Chapter Twenty Nine

Nick, who had been wandering around in what appeared to be a large clearing surrounded by an extremely high, circular, fence grew tired and sat down on a large light brownish boulder. He had felt the bullet strike him as he grabbed Kimimela and tried to shield her. As he'd fallen to the ground, he'd watched in horror as another shot rang out and blood appeared on Kim's dress. The last thing he remembered before everything went black was hearing Kim cry out that she'd been shot as well. It was then he'd felt his world fall apart. He'd failed to protect her, and now she was dead. He looked around and sighed. Was this his punishment? Was he doomed to wander around in this, apparently, deserted clearing alone? "I'm sorry, Kim. I'm sorry." He laid down on the cold, hard ground and closed his eyes, and then he felt the heat.

The sun seemed to be burning itself into every inch of his body; still, he made no attempt to move. Why should he? The pain the heat was causing him was nowhere close to the pain in his heart. He'd have given up everything he'd had for years being married to Kimimela. The heat had eventually left, but he didn't move from the spot he was lying. Again, he saw no reason to. He'd already seen everything in the clearing and didn't care to take yet another walk around. No, he would simply stay where he was, resting for eternities if he had too. It was then it happened. He felt as if he was being lifted up into the air.

What was going on? He hadn't moved a muscle and yet it felt as if the winds were picking him up and carrying him away from the place he had chosen to rest. He tried to open his eyes, to see just what, or who, had come upon him unawares, but he couldn't. All he could do was wait until the wind began setting him down. Only question now was, where was he? Again, he had another surprise roll over him as he felt as if someone was moving his arm. Shocked and angry that something was happening he didn't understand, he tried to fight it. Again, it was a lost cause. However, any struggle he'd started, stopped abruptly as realized he was holding someone in the crook of his arm.

'It's a dream, just a dream' he told himself only to stop as he received a strong impression his wife was by his side. But that couldn't be. He sure wasn't in any sort of paradise, and she was an angel.

"Nick, Nick, open your eyes Nick."

Nick's eyes flew open at the sound of a voice he was sure he'd never hear again. He couldn't believe what he saw. He was lying in a field of the most beautiful flowers he'd ever seen; some were yellow, some white while others were the most exquisite red he'd ever seen. Kimimela, who had snuggled upon to him, was smiling from ear to ear. "Where are we? How did we get here?" Nick asked as he tried to sit up, but was shocked when all he could do was lay still, soaking in the fact that he and Kimimela were actually together and talking.

"We're in the middle," Kimimela smiled and suppressed a chuckle as Nick's eyebrows turned down. "Life on earth is that way." She jutted her chin outwards, indicting the direction he'd just come from. "Life after death is the other way." She moved her eyes, as if she was trying to look behind her. "That's what I was told, was told also I needed to choose which way I was going. "

"Just what way are you taking? Nick asked, half afraid she was simply there to tell she was going on ahead and that he was going to be consigned to doing more time in a deserted clearing with no one to talk to. After all, she was a saint in his eyes, and he had definitely lived on the wild side at times.

"Whichever way you're going, Mr. Barkley." Kimimela's eyes began beaming at him while her smile went from ear to ear. "Whichever way you want to take me."

Nick, who had found himself holding his breath, relaxed and held onto tight. He didn't know which way he was going, and it didn't matter to him. As long as he was with Kim, everything would be fine.

~oOo~

"MOTHER! JARROD! HEATH!" Audra, who had been in the room where Nick and Kim lay, yelled the Cartwrights names as well before appearing at the top of the stairs. Her family, Adam and Ben all jumped to their feet; they'd been sitting around the living room while Mary and Ben's new grandson were sleeping.

"What is it? What's happened?" Victoria, who saw the joy in her daughter's eyes and heard the excitement in her voice, asked, "Are they awake?"

"No, but come, you have to see this!" Audra continued beaming as she whirled around and hurried back down the hallway. Her family, Ben and Adam wasted no time climbing the stairs and making their way to the bedroom. The moment they did everyone's jaws, except for Heath's-his crooked smile was as wide as it ever had ever been-hit the floor. When Nick had been laid in Kim's bed, the piece of furniture had been pushed against the wall to keep Kim from falling out. However, it would have made no difference where the bed was now…as Kim was on her side, lying as close as she could to Nick and her arm was lying on his chest. When it came to Nick's arms, they were both wrapped around his wife….and smiles were upon their faces.

"They've never opened their eyes." Audra began talking excitedly. "Only one minute they're just lying there and the next she rolled onto her side and they started holding each other. They're going to make it! They're going to live; I know they are!" Audra then surprised everyone, and embarrassed Heath, when she flew over to him and, wrapping her arms around his neck, gave him the biggest hug she ever had. "You saved them! You and your idea save Nick and Kim's lives! I know it did!"

Heath said nothing as everyone joined in saying the same thing. He simply looked upon Nick and Kimimela, grateful that a wild, crazy, idea seemed to have worked after all.