Page 16 of Still Afraid

Chloe rounded a large oak tree and spotted Poirot sitting at the foot of another big tree. CJ Wilson was pinned against it by a mangled, white folding chair … just like the ones from the wedding venue she and Josh had been at about eighteen hours ago when the tornado hit.

CJ’s eyes were closed, and his body slouched against the tree, the legs of the folding chair on either side of his torso. Was he dead or unconscious?

Chloe stopped and let the guys move in close.

Josh stepped up beside the man. “He’s breathing.”

Lance called it in while Josh checked CJ for injuries, and Chloe rewarded Poirot for finding the lost man.

The distraction of playing with Poirot was exactly what she needed. But it wasn’t long before exhaustion caught up with the lab. He lay down on a patch of moss beside a tree.

Chloe turned to Josh and steeled herself to assist with the medical aspects of the situation. “How can I help?”

“I’m hesitant to move him at all without more support. We don’t know if anything is broken or if there’s any internal bleeding we could make worse by freeing him too soon.”

Lance came over. “So doc, what kind of extraction do you recommend?”

Into the radio Lance held out, Josh said, “Air. It’s not going to be an easy lift out of here, but I’m not sure we’d be able to get him down this embankment safely. A basket drop and lift by paramedics is probably his best chance.”

The other end of the radio replied with an affirmative.

And now they waited.

Josh continued to check the man for injuries. “It’s a miracle he’s alive. I can’t believe the chair didn’t impale him.”

Chloe noticed a tag on the bottom of the seat and read it. “Josh, this chair is from our wedding venue.”

Before Josh could reply, the man’s eyes sprung open, and he stared right at Chloe.

She managed to hold in a scream. “Mr. Wilson?”

His eyes shut again.

“Josh?” Chloe nudged Josh with her elbow.

Josh directed his attention to the man’s face. “Hey, Mr. Wilson. Are you with us?”

The man grunted.

“Don’t try to move, sir. We’ll get you free soon.”

Chloe prayed and prayed as they waited for the helicopter.

Five minutes was all the waiting required before the swoosh-swoosh of the helo blades could be heard overhead.

Chloe stepped away, and a basket and two paramedics rappelled from the helicopter. Josh helped them. Since this was not her territory, she hung farther back to give them plenty of space.

She went to the moss spot Poirot had occupied and called him back, telling him to stay out of the way. Sitting crisscross, Chloe let Poirot lay his head on her leg. She stroked his fur as she felt the walls of her compartmentalizing crumble. CJ was in shock regarding his injuries, but she was at risk of falling into mental shock after all the last eighteen hours had thrown at her.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

Quoting the verse from Psalm 56 had become second nature. Often she found herself wanting to say “I will put …” but that wasn’t right. There was nothing passive about putting her trust in the Lord. She had to actively do it every time.

She recited several other Scriptures to herself as she watched the chair be cut from the tree.

Do not be anxious for anything … prayer … petition … thanksgiving … peace of God … will guard your heart and minds.

She clung to the Lord mentally and spiritually as she physically stroked Poirot.