean blue shirt sported dark sweat stains. His pants were dirty. If only she could do his laundry. He towered over her, but so did most people. He said he liked that she was short, and he never took advantage of her height by treating her as if she were a child because she looked like one. “I was at DeeDee’s cleaning when they got the call.”

  “Get in. My boss got the same call. I’ll put your bike in the back.”

  Andy didn’t wait for her to agree. He waggled his fingers at Donut—so named because he’d never met a doughnut he didn’t like—and the dog hopped from the front seat into the back with a soft woof. Christine slipped from the bike and climbed into the buggy. Donut’s snout nudged her arm. She swiveled and petted the gray German shepherd’s grizzled head. “Jah, it’s gut to see you too, hund.”

  Andy settled next to her and snapped the reins. “Your daed was headed back to the house. He asked me to come get you.”

  “Do you think he knows about us?”

  “Nee. He knows he can trust me with you, that’s all.” Andy’s voice deepened. “He and I are friends despite the age difference. Anyway, he wanted to set up sprinklers to try to protect the house and finish packing the wagon. He wants your mudder and the kinner out of here. None of us should’ve been working, I reckon.”

  Plain folks didn’t know how not to work. Sawdust decorated Andy’s shirt and homemade denim pants. Fire or not, the Montana Furniture Store had orders to fill for customers from across the country who wanted rustic, log cabin–style furniture. Christine’s fingers itched to brush off his shirt. She clutched them in her lap instead. “Daed said we should pray for relief, prepare for the worst, and go about our business, knowing Gott has a plan.”

  “He’s a wise man, but if you were my dochder, I would’ve made you stay home.”

  “I’m so glad I’m not.”

  Her dry observation elicited a small chuckle.

  Her own laugh skittered away on the smoke-filled wind. “I heard him say something last night . . .” Should she repeat information she wasn’t meant to hear? Christine chewed her lower lip. If she couldn’t tell the man she eventually intended to marry, who could she tell? “He and Mudder were talking in the kitchen before bedtime. I went to say gut natcht. They’re thinking about returning to Haven.”

  “To Kansas?” He took his gaze from the road long enough to share a look of disbelief with her. “He hasn’t said anything to me.”

  The two worked at the furniture store together. Christine shrugged. “He hasn’t even told us.”

  Andy shook his towhead as he turned onto the dirt road that led to the Mast property. He often did that when mulling over a problem. He likely had no idea how often he peered into space, frowning, his shaggy hair bobbing. “Maybe your parents will allow you to stay. You’re a grown woman. You have a special friend. They know that.”

  Maybe if he’d asked her to marry him, they wouldn’t be having this conversation. Why was he holding back? What was he holding back? Since the first time Andy gave her a ride home from a singing, she’d never looked at another man. He said he had to wait until he saved enough money to buy land and build a home for his future family, and that was fine with her.

  Only a few months ago a small house had come on the market for rent. A perfect starter home for a newlywed couple. She’d thrown out a comment about it, hoping he’d bite. He nodded and said it would indeed be a good house . . . for some young couple. Nothing more. “Stay where?”

  “You could stay with Mercy and the Yoders.”

  “Maybe. They’re staying in Eureka. We could see each other there.”

  “I won’t be in Eureka.”

  Now Christine shook her head. He couldn’t be serious. “Are you staying in Rexford? That’s still close. Or Libby?”

  Libby would require a car, but it was only an hour away.

  Andy didn’t answer. His expression was unreadable, as it so often was. They pulled into her front yard. What had been a peaceful mountain country scene at dawn with a sprawling house, chicken coop, horse corral, barn, and swing set for the children was now the scene of furious activity. Christine’s dad and her three brothers handled hoses that sprayed water over the house, the nursery, and the sheds. Her sisters and her mother lugged suitcases and boxes to the wagon. They needed her help, but she couldn’t let this discussion end with that bombshell.

  “Are you going to tell me, or is it a secret?”

  “I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier.” With a glance around, Andy grabbed her hand, squeezed, and let go. “My daed wants me back home. His health is bad. My bruders built on a dawdy haus for him and Mudder.”

  “Lewistown is six and a half hours from Eureka by car.” Andy left his family’s farm between Moore and Lewistown after a falling out with his older brother—one he never wanted to talk about. “You promised me we would always live in Kootenai. You never wanted to go home.”

  “It’s not forever. Just until he’s feeling better. All the suhs are at the farm for now.”

  It must be bad if all the sons were converging on Lewistown. “Whatever you need to do.”

  “Don’t be mad.” He hopped down from the buggy and waited while she did the same. “I have to take care of family.”

  Christine managed a smile. She would do the same, if called upon. “I’ll miss you.”

  His long fingers brushed hers. “Me too. Now go help your mudder. You need to get out of here. Now.”

  He marched away just like that. No backward glance. No assurances. Men were so hard to understand. “How will we stay in touch?” she called after him.

  “It’ll work out.” He did a backward wave over one shoulder and kept going. “Remember, worry is a sin.”

  Fine. No worries here. She would let him go and let God sort it out.

  * * *

  That had
not gone well. Leaving such important information until the last second was all wrong. His throat aching, Andy scooped up the hose left on the ground by Christine’s brother Zeke and sprayed the log walls in the hope that it would be enough to save the structure when flames surrounded it. He had no choice but to go home. Family came first. Even if it meant leaving behind the woman he loved. Even if it meant dealing with a brother who’d done something nearly impossible to forgive.

  Even after four years, the thought of facing Stephen and his wife caused embers hotter than the ones sparked by the fire to burn through Andy. He could be the bigger man. He had no choice. Just when his goal of saving enough money to get his own place and propose to Christine seemed within reach, lightning ignited the mountains above West Kootenai, his father’s health failed, and Ben Mast had decided to take his family back to Kansas. If this was God’s plan, Andy couldn’t fathom it.

  Nor question it. An obedient believer did not question. His father’s words the day Andy left the farm rang in his ears. “It’s not your place to question Gott’s plan or to run away from it. You’re needed here. Forgiveness is one of the most important planks in building a strong faith.”

  But he had questioned. Unable to forgive, he ignored the pleading in his mother’s eyes and left. And met Christine, for whom his feelings had grown over time despite his stubborn desire to protect his heart. And he’d learned to love this tiny town of just over four hundred people. Sometimes God’s plans were more outrageous than a person could imagine. “All’s well that ends well,” his father would say. But not until Andy learned to forgive.

  It would take a stronger man than himself to resist Christine’s slightly crooked smile, dimpled cheeks, sky-blue eyes, or the bonfire that raged when her fingers brushed against his or he touched the soft skin on her neck. Or kissed eager lips that melded to his. Or the way she looked when she served him at the supper table when he joined her family for a meal—as if she’d made the cherry pie just for him.