Deceived by Jerry B. Jenkins

out?”
    The room fell silent as Chad continued. “Of course they would have. I think the least we can do is help them out as long as we can.”
    Vicki stepped through the door. Chad introduced her to the rest of the group. “Vicki is the one I told you about who was up on the screen giving kids the gospel in the middle of a Global Community education event.”
    Several around the room clapped and Vicki smiled. Chad took her hand and pulled her onto the back porch. “I know you’ve been through something terrible, but I want you to come with me.”
    â€œWhere? I thought we weren’t supposed to go outside.”
    â€œTrust me.”
    Chad grabbed a basket and took Vicki to a dirt bike parked in the garage. Vicki climbed on the back and held the basket while Chad revved the engine and drove into the moonlit night.
    He drove over a narrow path that led into a burnedout thicket of trees and bushes. The cool wind felt good and the air was fresh on Vicki’s face. Chad seemed to drive like he had traveled the path a thousand times before. He stopped at the edge of the charred trees and pointed to the crest of a hill. Three deer stood at the top, feeding on grass. They glanced toward the motorcycle, then continued eating.
    â€œThe plague of fire destroyed a lot of forests and homes around here, but you can still see the beauty God created if you look hard enough.”
    â€œI’d almost forgotten how pretty things can be.”
    Chad leaned the bike against a tree, and the two hiked to the top of the hill. The deer moved across the slope, keeping watch on the two as Chad spread a blanket on the ground. “We got off to a bad start. I didn’t mean to upset you when you asked—”
    â€œIt’s okay. I was stressed.” Vicki lifted the lid on the basket but couldn’t see inside. “Your friends back at the house don’t seem too happy about us being here.”
    â€œThey’re a little worried about their families.”
    â€œI can understand that.”
    â€œI heard about your friend Cheryl. If there’s anything we can do, let me know.”
    Vicki sighed. “I want her to stay with us, but I don’t know how safe she’ll be.”
    â€œYou think she’ll keep the baby?”
    â€œI haven’t talked with her yet.”
    Chad glanced away. “I also heard about Natalie. I’m sorry.”
    Vicki bit her lip and stared at the sky. It had been a long time since she had been outside at night and not on the run. “I can’t get her face out of my head. The last time I saw her, I begged her to come with us, but she wouldn’t. I feel responsible for her death.”
    â€œI don’t think she’d feel that way.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œLet’s say you went into that GC compound to help your friends and the GC caught you. Would you blame the others?”
    â€œOf course not. It was my choice to go in there.”
    â€œThen why is Natalie any different? She chose to risk her life and she got caught. She wanted to risk it for you and your friends. Don’t take that away from her by punishing yourself for her death.”
    â€œI hadn’t thought about it like that.”
    â€œIf there’s one thing I know, it’s that God has a purpose for things. Everything fits together like a puzzle, but we’re looking at it from a human angle. All we can see are missing pieces. He sees the big picture and knows how it all fits.”
    Vicki wiped away a tear. “It doesn’t make her death any easier to live with.” “You’d have to be a robot for it not to hurt.” Chad opened the basket and dumped the contents on the blanket. He unwrapped a hot loaf of homemade cinnamon bread and pulled off a piece. “I forgot the knife. This is how they used to do it back in Bible times.”
    â€œI’m sure they had cinnamon bread back then.” Vicki laughed as she took