Bogota Blessings Read Free Page B

Paul’s pretty fluent in Spanish, and Angie knows enough to usually get the job done without too much misunderstanding, but I’m sure having translators on hand will be invaluable.”
    The creak of the front door interrupted any reply Mateo might have thought of. Adrenaline raced through his veins as he whirled toward the open doorway to the hall. Only Maria knew they were here, but she was too busy at the mission to come over. A soft footfall behind him alerted him to Kayla’s presence just before she whispered.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “No one should be coming in.” He took a step toward the hall. “Wait here.”
    He prayed she would follow his instruction as he went to the doorway. Peering around the edge, he spotted a familiar gray-haired man just inside the front door. Mateo straightened and released his breath.
    “Pastor, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    “Forgive me if I startled you,” Carlos said. “My wife mentioned you brought the Americans over.”
    “Yes, one is in here. The other two went upstairs to look at the bathroom.” Mateo stepped back into the main room and motioned Kayla closer. “Pastor Carlos Ramírez Ochoa, this is Kayla...I’m sorry. No one mentioned your surname.”
    “It’s Shaw,” she said and shook the pastor’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pastor Ramírez.”
    “Please, call me Pastor or Carlos. Everyone else does.”
    “Of course.” She glanced at Mateo with a smile that warmed him clear through. “Mateo here has volunteered to help with translation duties once we get started on the renovation.”
    Carlos chuckled. “I’d already told him he would help you with that. Mateo Luis picked up on English quickly after he came to us, and his assistance has been invaluable with the foreign volunteers, many of whom have little or no knowledge of Spanish when they arrive, although most of them know English.”
    “I’m glad you have a plan in place for people like me, then.” Kayla glanced toward the hall. “The rest of my team went upstairs. Would you like to meet them?”
    “I would.” Carlos motioned her ahead of him, and Mateo trailed behind wishing he had more time to talk to just Kayla. “I apologize for not meeting you at the airport as originally planned. There was an emergency that required my presence.”
    “Maria mentioned that.” Kayla placed her hand on the damaged wooden banister and gave it a gentle shake. The whole length rattled. “As you can see, this will have to be replaced before the stairs are safe for children.”
    Mateo wondered if she’d seen some of the places the children called home. “Even in this condition, it is better than where many of the children live.”
    Kayla paused on the stairs and turned toward him, sadness shining in her wide eyes. “That’s terrible!”
    “Yes, but that is why the mission is so important. Many of the children eat one or two meager meals a day, if that much, and live in horrific conditions. We provide them with proper nourishment and a safe place to be children.”
    She nodded and continued up the stairs. “And this house is to be an orphanage?”
    “That’s right,” Carlos answered before Mateo could speak. “We have another house not far from here that is currently housing several orphans, but there are more children in need than it can hold.”
    They arrived upstairs as Angie and Paul exited one of the rooms, discussing stems, seats, and faucet handles. As Kayla made the introductions, Mateo considered her surname. The company that had sent the team was Shaw Restoration. She looked too young to own the company, but was she the daughter of the owner?
    He would have to discuss proper protection for her with Carlos. Shaw Restoration had offices in Bogotá and Cartagena as well as the United States, which meant they were a large enough corporation to attract the attention of desperate rebels. If anyone learned the owner’s daughter was in Colombia, the temptation to try for ransom might