God's Shield

By Ronna M Bacon

When Teeg Callahan rescues the beautiful Triese Cameron, neither expects the path that action will lead them on. Unable to answer why she was found where she was, Triese turns to Teeg and his police officer brother, Toby, for help in solving that mystery.

Events continue to evolve arou

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ronna Bacon
• Release date: Sep 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998821365

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

God’s Shield

By

Ronna M. Bacon

Copyright © 2023 Ronna M. Bacon

ISBN 978-1-998821-36-5

Psalm 91:4. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

Proverbs 30:5. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

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

Epilogue

Dear Readers

Chapter 1

With his hand reaching for the fragile, small branches of a nearby tree, Teeg Callahan carefully balanced himself on the wet log that he had stepped onto. His foot slipped for a moment before he regained his balance and carefully crept along the only way across the creek. The creek was tumbling in a wild manner just below the fallen tree trunk, splashing across it and making Teeg’s path even more hazardous. He stared down at his feet as he paused for a moment, a hand still reaching to grasp at a sturdier branch. He was only halfway across the log and he felt that he just could not make it. His border collie, Andy, waited for him, barking once in a while for Teeg to hurry up.

Finally, his foot reached for solid ground. He paused to catch his breath. He dropped to his knees, a hand on the ground bracing himself. His hand went back up to help slide the body that was draped across his shoulder carefully to the ground. The body hit limply in front of him and did not move.

This was not what he had planned on for that day. He was out with his dog, trying to assess the wildlife at the creek for his work as a wildlife biologist when he had noticed a pile of clothing on the other side of the creek. Teeg had frowned before he had made his way across the log and knelt. Teeg was shocked as he brushed aside golden blonde curls to see the white, pain-filled face of a beautiful lady. He looked around, not sure why she was there. They were out in the wild, miles from town. He frowned at the camera bag that lay beside her.

Teeg had drawn the lady to her feet and then carefully draped her over his shoulder. He had no other option in order to get her to the other side of the creek. The camera bag was shoved over his shoulder before his arm was around her jean-clad legs and he started the dangerous path to the other side. Andy barked at him as he began his trek.

Staring down at her face, Teeg worried about the lady. He was a couple of miles away from his cabin and that meant he had to carry her. He watched as Andy crept closer and laid his head on the lady’s leg. He looked around, searching for just what he didn’t know. He looked up at the clear blue summer sky, his thoughts troubled.

Reaching for the camera bag, he draped it across his body. He sighed to himself, knowing that he had to move. He began to pray, begging God to awaken the lady. He didn’t know what to do and only God could direct his steps. He was confident in that. God had provided and guided him throughout his life. This was no different. The only thing different was that he was in an unusual situation of having a lady to look after. He had no idea how to do that.

Teeg gathered the lady into his arms, her head settling against his shoulder. He stared down at her, a frown on his face. He thought that he knew her but he had no idea where from. He began to walk carefully over the rough ground, heading for his cabin. It would take time, he knew, hearing the sounds of nature around him. Andy paced at his side, his head tilting up to watch the lady. He understood, it seemed, that even though she was a stranger, Teeg would look after her. Andy was used to being out and about with Teeg during the day.

Reaching his rough-looking log cabin, Teeg carefully set the lady into one of the chairs on the front deck and reached for his keys. The door was unlocked quickly and Teeg was inside, pulling the camera bag over his head and then dropping it onto a table near the door. He looked behind him and through the door, watching the lady for a moment, before he turned. He rubbed at his cheek, not sure what he was to do. Teeg headed for the single bedroom, pulling back the covers. He had changed the bed that morning, not his usual day of doing so but God had nudged him to do that. He had learned early in life to follow God’s nudges.

Returning to the front door, Teeg hesitated. He had no idea who the lady was and he would need to determine that. First, though, he had to get her inside and then assess what he needed to do for her. Not that he would be able to do much. He was not a medical person, only having the rudimentary training.

Gathering the lady into his arms once more, Teeg stared down at her. His light brown eyes held concern and worry about her. The light breeze tossed the dark brown hair around his head, frustrating him. He then stalked towards the bedroom, deposited the lady before he pulled off her hiking boots, setting them to one side, and then tucking the blankets around her. He then headed for the living room and reached for her camera bag. He hesitated, asking God for permission to snoop. He didn’t like to do that but in this case, he had no choice.

Andy licked at Teeg’s hand before he paced into the bedroom. His head turned as he listened to Teeg’s quiet movements and then turned back to the bed. A single leap and he was on the bed, snuggled tight to the lady.

Teeg gently opened the camera bag, setting out the equipment. It was not cheap, he could tell, and professional in nature. He frowned as he turned his head to stare towards the bedroom. His fingers found a business card and pulled it out. Triese Cameron? He didn’t know her. Now, why was she out there?

Carefully packing away the equipment in as much of the order as he could remember, Teeg walked to the bedroom door to stare at Triese. Her eyes had flickered open briefly as he had laid her down, showing deep blue eyes of a shade that he had never seen before. He didn’t understand what had happened to her or why she was out there. God did but He wasn’t sharing that with him at the moment.

A sound outside drew his attention and he paced towards the door, a hand reaching for the door handle. The door flew open and slammed back against the wall. Teeg’s hands were in the air as he backed away from the two men who charged into his home. A hand dropped as he grabbed for Andy’s collar, keeping the dog from flying at the man. Andy’s bark sounded loud in the air, the anger in the bark and growl obvious to everyone that Andy was angry and ready to attack.

Forced away from the door and then into a chair, Teeg frowned. He didn’t know the men or why they were there. One man stood in front of him, his arms crossed over his chest. The other man explored the cabin. Teeg watched him disappear into the bedroom before he was back out and beckoning the first man towards him. Their conversation was low enough that Teeg could not understand the words. He watched their faces darken in anger before the second man paced out of the cabin. The first man planted himself in front of the door and kept a watch on Teeg.

Andy slinked away from Teeg, heading for Triese. He was on the bed, facing the door, his nose on his paws. He was alert to any danger that would approach the lady who his master had rescued. He would do everything that he could to protect her for Teeg.

Teeg kept his eyes on the man. He didn’t know either one and had no idea what they wanted. They seemed to be interested in Triese and that worried him. He had no idea why.

Hours passed with Teeg kept in his chair. The second man had appeared at the door, speaking quietly to the first man before he disappeared again. Teeg watched them, trying to puzzle out what was happening. All he could understand was that God was in control and that He would protect both himself and Triese. Teeg just didn’t know what from.

Chapter 2

Early evening found Teeg still seated in his chair. He could hear Andy moving restlessly before the dog found him. Teeg frowned down at the dog and then at the door. The man who had been stationed inside had cracked open the door a couple of hours previously and then disappeared. Teeg had been too shaken to move, not certain if the man would return.

On his feet, Teeg paced quietly towards the door. His hand rested on it for a moment before he opened the door cautiously and let Andy out. He stepped outside and watched as Andy ran around the yards and around the house before he came back to Teeg’s side and nudged at his hand.

Teeg stared down at Andy before he made his own inspection of his home and yard. The men had disappeared. Neither one had said anything at all, just stared at him. Teeg had not questioned them, almost afraid to find out what they wanted.

Turning back into his house, he reached for food to fill Andy’s bowl and then refreshed his water. He turned for a moment, staring back at the door before shaking his head. He had no idea who the men were or what they wanted. He had not recognized them and neither man had spoken. He praised God that Triese and he had not been harmed. Teeg was still puzzled by why Triese had been out there. He shrugged as he reached to prepare his supper before he walked to the bedroom doorway. He could not eat until he had spoken with her.

Teeg paced towards the bed, seeing that Triese had not moved. He frowned, trying to think of how to pronounce her name. It was very unusual, just as his was. He returned to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Uncapping it, Teeg lifted Triese enough so that she could sip at the bottle. A softly-spoken thanks caused him to pause as he was laying her back down. He was frustrated, he knew. He wanted answers and those not were forthcoming.

Late that evening, Teeg paced his cabin. He had retrieved a pillow and blanket from his linen closet and dropped them on his couch. It was not the first time that he had slept there. This was different though. He was on edge and didn’t know why. Andy had not been alerting to anyone around his cabin and Teeg knew full well that he would if someone had been outside.

His attention turned to the bedroom doorway and he paused his steps. He had been in and out, checking up on Triese. By tomorrow, he knew that he would need to head into town with her. He just didn’t want to leave his home. Teeg had been very stressed lately and found that his cabin was the only place where he felt safe and at peace. His work drew him there as well. Monitoring the animals in the area had been his work for years now and he had no desire to move anywhere else.

Finally seeking his rest, Teeg prayed for the lady who had so suddenly appeared in his life. He wanted to know who she was and where she had come from. Those answers would come at some point. It didn’t help that he wanted them right then.

Early in the morning, Triese’s eyes cracked open just a bit. She moved restlessly in the bed, shifting to her side and pulling the blankets up on her neck. She yawned, not sure what was going on. It didn’t feel like her own bed. Jumping as she heard a rustling near her, Triese froze before she felt a wet tongue swipe at her face. A dog? She didn’t have a dog. That she was certain of. She sighed, an arm out to wrap around the dog before she slept. Andy snuggled closer to the lady who his master had rescued. She was now part of his family, he decided, and he would do his best to protect her.

After a restless night of broken sleep, Teeg was on his feet. He searched for Andy before he stopped just outside of the bedroom. A small smile crossed his face. Andy was content to be held by Triese, his eyes turning towards his master. Teeg could see Andy’s reluctance to leave the lady he was protecting when he called him. He grinned again as the dog finally jumped from the bed and ran for the door. Teeg knew that Andy would be back in and beside Triese just as soon as he could.

His mug of coffee in his hand, Teeg stepped outside, drawing in a deep breath of the freshness of the early morning. He could hear the sounds of nature around him. This was Teeg’s favourite time of the day. It reminded him of the freshness of God’s love that was renewed each day. He usually felt peace at this time of day. Today, he didn’t. He was too worried about Triese and the danger that seemed to be encompassing her.

Andy returned to stand up at Teeg, reaching to lick at his master’s face as he bent down to rub at Andy’s ears. Teeg then walked around the cabin, searching for anything that was out of the ordinary, sipping at his coffee as he did so. Hearing a door opening at the front of the cabin, Andy ran that way, a happy yip coming from him. Teeg followed somewhat slower, standing for a moment to stare at Triese. He frowned before he moved forward, his voice quiet as he told Andy to sit.

Triese jumped, scared as she hear a man’s voice. She had no idea where she was or