Fire in Pleasant Canyon

By Donna Sisler

Inspired by a wildfire in Colorado.

Peony Matthews, is a semi-successful author who is in need of a new novel idea. She leaves behind the familiar settings of Ohio to see what inspiring stories might be found in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. When a fire breaks out in a nearby canyon, Peony finds this adventure to have more than enough ideas for a novel. In the end, her stay in Colorado becomes permanent, her outlook on life becomes more positive and God-centered, and she finds joy, love, and happiness in the irresistible Sgt. Ryan Gilmore.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Donna Sisler
• Release date: Jun 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476141312

Donna Sisler

Donna is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She lives in the beautiful state of Colorado where she finds great inspiration for her novels and devotional writings. Donna brings five years of Bible College and 30 years of Bible study experience to her writings. Her passion is to lead others to Jesus Christ through writing, leading Bible studies, or personal encounters. Donna leads two women’s Bible studies, writes a blog daily, and continues her endeavor of writing and publishing a novel. Donna has co-authored several Bible studies and written devotional material. She has recently finished the manuscripts of three novels and will begin another in the fall of 2012.

Book preview

Fire in Pleasant Canyon

by Donna J. Sisler

~~~~~~

Fire in Pleasant Canyon

Copyright 2012 by Donna J. Sisler

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Photograph: Twin Aspens Photography, J. Mason Sisler

Copyright 2012 by J. Mason Sisler

~~~~~~

Dedication

To my husband. You’ve encouraged me throughout this process and I am forever grateful that God brought you into my life.

To my children and grandchildren. What joy each of you brings to my life. God has truly blessed me with the love of family.

To my parents. The two of you have been my greatest encouragers through my entire life. Thank you for sharing God’s love with me.

To my BFF Lori. This book would still be in the works if it weren’t for your red editing pen. Thank you for all the assistance you’ve given.

Most of all, I thank God for His grace. May God be given the glory for anything and everything I have written or hope to write. It is through Him that I am able to do so.

~~~~~~

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Book Description

About the Author

Fire in Pleasant Canyon

Prologue

The summer had been perfect. Very little rain. Warmer than normal temperatures. Winds that wouldn’t quit. Yes, the climate had added the final touch. The master plan that Mortimer Kingsbury had been working on for some time. Now that the weather conditions were to his liking, he could execute his plan.

Most farmers were burning off the overgrown weeds and grasses in ditches at this time of year. This was a dangerous situation that demanded constant attention and had to be kept under control. The occasional fire that got out of hand could be costly, in both resources and lives. Mortimer knew this all too well. He had lost a great deal by a fire that had gotten out of control. A fire that changed everything in his life. A fire that took everything he cared about away from him. It was time for revenge. Time to show that what had been done to him and his family could not go unpunished. He was prepared to do just that.

Mortimer planned to travel around until he found an inattentive farmer burning ditches and then start a fire nearby in an area that was out of sight and let nature take care of the rest. He really didn’t care if it was a farmer or another unfortunate soul. It didn’t matter. He just wanted to find someone to pay for his losses and mourn the way he had.

Fire had destroyed much of what he had. His farm, his home, his livelihood. He still had such a hard time believing all that he had was gone. The grief was such a burden that his wife even left. They could not sustain their marriage after the loss. Yes, that fire had taken everything he loved from him. He looked down at his hands. They were badly scarred. In an attempt to extinguish the fires, the flames whipped up and had overtaken him so that he wasn’t able to save anything. He was lucky to be alive. His remembering was too painful. It was time to impose his pain upon others.

He hadn’t thought of going to the mountains. He lived out on the plains of Colorado and that was where he had intended to do his damage. However, the weather forecasters had given Mortimer the idea that the mountains were a prime location for a major fire. The high winds, the dry weather, and the pine beetle blight brought high fire danger warnings. The mountains would be the perfect place for Mortimer to inflict his revenge.

~~~~~~

Chapter One

It was a new day. The morning appeared with a brightness that compared with nothing Peony had seen in her life. Maybe this idea was an exaggeration. Perhaps it was the new adventure she had decided to explore and enjoy. Perhaps it was that she was leaving behind the burdens of the current situations in her life. Or perhaps it was an escape. At least that’s what those closest to her believed it to be. Whatever it might be, Peony Matthews was ready to get on with it. Ready to leave behind Fairhaven, Ohio and head to the glorious Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Her flight was scheduled to leave in a few short hours and she still needed to finish packing. Time had a way of getting away from her, as it had in preparation for this trip. Of course, Peony needed to make extra preparations for this trip. She planned to be gone for several months, so it was necessary to make arrangements for her property to be cared for, mail to be re-routed and delivered to the nearby town of Pleasant Hill in Colorado, and many other details to attend to. She would also be taking more with her. Peony shipped most of her belongings for an extended stay ahead of her. All that was left to gather were a small bag with personal items, her computer, and her faithful companion, Daisy. Daisy, a rescued Border collie, would be flying in the cargo area in a crate. Peony wasn’t worried about Daisy. She had never had any issues with flying in the past. The flight should be non-eventful.

The flight was just as Peony thought it would be. Non-eventful. The landing in Denver was spectacular! The mountains were in sight and the view was like a post card photograph. Peony was greeted by an airport Ambassador. This kind woman dressed in a brown leather vest, cowboy hat, and bag draped over her shoulder pointed Peony in the direction to claim her belongings. These Ambassadors, she found, were volunteers who knew the importance of helping those who seemed lost. Peony was most grateful for their dedication and willingness to help her in her current situation. Now, most importantly, she must gather Daisy, get her rental vehicle and get to the cabin before dark. It would be more difficult to find the isolated location after the sun set, and now Peony was beginning to feel a sense of urgency. The vehicle she had chosen for her adventure was a red Jeep Liberty. In her research, Peony thought it would be the best vehicle for her mountain excursion. It was ready for her to pick up when she reached the desk.

Peony began the travel through Denver and the town of Flatirons into Pleasant Canyon. It was everything Peony expected, but what she did not expect was how beautiful it truly was. The photographs she had seen did not do this canyon justice. The beauty of the aspen trees intermingled with the pine trees and she could hear the leaves rustling in the wind. There was an area to pull off not too far into the canyon. Peony stopped the Jeep and allowed Daisy to investigate the new territory. With the view of the cities below, Peony was more than excited to be on this journey. She was ready to follow this road to the unknown, but what she really wanted was to find her way. Find who she was and what her purpose in life might be. Writing her newest novel might help in that process and that was exactly what she planned to do. Seek and find.

Back in the Jeep with the top open, Peony followed the directions of the GPS very carefully, not wanting to become disoriented or lost in this isolated area. As the altitude rose, so did Peony’s spirit. As the air became crisp, Peony’s mind became clearer. Peony was finally feeling better. She even found herself smiling. One of those silly grins. The kind that comes over your face when happiness and joy invades your soul. She was definitely feeling better and in a better mood. The road wound around, back and forth upon itself. Higher and higher. Farther and farther. Far away from her real life. As she approached the entrance of the gated community, she slowed and used the provided password to enter the area. Because of this precaution, Peony felt she would be safe in the mountains all alone, especially in the secluded area where the cabin was. Her progress continued, and as she rounded a corner, she saw it. Her destination and her home for the next few months. The cabin she had leased from a kind, retired couple was exactly what she was searching for. A place to escape some of the issues in her life…actually, she was hoping to escape all of the issues in her life.

Daisy could sense that they had arrived and became a bit anxious to get out of the Jeep. Stepping out of the vehicle, Peony watched as Daisy once again began the investigation of the area. It was good to see Daisy so excited and happy to be in open territory. This situation was very different from the downtown condominium Peony left behind in Fairhaven. Peony and Daisy lived in a two bedroom condo that was furnished and decorated with a modern touch. It fit Peony’s lifestyle and tastes to perfection. In Fairhaven, Daisy was never able to run free. She always had to be on a leash. But here, in all the seclusion and open space, Daisy was free to do as she pleased. For that matter, Peony was free to do as she pleased also.

From the driveway, Peony viewed the cabin. Actually, it was a two bedroom house. Probably more than Peony and Daisy needed, but the price and location were perfect. It was a green, modified ranch style home with a porch that wrapped around the front of the house from the back. The front bank of the house was filled with large windows. It was nestled among large aspen trees and evergreen trees. It was truly a beautiful home. Peony was told where to find the key and it was exactly where the owners said it would be.

Peony opened the door and was greeted with the scent of freshly baked goods. She hadn’t realized that she was hungry until just this moment. Her last meal had been the night before. In the rush to get to the airport, Peony did not take the time to eat anything. She realized she was more than hungry, she was famished. Daisy followed her in and began sniffing the air as well. She was hungry, too. Peony put her things down and headed toward the kitchen where the scent originated. On the table was a freshly baked loaf of bread, an assortment of maps, guides, and pamphlets, and an envelope with her name on it. Peony opened the note. It was from Tom and Linda McDaniel, the couple who had leased her the cabin.

Peony,

We hope you found your way safely to the cabin. The items you had shipped are located in the front bedroom. The cupboards and refrigerator are stocked with items to keep you well-nourished for a few days while you’re getting settled. I hope you enjoy the fresh baked bread I made this afternoon as well.

The grill is on the back patio. The electric is in service. The heat/air is set to go. Feel free to set it at whatever you might need. The telephone is in working order, as is the cable television.

If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Again our number is [phone]. Take care and enjoy yourself while you’re here vacationing on our lovely mountain.

Sincerely,

Tom and Linda McDaniel

Vacationing? Is that what she is doing here? That was the last thing Peony was thinking about. Rest? Perhaps. But most importantly, she must get writing. Her publisher, JJ Landers, has been pressing her to get something in his hands by the end of the year. It is already the first of September. Labor Day is in less than a week. It will be a difficult challenge, but with this change of scenery, Peony was hoping for the best and to have at least a good portion of the upcoming book in JJ’s hands by the end of December. It is a hefty goal, but with her mind set and nothing to distract her, she should be able to get it done.

Looking around the kitchen, Peony noticed some tiredness to this area. It had been used quite a bit through the years. But that use led Peony to believe that the gatherings in this place had been special. There were older cabinets and counter tops. An older kitchen table. The appliances were original harvest gold directly from 1960. They were old, but seemed to be in good working order. Inside the refrigerator, the usual items were found. Milk, eggs, bacon, condiments, salad fixings and dressing, a bottle of wine, and soda. There was even a small casserole that just needed to be reheated. The freezer was stocked with an assortment of meat and ice cream. The cabinets held an array of pantry items. From baking goods to oatmeal to soup to coffee. Linda had been thoughtful and provided a good variety of items to keep Peony satisfied for a few days. After she settled in, she would head to the nearest town to purchase more items from the local grocery store.

Peony preheated the oven and placed the casserole in to heat and set the timer for 15 minutes. She found the cutting board and a knife and sliced through the bread. Oh it smelled divine! She broke off a little bite for Daisy and headed to the front bedroom. Passing through the living room, she opened the blinds and revealed an unobstructed view of snow-capped Rock’s Peak, one of Colorado’s 14,000 foot mountains and Mount Aspen. Peony paused a few seconds to absorb the beauty she beheld and that was before her. If she could not be inspired here, she could not be inspired anywhere, she thought. On the wall directly opposite the bank of windows was a fireplace. It was made of large stones and spanned the entire wall from floor to ceiling. There were two couches facing one another with an old steamer trunk between them serving as a coffee table. On the wall opposite the kitchen, were floor to ceiling book shelves containing books that local authors had written as well as a collection of classics. There was a