Sierra Jensen Collection, Volume 4 Read online

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  THE SIERRA JENSEN COLLECTION, VOLUME 4

  published by Multnomah Books

  © 2006 by Robin’s Ink, LLC

  Compilation of:

  Hold On Tight

  © 1998 by Robin’s Ink, LLC

  Closer Than Ever

  © 1999 by Robin’s Ink, LLC

  Take My Hand

  © 1999 by Robin’s Ink, LLC

  Poem on this page is from The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti, Vol. 1

  (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: University Press, 1979).

  Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from:

  The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)

  © 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society,

  used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House

  The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV)

  © 1984 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

  The Living Bible (TLB)

  © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

  Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.

  Multnomah and its mountain colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission.

  For information:

  MULTNOMAH BOOKS

  12265 ORACLE BOULEVARD, SUITE 200 • COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80921

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Gunn, Robin Jones, 1955-

  The Sierra Jensen Collection Volume 4 / Robin Jones Gunn.

  v. cm.

  Previously published as separate works.

  Contents: Hold On Tight—Closer Than Ever—Take My Hand.

  eISBN: 978-0-307-56234-0 [1. Interpersonal relations—Fiction. 2. Conduct of life—Fiction. 3. Christian life—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.G972Sie 2006

  [Fic]—dc22

  2006008136

  v3.1_r1

  TEEN NOVELS BY ROBIN JONES GUNN

  THE SIERRA JENSEN SERIES

  Volume 1

  Book 1: Only You, Sierra

  Book 2: In Your Dreams

  Book 3: Don’t You Wish

  Volume 2

  Book 4: Close Your Eyes

  Book 5: Without a Doubt

  Book 6: With This Ring

  Volume 3

  Book 7: Open Your Heart

  Book 8: Time Will Tell

  Book 9: Now Picture This

  Volume 4

  Book 10: Hold On Tight

  Book 11: Closer Than Ever

  Book 12: Take My Hand

  THE CHRISTY MILLER SERIES

  Volume 1

  Book 1: Summer Promise

  Book 2: A Whisper and a Wish

  Book 3: Yours Forever

  Volume 2

  Book 4: Surprise Endings

  Book 5: Island Dreamer

  Book 6: A Heart Full of Hope

  Volume 3

  Book 7: True Friends

  Book 8: Starry Night

  Book 9: Seventeen Wishes

  Volume 4

  Book 10: A Time to Cherish

  Book 11: Sweet Dreams

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Other Books by This Author

  Book Ten: Hold on Tight Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Book Eleven: Closer Than Ever Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Book Twelve: Take My Hand Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  About the Author

  Excerpt from Sunsets

  one

  SIERRA JENSEN STEPPED INSIDE Mama Bear’s Bakery. She had worked here for almost a year but never tired of the fresh fragrance of cinnamon and warm bread that greeted her as the tiny bell over the door announced her entrance. This clear spring afternoon she wasn’t working. She was meeting friends.

  Glancing at the empty corner table by the front window, Sierra realized she was the first one to arrive for the Monday afternoon gathering. For months she and her friends Vicki and Amy had bent their heads close together over that same table every Monday at four o’clock. They shared secrets, settled arguments, gave free advice, and teased each other mercilessly.

  Mrs. Kraus, the owner of Mama Bear’s, called to Sierra from behind the counter. “I just pulled out a pan of fresh rolls. Will you girls be sharing your usual large one with an extra dab of frosting?”

  “I’m sure we will,” Sierra said. Six other customers were seated in the bakery, and Mrs. Kraus appeared to be the only person working in the front of the shop. “Would you like me to get the tea for us?”

  “No, I think I can remember what you always have. I’ll get it.” The cheerful, round Mrs. Kraus turned to greet an older woman who had entered the shop.

  Sierra settled her slim frame into her usual chair, welcoming the stream of sunshine that spilled through the window and cascaded down her long, blond curls. She loved the feelings of promise this time of year brought, especially this spring. It was her senior year in high school, and endless possibilities stretched out for her future. That was probably why she felt impatient for Amy and Vicki to show up. She had a very promising possibility to tell them about.

  Across the street a battered old Volvo pulled into a metered parking space. Sierra watched as petite Amy flipped her sunglasses onto the top of her head and fingered the ends of her short, dark hair at the base of her neck. Amy glanced right and left and then hurried across the street. Her dash had a slight zigzag pattern to it. She kept her head down and didn’t watch where she was going.

  That’s the way Amy approaches life, Sierra thought, zigzagging with her head down. I’ll have to tell her that.

  “P
ersonality observations” is what Vicki had first labeled these insights, when she communicated to Sierra that the way Sierra bit her lower lip was a sign of worry. Sierra accepted the observation with grateful surprise. She had never realized she bit her lower lip.

  Amy, however, wasn’t interested in observations lately. The openness she had demonstrated in February was gone by the beginning of March, and it didn’t seem to be returning. Sierra was just glad that, even though Amy hadn’t been saying much during their get-togethers, at least she kept coming. Sierra had nearly lost her friendship with Amy once, and she didn’t want that to happen again.

  When Amy entered, Sierra smiled and waved. The pair had certainly experienced their ups and downs in their year of friendship. In spite of their differences, they respected and deeply cared for each other, and that’s what kept them close.

  “Vicki’s not here yet?” Amy said, slipping into a chair across from Sierra.

  Sierra shook her head. “When I saw her at lunch, I told her I had something to tell you guys, so I thought she would be the first one here.”

  “Guess you’ll have to tell me first, then,” Amy said, her dark eyes glancing at Sierra’s outfit. “I like that shirt. When did you get it?”

  “Believe it or not, I found it stuffed in a bag Mom was taking to the Salvation Army. I think it was Tawni’s. I’m actually wearing something my sister liked!”

  Amy reached over and felt the sleeve of Sierra’s lavender chenille top. “I like this material. It sure brings out the blue in your eyes.” Amy smiled as she added, “If you get tired of it, you can always toss it in my direction.”

  Mrs. Kraus arrived at their table, balancing a tray with their snack. Sierra reached for the mugs of hot tea, and Amy grabbed the plate with the cinnamon roll.

  “It’s my turn to pay,” Amy said. “I’ll bring it up to the register, Mrs. Kraus.”

  “No hurry. Just enjoy,” Mrs. Kraus said.

  The bell above the door announced Vicki’s arrival. She swished past Mrs. Kraus and, with a flushed face, began to talk before she even sat down. “Sorry! I was almost out of gas, and I didn’t have any money, so I had to go to the bank, and the line at the drive-up was terrible and, oh, you already ordered? I wanted iced tea today. I think I’ll get myself a glass of ice and turn this into iced tea. Anyone else want anything?”

  Both Sierra and Amy shook their heads.

  Vicki swept past the tables to the counter. Watching her, Sierra thought about the contrast between her two friends. If Amy zigzagged through life with her head down, Vicki moved through her days at full speed, with her chin to the sky and the wind in her long, silky, brown hair. That zestful optimism eventually had linked Sierra and Vicki, even though Sierra originally had interpreted Vicki’s bold approach to life as conceit. Of course, when they first met, Vicki did have an overly active bent toward flirting and was far more interested in developing relationships with guys than with girls.

  Amy pulled off a corner of the cinnamon roll. “Do you suppose we can start eating without Vicki? I’m starved.”

  “Sure. She’ll be right back.” Sierra pulled her peppermint tea bag out of the mug. With a glance at Vicki, she wondered how her friends would describe her approach to life. Did they see her as a zigzagger or as someone with her face to the sun? She felt she had changed a lot during the past year, and she knew that Vicki and Amy had changed, too. What would they be like a year from now? Or even six months from now, when they all would begin their freshman year of college?

  The instant Vicki returned to their table, Sierra spilled her news. “Okay, are you both ready for my big announcement?”

  “It can’t be that huge if you didn’t tell me at lunch today and made me wait until now,” Vicki said, carefully pouring her steaming tea over the glass of crushed ice.

  “I wanted to tell you both at the same time.”

  “I appreciate that,” Amy said. Amy had changed schools this year after her parents’ divorce. She was at a public high school now, instead of at Royal Academy, the small, private Christian school where the three originally had met.

  “So?” Vicki prompted.

  “Last night my brother called and told me he’s going to Southern California next week. He’s pretty sure he wants to attend Rancho Corona University for his master’s degree, but he wanted to check out the school before he made a final decision.”

  “That’s your big news?” Vicki asked. Her pretty face took on a teasing grin. “You definitely could have told me that at lunch.”

  “Wait,” Sierra said, her enthusiasm unruffled. “He’s going to drive down there next week, and he asked if I wanted to go with him, and my parents said yes!”

  “Good for you,” Vicki said. “Bring back a surfer for each of us.”

  “Didn’t you go to California last year for Easter vacation?” Amy asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And you also flew down there for your friends’ wedding last summer.” Amy turned her lower lip into a friendly pout. “How do you expect us to be happy for you again? You keep going on these adventures, and we don’t go anywhere. I’ve never been to California—ever—in my life. I’ve only been to Seattle—once.”

  “I hope you have a good time,” Vicki said cheerfully to Sierra.

  Sierra broke into a wide grin. “You mean you hope we have a good time.”

  “ ‘We’ meaning you and Wes?” Vicki ventured. “Or ‘we’ meaning the three of us?”

  “All of us!” Sierra spouted. “My brother is driving my parents’ van down, and they said I could invite my friends to go. We should be able to get an excused absence from school, since it’s a college scouting trip. Wes said he would let us check out as many different campuses as we want, as long as he can spend a day at Rancho Corona.”

  “I’m in,” Vicki said without a moment’s hesitation.

  “What kind of colleges?” Amy asked cautiously.

  “Amy!” Vicki nudged her arm. “You just said you never get to go anywhere. Accept the invitation and say thank you.”

  Amy hesitated a moment before saying, “It would be kind of fun.”

  “When do we leave?” Vicki asked.

  “Wednesday after school,” Sierra said. “I’m going to drive the van down to Corvallis, and then Wes and I will take turns driving from there. It’s going to take us at least twenty hours, so we’ll sleep in the van. In Los Angeles, we’ll stay with a couple Wesley knows.”

  “Where is Rancho Corona University?” Vicki asked.

  “I don’t know. Someplace down there. It’s about an hour’s drive from where my sister lives, so we might stay with her the next night.”

  “This is going to be so much fun!” Vicki sipped her iced tea and glanced at Amy for a sign of enthusiasm.

  “When do we come back?” Amy asked.

  “Late Sunday night. It’ll be a really packed couple of days, but I think it’s going be great. You do want to come, don’t you?”

  Amy nodded, but she still didn’t look overly excited. “I’ll have to get off work and clear everything with my mom.”

  “Me, too,” Vicki said. “But that shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Thanks for reminding me,” Sierra said. “I forgot I have to ask Mrs. Kraus for the days off.”

  “She always lets you adjust your schedule,” Vicki said. “I’m sure she’ll be her sweet self and give you the time off. Now let’s just pray my boss is as understanding.”

  Sierra laughed. “Your boss? Why wouldn’t he be?”

  Vicki’s boss was her dad. Mr. Navarone owned a large car dealership in Portland, and Vicki worked there part-time doing clerical work.

  “I know,” Vicki said. “He’ll let me off. My dad is going to be thrilled I’m showing serious interest in going to college. He’ll probably not only send me off with his blessing but also with enough spending money to treat everyone to a trip to an amusement park down there.”

  Amy’s expression lit up. “Could we go do that? Really? How
about Universal Studios? Do you guys think we could squeeze in a trip to Universal Studios? Or at least to Hollywood?”

  “I don’t see why not,” Sierra answered. “Wes said we could plan whatever we wanted.”

  The three friends bent their heads close. As the spring sunshine lit their little corner of the world, they pulled apart their cinnamon roll and began to make plans for their upcoming road trip. Sierra felt a gleeful rush of anticipation and knew the next week and a half couldn’t speed by fast enough for her.

  two

  “AMY AND VICKI ARE BOTH COMING,” Sierra said to her brother that night on the phone. “Hope you don’t mind carting the three of us around.”

  “No,” Wes said calmly. He had inherited many of their father’s characteristics, including a willingness to take on challenges with a shrug of the shoulders. “I think four is a good number. We’ll have room to sleep in the van, and it won’t be too much to ask of my friends when we stay at their house. You told the girls we’re driving straight through, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And that we’re spending a day at Rancho Corona?”

  “Yes. Where is that college, anyway?”

  “It’s near Temecula. South of Lake Elsinore.”

  Those coordinates meant nothing to Sierra.

  “Don’t you remember my telling you about it? I’m sure they have a website, if you want to check it out before we go down. It might be a good idea to look up all the colleges you want to visit ahead of time on the Internet and contact them to see if they have any restrictions or requirements for touring their campuses.”

  “Good idea. Vicki, Amy, and I came up with three colleges we would like to visit, and then Rancho Corona, of course. Oh, and Wes? How do you feel about including something fun on the trip?”

  “Something fun? I thought spending five days with me would be about as much fun as any girl could ask for.”

  “Very funny. I mean like going to Universal Studios or something.”

  “Fine with me. Make sure you have enough money. None of those places are cheap.”

  “Do you have a preference of where we go?” Sierra asked.

  “Since you’re asking, I’d say Magic Mountain. I’m more interested in roller coasters than movie stars. But I’ll leave it up to you and your friends.”

  After Sierra hung up, she sat on the living room couch for a long while, thinking. She could hear her mom in the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher. From upstairs her dad was telling her two little brothers to climb into bed. Granna Mae was quietly tucked in her comfortable, large bedroom. Sierra could sit alone with her thoughts.