The Soldier's Redemption by Cynthia Hickey

Author:Cynthia Hickey
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460380062
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The next morning, camera in hand, Nina made her way to Nob Hill to photograph the destruction of San Francisco without the haze of fire and smoke overshadowing everything. While cleanup efforts were well underway, the city resembled a graveyard of once fine homes and businesses. She swallowed the lump in her throat and clicked the shutter button. It would be a good long while before the city was anywhere near its former splendor.

She sat on the grass, saddened by the destruction. Even after weeks had passed, the terror of the earthquake and destruction still hovered over the day-to-day happenings of the survivors.

Five dollars, payment for her last batch of photographs, crinkled in her pocket. A new roll of film poked her hip. Was it right of her to make money off the misfortune of others? She’d always thought of her pictures as letting the rest of the country know how San Francisco fared. Perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps it would have been best to take the pictures for free, but food wasn’t cheap, and the children needed to eat.

Didn’t God expect his children to be paid for their work? She’d always thought so. Man, or woman, could not live off ministry alone. Even a few funds were useful. Realizing her train of thought would get her nowhere, she transferred her thoughts to the night before and the feel of Jacob’s kiss. A more dangerous path to dwell on for sure.

She ran her finger over her lips. Why had she pushed him away? What if she had said yes to his proposal of going to Kansas with him? No, she’d made the right choice. She couldn’t leave the children alone, nor could she uproot them from all they had ever known. Especially little Abby, who still cried herself to sleep at night. They’d all lost so much already.

Pushing to her feet, Nina headed back to camp, stopping by the board where survivors left messages. At first, she had checked the boards every day, but had slacked off in the past few weeks. She ran her finger over the list of people looking for lost ones. There! Her heart leaped. Abby’s parents were alive and living in the Presidio camp.

Oh, why hadn’t they seen her note of finding Abby? She searched the stacks of papers. It must have fallen and blown away. No matter. The sun had brightened for one lost little girl.

Nina lifted her skirts and dashed to her tent. “Abby!” She scooped the child into her arms and spun. “Your mommy and daddy are looking for you. Come, sweetheart.” Taking the little girl by the hand, she left the others in Mary’s care, grateful the woman hadn’t disappeared for the day yet.

Sending prayers of thanksgiving to heaven, and not wanting to wait another day, Nina led Abby through the littered streets to the other refugee camp. She searched the board there, looking for the location of the Hayfields. “There, sweetie. See? Your parents are in tent number one-twelve.”

Excitement spurred Nina on.

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