“Long, graying hair. Full, long beard. Do you know the man?” He threw out the description of Trace Johnson to see what kind of reaction he might get.
This brought another blink from Chang, and Sky thought he saw a puzzled look cross Chang’s face. Still, he refused to answer.
“How about a small man wearing lots of jewelry? Did you ever know a man who looked like that?” Sky described the man Trace Johnson was tracking as well as he could with the little information he had.
Chang’s face tightened and he paled, but no answer was forthcoming.
Sky tried another tactic. “Tell me why the safe in the back room of the store wasn’t even touched. Were you leaving it there for someone else to break into after Fraser was taken care of?”
Chang licked his lips, then spat on the ground at Sky’s feet in contempt.
He was not going to answer any questions.
The sun sank low on the horizon. None of the posse nor the prisoners had eaten, so the court was called to a close until an hour after sunrise the next day. The prisoners were taken back to the jail, and the tired posse began to make dinner preparations and sleeping arrangements.
Sky bid Jed and Jason a good night and started to head for home, but a sudden thought occurred to him, and he turned back to Jason.
“Jason, how are you doing with all this?”
He shrugged. “I’ll be fine as long as that man gets what he deserves.”
Sky didn’t have to ask to whom he was referring. “And what does he deserve, Jason?”
“He deserves to die!” The words sounded harsh, and Sky saw Jason flinch even as the sentiment left his mouth.
“So do we all, Jason. So do we all. But I know you know that. Good night.” Turning, Sky rode off into the dusky evening.
When Jenny and Brooke got back to the house, Rachel was not there. Brooke set the bowl of eggs on the table and retrieved Sky’s Bible from next to the bed.
As they sat at the table, Jenny opened the book and turned the pages. She paused to stare at the ceiling. “Give me minute. I think how to say in English.” She tapped her temple in demonstration.
Brooke folded her hands and waited.
Finally Jenny spoke. “There many stories in Bible about bad men and women who find salvation in Jesus, but I not show you all them now. You say you afraid that you are too bad a person for Jesus to forgive, but I not think that your big problem. I think you love darkness.”
Brooke blinked at her.
“I read, you listen.” She went on. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, That whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Jenny’s finger moved from word to word. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. —John 3: 14-21.”
Jenny stopped reading. Tears streamed down Brooke’s cheeks.
“Come to light, Brooke. Come to light. You do bad things, so haf all people. The Bible say whoever believe. That mean anyone, no matter how bad. Jesus forgive you, but you let go of the darkness. Let God shine His light in your heart and clean out all the sin. You afraid of condemnation, yet you condemn yourself every day. Yes, God show us our sin, and that not feel good, but it so much better than darkness. Come, Brooke, you pray with me?”
She was ready. The darkness around her felt heavy and thick, and she was ready to let go. To step out into the glorious light of God’s forgiveness. To accept the fact that, yes, she was a terrible person. She didn’t understand yet how it all worked, but she had finally come to the place where she didn’t need to understand, she would simply trust.
Nodding, she clasped Jenny’s hands.
“Just pray. Tell Jesus what is in heart.”
Brooke bowed her head. “Lord Jesus, I have sinned a great deal in my life and I know I have hurt You by those sins. I believe that You died in my place, and that You rose again so I can have life. It seems like I should have to do more, Lord. But the Bible says all I have to do is believe in Jesus and I do. Please forgive me for all the wrong I have ever done and have mercy on me. I want to change, Lord. I want to serve You and to learn to do what is right. I want to live in the light, Lord. Help me to live in the light. Amen.”
Suddenly a great burden lifted from Brooke’s shoulders. She couldn’t have explained what felt different; she just knew without a doubt that something had changed. She felt light and carefree, and a great joy welled in her heart.
She lifted her head to find Jenny smiling at her from her side of the table. As one, the women stood and embraced one another.
Just then they heard footsteps on the porch, and Rachel and Sean entered the house. Brooke turned from Jenny and enfolded her startled mother-in-law in her arms. “Oh, thank you for telling me how Jesus saved you. For letting me see that you weren’t already perfect when you gave your life to Him. I needed to hear that.”
When Rachel pulled back slightly and looked at her, not quite comprehending what was going on, Brooke’s smile nearly split her face. “Jenny has just helped me to give my life to Jesus.”
“Oh, Brooke!” Rachel gasped as she pulled the girl back into the hug. “We prayed that you would understand how much you needed God. But we didn’t know how soon our prayers would be answered. Praise God!”
Over Rachel’s shoulder Brooke could see Sean’s smile but was surprised to also see tears running down his cheeks. Pulling away from Rachel, she turned to him, “What’s wrong?”
“Not a thing, young lady.” He drew her into his own embrace. “Not a blessed thing in all the world.”
Jason lay on the bed in his room at the boarding house staring up at the ceiling, his hands laced behind his head. It wasn’t like him to stay to himself. In fact, several men had invited him to “share coffee and swap stories” with them around their fire, but he didn’t feel like company tonight. His mind was on the words he had spoken to Sky about Chang.
He deserves to die...die...die.... The words echoed over and over in his mind. He deserves to die...die...die....
And then Sky’s answer would follow. So do we all, Jason. But then I know you know that...I know you know that....
Grandma Jordan’s face swam before his eyes. He recalled her talking to him about this very thing when he was a young boy, not too long after he and Marquis had come to live with her. She had come to tuck him in for the night and found him with his mother’s picture in one hand and the other fist clenched so tight that it shook.
Sitting on the edge of the bed she laid one small hand over his fist. “Jason, revenge is a terrible thing. It eats a man up on the inside. All the plottin’ and plannin’ and schemin’—they tend to push the rest of life aside, and pretty soon the man bent on revenge finds he has no friends and no kindness left in his heart.”
She reached out a cool hand and brushed his blond curls off his forehead. “I don’t want that kind of life for you, my angel. Let Jesus worry about the man who caused your mama such pain. Jesus knows. Everything will be made right one day. Let Jesus take care of it. Can you do that for Gram?”
He had nodded that he would, but somewhere along the road he had forgotten about that conversation.
He swung his feet over the side of the bed and sat up, surprised by the tears trickling down his face. He lived the exact life she had described: no friends to speak of and definitely no kindn
ess in his heart.
He rubbed his eyes with the heels of both hands. “God, I can’t do this.” It was a prayer. Suddenly he was grateful that he hadn’t talked to any of the men that day about forming a lynch mob. He would let God deal with Chang. He only hoped God knew what He was doing.
When Sky pulled into the yard later that evening, he was pleased when he glanced toward the house and saw that his parents, Brooke, and Jenny were all assembled around the table eating.
He paused in the blackness to enjoy the scene. Everything was dark outside, with only a chirping cricket and the occasional creak of saddle leather to disturb the stillness. The warm cheery house cast a welcome golden glow out of each one of its windows. Through the front window he watched the group. He could see that Brooke was at ease and enjoying herself. Pleasant conversation drifted over to him, and he distinctly heard Brooke’s melodic laughter as her head tipped back and her mouth opened wide. Sighing in contentment, he turned Geyser toward the barn.
When he entered the house a few minutes later, the smell of beef stew and cornbread made him realize just how hungry he was. He had not taken the time to eat anything since the breakfast Brooke had fixed him that morning.
“Mmm...smells good,” he said as he moved toward a basin on the counter to wash up.
“How did the trial go today, Son?” Sean asked from his seat at the table. Sky looked at Jenny as he dried his hands. His heart went out to her. He could see the barely concealed pain in her eyes.
“We haven’t come to any conclusions yet. We’ll convene again tomorrow.”
At the hope that flashed across Jenny’s face, though, he knew he couldn’t leave it at that. It would be cruel to allow her to hope that Lee might be released. If anything, he and Ping might be the only two who were held over for a more extensive trial in Murray. He hung the towel on its hook and walked toward her, squatting down in front of her on the balls of his feet. “Jenny, I’m sorry. A man told the court today that Lee hired him and several others to kill Fraser. I don’t think he is going to be released.”
She nodded and looked into her lap. There was a long pause, then she said, “I go home now.”
“Jenny, I can’t let you ride home alone in the dark. Do you want me to ride with you into town? Or we could make you a bed here on the floor.”
She shook her head, glancing around the small room. “No, I not sleep here. Maybe you haf some blankets? I sleep in barn. I need be alone. To pray.” Sky nodded, and Rachel, who had risen to stand behind Jenny’s chair, laid her slender hand on the woman’s shoulder, as Brooke moved to take the blanket off of the bed in the corner.
Sky moved across the room, laying a hand on Brooke’s arm and stilling her movements. “There is an extra blanket under the bed,” he said. Bending down, he reached under the bed and pulled out a thick, heavy quilt.
As soon as Jenny had left for the barn, Sean and Rachel stood. “We will head on out and make sure Jenny is comfortable, Son. Don’t worry about her; we’ll make sure she’s warm enough.”
“I think I saw an extra blanket in our room too, right, Sky?” asked Rachel.
“Yes, but maybe we should all take the time to pray for her before you go out. She is going to need all the strength she can get in the next couple of days.”
The group took hands, and Sean led in prayer for Jenny, asking God to strengthen her and sustain her in the days to come.
Brooke set a heaping bowl of stew on the table for Sky, next to a plate of cornbread, as his parents hugged him good night. Then she gave them hugs of her own.
“Tell him all about it, dear,” Rachel whispered in her ear as they embraced. “He will be so glad to know.”
Brooke nodded and shut the door behind them, turning to find Sky’s warm eyes on her face. She held his gaze for a moment, his searching look sending shivers of pleasure down her spine. He dropped the lid of one eye in a quick wink. She blushed and glanced away but then peered back into his face. Filled with a sudden excitement, she longed to run and throw her arms about him and tell him of the wonderful thing she had done…but she stayed where she was.
Sky pulled out his chair to seat himself. He bowed his head quietly in a quick prayer of thanks for the food and began to eat. Brooke poured herself a cup of coffee and joined him at the table.
“I’m happy to see you getting along so well with Mother and Dad,” he said as he spread butter on a thick slab of yellow cornbread.
Brooke’s mind flashed to the tension that had filled the room at breakfast, but she only said, “Your parents are wonderful people, Sky.”
“How did you think I turned out to be such a wonderful guy?” he asked with another wink.
“Hmm...I guess I hadn’t noticed.”
He attempted to look crestfallen but didn’t quite succeed.
Brooke debated how to broach the subject of her new relationship with Jesus. She rose from the table and began to clear the dishes. Sky ate in silence, then finally got up and poured himself a second cup of coffee, just as Brooke sat back down at the table.
“Sky, there’s something I want to talk to you about.” Her heart pounded, excitement thundering in her ears.
His movements stilled and he sat back down slowly, all of his attention focused on her. He raised his cup to his mouth but never took his eyes off her.
“I made a decision today that I hope you will be happy about.” What was she saying? She knew he was going to be happy. He would be ecstatic.
Sky still said nothing. His expression revealed he had no idea what was on her mind.
“I had a long talk with your mother today and then with Jenny after that. I want you to know that I…” She paused. Was she going about this the right way?
One blond eyebrow raised in her direction.
She could tell the suspense was killing him as he waited for her to go on. Finally she exclaimed in a rush, “I gave my heart to the Lord today.” She bit her lower lip, waiting.
He sat stock still for a split second, then was around the table and down on one knee next to her chair. He took her hands in his, his heart shining in his eyes, and gazed into her face. “You don’t know how happy that makes me. I have waited for this day since the moment I met you.” He cupped her face with one hand. Tears brimmed in his eyes. “God is so good, Brooke, honey. So very good.”
“I know. I feel so free and happy. I know what you meant now about the peaceful green pastures and still waters. You wouldn’t believe how wonderful I felt right after I prayed.”
“Oh, I think I know, honey. I know just how you felt.” Standing, he pulled her to her feet and into a warm embrace. Resting his head on top of hers, he prayed, “Lord, thank You so much for opening Brooke’s eyes to You. Help her to grow in knowledge and understanding of how much You love her, and make her desire to serve You grow stronger as the days go by. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
He stepped back and smiled down into her eyes, overwhelmed by the goodness of God. First He had brought this wonderful, gentle woman into his life, and now He had saved her. What more could a man ask for?
But as he traced her cheekbone with one hand and took in the contours of her face, he knew there was more that he wanted. God, give me patience.
He gathered her back into a tight embrace, then reluctantly let her go, moving to the couch with his coffee cup.
Even an hour later, as Brooke moved about in the one-room cabin, elation surged through him. Thank You, Lord, he prayed again. He hadn’t stopped praying it since the moment she had told him.
Sipping his coffee, he leaned his head back against the couch, resting his cup beside him. He closed his eyes. As tired as he was, he couldn’t keep his mind off of the proceedings in town for long. Something about Chang bothered him. The man knew something that he wasn’t saying. And the fact that the safe in the back room of the store hadn’t been tampered with still weighed heavily on Sky’s mind. Why would anyone have killed Fraser? Ping said he and his companions did it because they were paid by Chang,
but why had Chang hired them? Did the unopened safe in the back room have anything to do with it?
He was convinced the man Trace was tracking had something to do with this murder, but he couldn’t see how he fit into the puzzle.
Reaching up, Sky rubbed a tired hand across his face. He was missing something. His mind wandered back to the day of the funeral. Something drew his mind to the story that Trace had told him. There had been a father, mother, and a beautiful daughter, Trace had made the point of saying. They had come home to find their house being robbed and even though they had told the perpetrator he was free to leave, he had shot the father, laughing as he did it. That suggested a personal vendetta….
Sky’s mind flashed to the pretty Alice Fraser. He sat up with a start, nearly spilling his coffee.
Brooke eyed him from the table across the room where she had seated herself to read his Bible. “What?”
He shook his head, still thinking. “Nothing. I just had a thought.” He stared at the floor for a minute more, then back at Brooke. She was already intent on the book before her. He wanted to question her about the funeral. To have her confide in him the reason for her sudden fear that day. But as he watched her absorbing the Bible page by page he couldn’t bring himself to ask the questions. She deserved to have this one special day of all days to enjoy.
Besides, he suddenly knew the answers. The pieces had all been there. He simply hadn’t been able to see how they all fit together. Her sudden fear on the day of the funeral and her lying about it and about the man in the alley were all connected. However, he wanted her to tell him about it on her own. He didn’t want to have to pry the information from her. He wanted her to trust him enough to share her fears with him. He made a mental note to find Trace Johnson tomorrow and let him know what he was thinking. They would have to be prepared.
Brooke watched Sky from where she sat at the table, his Bible open before her. Conviction weighed heavy on her heart. She knew she should speak up and tell him the truth, but every time she started to say something, she would remember Percival’s threats and couldn’t bring herself to continue.
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