"And bring everything," Josh said.

"Everything," Ryan repeated.

"You're going to have to prove this to me," Josh said before Ryan punched the button that opened the door. "You're their supervisor. The merchandise reports are in your handwriting, so the burden of proof rests with you."

"Understood," Ryan said, as he left, closing the door behind him.

Josh reflected for a few minutes on the conversation, thinking back to everything Bob Bradford had told him. Could Ryan be telling the truth?

He shook his head. There was no way he had misjudged Danny. At least in his mind, his friend was innocent until proven guilty, even if Ryan's words left reason to doubt.

A few minutes later Josh made his way through the semidarkness of the bunkroom, heading toward the front of the bus. Ryan's curtain was closed, an indication that he had gone to bed. In fact, every curtain was now closed.

Josh decided to keep Danny company for a while before turning in for the night.

Raindrops exploded on the windshield as the bus navigated the wet superhighway. It had been thirty minutes since they crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky, heading home on Interstate 24.

Josh threw a handful of M&M's into his mouth. "That's almost hail," he said.

Danny nodded, fighting the steering wheel only a few feet from where Josh sat. "It's the wind that worries me. Hail won't do more than raise the insurance premium. This wind is dangerous."

"I can feel it." Josh tightened his fingers around the arm of the jump seat.

"They said on the radio an eighteen-wheeler blew off the road in Clarksville. We'll be there in a couple of hours."

"Have you talked to anyone in Nashville?" Josh asked.

"I called my dad earlier. He said it was rough there too."

Josh considered calling Beth, but it was one o'clock in the morning. Besides, their last few conversations had been less than pleasant. She had been moody every time they had spoken recently. They had plenty to discuss when he got home. No need to stir things up now.

A gust of wind and Danny's voice snapped Josh back to the moment.

"Why don't you get some rest, boss? I can handle this." Danny gave him a sideways glance.

"I suppose I should. Beth has a doctor appointment in the morning."

A few minutes later, Josh climbed, fully clothed, into bed. No need to get too comfortable with just a few hours to sleep before they arrived in Nashville.

Only the sound of the diesel engine filled his ears, but he could feel the sway of the bus as it cut through the stormy night. Judging from the way the big coach rocked back and forth, the wind had increased. Yet, while it didn't take long before sleep overtook him, he awakened into a dark dream world.

The briny taste of salt wet his lips and stung his eyes. Somehow he knew he was inside the belly of a great whale. A shiver of terror passed through him, and he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he saw a man standing nearby. The man looked at him, smiled, and then began to pray.

Josh knew instantly it was Jonah.

Without warning, the fish wrenched from side to side, and Josh fell into the midst of the hot sordid rot of the fish's void. When he looked up, Jonah had disappeared. Still, Josh sensed he was not alone. Comfort began to spread throughout his body, like warm seawater running through his veins. In the utter blackness of this alien place, God spoke to him, making a promise.

Everything will be all right.

Almost immediately, Josh felt a rumbling that started deep within the great fish. A rush of water caught him up. He twirled and swirled within the putrid water, which now oddly reeked of brimstone. Josh flailed his arms, fearing he would drown within it. Then he felt himself being expelled from the murky prison.

It was then Josh realized that he had awakened from his dream into a nightmare. The black Prevost was out of control. He had ridden the highways for years, long enough to know what was happening. They were being tossed around unmercifully by the storm. He could hear the wind and the rain slamming into them. He could hear it above the whine of the engine. The smooth road had become rutted. The straight path crooked.

Life itself was on the line.

He did his best to sit up. He wanted to walk the hallway to the front of the bus and to see his fate. Before he could move, the world began to roll. He reached for the top of his bunk-or was it the bottom? And he held on.

They rolled and rolled and rolled.

Oh, God, please . . .

43.

Present Day The scream of the phone startled Beth from sleep. She looked at the bedside clock. A call at four in the morning never brought good news. Especially when Josh was on the road. She answered with breathy apprehension.

"Mrs. Harrison. This is Officer Wayne Pugh of the Kentucky Highway Patrol. Your husband has been injured in a bus accident."

Beth sat up in bed. "Is he . . . Is he okay?"

"He has been taken to Four Rivers Hospital in Paducah."

A few minutes later, Beth held her stomach, trying not to retch again, while Alex dialed the phone.

"This is Alexandra Hayes. I'm calling about Joshua Harrison. I'm calling for his wife. Yes. I can wait." She gave the phone to Beth.

Beth listened to music on hold for what seemed to be an eternity.

"Neurological ICU."

"Yes . . . this is Bethany Harrison. My husband is a patient. I'm calling to find out how he's doing."

"Harrison? Yes, he's stable, ma'am. He's unconscious, but stable."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"I'm afraid that's all I can tell you at this time. However, I can have the doctor call you."

"Please . . . he can call my cell number. I'm leaving Nashville now and should be there in about three hours." Beth gave her number to the nurse and then repeated details aloud about the location of the hospital so Alex could take notes.

A few minutes later, Alex had their bags packed. "I've got my keys. We need to get going," she said.

"Let's take Josh's Jeep," Beth said, blinking back tears. "We can make better time in the rain."

Beth watched as Alex gripped the steering wheel, and the Jeep fought its way through a windblown downpour. Rain pelted the windshield. Alex eased her foot on and off the accelerator, navigating through pools of water and passing slower-moving vehicles.

Although Beth wanted to be there as soon as possible, she knew her friend was doing the best she could. Visibility was little more than ten feet ahead. Without warning, they would come upon eighteen-wheelers and other vehicles in ditches or pulled off the side of the road. Some temporarily escaped the hammering rain by parking beneath overpasses. But Alex never hinted that she wanted to stop.

Daylight broke about the time they crossed the double bridges, which spanned the Tennessee River in Kentucky. They drove most of the way in silence. Twice, Beth called the hospital, hoping to learn more about Josh. She was told only that his condition hadn't changed. A few times, she and Alex prayed out loud, for Josh, and for the others who had been riding the bus.

Shortly before they arrived in Paducah, the doctor called.

"Mrs. Harrison, this is Mark Franklin. I'm the neurologist on duty at Four Rivers."

"Please give me some good news," Beth said.

"We have the bleeding stopped, but he's still unconscious. We're about to take him down for scans. We should know more by the time you get here. Come on up to the third floor."

A strange peace descended over Josh when he realized he was back in the water. This time, he was swimming in a river, sweet and amniotic. He could see the likes of heaven surrounding him, yet he knew it wasn't heaven. It was more like home. Home in Alabama.

The smells of childhood overtook him. A comforting mix of fragrant Wisteria, spicy pinewood, and the dusky perfume of his father's Bible.

He reached out to touch the soft, fleshy walls, which surrounded him as he floated in a sea of warm light. Somehow he knew he was back inside his mother's womb. There was no pain, only great anticipation.

A light in the distance called to him without words. It was a brilliant light, which both enticed and frightened him. Had death come? Or was it life that beckoned?

He heard a rumbling sound.

Josh knew instantly it was the voice of God. The tone and intensity brought both comfort and great dread at once.

You entered this world because of my mercy, and you leave it by way of my mercy. Just as I have saved you from death, I have given you life. I have loved you, because you are my child.

Josh heard himself questioning the voice. "What does all this mean?"

Peace, be still, the voice answered.

And then . . . silence.

Beth walked into Josh's hospital room, not sure what to expect. But she wasn't prepared to see an empty space where his bed should have been. Her heart jumped into her throat. Was everything okay?

A nurse stepped into the room, just behind her. "Mr. Harrison is in scanning," she said. "Are you his wife?"

"Yes, how is he?" Beth's lip quivered.

"He's doing okay, honey." The nurse reassured her, and then noticed her baby bump. "When are you due?"

"Not quite two months."

"Well, you need to get off your feet. Make yourself comfortable." She nodded toward the chair in the corner. "Can I bring you something? Water? Orange juice?"

"Water would be great."

She turned to Alex. "How about you?"

"Yes, water, thank you."

Thirty minutes passed before they heard the faint whir of wheels. The noise grew louder, and then a knock. The door opened and a technician appeared.

"He's back." The young man flashed a smile as he guided Josh's bed through the doorway. Another technician followed, pushing with one hand, using the other to steady the bags that hung above Josh's head.

Beth focused on the pale, handsome man lying in the bed. He looked so vulnerable, yet at peace. He appeared to be sleeping.

It took several minutes for the technicians to rearrange the tubes and hook up the medicine dispensers. After they left the room, she hurried to her husband's bedside. He had a number of bruises and abrasions on his forehead and left cheek. And his head was bandaged. She stroked his arm and bent to kiss him on the forehead. When she did, he mumbled something she couldn't understand.

"Josh, it's Beth," she half-shouted in his ear.

His eyelashes fluttered, sending a chill down her spine. Could he be waking?

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.

"Hi." She leaned over the bed and peered into his eyes.

"Hi, yourself," he whispered. The corners of his mouth turned upward.

"How do you feel?"

"I hurt all over. Where am I?"

"In the hospital. You were in a bus wreck."

"I know. Where?"

"You're in Paducah at-"

A tall man in a white coat entered the room and walked to Josh's bedside. "Mr. Harrison, it's Dr. Franklin. Are you nauseated?"

"A bit." Josh tried to nod. "Oh-"

"Try not to move your head more than you have to. You'll likely have a headache for a few hours-or even a few days. But you're a lucky man." He turned to Beth. "Are you his wife?"

"Yes," Beth said.

"He's fortunate. It appears he came through with only a concussion and several contusions."

Beth smiled, but her relief didn't last for long. The doctor nodded toward the hallway. "Would you mind stepping outside with me?"

"Of course." She looked to Josh.

"Mr. Harrison, I need to borrow your wife for a few minutes. We need to fill out some of your paperwork."

"I'll stay with you, Josh." Alex reached to touch Josh's arm and asked if he needed anything.