Mrs. Graham broke the silence. “Steve, aren’t you going to introduce your guest to us?” She prompted him gently.
Steve gave Kelly and apologetic glance. “Sure,” he replied lightly. “This is Kelly. She is the breeder that sold me Gracie’s dog, Fiona.” He glanced at her again in apology. “She came up here tonight to surprise Chuck for the blue grass concert.”
Hester Graham’s eyes widened and met Kelly’s in silent surprise. “You don’t say?” She murmured softly at the boldfaced lie, for Steve had rhapsodized about Kelly McGuire to them several times since their arrival last week.
Hester held out her hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Kelly. Gracie has simply fallen in love with that dog. She is a beautiful animal.”
“I’m pleased to hear it,” Kelly responded carefully, deciding to play along with Steve’s strange behavior for the moment.
“Kelly, may I present my husband, Pastor Robert Graham. I hear that you’ve met Sarah Grace already, and the young man catching the ice cream drips is her Uncle, David Bolton.”
Kelly nodded politely at everyone, and took a seat next to Hester and Pastor Graham on the long wall couch opposite the dinette. Steve refused a seat and chose instead to lean against a pantry closet between the dinette and the door.
“My niece has quite the sweet tooth for ice cream,” David said conversationally, handing the child a wet napkin to wipe her face. “We haven’t seen each other in a long time,” he remarked. “Shortly after returning from overseas, I got posted to Charlotte.” He looked long and hard at Steve, whose expression remained neutral.
“How do you like Charlotte?” Kelly asked to fill the silence.
David shrugged. “It has its moments.” He looked up at Kelly with piercing gray eyes. “How did you say you and Steven met?”
Steve leaned forward as if he was going to answer the question, but Kelly spoke first. “He was part of the team that rescued my niece from the side of a cliff last month. Pete, Chuck and Steve saved her life. They’re a great group of guys.
“So you’ve come back to visit?” He inquired.
She nodded. “As a surprise to Chuck.” She smiled at Steve. “Steve’s helping me to stay out of sight until the concert this evening. Have you ever heard Chuck and Pete do dueling banjos?” She asked David. “They’re pretty good! You’re in for a treat.” Her smile conveyed more enthusiasm than she felt.
David nodded in agreement. “I’m sure I would be.” He set Gracie down and got to his feet. He was a couple inches taller than Steve, Kelly noted. “But I have to get back to Charlotte tonight. I was home in Jacksonville this weekend visiting my parents, and they told me that Gracie was here, with –“ he paused and gave Steve a cool acknowledgement. “-her father. So I made it a point of dropping by on my way back for a short visit.”
Gracie’s face drooped in disappointment. “But you just got here!” she scolded him, grabbing hold of his belt. “You can’t go already, Uncle David! Please stay here with us?” She begged, although Kelly noticed that no one else added their voices to hers.
David ruffled her hair. “Afraid not, munchkin,” he answered her regretfully. “But you can bet that one day soon I’ll come back, and then I promise to stick around for a while.”
“Well, Gracie,” Robert Graham said to the child as he stood up also. “That gives you something to look forward to, doesn’t it?”
Gracie stamped her sneakered feet in frustration. “But it’s been so long since I’ve gotten to play with him!” She pouted.
David chucked her under the chin. “Hey now, you don’t want me to get in trouble at work, do you? You know the marine corps is not like your father’s job. If I don’t get back to work when they expect me to, they don’t just get mad, they can put me in jail!”
Grace had no answer to that, but she continued to pout at her uncle. He knelt down beside her. “I’ve got to go, Gracie. How about a good bye kiss?”
Impulsively, Gracie threw her arms around his neck and kissed his face, leaving a sticky ice cream smear on his cheek. David laughed, unperturbed by the mess. “That’s my girl,” he said, giving her a final squeeze.
He stood again and nodded to the Graham’s. “Good to see you again. Sorry that I missed Deborah this trip.”
Robert Graham walked toward the door, effectively escorting David in the same direction in the narrow coach. “We’ll tell her that you asked about her,” Pastor Graham told him.
Not to be unduly hurried, David paused and took Kelly’s hand in his. He smiled into her eyes. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend a little more time together, I’d be fascinated to learn more about... breeding dogs?” He said.
Kelly murmured something polite, ignoring his mildly suggestive tone of voice, or had she just imagined it? At last, with a cool nod to Steve, he walked to his car and drove off. As the black Viper cruised out of sight, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
“What,” Kelly asked in a low voice, “was that all about?”
Steve put a finger to his lips and glanced down at Gracie, who was wiping tears from her eyes and hugging Fiona tightly.
“Gracie, honey,” Steve said softly. “You know, we’re going to be up late tonight, with the concert and the campfire after…why don’t you and Fiona lay down for awhile and rest? Not long, maybe just until dinner’s ready. We don’t want you falling asleep before it’s time to roast marshmallows.”
Gracie started to whine, but then she seemed to change her mind. “Just until dinner?” She asked.
Steve nodded. “I’ll call you when it’s ready.” He promised. Slowly, she got to her feet and went back inside the motor coach to the little room that had been hers this week. Fiona padded dutifully after her little mistress.
With Gracie safely out of ear shot, Hester went back inside and brought out a pitcher of tea and a plate of cookies she had baked that afternoon. They all took seats around the picnic table. Steve sat across from Kelly, uncertain of how she would feel about him after the last half hour. He took her hands in his, and was gratified that she allowed him to. “I’m sorry to put you through that.” He looked around the table at the Grahams. “I’m sorry to put you both in the middle of it as well, and I am especially sorry that we stretched the truth concerning Kelly and me.” It made you part of the lie, but I was really caught off guard today. I had never considered what was going to happen if he ever found out that I…” he flushed and glanced at Kelly. “That I might become involved with another woman. Since Sarah died he and I have had some – violent – encounters. I was also part of the reason that he ended up in Charlotte.
“I haven’t talked to you about him yet, Kelly, and I didn’t want to involve you in something without your being aware of the possible repercussions. I thought it might be best if he believed that your presence here had very little to do with me.”
Kelly carefully disengaged her hands from Steve’s. She looked from Steve to the Grahams and frowned, still unnerved by the encounter with David. “I’ll admit I felt a little uncomfortable talking to him, but I don’t really know if it was him, or your reaction to him that upset me more. Don’t you think that you might be overreacting?”
“He’s not overreacting,” Pastor Graham broke in with quiet certainty. “David is dangerous, and he doesn't let go of the past - ever! My own daughter confirmed that he was often rough with her when they dated a few years ago. She broke up with him because of it, but he still comes around to see her. His anger with Steve has grown steadily since Sarah’s death, and especially since Steve got custody of Gracie, which was the last thing David wanted to happen. Then, just a few weeks ago, I helped Steve intervene when he nearly killed his last girlfriend because Steve had gone on a diving excursion with her. David has no love for Steve. I don’t necessarily approve of the lie, but Steve was not wrong to try and keep you out of their argument.”
Kelly nodded. She reached for the iced tea pitcher and poured herself a glass, indicating that she wasn’t going anywhere. “Don
’t you think it might be a good idea to explain the whole argument to me?” She asked, looking at Steve.
He sighed. “Well, David and I used to be best friends…” Twenty minutes later, with Pastor Graham’s help he had given Kelly a rough outline of his life since that graduation night in June. Kelly listened carefully. When they had finished recounting the tale, she smiled sympathetically at Steve. “He caught you off guard tonight, I know, but what are you going to say the next time he shows up, if you and I are still seeing each other? Or, are you never going to keep a girlfriend for more than a few weeks, for fear of 'David Bolton’s Revenge'?
“I don’t want to lose you,” he told her softly. “If there is a next time, I guess I will have to be honest, and leave protecting you in the Lord’s hands.”
Kelly nodded. “I can live with that.” She reached out and took Steve’s hands again. He looked into her eyes and for a moment, Steve felt himself getting lost in their sea green depths.
“Well I don’t know about the rest of you,” Hester said in a no-nonsense tone, startling the young couple back to reality. “But after all that soul bearing, I’m starving!” She stood up, looking at the group expectantly. Robert Graham took his queue. “I’ll start the grill,” he announced getting up and getting busy with the charcoal bag.
Kelly squeezed Steve’s hand affectionately, then stood up too. “How can I help?” She asked Mrs. Graham.
Steve watched with a troubled expression as the two women went back into the coach to prepare dinner. Even after his brave words, he could feel doubt and worry gnaw at his heart. He would never forgive himself if Kelly got hurt because of him.
“Please, God,” he prayed fervently. “Keep us in Your will, and in Your care. Protect Kelly, especially. I know in my head it’s what I need to do, but I don’t think that giving this relationship fully over to You is going to be easy.”
Ch 40
Small Steps
Saturday afternoon a rare event occurred at Hanging Rock. With the exception of Kelly’s tent and the Graham’s huge motor coach, the campground was deserted. Taking advantage of their last afternoon together, Steve and Gracie decided on a group hike up the Hanging Rock trail to the famous summit. Robert and Hester Graham, Pete and Deborah, Kelly, and of course Fiona, all gathered at the parking lot and walked down the steps that led to the trail. Since no one was on the trail, Steve took Fiona off her long lead, and the grownups enjoyed her exuberantly mad dashes up wide graveled path, followed by equally high spirited sprints back to check on her human family’s slow progress.
Gracie, who had finally given her seal of approval to Kelly and her Dad, walked between the couple occasionally, then raced Fiona up the trail when she got bored with all the grownup talk.
Kelly shook her head, grinning at Gracie’s boundless energy. “She’s exhausting me just watching her,” Kelly sighed. “I remember doing the same thing when I was a child. I wonder what happened.”
Steve shook his head. “I’m just glad she’s got Fiona. I know I can’t begin to keep up with her.”
Kelly took Steve’s hand and the three couples made their way up the long graveled incline that led to the top. Steve and Kelly were walking behind the rest of the group, and Steve studied the others now, taking in the contentment and peace of the moment. The Grahams, of course, walked together with the confidence of a couple who had shared a history and knew the strong bond of trials, perseverance and loving commitment. The strength of that commitment circled them like a force field. Their love was comfortable to see.
But what brought a smile to his face was watching Deborah and Pete. Even if he hadn’t known them, there would be no mistaking the newness of their love. The air around them fairly vibrated with possibilities. Pete’s huge hand clasped Deborah’s much smaller one in a tight grip. They grinned at each other and giggled, sharing secret jokes, happy to be in each other’s company. Everything was new and as shiny as the diamond Pete had given Deborah just a few weeks before. And while they had yet to face trials in their relationship, when trouble came Steve had no doubt that they would be able to stand firm in the Lord, and the Lord would help them to stand the test.
Steve was especially touched as he watched the quiet joy of Pete’s face. Pete had shared with Steve how he had accidentally shot and killed his little brother when he was only a teenager. He had regretted the lost years that his mistake had cost his entire family ever since, but because of it, Steve knew that Pete would give everything he had to create a new family with Deborah.
And Deborah. Steve smiled now as he watched the glow of happiness that filled her sweet spirit. When she had come to Hanging Rock, she had viewed it as fate that she and Steve were meant to be together. Steve still believed that God had put her in his life again for a reason, but not the reason that Deborah had thought. God had used many people that summer to get Steve’s attention. Deborah had reopened the old wound and all the hurt and anger had drained away at last, the moment he had heard that quiet Voice at the base of the cliff.
Not long after, God had opened her eyes to really see Pete, patient and overflowing with love for her. Watching them together now, it was obvious to Steve that this was what God had intended all along.
Which left – him. Steve glanced sideways at the girl who walked so contentedly by his side today. Was she the one God intended for him? They barely knew each other, and yet Kelly had held a place in his heart from the first moment he had looked into her laughing green eyes.
Kelly caught his glance and held it with a sweet smile. The force of it sent his heart ricocheting off of his rib cage once again. Steve swallowed hard and managed to smile back, he head still whirling with questions and wordless hope.
Kelly must have glimpsed the uncertainty in his eyes. She stopped and drew him to her. Stretching on tiptoe, her lips brushed his in a soft butterfly kiss. Steve smiled, feeling the tension drain away at her touch.
“Nice,” he murmured. She looked up into his face, her eyes searching his.
“I’ve been praying, Steve,” she told him. “About us.”
Uh oh…a moment of panic surged through him. He buried it with sheer determination. “Any good news to share?” He managed to ask her after a moment.
She grinned. “God is good!”
“All the time,” he agreed. “But was there anything a bit more – personal?”
“I think so,” she answered thoughtfully.
Several moments passed as Steve waited anxiously for her to continue, but she seemed to have left him and traveled to a distant place in her head. They had reached the base of the summit trail, and the rest of their party was already well up the rocky path. He could hear Gracie calling impatiently for them to catch up. At last he broke the silence. “So, are you going to share your revelation?”
She smiled, startled back to the present time, and Steve was once again struck by how pretty and genuine she was.
“You won’t laugh?” She asked him timidly.
“Not if it’s an answer to a prayer,” he answered, growing more and more curious.
“Well,” she glanced up at him and then looked away. “I had the strangest impression…” her eyes flickered from his face to the ground between them in apprehension of what Steve would think.
“Kelly, just say it, whatever it is,” Steve urged.
“Okay.” Kelly took a deep breath. “Steve, I have always felt a connection to you, ever since the first time I saw you years ago, which makes no sense, because you certainly gave me no reason to think you would ever respond to me. So now, well, I was worried that I was letting my heart run away with me. I was afraid maybe this wasn’t so much God’s will as my own wish fulfillment!”
Kelly was blushing furiously in embarrassment, but Steve had to force himself to refrain from a shout of joy at her confession. He knew how hard it was for her to put her hopes out there in the open like this – hadn’t he just been struggling with similar thoughts?
“Well, anyway,” she plunged on, “I w
as praying last night and finally I just lay there, listening for a change. That’s when I heard it.”
“Heard what Kelly?” Steve asked, trying to squash his growing impatience with how long it was taking her to tell him.
“A voice,” she said simply. “Very clear. “It said: “Be at peace with this. Don’t let the shadow of evil overwhelm you. When the time comes, don’t be afraid to take his hand and make the leap.”
They were silent a moment as Steve repeated the phrases in his head. His brow creased “Take my hand and leap?” he repeated questioningly.
“I think it means…” She halted again, blushing more furiously than ever. Steve felt the love that had been growing in his heart overflow now as he listened to her baring her own heart to him.
He grabbed both of her hands. “Kelly, I’ve felt the same way about you! Ever since I saw you this fall, it has been in my heart that you are the one that God has had in mind for me all along! It’s a kind of strange way to word it, but I think God is giving us his blessing!”
Kelly’s shoulders sagged in relief. “That’s what I thought too,” she whispered, a relieved smile spreading across her face.
“So, do you want to?” Steve asked, his heart in his throat.
“Make the leap?” She asked uncertain.
“Yes, make the leap. Marry me!”
She flung herself into his arms. “Yes!” She shrieked happily. “Oh yes!” Kelly buried her head against his chest, and he could feel her warm tears dampening his shirt. Steve wrapped his arms around her and for a few moments, they didn’t even breathe, not wanting to disturb this perfect moment of joy.
But an instant later, a red body streaked past them and Gracie’s plaintive voice echoing down the hillside. “Daddy!! Where are you? Daaaddyyyyyyy!”
Far Country Page 34
