The Light at the End of the Tunnel by James W. Nelson Page A

rankest of them, and several women.’ ”
    “He made it a point of saying ‘women?’ ”
    “Well, yes. I wanted to be sure he didn’t
harbor any animosities toward women.”
    “And he doesn’t?”
    “I trust him, Nicole. We’ll be fine.”
    ****
    Three more miles and another hour passed.
Ahead lay a sheltered valley with several buildings, horses, more
vehicles, and other livestock.
    “A dude ranch?” Nicole asked, then let go
with a quiet, ladylike, laugh.
    He glanced at her. She wasn’t smiling, wasn’t
frowning, just sober, he guessed, and definitely looking over what
would likely be their home for a while.
    As they approached the most official-looking
building, a man wearing a ten-gallon hat and other cowboy gear
walked from the house. “That’s gotta be the guy I spoke with.”
    “I would agree.”
    “Yep, he looks the part.” The chaplain
stopped the minivan and looked at his partner, “You do want to do
this, don’t you, Nicole?”
    “Yes!” she said quickly, and grasped his
right lower arm and squeezed it, “Of course, Radford, I’m sorry if
I’m giving a different vibe. It’s just that it’s all so new to
me.”
    “New to me too, my dear.” He opened the door
and stepped out.
    Nicole did the same and came around to the
driver side of the minivan.
    The chaplain extended his hand, “I’m Radford
O’Hare and this is my partner, Nicole Waters.”
    The man was sun-tanned, had deep lines in his
face, yet appeared young, maybe mid-to-late forties. He took a long
step forward and gripped the chaplain’s hand. “I’m Riley Stokes.”
Then he extended to Nicole, “Glad to meet you, too, Ma’am, and you
might be glad to know there’s one other woman here, besides my
wife.”
    “That is good to know, Mr. Stokes.”
She smiled a good one.
    “And starting now, folks, we all go by first
names only.” He pointed, “Those two low buildings there are the
bunkhouses. The smaller one is for you two ladies, and I’m sure
Sadie will be glad to get a female friend.” The man smiled. The
lines in his face deepened. “You can park your minivan between the
two buildings, get settled in, and then we eat in about a half
hour, right there at the main house.”
    “May I ask a question, Riley?” Nicole
asked.
    “Of course.”
    “Is Sadie here as student…like us?” She
gestured to herself and the Chaplain.
    “Yes she is, and she’s here for the same
reason as you folks—well, she didn’t mention eventually becoming a
private detective. I reckon she just wants the training, but, one
never knows. You folks go ahead and get settled in now. I’ll see
you at chow.”
    “Thank you,” Nicole said.
    The man nodded, waved and walked back toward
the main house. When the man was gone the chaplain turned to
Nicole, “It’ll be good that you will have a female friend, Nicole.
It will give you and me a chance to become better acquainted,
too.”
    “I wasn’t worried about the two of us,
Radford, but you’re right. We’ll get to know each other before
we’re constantly stuck with each other.” She gave one of them
prize-winning smiles, “While you’re parking our vehicle I’ll go
meet my new bunkmate. See you later.”
    ****
    Nicole was pleased to see the feminine
furnishings inside the bunkhouse. The walls were a yellowish-beige,
a nice thick carpet of a dusky brown, a small kitchen area,
microwave, refrigerator, table and four chairs, a window facing
each of the four directions…the chaplain backing their minivan into
its temporary stall took her attention. She watched as he got out
and went around to the rear door. A good man the chaplain, somewhat
quiet but a warm heart, far different from any other man she had
met in her previous thirty-one years—
    “Hi!”
    Nicole turned to see a slender young woman a
little shorter than herself, with a ferocious mane of black hair
and bright blue eyes come in the door. Smiling, she stepped forth
and held out her hand, “I’m Sadie.”
    Nicole