The Rescuer

the healer

"Expect high demand from fans as Henderson turns in her most powerful, moving entry in the series yet."library journal

"The Healer is a poignant love story, a five-handkerchief reading experience that readers wil never be able to forget because it is so beautiful....

Dee Henderson is a bril iant storytel er who constantly writes tales that the audience wants to read."bookbrowser

"Few Christian novelists are currently as hot as Henderson, who is burning up CBA bestsel er charts with two different series and earning a reputation for her action-packed stories of suspense, romance, and courage."

publishers weekly

"Ms. Henderson writes with painful lucidity about the struggles endured while watching a loved one slip away Many times, the truth of Jen's story bored holes into my heart...something that can only be attributed to the writers proficiency at bringing a character to life....

Readers won't want to miss this emotional story of love-and loss." romantic times magazine

"The Healer mesmerized me! A masterful balance of life and death, good and evil is created within these pages, and I could not walk away unchanged. At times al too real, The Healer had me crying, laughing, and wondering 'what if?'"romancereadersconnection.com danger in the shadows

"Dee Henderson had me shivering as her stalker got closer and closer to his victim. The message that we have nothing to fear as long as God is in control was skil ful y handled, but I got scared anyway! I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense."

terri blackstock,

BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF EMERALD WINDOWS

"A masterstroke!... Dee Henderson gives the reader not one but two irresistible heroes."compuserve reviews

the negotiator

"Solid storytel ing, compel ing characters, and the promise of more O'Mal eys make Henderson a name to watch. Highly recommended, with a cross-genre appeal."library 1 journal

"Dee Henderson has deftly combined action, suspense, and romance in this first-class inspirational romantic suspense."affaire de coeltr 2 the guardian

"An entertaining thnl er-cum-romance-cum-conversion story is what readers get in this fast-paced novel....

Christian readers wil relish this intriguing tale."publishers weekly

"More than an investigative thril er, this is a great romance dealing with complex matters of faith."romantic times

"Page-turning excitement...true spiritual conflict...romance. I can't wait to read her next one!"

hannah alexander, author q/s silent pledge the truth seeker

"Another fantastic, page-turning mystery by Dee Henderson! Heartwarming romance and exciting drama are her trademark, and they'l be sure to thril you a third time!"SuiTElOl .com

"Read one book by Dee Henderson, and I guarantee you are gonna be hooked for life!"the bel es and beaux of romance

the protector

"There are very few books that touch the soul and the heart while delivering an inspiring message, but Ms.

Henderson always manages to accomplish this feat."bookbrowser

"A riveting addition to the series!"huntress book reviews

"The Protector is vintage Dee Henderson."

writers club romance group on AOL

3

The Rescuer

^g£

Multnomah'Publishers Sisters, Oregon

4 This is a work of fiction The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental

THE RESCUER published by Multnomah Publishers, Inc

Copyright ©2003 by Dee Henderson^

International Standard Book Number, ISBN 1-59052-073-4

Cover design by Chns Gilbert-UDG/DesignWorks Cover image by David Bailey Photography Background cover images by Creatas and Index Stock Imagery

Scnpture quotations are from

Revised Standard Version Bible (rsv) ©1946, 1952 by the Division of

Chnstian Education of the National Council of the Churches of

Chnst in the United States of Amenca

Multnomah is a trademark of Multnomah Publishers, Inc , and

is registered in the U S Patent and Trademark Office The colophon is a trademark of Multnomah Publishers, Inc

Pnnted in the United States of Amenca

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retneval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise-without pnor written permission For information

MULTNOMAH PUBLISHERS, INC POST OFFICE

BOX 1720 SISTERS, OREGON 97759 Henderson, Dee The Rescuer / Dee Henderson

p cm - (The O'Mal y sereis , bk 6) ISBN 1-59052-073-4

1 Tornadoes-Fiction 2 Kidnapping-Fiction 3 Al ied health personnel-Fiction I Title

PS3558 E4829R47 2003 813'54-dc21

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10-11 10 9876543210

5 "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly"

john 10 10

oso

TITLES BY DEE HENDERSON:

THE O'MALLEY SERIES:

Danger in the Shadows (prequel)

The Negotiator

The Guardian

The Truth Seeker

The Protector

The Healer

The Rescuer

UNCOMMON HEROES SERIES:V

True Devotion True Valor True Honor

6 A ,/<<

7 Prologue

Paramedic Stephen O'Mal ey drove north from Chicago the night of June 25, leaving behind life as he knew it. The wipers pushed rain off the windshield, but even on high they gave a clear view of the road for only a few seconds. Cars ahead were visible as red diffuse tail ights that occasional y brightened as drivers touched their brakes.

A semi with a trailer rol ed past him, throwing water up in a sheet across his windshield. For several seconds he was effectively blind as the wipers struggled to shove the water off. As the deluge cleared, the semi pul ed over into his lane. The trailer crossed too far and went into the edge of the roadside. Gravel peppered his car. Stephen immediately slowed, trying to avoid an accident.\

He didn't want to die on a stretch of highway tonight.

One funeral in a day was enough. It had been overcast at his sister's graveside this morning. By the time the O'Mal ey family dinner broke up, a heavy drizzle hung in the air. He should have known the weather would turn into a thunderstorm during his drive.

Stephen reached down and changed the radio station, looking for talk radio and a distraction. The oak casket he'd helped carry from the church to the waiting hearse and then to the graveside had been too light. Even with the weight of the casket, it was impossible to hide the fact Jennifer died a shadow of herself. She'd lost a hard fought battle with cancer, convinced until 8 iAr'--i m mt~-?>'-,'font ,.«" nirtfrrt 8 dee henderson

the final weeks that God would work a miracle and heal her. A senseless faith. Stephen shoved a button on the radio to change to a different station. He wasn't going to think about Jennifer. He'd just start fighting tears again.

Wind gusts struck the driver's side of the car. Stephen spotted a blue exit sign advertising gas, food, and hotels and hit the turn signal. He needed a break. If he planned to drive al night, at some point he would need a ful tank of gas and something cold to drink. It might as wel be now.

He chose a gas station with a canopy over the pumps and a general store for supplies. He topped off the gas tank, checked the oil and fluids, then went inside to pay. The place was deserted but for one other person paying at the register and the sound of a radio announcer listing sports scores.

He wasn't hungry, but food would help keep him awake. He stopped at the self-serve counter in the center of the store under a sign advertising chili by the pint. He could hear Jennifer reminding him about the inevitable heartburn. He shook his head and moved past the kettle.

He had a choice between a Polish sausage spinning on a heat rack that looked as if it had been there for hours or a cold deli sandwich that he couldn't identify.

He slid open the cover, used tongs to pick up the Polish, and stuffed it in a hot dog bun. Onions, pickles, and hot mustard made the meat disappear. A store special offered the drink for an extra fifty cents. He tugged a large blue cup from the stack, set it under the dispenser, and was generous with the ice. The Diet Pepsi was sputtering with air so he added regular Pepsi to fil the cup. At least the plastic lid fit. He tucked a straw in his pocket.

The clerk rang up the items. Stephen added a newspaper to the stack.

"It's a bad night for driving. They're saying this rain wil get worse before it gets better."

9

Stephen pul ed bil s from his wal et. "At least there's less traffic." He pul ed change from his shirt pocket, and as he did so green M&M's tumbled into his hand.

For a moment Stephen simply looked at them. He rubbed his thumb across the chocolates, turning two of them over. Ann's son Nathan had been sitting on his lap after dinner, having M&M's for dessert. The child provided a welcome distraction from the solemnity of the funeral meal. Nathan had picked out the blue ones for himself and shared the green. Stephen hadn't even realized. You're so precious, little man.

Stephen slipped the M&M's back in his pocket.

Jennifer would have been pleased to know that Ann had brought her two children to join the dinner. It was a meal where the boys had to be on their best behavior, but they didn't grasp-nor should they-the reality of death and the loss it brought. That empty chair at the table where Jennifer had once sat haunted Stephen through the meal. The boys' presence had indeed been a welcome distraction.

Life went on.

He took the receipt and nodded his thanks.

Wind whipped the bag as he stepped outside. He turned his shoulder into it and walked to his car. He tossed a rol of paper towels on his jacket in the backseat. The Emergency Medical Services patch on the left sleeve had come up in one corner, and the EMS logo on the back of the jacket was encircled with fluorescent orange tape rubbed nearly through in spots.

He had grabbed the jacket out of habit rather than need. The leave of absence from his paramedic job was open-ended. His boss avoided accepting his resignation, and Stephen had conceded the theoretical possibility that he would change his mind.

He had spent a lifetime rescuing people. The last few months had left him with the certain knowledge that he couldn't carry the weight anymore. He didn't want his pager going off. He didn't

10

want to face another person injured, bleeding, and trying not to die. Stephen was done with it. The profession that had been his career for the last decade no longer appealed to him.

He parked near the exit so he could note down the gas, mileage, and date. Where was he going? He picked up the map, studying it in the dim overhead light. He was driving north, with no particular plan except to be out of the state by morning. He just wanted-no, needed-some space. The decision had been coming for years.

What would his family be saying right now? "He's hurting...give him space...let's cal him tomorrow." Kate had nearly strangled him when she asked him not to go, or to at least let her come along as navigator. As if she could navigate any better than he could. Outside the city she was notonous for getting lost. He smiled as he chose the road he'd take, then folded the map. If it wasn't for the fact she was married, he would have said yes just for the pleasure of her company.

The bond between the seven O'Mal eys went deep. At the orphanage where they had first met, family was nonexistent. They had chosen to become their own family and decided on the last name O'Mal ey. Now with Jennifer's death there was an undercurrent of fear that the bond between them would change in unpredictable ways, would not hold.

Maybe he was the first sign that it was breaking.

He was thirty minutes away from family and already wondered what he was doing. He rubbed the back of his neck. He could turn around and go back. His family wouldn't pry that much. They'd just swal ow him back into their fold and do everything they could to try to help him.

He couldn't go back. He loved the O'Mal eys. He just didn't think he could handle being around them for the next few months. He was the odd man out. They were al couples now and he was stil unattached. They had al recently come to believe

11

in God, and he didn't want to explore the matter. They said Jennifer was in a better place, talking about heaven as if it was real. Maybe it was, but it didn't change the fact that his sister was gone.

For al his discussions with Jennifer about the subject before she died, the reality of her absence overrode any comfort that nebulous concept of heaven gave.

He pul ed back onto the highway. He was going to drive and see the country until he found a sense of peace, and if it took a year, then so be it.

The flashing lights in the rearview mirror caught his attention -the blue and red medley bright in the rain-and then the sound of emergency sirens reached him.