SHE was finally homeâ¦
Leah Keenan drew a shaky breath as she drove the narrow road that led up the mountain. To the safe haven of Destiny, Colorado, where sheâd grown up surrounded by love and the security of her two sisters and their adoptive parents. It had been twenty-seven years since the day when she, Morgan and Paige had been left at the Keenan Inn.
But she wasnât the same idealistic, fun-loving girl who had left the small town three years ago. The cruelty of the world had managed to change her.
For the past month sheâd fought the recurring memories, but with no success. Memories of the Middle East where sheâd been photographing the horrors of war for Our World magazine. Sheâd seen so much horrorâthe bombs, the gunfire, the death and destruction. She just finished filming the earthquake and seen the hundreds of thousands of homeless.
And, oh God, the childrenâ¦
At the sound of a horn, Leah swerved just in time to miss the oncoming car. Shaken, she pulled her rental car to the side of the road and shut off the engine. In the silence Leah could hear the sound of her pounding heart. She had to get herself together.
After a few minutes, she climbed out and drew in a breath of clean mountain air. She slowly began to relax as she eyed the familiar area. White Aspen trees lined the road, their new growth and rich green leaves promising spring had arrived in southern Colorado. Her gaze rose to the San Juan Mountain Range, the Rocky terrain blanketed by huge pine trees. At the very top were patches of leftover snow from the previous winter.
Leah smiled, suddenly feeling adventurous. As a kid sheâd hiked through these foothills as if they were her backyard, and her daring spirit had driven her parents crazy.
Luckily on her flight from Durango sheâd worn her standard work clothesâa cotton blouse, pullover sweater, khaki pants and lace-up boots.
Grabbing her trusty camera off the seat, Leah marched to the fence and a sign that read, No Trespassing. Since the landowner, John Rawlins was a friend, she ignored it. She easily climbed over the wire fence, decided the direction she planned to go and set out on the narrow trail.
Leah made her way through the trees toward the mountainside. A doe appeared in the grove of trees and she paused to snap a picture. The serene beauty of this place helped to soothe her. Eager to reach her destination, she picked up her pace. After another fifty yards, she could hear the sound of water.
In the shade of the trees it grew cool, but she let nothing slow her until she reached the clearing. She stared in awe at the sight and sound of water rushing over the sheer ledge of mountainside into the rocky bottom of the pond below. Years ago, sheâd named this special place Hidden Falls. Since adolescence, this had always been her private retreat, her escape where she could daydream.
A sudden movement caught her eye. She glanced toward the base of the falls to find a small child squatting down on a rock and washing in the water. He looked about eight years old, she thought as she snapped a picture of him, then glanced around to look for anyone else in the vicinity. Like a parent.
Not another person in sight.
Leah moved closer and the kid suddenly jerked around and caught sight of her. There was fear in his eyes as he stumbled backward, then regained his footing and took off.
âHey, wait,â she called after him. âIâm not going to hurt you. Are you lost? I have a phone in the car.â
The kid didnât stop. He darted through the trees like a mountain lion. Leah followed, but the youngster was too fast. âItâs going to get dark soon,â she yelled, but the boy was gone.
Okay, he so wasnât going to come to her. Refusing to give up, she continued through the trees as she checked her watch. It was after three oâclock.
âHe didnât even have a jacket,â she murmured, knowing how cold it would get after nightfall.
Then in the distance she spotted a figure on horseback. As he approached she could see he was a large man with a black Stetson pulled low over his face. Suddenly her attention was drawn to the rifle he held across his saddle horn. She suddenly felt fear, something sheâd thought sheâd left behind.
âHello, maybe you can help me,â she said a little too breathless. âThereâs a boyââ
âYouâre trespassing,â he interrupted.
She blinked at his rudeness. âNot really,â she said, trying to recognize the man, but his sandy-brown hair and startling green eyes were unfamiliar. âI know the landowner. Iâm more worried about the young boy I saw. I think he might be a runaway.â
âI havenât seen any kids,â he insisted. To her relief, he slipped the rifle back into the sleeve. âSo you need to leave.â