A Peace of Road

By Millie Blue

If you have ever found yourself changed by being at a certain place at a certain time, you will enjoy A Peace of Road. In this book, Millie Blue takes her readers on an amazing journey that twists and turns and moves us from fear to hope. Her characters seem to jump off the page and find a place in your heart.

This is the fourth book in the Millie Blue Collection. If you love the peace and joy of the Colorado Rockies, you will enjoy all of her books; A Simple Peace, A Welcome Peace, A Peace in the Making and, now, A Peace of Road.

Millie Blue is an author and artist. Millie, her husband and their chocolate Labradoodle travel and hike the scenic backroads of the west. Their dream is to own and run a Colorado inn one day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477105269

Millie Blue

Millie Blue is an author and artist. Millie, her husband, and their Labradoodle travel and hike the scenic back roads of the west. Their dream is to one day own and run an inn in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Driving in his open jeep with the radio blaring and the wind blowing his unruly, brown hair, Brody entered the town of Gunnison, Colorado. It was summer and his job, in Aspen, as ski instructor was over until the snows came again. He was free as a bird for a few months. Plans of bicycling the mountains around Lake City and up around the Continental Divide ran through his mind. He grinned and looked up to the heavens giving thanks. His life had turned around since last summer and he was grateful. Grateful to have Molly, his not-really, blood-related sister, back in his life and grateful that Pops was finally at peace. He knew Pops was chatting it up with Jesus. Possibly the two of them were hanging out smoking a really, fine cigar. Brody laughed at that picture. He wasn’t at all sure that cigars could be found in heaven, but, if so, Pops would be the one to discover that treasure. He had truly loved everything about a cigar.

That smell is what had drawn Brody, as a small boy, into Pops’ shop in the first place. And, no matter where he was or ever would be again, just smelling a cigar would take him back - would take him home. James Sutton had saved Brody McAlister’s life and in the end, if truth be told, Brody had probably saved Pops. Both had needed help getting where they needed to go at a certain place and time. Brody had needed a home and a family to love him. Pops had needed a kind of protection and seclusion to live out his days. They both had fulfilled what they had needed from each other.

These days Brody sensed another need in him. He wasn’t sure what it was yet, but something was churning inside. He needed a direction – a sense of purpose. He had finally completed his degree in Communication. It had taken him longer because he had started and stopped so many times, but he had finally done it with the help of some online courses. So, maybe that was it. He was finished. Now what?

He had talked about it with Reverend Brian, a minister he had met last year when the deal with Pops was coming to an end. Reverend Brian was a true man of God who had gotten him through the hard stuff and had made God real to him again. Since then, Brody talked to him by phone almost daily and saw him as much as he could. Reverend Brian would tell Brody that whatever this unsettled feeling was he would know what to do when the time was right. It was all in God’s hands. He’d remind Brody of it on every call.

Brody, back to reality from what was rolling around in his head, looked around at his surroundings. Gunnison looked nice, he thought as he pulled onto Main Street. It was small enough to have that Colorado charm but big enough to have a City Market and a few other amenities that sometimes people missed when they lived in the backwoods.

As he drove down Main Street, he punched the brakes. The speed limit was 25 miles an hour through the commercial area as vacationing families, with their dogs in tow, strolled through the heart of the town. He noticed the shops along the street. There were ice cream parlors, coffee shops and t-shirt stores. All that combined with the smell of pine and a great view – well, it was everything that tourists needed to make for a happy vacation.

Brody smiled. He didn’t know how people lived anywhere else. He couldn’t imagine not living in Colorado. It wasn’t just his home. It was in his blood to wake up to those majestic mountains every day.

As he slowed towards the stop light, he noticed a small boutique on his right. Parked in front of it, in the loading zone, was a full-sized black SUV and beside the SUV stood a couple of men wearing dark sunglasses. A cold chill ran up his spine and Brody immediately thought of Sharon, his friend in the FBI. This didn’t look right. The men looked as out of place as sometimes Sharon did in her black suit.

The traffic stopped at the light. As he braked, he continued watching the men. He noticed a pretty, strawberry blond walking out of the bed and breakfast that resided next to the quaint shop. She was being escorted by a tall man in street clothes but with the same dark sunglasses. Brody peered over his own sunglasses to get a better look.

He didn’t have long to contemplate the situation. Screams diverted his gaze back to the street. Unbelievably, a car was careening through the light and was headed straight for the SUV. As if in slow motion, the men with dark glasses ran towards the on-coming car. The girl, being pushed along by the tall man, was running straight for Brody’s jeep.

The tall man opened the jeep door and shoved the girl inside. All at once, the man fell against the door. Brody hadn’t heard a shot fired, but the man had gone down somehow. Instinctively, he leaned over the cowering girl and shut the jeep door. He gunned the jeep and told the girl to stay down. He drove around the traffic and up over the curb. He turned right at the corner and laid his foot on the gas.

Brody kept his eye on his rear view mirror, checking to see if they were being followed. As he kept one eye on the mirror and one eye on the road, he grabbed his cell and punched Sharon’s number. He prayed this little town had good cell coverage.

Sharon answered, Hey Bro—

Sharon, he interrupted her. Hey, uh, I’ve got a situation here. I’m in Gunnison, Colorado. At the stoplight, there was a black SUV and a girl. An out of control car came towards us. They shoved the girl inside. An agent, I think, went down.

Okay, slow down, Sharon tone was confused but focused and in control. Where is the girl, now, Brody?

With me in my jeep. Brody let out a laugh as if in disbelief of the situation. We are heading out of Gunnison towards Lake City.

The girl beside him stared at him with big, green eyes. She seemed in shock. She was shivering. He motioned with his eyes to the back seat.

She followed his eyes. There was a blanket. She grabbed it and put it around her.

Are you being followed? Sharon asked.

Brody, for the hundredth time, checked his rearview mirror. I don’t think so. I’ve been watching but…

Okay, pull over, out of sight, somewhere. I need to get you in a different car. Whoever these people are, they obviously saw her get into your jeep. Do you see a dealership anywhere?

Brody looked around. As if manna from heaven, he saw a Ford Dealership sign. Yes, I see one up ahead. He paused looking once again in the mirror. I hear sirens, Sharon.

Give me the name of the dealership. Pull in and try to get out of sight. If you notice someone follows you in, keep going. Don’t stop. But, stay on the line with me – don’t hang up. I’ll be right back.

Brody did as instructed. He pulled into the dealership and parked around the back side of it. Nobody seemed to follow them. He looked over at the girl. You okay?

She looked back at him and nodded.

What is your name? he asked.

Hunter. Hunter McClain, she stuttered between shivers. I’m so sorry I got you into this. She closed her eyes and shook her head. Do you think Mr. Jacobs is dead?

Who is Mr. Jacobs? Brody asked. He quickly realized she must have meant the agent that had pushed her into the jeep. You mean the man who you were with back there?

She nodded and stared into space.

Brody was worried about her. She looked pale and was still shaking. Look at me.

Hunter slowly looked over at him.

My name is Brody and I’m a good guy. I don’t know what is going on, but we will get out of this. Right now all we need to do is get somewhere safe and then we can—

Sharon came back on the line and interupted him. Brody, you there?

Yes, Sharon, I’m here.

Good. Okay, a man is going to come out of the dealership. He is wearing a white dress shirt and a red tie. His name is Glen. He is bringing you keys to a new SUV. He’ll keep your jeep for you. Get what you need out of the jeep and get out of that town. Where did you say you were heading?

Lake City. It’s about an hour from here. I’m staying in a cabin on the lake for the summer.

Go there. I’m on my way. By chance, I’m in Denver for a meeting. I was going to check on you later this week. Guess I have to bail you out of trouble again, don’t I? Sharon teased trying to break the tension.

Yes, I’m blessed to know you, Sharon. He teased back.

She grinned. At least he still had his sense of humor intact. I’ll call you as soon as I get there. Brody, do you know what the girl’s name is?

Hunter McClain.

Okay. I’ll find out more info on her. You drive safe. Call me if you think anything is out of the norm. Hang in there. I’ll figure this out and get you out of the mess.

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