And Then Came A Lion (Lions and Lambs Book 1) by Cecilia Marie Pulliam Page B

imagination.
    Shaking her head at her own silliness, she picked up her book and read until the words no longer made sense. She stood, stretched, and looked over at Mark. He still looked engrossed in a magazine. She guessed a sport, golf, or a trade publication.
    “I’m heading to bed. Are you staying up?”
    “Yes, for a bit. I want to finish this article.”
    Susannah gave him a kiss and walked to the door. She looked back at Buddy. “Are you coming?”
    He snuggled back down next to Mark. With a shrug, she went upstairs.
    ***
    She had a different kind of dream that night. She and Mark strolled along one of several paths paralleling a creek. They stepped onto one of the many small, arched bridges and paused. Susannah leaned over the railing and looked up at the lodge.
    The main building shimmered in the waning light, windows ablaze. The numerous satellite cabins were alternately dark and brightly lit. She gazed skyward. Stars covered the expanse from horizon to horizon, more stars than she could remember seeing. They were brighter on cold nights, and that February night was cold. Snow still lay in patches on the north side of the buildings and along the northern slopes. The tangy scents of pine, fir, and sage left a bitter taste on the back of her tongue.
    Mark squeezed her hand. “Susannah, I have to go, and you can’t come with me.”
    “What do you mean I can’t go with you?”
    Without another word, he walked off the bridge and disappeared into the night. Susannah stared after him. Loneliness and grief unpacked their bags and made themselves at home in her heart.
    With heavy steps, she walked to the top of a low rise and sat on a wooden bench. The pain was too much. God was wrong. She couldn’t bear it.
    She grabbed her stomach and leaned over in a vain attempt to squelch the pain.
    Sensing movement in her periphery, she looked up into the face of Jesus. He sat next to her, put His arm around her, and drew her close.
    “Susannah, you will never look at the stars alone.”
    She opened her eyes and stared up at the bedroom ceiling. Light from the window played across the surface. Oh God, please don’t take Mark! Haven’t I suffered enough?
    Rolling over, she sat up, and slipped out of bed. She grabbed her robe and went downstairs. While the coffee brewed, she went out to the street, retrieved the paper, and hurried back inside.
    The headline blazed the news. Police had discovered a large ring of human traffickers operating in the Pacific Northwest. The joint investigation asked for anyone with any knowledge to call local agencies. The investigators were especially interested in the four men pictured below. Brian Falun was one of the men pictured.
    Susannah sank onto the bench seat. She had not thought of him as part of a ring of criminals. Instead, she had the distinct impression he worked alone.
    Mark sauntered into the kitchen and poured coffee. “Honey, you look exhausted. Didn’t you sleep well?”
    Susannah shook her head.
    He held up the pot. She nodded. He poured her a fresh cup and settled into the breakfast nook beside her.
    He looked at the headlines. “More children?”
    “It doesn’t mention that, but I would assume so, along with a host of other missing teens and a few young women.”
    “That’s a lot of people.”
    “It is and not just girls, boys and young men as well.”
    He shook his head. “There are some evil people out there.”
    “Yes, there are.”
    He tapped Falun’s picture. “That’s him, isn’t it?”
    Susannah nodded.
    “I’m sorry, Honey. Come here.”
    Susannah leaned heavily against his shoulder. She didn’t dare tell him what was really bothering her. How much time did they have?
    Never again would she feel anger or impatience with him. She would memorize every nuance of their relationship and hold them in her heart, bracing for what was to happen. The only thing she didn’t know was when ― or how.
    ***
    Susannah finished fixing dinner and settled in the