Homeless for over two years, Merl has hunkered down to endure a second winter in Eden, Colorado. He has lost the ability to trust or accept kindness as anything but a sneaky attempt to weaken for an attack. He sells aluminum cans and other trash to survive, knowing he should attempt to get back into the mainstream but he lacks the will to try.<br><br>Nate has led a sheltered and privileged life as the only child of wealthy older parents, now deceased. He is working on a photo journalism piece about the homeless people in Eden when he first encounters Merl. The big man impresses him so much that when an early blizzard hits, he goes back to the camps try to bring Merl and others to shelter in his own home.<br><br>Can he win Merl’s trust and cooperation in an effort to provide positive long term help to other homeless people in the area? Even more important, can he forge a real partnership with the suspicious older man?

Homeless in Heaven

It’s going to be hard for me to commit to this, to start to believe. I know it’s not a bad plan, even maybe a very good one, but why me, why now? Damn, I wish I could—Oh hell, maybe it’s time to take a chance…


A tangle of half-formed thoughts rushed through his mind. Already Nate’s fine-featured face was becoming familiar, even precious. He could no longer doubt the other man’s sincerity and earnest desire to help those less fortunate. That had to be good. To realize Nate wanted him to be part of the effort touched something deep inside, vulnerability he’d kept hidden and walled off for what seemed ages. Now that first touch felt like a keen-bladed knife, a spear of laser-strong light, a sharp blow cracking the ice. In a word, scary.


Nate looked up then, and their gazes met and held. “You’re thinking deep thoughts from your silence and the look on your face. I’m starting to worry. Are you thinking about backing off on this, maybe not wanting to work with me here?”


Chapter 16