The Prodigal

By Ronna M Bacon

When Aubrey Dennis finds the beautiful Finlee Maguire on his isolated island on a northern lake, he is uncertain as to how she arrived there or why. Returning to his hometown of Riverville with Finlee, Aubrey enlists the assistance of his friends on the police force and a security team to determine just what the connection is between the co

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ronna Bacon
• Release date: Jun 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781989699881

Ronna M Bacon

Ronna was raised in the country with a love of animals and reading. She at present works as a medical office assistant to a general surgeon in the Niagara area of Ontario, having been raised in central Ontario and living in Northern Alberta for five years while attending Bible School. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, her gardens, her two Shelties and her two cats, and, of course, writing the stories that God provides to her. Her faith and trust in God are important to her and she strives to show this in all her endeavors.

Book preview

The Prodigal

His Searchers

Book 4

By

Ronna M. Bacon

Copyright © 2022 Ronna M. Bacon

ISBN 978-1-989699-88-1

Luke 15:22-24

22 "But the father said to his servants, [c]‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Hosea 12:6

Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.

NKJV

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Epilogue

Dear Readers

Chapter 1

Lifting a hand to wave off his pilot friend, Aubrey Dennis watched as the float plane rose from the quiet lake and disappeared into the clouds. He drew in a deep breath of the crisp spring air and closed his eyes. He was home, he thought, home to his island in the wilds of northern Ontario. Alone except for his beloved red border collie, Rusti. As a botanist, he lived for the days when he could be out in the open and with the plants and flora that he loved. A research project was ruminating in his brain, having taken root in the dark, cold, and snowy days of winter.

Aubrey turned, feeling unsettled for a moment. He felt doom and gloom approaching him and sighed. He did not want to go through what his sister, Aveleen and her husband, Logan, had gone through. Aveleen had disappeared for months and Logan had walked in to save her. His curiously-coloured green eyes searched the area, his hand resting on Rusti’s head as she leaned against him. He was content, back to where he felt peace and closer to God. Winter was busy with teaching in the college. Aubrey lived for early spring when he could escape the town he called home and disappear for a few months.

Walking towards the cabin, Aubrey stood for a moment, looking around, still feeling unsettled. His right hand raised to his black curls, cropped a little longer than usual, he ran it through the curls and then walked to the cabin. He stared at the pile of boxes and sighed to himself. This always took his first afternoon, sorting away what he had brought with him. Aubrey always came to the cabin in the spring and stayed until he absolutely had to leave. His life in Riverville was fine for the winter but he needed the freedom and fresh air of his isolated island. He didn’t date, had not in fact met someone that he would even consider spending the rest of his life with. God knew if that lady was out there and would bring her into his life in His timing.

Rusti lay and watched, her nose on her paws, only her eyes and ears moving restlessly. She was on her feet as she saw Aubrey heading for the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. She knew that he was headed outdoors and her excitement had her bouncing around him, low woofs coming from her.

Aubrey stared at her and grinned even as he reached to rub at her head.

Not excited much, are you, girl? He opened the door to the back deck, watching as Rusti ran out ahead of him, heading for the deck. He laughed as she dropped to her belly, paws and head hanging over the edge to watch the fish circling around in the water. You’ve missed this, haven’t you? So have I.

Aubrey stood at the end of the deck as well, his head back and eyes closed as he breathed in the scents of spring and smiled. He was now content, he thought. But something had him frowning and then turning to stare around. Something was off. He should be the only one here but he felt watched. Who or why? That disturbed him.

Come on, girl. Let’s walk our path. We need to see what has happened over the winter.

Rusti paced beside him, her nose moving rapidly as she sniffed before she paused, one front foot in the air, a low growl coming from her. Aubrey’s hand dropped to her head, holding her in place as he stared around. He was only about a ten-minute walk from the cabin but something was off. He could feel the prickles on the back of his neck, warning him of danger.

Spinning in a circle, Aubrey searched the woods around him, trying his best to find what had alerted him, not feeling as safe as he usually did. Rusti was alerting to a human presence, he knew. She had different ways of alerting to animal or human presence, and it was definitely not animal.

What is it, girl? Someone here that shouldn’t be? He crept slowly forward, ducking to see through the brush. A soft sound reached to his ears and he paused, his head tilting as he listened, trying his best to determine where the sound had come from.

Rusti moved forward, her hackles slightly raised, her head down as she stalked whatever or whoever it was. She dropped to her belly in front of a heavy brush, her nose working, a low woof sounding. Aubrey paused, a frown on his face. Rusti had stopped alerting to danger but she was still alerting to someone there.

Ducking his head once more, Aubrey watched, seeing the brush moving slightly and not from any breeze or wind. He sighed. Who was on his island that shouldn’t be here? It was a private island that he had owned for close to five years. He had missed out on being there a lot the previous summer, given what Aveleen and Logan had gone through. This summer was to have been a chance to relax and regroup his thoughts and life.

A sudden move on his part had him pushing through the brush, a hand out to grab the arm of the youth who shrank back from his grasp. He pulled the youth forward, through the brush and to the trail, Rusti growling at his movements before she stopped and then moved closer to stand up to sniff at the face.

Aubrey’s hand dropped in shock as he stared at the young lady standing in front of him, shock on his face. A lady around his own age? How and why? He studied her tangled mess of red hair and the shadowed look in her deep blue eyes.

Who are you? And why are you here? This is a private island. He turned to stare around him, trying to determine just how she had come to be there. What? No answer? He grabbed for her arm, pulling her with him, her feet stumbling over one another.

Please? I can’t walk. Please? Tears clouded her voice before her body just dropped, her arm limp in his hand.

Aubrey’s hand opened as he stared down at her in consternation before he sighed, reaching to shoulder her backpack and then gather her up into his arms, Rusti getting in his way as she tried to help.

Rusti, stay back, girl. I need you to. Aubrey sighed in frustration as he shoved at Rusti with his foot. Come on, girl. We’re heading for the cabin and then we’ll see what she has to say.

Gently depositing his burden on the couch, Aubrey stared down at her before he shrugged off her backpack. He hesitated but felt he had no choice but to look through it. He carefully unzipped it and cautiously searched for a wallet. Finding one, he pulled it out and hesitated once more, his eyes on the lady. A driver’s license, he thought. Finlee Maguire? Well, Finlee, what are you doing here? And how did you even get here? This island of mine is isolated enough that I don’t have visitors unless they are planned. I don’t know you and now you’re stuck here for at least a month. What do I do? Lord, I have no idea what to do. But You are here in the midst of this. That I know for sure. Please, Lord? I am out of my depth in this.

Rusti stood, her chin on Finlee’s arm, a protective demeanour in her stance. She had claimed the lady and would give her life, Aubrey knew, just to protect her. He sighed once more, setting the backpack on the floor at the end of the couch and headed for the kitchen. Stirring up the fire, he shoved the kettle forward to make his tea and make something hot for the lady.

He returned to stand over her, seeing the scrapes and bruises on her face and bare arms. Dark shadows lay under her eyes and he could see the sunken cheeks. She’s been abused, he thought, and his own protective instincts kicked in. Aubrey knew that he would not rest until he had helped her, solved what was going on, and then let her move on. Only, for some reason, that distressed him. He didn’t realize that God had brought Finlee to his island, that it was in God’s plan that he help her.

Chapter 2

It was the middle of the night when Finlee began to rouse, her senses alerting her to the fact that she was not outside. She snuggled down under the blanket, a hand feeling at it. She had been weeks without warmth, she thought, weeks that she had been hunted, captured, and then dropped here. Only she had no idea who or why and she certainly did not know where she had ended up. Finlee had simply awakened on the island, searching it endlessly for a way off. Only there didn’t seem to be one. She had been reluctant to break into the cabin or the shed, not sure if someone was coming.

Finlee jumped as she felt a cold nose nudge her face and she peeked, a small smile creeping across her face. A hand reached to touch Rusti, earning her a quick lip on the hand. Sitting up, Finlee stared around at what she could see in the dimness. Folding the blanket, she kept it in her arms, searching for and finding her backpack, and then creeping on silent feet to the kitchen. Finlee shot a glance over her shoulder before she reached for the fridge, finding water bottles. She took two, stuffing them into her pack. And then Finlee saw the food. Her mouth drooling, she reached for bread and meat and cheese, quickly making a couple of sandwiches. She searched for a bag and then stuffed the bag into her pack as well. Fruit then caught her eye and she stood, her hand outreached, knowing that she was a thief to take that, but knowing that she also needed to eat.

The door closed quietly behind Finlee, shutting off the sound of Rusti’s low whine before she looked around and then ran for the woods, heading for the little place that she had made into a home for herself. She was desperate to escape but didn’t know the man who had found her. She didn’t trust him, even though he had helped her. That trust had been destroyed and it would take much work for it to be returned. She huddled down into the little cave, the blanket wrapped around her, her eyes searching for anyone who meant her harm. She sighed. God, are You there? I just don’t think that You are. This never should have happened.

Rousing slightly, Aubrey raised his head and listened and then dropped it back to his pillow. He prayed for the young lady who he had found, not knowing anything about her but her name. He slept, not knowing that Finlee had slipped away in the night, hiding away from him as well. Rusti nosed at the door, whined, and then went running for Aubrey. She jumped up on the bed, pawing at him but not able to wake him. She dropped to a resting position, a dejected tone to her body as she wanted to go with Finlee but needed to stay with Aubrey.

Early in the morning, Aubrey roused once more, his thoughts turning towards the day and what he needed to do. The first few days at his cabin were busy, just getting settled, surveying what damage had been done over the winter, and just beginning to relax. He wrapped an arm around Rusti and hugged her before he was on his feet, reaching for his clothes and dressing. Pulling the old coffee pot to the front of the stove that he had started a fire in, Aubrey headed for the door, forgetting about his house guest.

Rusti surged through the door, her nose in the air, searching for the lady in her master’s life and not finding her. She whined as she tried to head for the woods, giving Aubrey a dirty look as only a dog could give. He laughed before he headed back for his cabin and his cup of coffee. He frowned for a moment, a memory from the night before niggling at his mind before he shrugged.

Rusti was not happy with Aubrey when he headed back for the cabin. Aubrey frowned at the dirty knife in the sink, not remembering using it, and then at the loaf of bread that had slices missing. He spun and then stalked to the couch, Finlee finally coming to his mind. She was gone. He dropped his head, his eyes closing. She’s run, hasn’t she, Lord? But she can’t hide. Not for that long, though. It’s an island after all. He turned, making his breakfast quickly and then reaching for his own backpack that he kept ready, stuffing in bottles of water and packages of granola and nuts.

Okay, Rusti. Let’s go find the lady. And see what she has to say for herself. His head bowed for a moment, to ask for wisdom in how to deal with the lady and how to find her. Rusti stood patiently, her eyes on Aubrey, knowing that he would move when he was ready.

Aubrey reached for his walking stick, his hand running over it, thinking of his father, Michael, who had given it to him. It had been that of Michael’s father and