Journey To Forever

Journey To Forever
Carol Steward

Eight Days and 300 Miles That was how long privileged fledgling journalist Nikki Post had to deal with notorious radio personality Colin Wright and the staff on his eight-day fund-raising trek from New Mexico to Wyoming.Yet instead of the immature prankster she'd been warned to expect, Colin was generous and handsome - with a smile that reached the depths of Nikki's soul. As the days counted down, he helped her write the article for her grandfather's newspaper - and a kiss shortened the distance between them.But when trouble threatened to bring the trip to a premature end, would Nikki's role in Colin's life end, as well…or continue forever?

Colin couldn’t help but wonder if his past had finally caught up with the media. He wanted out.

Out of the room and out of this charity commitment. Now, before Miss Nikki Post plastered her suspicions across the front page of the paper.

Journalists need to get a life of their own, he thought. Suddenly he had the strongest urge to make a face at her, just like in fifth grade, when he decided girls were the worst invention God had ever made.

He looked back at Nikki, realizing how innocently right his thinking had been. How many times would it take before he learned—beauty is only skin deep?

When would the Lord introduce him to a woman whose heart led her life? One who didn’t care where they ended up, as long as they were together? Still, the unexpected happened to those who least expected it. Did such a woman even exist?

CAROL STEWARD

wrote daily to a pen pal for ten years, yet writing as a career didn’t occur to her for another two decades. “My first key chain said, ‘Bloom where you’re planted.’ I’ve tried to follow that advice ever since.”

Carol, her husband and their three children have planted their roots in Greeley. Together, their family enjoys sports, camping and discovering Colorado’s beauty. Carol has operated her own cake-decorating business and spent fifteen years providing full-time child care to more than one hundred children before moving on the other end of the education field. She is now an admissions adviser at a state university.

As always, Carol loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her at P.O. Box 200269, Evans, CO 80620. She would also love for you to visit her Web page at www.carolsteward.com.

Journey to Forever

Carol Steward

You whom I took from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off;” fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

—Isaiah 41:9–10

To Bette, who has been my spiritual mentor

and always my dear friend!

And to my family, for all your love and support.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

Colin loosened the knot of his tie and glanced around the elaborately decorated office, pacing the floor as if it were a bad day in the dugout. He couldn’t imagine why his new employer wanted to meet him away from the radio station.

Ellis Chapman sauntered through the entrance and extended his hand. “Nice to see you again, Colin. How’s the shoulder recovering?”

“I finished therapy last month. It will never be able to take the rigors of baseball again, but it’s doing fine, thanks.” He had met the staunch icon of the community at several media functions over the years, before the career-ending rotator-cuff surgery forced him off the field. From there, he had moved into a temporary sports-announcing job, where he’d discovered his life’s dream—spreading God’s word over the sound waves.

“And the job? Is it what you thought it would be?”

When he became bored with sitting on the sidelines during the off-season of baseball, Colin had accepted Chapman’s invitation to host a Christian radio show, where the spiritual and emotional challenges provided unexpected rewards on a daily basis. “I’m not missing sports nearly as much as I feared I might.”

His boss grasped Colin’s hand and enthusiastically pumped his arm. “Good,” he said, motioning for Colin to follow him into his private office. Colin sank into the soft leather chair and waited for the point of the meeting to surface. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about one of the topics you discussed on your show. We have a few skeptics in the community who think Christian broadcasting is no place for a retired baseball player. I think you’ve opened a lot of eyes to the fact that there are Christians everywhere, even in professional sports.”

Feeling as if there was more Mr. Chapman had to say, Colin straightened his back, suddenly thankful for the privacy. If he was going to be fired, he didn’t want an audience.

Before Colin could cut in Ellis added, “I have an interesting proposition for you.”