Kaelen

By Ronna M Bacon

When Kaelen Cooper is abducted and forced to fly his abductors and the beautiful Keller Monaghan, he does not expect to be forced to land his helicopter in a forced landing in a small clearing outside of his town. With Kaelen injured, Keller moves in to help him away from the crash.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Ronna Bacon
• Release date: Nov 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998821426

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

Copyright © 2023 Ronna M. Bacon

ISBN 978-1-998821-42-6

Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.

Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good,A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who 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

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Epilogue

Dear Readers

Chapter 1

Finishing off his post-flight duties on his helicopter, Kaelen Cooper stood for a moment, a hand resting against the white door of the aircraft. He was done for the night and in fact for the next few days. He had booked a week of vacation but wasn’t sure where he wanted to head, if he even did want to leave home. Kaelen was exhausted. The last few jobs that he had been on had been long and difficult.

Kaelen walked away from the airport hangar and towards his truck. He frowned. Something was off but he wasn’t sure what. He slipped behind the wheel, his hands gripping it before his head bowed over them. He prayed, not sure what the urgency and danger was, but he had seen friends go through difficulties and danger and he did not want that.

His head raised as he stared through the windshield. He was exhausted, he admitted to himself once more. Kaelen knew that he needed this vacation but he was torn. He didn’t want to go anywhere but he had to leave the area just to get to somewhere he could relax.

Heading for his home, Kaelen headed inside and quickly changed to his casual clothes. He reached for the bags that he had packed the night before and dropped them in the backseat of his truck. Locking his door, he stood for a moment, frowning. Something was off around his home. He didn’t know what.

Moving around his house, Kaelen paused near the back of the yard. His head tilted as he listened. Something was out there and he needed to discover what it was before he left his home. He would worry the whole week if he didn’t.

Walking forward as quietly as he could, Kaelen’s keen dark grey eyes searched the small brushes and low trees that lined the back fence. He paused, his eyes on a certain area. He stood for a moment before he quickly jumped forward, his hands out to grasp at the clothes that he could see there. He pulled backward, stumbling as he realized that he had grabbed a person and pulled that person with him.

Staring at the face with the frightened look on it and the terror in the deep aqua eyes, Kaelen’s hands held the lady’s arms to hold her upright. His mouth opened and closed as he stared at her. One of his hands raised to rub through his dark blond hair. Kaelen took in the faint sprinkle of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her red gold hair reminded him of a beautiful sunset.

Who are you? Why are you hiding at my home? Kaelen kept a tight grip on her arm as he pulled her with him to his house. His keys were out as he unlocked the back door and then shoved her into a chair in the kitchen. Kaelen paced, not taking his eyes off of her.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hide there. I’ll leave. The lady was on her feet heading for the door almost on a run.

Kaelen jumped forward as she did that, his arms around her waist to stop her. He was shocked when she didn’t struggle against him. That was odd, he decided.

No, please wait. Let me help you. Kaelen set her back in her chair and then reached for a bottle of water to hand her.

The lady stared at the bottle, afraid to take it. Her experience over the last few days was that the water bottle she was being handed would be drugged. Her eyes looked up at Kaelen, seeing the concern on his face. She frowned. He was not one of her captors. Why was he helping her?

Kaelen crouched down beside her, an elbow on the table, as he continued to hold out the bottle. He stared at her and then at the bottle before he was on his feet, reaching instead for a glass and running the water from the tap as cold as he could. He then set it on the table beside her.

It’s okay. That water is okay. You’re in danger. Kaelen pulled a chair out and sat, an arm on the table. I’m Kaelen Cooper. This is my home. You are safe here.

He watched as she took in his words and saw the moment that she relaxed to some degree. Her hand reached for the glass of water, both hands on it to keep it from shaking. At that moment, Kaelen made the decision that he was not leaving on vacation. Not while a lady needed his help. And this lady clearly did.

I’m sorry. I’ll leave. I can’t bring danger to you. The lady’s voice was hoarse from disuse. She cleared her throat before continuing, taking a sip of water to aid that. I’m Keller Monaghan. I don’t know you.

No, you don’t. Can you tell me what happened? Kaelen waited patiently, rising at one point to switch on the overhead light.

Keller stared at him, not sure if he was for real. That had not been her experience over her life. The men who had been in her life had not treated her fairly or correctly. She was an orphan and had suffered physical and emotional abuse in her foster homes. She had been resented by the children in those homes. Her voice had been unusual and that had led to her being offered a contract as a studio singer in a studio in Oak City. Keller had gratefully taken it, not realizing that this would be an opportunity for her to escape her past life. That had taken time.

I’m not sure. I was at work at the studio two days ago. When I walked out to my car, someone grabbed me from behind and then shoved me into a car. I was forced to drink water from a bottle. I don’t remember what happened after that. Tears clouded her eyes, tears that she was unable to prevent from dripping down her cheeks.

Kaelen made a sound and was on his feet to wring out a cloth in warm water. He was back in his seat, handing it to her.

Did you see him?

No, I didn’t. I don’t remember much from the past days until I was able to escape this afternoon. I ran as far as I could. I guess I was so tired that I just found a yard to hide in. It was yours? Keller looked up at him as he nodded.

It is. Now, I have a friend on the force who I can call. Aidan will be glad to come here and take your statement. Kaelen didn’t rise or reach for his phone. He was waiting on permission from Keller, which didn’t seem to be coming.

Keller stared at him, wondering at his caring for a stranger. Her eyes moved past him and she screamed as the door was violently broken in and three men charged into the room. Kaelen didn’t have a chance to respond, the shove from behind sending him to the floor where he was forced to lie still, a heavy foot on his lower back.

On her feet, Keller moved back until she could not move any further, her back to a wall. She stared in horror at the men, realizing that she was once more in her captors’ hands. Her gaze fell to Kaelen, to find him watching her with a look that said he was ready to defend her. She frowned at him before looking at the leader of the men once more. A soft sigh rose from her. Keller was once more a captive. Only this time? Someone else was as well. This time, she was not on her own but that didn’t bring any consolation to her. Her eyes lifted up as she prayed for protection and release from this captivity. God was there, she acknowledged, but for some reason, He was silent and allowing this. She had to accept that and wait for His leading.

Chapter 2

Kaelen was almost afraid to breathe, afraid that if he did anything, Keller would pay the price for it. He had been around the block enough times and seen his friends go through danger to recognize that this was one of those situations that could go bad and go bad quickly. All he could do was remain stretched out on the floor, his hands locked behind his neck, and his eyes on Keller. No, he thought, he could do more than that. He could pray. Kaelen did just that, finding peace in the situation and acknowledged that God was in control. He was there in the very centre of this and all he could do was trust.

Keller watched in fear as the man refused to let Kaelen rise from the floor. She watched the other two men from under her brows as they searched his home. Finally, one of them hauled Kaelen to his feet and reached into his pocket for his keys. That man disappeared and they heard the sound of his truck leaving. He was shoved into a chair, a gun pressed to his temple before it was pointed at Keller. Kaelen refused to move, not sure that if he did that Keller would be harmed. And he would not and could not allow that to happen.

An hour later, Kaelen was surprised to see two more men enter the house, one of them the man who had taken his keys. He watched the looks as they were exchanged.

Keller was hauled to her feet, protesting as that was done. Kaelen was dragged up as well and then shoved through the house towards the front door. He could hear Keller still protesting and all he wanted to do was to reach out for her and hold her and keep her safe. That was not him, he knew. Something about Keller caused Kaelen to want to protect her.

They were shoved into a large car with seatbelts snapped around them. He searched the area that now lay in darkness. He frowned as he saw the path that they were taking. Back towards the airport? He was not happy about that. Was he to be made to fly them out somewhere? He would resist that as much as he could.

His worst fear was realized as the car stopped near his helicopter. This could not be happening, he decided. There was no way that he would willingly fly out of that airport.

The two were pulled from the car and shoved towards the helicopter. Kaelen resisted, his shoulder shoved forward as he planted his feet and refused to move.

Get in there, Cooper. You’re flying us out of here and now. The man’s rough and coarse voice sounded in his ear.

Not a chance. I’m not flying you anywhere. Kaelen was adamant about that. That was, until the hair of the back of his head was grasped in a hard manner and he was pulled around to see Keller with a gun planted at her temple.

You’ll fly us out or she dies. It will be on you if that happens. The man was furious with Kaelen and his refusal.

Kaelen paled. He was not ready to do this. He looked up briefly, begging God to defuse this situation and release them. Kaelen drew in a deep breath. God was not letting him out of this. He had no choice but to continue. Kaelen finally nodded, watching as the gun was shoved harder into Keller’s temple before it was removed. He could hear her faint whimper of fear and then saw the slight relief that crossed her face.

Walking towards his helicopter, he began to prepare to take off. He prayed that the mechanic on duty would stay away. He was certain that he would be harmed if he didn’t.

Kaelen seated himself in the pilot’s seat, the leader of the men seating himself beside him. He watched carefully as Keller was shoved into the centre seat behind him, one of the men on either side of her.

The helicopter lifted into the night sky. Kaelen set the course that he had been given, arguing with the man that he had to according to the rules. He had no choice. He was not going to lose his license just because the man didn’t want him to do that.

Forced to fly away from Oak City, Kaelen kept an eye on the instruments and as well as he could on Keller. He could see the fear that she was trying hard to hide. All he could do was pray for her, not understanding why they were being forced to fly from his hometown. It was definitely not what he had planned for that night.

Keller wrapped her arms around herself. She shivered, not just from cold but from fear. She had not known that the man who had been so kind to her was a pilot. She didn’t like that he was forced to fly them somewhere, just where that was she had no idea.

The man finally spoke, his angry voice directing Kaelen off of his course and to an area to his right. Kaelen stared at the man before he looked that way. He shook his head. It was not a large area and it would be difficult in the daylight to land. In the dark, it would almost impossible.

You want me to land there? Kaelen’s voice was incredulous as he circled over the treetops, the light from his helicopter showing the landscape of the clearing. It would be a difficult and dangerous task to land there and equally dangerous and difficult to take off from.

Land. You have enough space. The man spat the words at Kaelen.

Kaelen drew in a deep breath before he breathed a prayer for help. He carefully started his landing, not prepared for the blow