Catching Raindrops

By Crystal Hoblit

Warning bells… high water… levees that are about to break: a flood is overtaking the city! Maggie and her family must escape, but will there be enough time to get to higher ground? Stranded in the top of a downtown hotel with dozens of strangers, they can do nothing but watch the flood waters rise. While waiting to be rescued, Maggie must find the courage to face the winter cold, hunger, and uncontrollable fires. She learns that while the people she trusts may not be able to help her, God will. In the midst of terror she finds the perfect peace of surrender.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ambassador International
• Release date: Oct 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781620201664

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

A Warning

Rising Water

Terror

The Beckel

Eva

Worries

Waiting

Fire

Escape

Peace

Mysterious Woman

Surrender

The Camp

A Beginning

Contact Page

Catching Raindrops

This is a fictional work. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations is entirely coincidental.

© 2013 by Crystal Hoblit

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-62020-115-2

eISBN: 978-1-62020-166-4

Cover art: Kaysha Siemens

Cover design and typesetting: Matthew Mulder

E-book conversion: Anna Riebe

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For Jesus who gives me the grace to write. A special thanks to my husband, Brad, I couldn’t have done this without your encouragement.

A Warning

EVACUATE! EVERYONE EVACUATE! THE RIVER is flooding! The levees could break!

The voices outside woke Maggie from a deep sleep. Bolting upright in bed, she pressed her hands to her ears, trying to silence the commotion going on around her. Sirens screeched. Whistles blared. Maggie crawled out of bed and wrapped her bathrobe around herself as she crossed the cold floor to the darkened window. The streetlights below glowed faintly through the veil of rain that still fell to the saturated ground. The sky was dark from the long night of driving rain.

Maggie? A soft voice called from the large, heavily quilted bed.

Maggie closed the curtain, turned away from the window, and flipped her long brown braid over her shoulder. Yes, Katy? The sight of her sister always warmed her heart. Katy had a quiet spirit, but her energy to serve others flowed from her actions. Unfortunately, due to illness, she was blind.

Katy reached toward Maggie’s voice. What’s happening?

The bells seemed to grow louder, and Maggie wondered what it would be like to hear it but be unable to see it. She grasped Katy’s hand and sat down on the edge of the bed.

With all this rain we’ve been having, they say that the levee could break. Maggie tried to keep fear from her voice."

Katy gasped softly. Oh my! I hope that Charles will be okay.

Maggie smiled, despite her racing heart. Even in a time of possible danger, Katy still worried about her husband, Charles, who was away on an unexpected business trip. Maggie squeezed Katy’s hand. I’m sure he will be.

A knock sounded on the door, and a moment later it swung open with a squeak of protest. Phillip, their brother, stood in the doorway, looking slightly disheveled.

Are you girls okay? he asked as he fastened his suspenders in place. There is talk that the levee could break. I’m going to go to the riverside to see what’s going on.

Katy sat up in bed. Will you be careful, Phillip?

You know I will. Phillip leaned over and kissed her forehead lightly. A surprised look crossed his face. Do you have a fever? Your forehead is hot.

Maggie quickly reached over and placed a hand on Katy’s forehead. It was hot to the touch. Katy, you do have a fever!

Perhaps we should take her to the hospital, as long as the flood isn’t too serious, Phillip suggested.

No! Maggie’s answer was abrupt. They couldn’t do that. Her mind drifted back several years ago.

A slight breeze had been gently swaying the checkered curtains hanging in the hallway windows that day. The sound of humming was coming from the kitchen. Maggie loved the sound of her mother’s voice. She tiptoed to the door and peeked in. Her mother stirred a pot of soup with one hand while she flipped through a cookbook with the other.

Maggie glanced at the large pile of vegetables on the counter and knew that the soup wasn’t for supper. It was for the hospital. Can I go tonight? Maggie begged.

Mother turned around; a surprised look crossed her face. "You know you’re too young, Maggie. The hospital doesn’t allow children to volunteer. But, Maggie girl, when you’re old enough, we’ll go together, just the two of