Almost Angels “Where Dreams Come True”

By W.J. Walker

Retired fire fighter Hawk, working with a search-and-rescue team to find a missing girl in the woods, sees firsthand what a rescue dog can accomplish. He and his wife, Susan, are preparing their home in Montana, which they call Salish Ranch, to take in foster children—girls who have no other place to go. Soon Hawk and Susan adopt Abby, a dog that has flunked out of seeing-eye school. They hope that once she is trained, she will become one of the best tracking dogs their local search-and-rescue team has ever seen—and a dog who can pave the way for their foster daughters to accomplish something with their lives.
Wichita Greentree is bullied at school and neglected by her parents. When the Native American teen rebels against the bullies, she breaks the law and is sent into the foster care system. She arrives at Hawk and Susan’s Salish Ranch in a sullen mood, determined to run away at the first opportunity. But she is pulled out of her funk and into ranch life by Abby and her trainer, David, a young man who’s studying to be a veterinarian.
One by one, other girls join the family at Salish Ranch: Jaci, who loses her parents in a car accident that leaves her injured; and Fawn, whose stepfather abused her after her mother’s death. The family also adopts Sophie, another seeing-eye dropout who will become a search-and-rescue dog in training, along with Tiki, an ex-Army dog who was blinded on patrol in Afghanistan.
Searching for meaning in their lives, the troubled girls are paired up with the dogs—more than pets, these are animals who may change the teens’ outlooks and help them to see beyond themselves. Jaci, who was visited by a therapy dog while in the hospital, learns to train Tiki as a therapy dog. Fawn, traumatized by the abuse she suffered, trains with Sophie for the search-and-rescue team.
When the call comes to search for Andy, a young teenage boy who is lost in Montana’s mountainous wilderness, the three girls are eager to respond. Their newfound skills and relationships with their search-and-rescue dogs may be the key to Andy’s survival.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC
• Release date: Apr 20, 2013

W.J. Walker

W.J. Walker is a retired nurse who lives in Michigan with her husband of 41 years and their yellow lab, Lucy, and tabby cat, Rusty. She likes to cook and go on hikes with her husband. She enjoys taking scenic landscape pictures and matting and framing them, and enjoys making candles. Sage/Citrus is her favorite scent.She met her husband, Larry, after graduating high school and married him 6 months later. He has been her best friend, confidant, and love of her life all these years. They have two sons who are married and have two grandchildren.After graduating high school she worked to put her husband through college. After starting their family, she went back to school and earned her Registered Nurse certification.Over the years, she has worked as an R.N. in emergency departments in Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Michigan. She later returned to school and obtained a Masters of Science in Nursing. Her devotion to healthcare has also carried down to her sons who are both professionals in the health care field.W.J. has had the privilege of working with many people and patients over the years and loves the diversity those people have brought to her life.After retiring, she began her writing career. The first novel that she wrote involves the FBI, because she originally wanted to join the FBI when she graduated from high school, but she also wanted to be a nurse. The love and devotion to people and their health won out.Writing is important to W.J. because she believes stories provide new experiences and bring knowledge and excitement into people’s lives. Additionally those stories can bring the comfort of thinking about family, community, and what’s important in life. She believes that good stories should inspire people to read and enjoy their quiet time. Having a good novel can be relaxing, reduce stress, and be just down right fun.W.J. is currently working on her second novel.

Book preview

Almost Angels

Where Dreams Come True

by

W.J. Walker

and

Lee Walker

Published by

Brighton Publishing LLC

501 W. Ray Rd.

Suite 4

Chandler, Arizona 85225

brightonpublishing.com

Copyright © 2012

ISBN: 978-1-621831-24-2

e-Book

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Cover Design: Tom Rodriquez

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

What Is an Angel?

Do you believe in angels? Many people have different beliefs on what an angel is, from religious angels in the Bible to spiritual angels of the higher self. A belief is just that. It’s an opinion, a feeling, a knowing. There are many angel definitions that people have used to describe celestial beings or refer to earth angels. Angels are definitely God’s creation.

The angels, or almost angels, to whom we refer in this book, are the angelic innocent, good, adorable girls who have been given new opportunities in their lives. They have suffered tremendous heartaches and, because someone cared, they have shown they are lovable and they manifest goodness and selflessness. The term angelic means having a sweet nature befitting an angel or cherub and having a sweet disposition. These girls have become friends and supporters in their own communities; some people refer to them as angels.

Chapter One

It was early morning, and Susan and Hawk had slept in. The windows were open, and when Susan awakened she heard the woodpecker pecking away at the tree behind their cabin. She smiled; he was certainly an ambitious little bird. Every morning they could hear him hammering away for a couple hours, and then he seemed to stop.

As she looked at the window, she watched the curtains gently billowing into the room as the cool breeze blew through the window screen. She loved their home in the mountains, with its peace and tranquility. In June the nights were cold, but the day usually warmed up around noon.

She wasn’t quite ready to get out of bed, so she snuggled the blanket up under her chin and continued watching the curtains. It was almost mesmerizing. She liked the cool breeze blowing across their bed. Thank goodness Hawk was as cold-blooded as she was, because she didn’t like having the furnace running unless the temperatures dropped below freezing.

Hawk was sleeping at her back, and they were in a spooning position. His hand rested over her waist, and she could feel his gentle breathing against the back of her neck. As she lay there watching the curtains she began thinking about all the work she still needed to do on their property. There was still more work to be done on the landscaping. She definitely wanted to place a few bird feeders and had even given thought to a goldfish pond. She quickly retracted that thought because there were too many wild animals that would love taking advantage of her fish, which would just be there like little sitting ducks.

Susan could now hear a different cadence to Hawk’s breathing. He smiled while pretending to be asleep.

***

Susan and Hawk had recently moved into their new log cabin in the western part of Montana between Kalispell and Whitefish, with the Salish Mountains off to the west and the majestic mountains of Glacier National Park providing the vista to the north and northeast. It was an ideal place for them. They had been married only six months, and they were finally getting settled into their new home and were enjoying their new life together.

Hawk, a retired fireman, spent much of his time with the Kalispell fire department, giving lectures and helping them with their policies and training. He also was spending time with his brother, Dakota, who worked with troubled boys from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Hawk and Susan had been discussing the possibility of working with troubled girls from the reservation and were planning the details of that endeavor. A Blackfeet Indian, Hawk felt he could give something back to his people, and for many years he had admired his older brother, Dakota, and his wife, Petah, for their work and for their positive results among the young Indian boys over the years.

Susan kept busy with her greenhouse and getting her plants ready for the summer. Landscaping had been her business for many years, and she loved working with plants and creating beautiful landscape settings. Now it was the middle of June; most of the snow had disappeared from the ground, and there was evidence of life returning as the leaves on the trees and grass turned green.

Susan had just finished landscaping around the cabin and bunkhouse, placing mounds of dirt at various areas on the property and planting shrubs and flowers. There were numerous pine trees on the property, and she meticulously placed day lilies in small groupings throughout the landscaping to give accent colors to the area. As she stood back and looked at her creation, she was very pleased with the results. She smiled as she scanned the property, remembering her early years when she first began working with plants and her first endeavors at gardening in her back yard. She remembered the influence her Uncle Ken had had in her life—how he helped her get her first job and the good work ethic he had taught her.

Back when she moved from Kalispell to Colorado Springs, Ken was the one who had helped her get a job at a plant nursery, where she gained a lot of experience with the business aspect of landscaping. Landscaping had been a passion of hers since she was a young girl. Over the years that passion led to starting her first company, Faith Scapes Exteriors. She built her company from its conception and eventually became the CEO. She had been perfectly content with her life—and then one day Hawk walked into her life.

After she met Hawk she realized she had spent her entire life working hard and building her company but her personal life had suffered. Hawk was retiring from his career at the fire department, and she wanted to spend time with him and enjoy their married life together. She stepped down from her position as CEO at Faith Scapes so they could build a new life and move to Montana. Susan had grown up in Kalispell, and Hawk’s brother, Dakota, lived on the Blackfeet Reservation there. It had been Hawk’s dream, when he retired from the fire department, to move back to Montana and work with his brother and the Blackfeet Indians. He wanted to give back to his community.

Susan had inherited the five-hundred-acre property in Kalispell from her previous in-laws when they passed away. The former horse farm was the perfect location for Hawk and Susan to start fresh. As Susan looked out over the property, many memories from the past flooded her mind. She sat down at the picnic table, sipped her iced tea, and smiled. God had certainly blessed her. She had loved Jimmy so much, and then years later she had found Hawk. Who would think a tornado would bring another man into her life? God worked in mysterious ways, you just had to trust Him and accept His will for your life.

Hawk had moved away from his roots on the Blackfeet Reservation many years before and had spent his career as a fireman. Dakota’s wife, Petah, also was American Indian, and they owned a horse ranch where, for many years, they had opened up their home to troubled teenage boys. They were foster parents to the boys and offered them another chance at becoming responsible, happy young adults. They felt a calling to give back to their people and work with the juveniles who were facing incarceration. Their mission had been successful, and many of the boys they had fostered were now fine and upstanding citizens in the area and had families of their own.

Those young teenagers were what tugged at Hawk’s heart. When he discussed with Susan the possibility of becoming foster parents like Dakota and Petah, she was in total agreement with him. They both felt they could give opportunities to young people. Susan suggested their foster home be for young girls on the reservation who were going through difficult times in their lives.

Dakota and Petah worked with the Tribal Councils from several reservations in Western Montana to provide an alternative to teenage boys who were facing time in juvenile facilities or jail. They had been working with the Tribal Councils for the last twenty years and had provided a total of sixty-seven boys with the opportunity of turning their lives around. They currently had four boys living at their ranch, ranging from the ages of thirteen to seventeen years old. Their philosophy was to provide hard but meaningful work for the young men, and working with the horses was a necessary element in developing self-discipline and structure to their lives, instead of their focus being in a more destructive area. Caring for horses became integral to changing the life paths for the more difficult and challenging youth.

When Susan contracted the building of their cabin in Kalispell, she had a greenhouse built. She had originally wanted to start a nursery and establish a landscaping business in Kalispell, like she had done with Faith Scapes; however, after meeting Dakota and Petah, she and Hawk decided they wanted to work with at-risk girls.

The night before they had invited Dakota and Petah over for dinner. The four of them had stayed up late into the night, discussing the joys and challenges of working with juveniles and the Tribal Councils. Hawk and Susan were now ready to start their endeavor, but they were still looking for a particular element that would be of interest to young teenage girls—something that would require them to focus their attention and that would help them develop self-discipline.

***

When Hawk awakened, he could smell the fragrance of Susan’s hair and feel her warm curves snuggled up against his body. He loved the soft, ginger-vanilla scent of the body wash and shampoo she used. He kissed her neck and nibbled at her ear and waited to see if she was awake. She didn’t say anything. He moved his hand from her waist down toward her hip, which caused her to giggle.

I thought you were awake, he said with a smile.

Yes, I’ve been awake for several minutes just thinking about how happy I am and how glad I am that we moved back to this area.

I know what you mean. I love living in the mountains, and I’m very happy being married to you.

I love being married to you too. I never thought after so many years that I could love someone as much as I love you.

Me too.

Hawk hugged her closer to him. You know, after Sara died, I had resigned myself to the possibility of never finding love again. And then God brought you into my life.

Yeah, I never thought I’d find anyone that I could love either, and then you pulled me out of that elevator. Susan laughed at the memory. I was such a mess. Sweaty, dirty, and probably smelled awful.

I didn’t notice any of that. When I looked at you and those beautiful eyes, it caught my attention—and then you smiled at me. I think that was what captured my heart.

Susan rolled over to face him. When Randi and I were stuck in the elevator between floors and realized a tornado had struck the store, I thought we might die there. Those hours we spent together allowed me to think about my life and what my priorities were over the years. When we heard your voice up above, it was a relief to both of us. When you finally opened the door of the elevator, I think my heart skipped a beat. You were so handsome and kind to us. No other man had affected me the way you did that day.

Hawk stroked her cheek. I debated whether to come see you at the hospital. When I walked up to your hospital room I almost turned to leave. Then I felt something pull me back to you.

Well, I’m glad you did, because I never would have gotten to know you, and you were such a big help in getting us to Joplin. And that allowed us to get to know each other better. I think I fell in love with you during the time we spent working in Joplin.

He gently kissed her and said, I know I fell in love with you while we were on that trip.

How long did we stay up last night talking with Dakota and Petah? Susan yawned.

I think it was around three in the morning when they left.

No wonder I’m so tired this morning, but I’m glad we were able to talk with them about their foster care. It made me realize even more that we’ve been immensely blessed, and I want to do more to help others who are in need.

Her compassion warmed his heart. I know exactly how you feel. Certainly we have great love for each other, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t share our love with others. Like the boys that Dakota and Petah work with, I feel there are girls out there with similar needs. We can give them a home and a safe environment and work with them during their healing process.

I know we can make a significant difference in their lives, Susan said. I had a number of difficult hurdles to overcome throughout my life, and there was always someone there to mentor and guide me. I want to be there for someone else, to be a solid rock in their lives.

Hawk kissed her again; she was irresistible. I know how kind you are, and you have the ability to relate to people. I’m certain you’ll be able to relate to those troubled young ladies. I’ll make an appointment for us to go and speak with the Blackfeet Nation Tribal Council and let them know our desire to be a foster home and get the process started.

Susan was quiet for a few minutes; she seemed to be thinking hard. Then she said, Dakota and Petah emphasized the importance of meaningful work for the foster kids and the significance of working with animals. We don’t have horses or any animals for them to work with, but I do have the greenhouse. We could bring one girl in, and I could start teaching her about landscaping, but we need to give serious thought about another avenue of vocational involvement—something they can use on a resume when they graduate from high school.

I agree.

I know this is off the subject, but I’ve been thinking about a name for our little piece of land here.

Hawk smiled; he loved the way her mind worked. Like minds run along the same path. I’ve also been thinking of a name, and I was wondering what you think of calling it ‘Salish Ranch’?

You mean Salish as in Salish Mountains?

Yes, the word originates from the Flathead Tribe, and it means ‘The people.’ I kind of like it.

Susan grinned. I like it too.

Great! I’ll make a sign to hang over the gate at the end of our driveway at the main highway, and maybe another one to hang on the cabin itself.

Susan gave him a big hug and said, Salish Ranch, our new home.

Chapter Two

Eleven-year-old Lisa Webb was hiking with her parents, Paul and Beth, and her two older brothers in Glacier National Park. Her parents were involved in a heated discussion over her dad’s long hours and increased travel after his recent work promotion. Lisa’s two brothers—Matt, who was fourteen, and Jason, who was sixteen—were listening to their music and horsing around with each other as they followed behind their parents.

Lisa absentmindedly lagged behind her family, looking at the trails going off from the main hiking trail her family was using. She noticed a couple of chipmunks and stopped to watch them. She loved little animals and was mesmerized by their playful antics. One chipmunk held a small pinecone, and the other would leap on its back, sending them both tumbling over a couple of times. The pinecone fell out of the first one’s paws and the other grabbed it and scampered off, with its buddy in pursuit. Lisa laughed.

Lisa was an independent, free-spirited girl, and the chipmunks totally captured her attention. When they scurried away she followed them. She also was listening to music on her MP3 player with ear buds, and she wasn’t paying close attention to her surroundings as she wondered off the main trail. She didn’t notice how far she was getting away from the trail her family was walking on. The chipmunks would stop at times and gather more pine nuts in their mouths and then continue on their journey. Lisa watched as their cheeks got bigger and bigger. Her camera was hanging from a strap around her neck, and she took pictures of the chipmunks every time they stopped to gather more pine nuts. She decided to make a scrapbook when she got home with pictures from their summer vacation.

***

Paul and Beth didn’t see the beauty of their surroundings as they continued their heated disagreement. You’re away from home more and more, Beth said. It’s really hard for me to work, take care of three kids, and get them to all their sports practice and games—and I have to help them with their homework every night. Then I have to do the housework, write checks for the bills and balance the checkbook, along with a dozen other things. I never have time for me, and even if I did have the time, I’m too tired.

Paul kept walking, not pausing or turning around on the woodland trail to face his wife. He figured she could hear him just fine in the stillness of the forest. Beth, I know it’s been hard for you. I took this promotion because it’s a stepping stone to the next level. I need the experience if I’m going to move up in the company.

Beth heaved a sigh of unmistakable disappointment. I know it—I just miss you, and the kids miss you, and you’re missing out on some of the most important things in their lives.

***

Lisa continued chasing the chipmunks for a while until they ran between two boulders. She waited patiently for them to emerge from their hiding place, but when she realized they weren’t going to come out, she turned to go back and join her family on their hike. As she looked around, she wasn’t sure which trail she had come down while in pursuit of the chipmunks. She saw several trails going off in different directions.

Her brows furrowed as she looked at the various trails. She mumbled to herself, How could I have been so stupid?

She chided herself for not paying more attention; in fact she wasn’t sure how long she had been following those furry little creatures. Surely it hadn’t been that long and the right trail couldn’t be that far away. She bit gently on her lower lip as she surveyed in every direction. Everything seemed so desolate. Fear began building inside her, and she felt on the verge of crying.

Lisa looked down at her feet and kicked her toe in the dirt as she pondered which trail she should take. She realized how irresponsible it was of her to leave her family and wander off like that, especially without telling anyone. Her parents would say she also was irresponsible for not paying attention to her surroundings when she followed the chipmunks. Her mother had told her over and over again that she needed to be responsible. A tear rolled down her cheek; she quickly wiped it away. Her parents were going to be very angry with her.

She took a deep breath and looked in every direction as she considered which way to go to get back to the trail her family had been hiking on. She began walking around the area to see if she could see her own footprints, but the ground was so hard she couldn’t find any visible prints. She finally picked one of the trails and thought it was the most likely trail for her to have come down. She began walking, hoping she was headed in the right direction. Being unsure about her decision, she bit her lower lip and tried to build her confidence, but fear was still building inside her. She felt at any minute she would start crying.

Lisa sniffled to hold back her tears and continued walking. She saw numerous trails across the area, and her confidence was fading, but she continued along her chosen path. She walked a little farther and