“He likes to be told what to do?”
“He said if we want anything, we have to ask for it. Don’t you ever read your Bible, Luke?”
“Not much anymore. I used to.”
“Well, you need to read it again. Joelle read that verse to us last Sunday. Don’t you remember? If you ask anything in my name, I’ll do it. That’s what Jesus said, and He’s God, isn’t He?”
“Yes, He is.”
“So that settles it.” Sunny gave a cry and pulled a plump red-eared sunfish out of the water. “Look at that. I’m gonna eat him all by myself.” She grabbed the fish and carefully pulled the hook out of its mouth. She glanced at Luke. “Don’t you worry. We prayed and God’s gonna take care of it.”
“Okay, Sunny, if you say so.”
****
All night long Luke was restless. He finally got up and got dressed, although it was still dark and probably an hour until dawn. He left his room in the barn, smelling the rich, loamy aroma of fresh-broken soil. The air was sweet with the coming of spring, and he walked for some time down the path that led to the stream. He stopped at the point where he had gone fishing with Sunny and sat down, listening to the sibilant whisper of the water as the creek bubbled over stones.
Luke thought, as he often had, about the turns his life had taken. He thought of his family and how he had disappointed them. He thought of Melosa, and he was aware that the keen grief that had practically torn him apart immediately after her death was no longer the same. Time had eased it a bit. He knew he would always remember her, but now it was easier to remember the good times they had shared.
“Maybe God’s doing something in me. Taking away that bitter memory,” he mused. He thought of Streak then, and the memory was more bitter. “I’m trying, Streak,” he murmured. “I’m trying as hard as I can, but I don’t see any way.” He missed the man more than he had ever thought he could miss a friend and knew that until the end of his life, Streak Garrison would be part of him.
Gradually Luke began to feel he was not alone as he sat beside the stream. He knew no one else was nearby, but even so, he felt that another person was there. He had had this feeling before—mostly when he was very young. He actually felt the presence of the Lord. “I wish I could come to you with a clean record,” he prayed, “but you know I can’t do that. I feel like I’m past hope, but I’ve heard my folks say so many times that no one is past hope. So I’m asking you right here tonight to change my life. . . .”
Luke continued to pray, and as he did, he felt a peace begin to enter his spirit. He laid his whole heart out before God, confessing the mess he had made of his life, naming his sins one by one as he called on God. “I know that Jesus died for me, and I know, God, you don’t want me to live like this. So I’m asking you to come into my life, take away this bondage I’m under with alcohol, and I’m asking you to let me be the man who can help Joelle carry the load that’s too heavy for her. I promised her brother I’d help her, but you know I’m not able to do anything with my own power.”
Luke continued to pray until a gray crack of light began to appear in the east. By the time it was dawn, Luke Winslow knew he had come to a fork in the road and that he had chosen a different way. “I can’t do anything myself, God,” he continued with tears in his eyes, “but I’m going to do everything you tell me. I’ll join the church. I’ll be baptized. I’ll go anywhere you tell me to, so just use me in a way that will be pleasing to you.”
He said amen and heard the rooster crow as he made his way slowly to the house. “Well, Judas,” he said, smiling at the ridiculous name Sunny had given the bird, “you made the sun come up, or at least you think you did.”
He suddenly stopped in his tracks as if he had run into a wall. A thought had come to him so strangely and abruptly he knew it could not be of his own thinking. Uttering a short cry, he whirled and ran to the barn where Joelle kept Streak’s plane and yanked the door open. He went inside and began to laugh. “Thank you, Jesus!” he yelled, his arms lifted. Then he turned and ran full speed toward the house.
****
Joelle heard the knock on her bedroom door and awoke with a start. Usually she woke up at about dawn anyway, but that morning she had overslept. “Who is it?” she asked, thinking it was one of the girls.
“It’s me, Luke. Open the door, Joelle.”
Joelle jumped out of bed and grabbed a robe. Fearful that one of the girls was hurt or perhaps had run off like Phyllis, she yanked open the door and stared at Luke. “What is it? What’s happened?”
“I was out by the creek this morning—”
“Shh . . . you’ll wake the girls up.”
“Time for them to get up anyhow.”
“Come in and tell me what the trouble is.” She pulled him inside and shut the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s just right! Joelle, I know you’ve been praying for me to find Jesus and I have this morning out by the creek. . . .” Words tumbled through Luke’s lips, and Joelle stood there transfixed. “So I’m saved and I know it.”
“I’m so happy for you, Luke,” Joelle said with tears in her eyes.
“But that’s not all. Put some clothes on. I’ve got something to show you. God’s going into business here at the Haven.”
When she just stood staring at him, he said, “Hurry up. I’ll wait for you.”
As soon as the door closed, Joelle changed her clothes and ran downstairs. She found Luke standing on the porch. “What is it? What are you so excited about?”
“Come on. I’ll show you.” He took her arm and practically flew across the yard to the barn where the plane was kept. When he got there, he flung the doors open and then turned to face her, his eyes dancing with excitement. “Sunny prayed for God to send help, and I’m the one He sent.”
“What do you mean, Luke?”
“You see that airplane? We’re going to start a crop-dusting service. We’re going to make enough money to pay this place off. All the bills will be paid.”
“But it hasn’t been flown in nearly a year. I don’t know what kind of shape it’s in.”
“I’ll check it over real good. There isn’t anything I can’t fix on an airplane.”
“But who will fly it?”
“Joelle, you’re looking at one of the best pilots you’ll ever see in this world! I’m almost as good as your brother, I’ll bet.”
She stood there listening as Luke waved his arms with enthusiasm. He would pause from time to time and pat the plane as if it were a favorite pet or a young child. Finally she said, “You really think we can do it, Luke?”
“Yes! I think God sent me here. I came in a mighty roundabout way, but I know we’re on the right track now.” He suddenly gave her a hug that took her breath away. “You know something? I’ve always heard that there’s gold at the end of a rainbow, but right here at this place I found my reward. I’ve found the gold I’ve been looking for.” He kissed her and said, “Here’s my gold right here in my arms.”
Joelle leaned against Luke, her heart beating rapidly. He held her tightly, and she felt safe and secure for the first time in many years.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Silver Eagle
Every member of the household had gathered outside around the silver biplane, watching with excitement as Luke went around checking the various components of the ship. It was the middle of May, and Luke had spent endless hours tuning it up and getting it in first-class condition. He had spoken with such enthusiasm about his plan that he had inspired one of the wealthier members of Asa and Joelle’s church to donate the money to add tanks for the insecticides. They had been able to buy the insecticide on credit, which, of course, was a concern for Joelle. Luke had simply laughed and said, “Don’t you worry. We’ll have that loan paid off before you can even turn around.”
Luke pulled his helmet on and grinned at the group. “We’re going to launch this thing right and give all the glory to God.”
Joelle c
ould not have been happier with this new Luke—he was completely different from the man she had nursed back to health. Since he had found God beside the creek, he had been filled with joy and happiness, and his health had returned almost with a bound. He looked strong and healthy as he stood there before them with the morning sun coming over his shoulder.
“I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,” Luke said. “How many of you know how Joshua took Jericho?”
“I know,” Sunny yelled. “He marched around it seven times.”
“That’s right, and that’s what we’re going to do. A Jericho march around this airplane.”
“Are you sure it’ll fly?” Gladys asked doubtfully. “You haven’t taken it up yet.”
“God doesn’t sponsor any failures, girls. Of course it will fly. Now, let’s do a Jericho march.”
Joelle laughed and said, “Follow me, girls.” She started marching around the airplane, and the girls fell in line behind her, with Luke at the end. When they had marched around seven times, Luke said, “Now, let’s all give a holler for God.” They all cried out aloud, and Joelle said, “Good luck, Luke.”
“Wish yourself good luck. You’re going with me!”
“What!”
“Yes. You’re going to have the first ride in the Silver Eagle here. That’s what I’ve decided to call it. The Silver Eagle. Eagles are mentioned in the Bible and this one’s silver, and I’m convinced this is how God plans to save the Haven.”
When she didn’t respond immediately, he said, “Don’t you believe it, Joelle?”
Suddenly she smiled brilliantly. “Yes. I do believe it, but I was just thinking back to the last ride I had in this plane with my brother. He would be thrilled if he knew somebody had gotten it back into shape.”
Luke handed her a helmet and they both climbed into the plane, with the girls calling encouraging words as they did.
The engine roared, and soon the plane begin to move, bumping over the uneven ground. They picked up speed, and before she knew it, they were off the ground. The earth seemed to fall away beneath her, and she felt the same thrill she had always felt when she had flown with Roscoe.
Luke banked the plane and did a complete circle around the farm. “There’s the Haven,” he said. “See. The girls are looking at us. You want me to do a loop?”
“No, I don’t!” she yelled back over the noisy engine.
Luke laughed and then began to test the plane. He flew low over a field, keeping the plane steady as he went the length of it, and then pulled up just before encountering a group of tall walnut trees at the end. Luke was a great pilot, Joelle could see, for he timed it exactly right. He made a loop and came back over the same field, again pulling up just in time to avoid the trees. It was exciting and she enjoyed every second of it.
Finally Luke brought the plane in for a landing and got out. He looked the other way as Joelle struggled to keep her skirt tight against her legs, and then he reached up and lifted her to the ground. All the girls came rushing up, demanding a ride.
“I’ve got a job to do this morning, but I’ll give every one of you a ride sometime this week. That is, if you’re keeping up with your chores and your schoolwork . . . and if you bring me coffee whenever I want it and—”
“Okay, okay, we get the point,” Sunny said.
“I’m just teasing,” Luke said. “I’ll see that you all get a ride, but right now I’ve got to be sure this spray works.”
Joelle and the girls watched as Luke filled up the tanks and checked them to see that they fed, and all the time she was thinking about how much he had changed. Luke had already managed to get three crop-dusting jobs lined up. When he had made the deal on the third one, he had told Joelle, “If I do a good job on these, we’ll soon have more work than I can handle. We’re closer to these fields than anybody else, and besides, it’s tough flying here in these hills. A lot of pilots wouldn’t want to tackle it.”
Now she asked, “Aren’t you worried about the danger, Luke?”
He put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. “Don’t you worry about me. God sent me. Like I said, He doesn’t sponsor any failures.” He suddenly pulled her into an embrace. “Don’t worry,” he whispered in her ear. “It’ll be fine.” He laughed then and walked away.
She watched him climb into the plane and take off. As he banked the plane and she watched it disappear, Joelle wondered, He never says anything about what he feels for me, but he’s kissed me and he’s hugged me. I wonder why he never tells me how he feels? She was mildly disappointed, for she had grown quite fond of him. He was a hard worker, he always acted like a gentleman, and now he was growing into a man who loved his Lord. Deep down inside, Joelle’s deepest desire was to have a godly husband and a house full of children.
****
Luke had put in a long day in the cockpit, and when he landed early in the evening a month later, Joelle came running out to meet him. “Look at this, Luke.” He stopped, pulled his helmet off, and ran his hand through his hair. “What is it?”
“It’s our account book. Look!”
He peered over her shoulder. “What about it?”
“All the bills are paid, Luke!” Her eyes were dancing with joy. “Everything’s paid and Mr. McCollum called. He wants you to work all of his fields from now on.”
“Why, that’s great, Joelle. That means a steady income.”
“It’s so wonderful, Luke. It really is.”
Luke started to put his arms around her and then something stopped him. Joelle looked up at him and finally spoke her heart. “Luke, I thought you were beginning to care for me.” Words would not come to Luke—at least not the words he wanted to say. He looked down at the ground and then shook his head. “You deserve a better man than I am, Joelle.” He turned and walked away before she could answer.
He doesn’t love me, she thought. He’s made it more than obvious.
As Luke walked toward the barn, he felt as bad as he had felt in a long time. It had been so exciting getting the plane ready to fly and finding crop-dusting jobs and then actually flying again, but none of these accomplishments were as important to him as was the woman he had come to care for so deeply. His deepest desire was that Joelle would love him in return . . . but that would never happen if she knew the truth about who he was.
If she knew that I was responsible for her brother’s death, she’d hate me. With that thought came the temptation to have a drink, but he shook his head and said, “No. That’s not the answer. I don’t think I’ll ever have Joelle as a wife, but at least I can help her keep her head above water financially.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Melosa . . . Joelle
“Oh, Luke, it’s so exciting!” Joelle had come out to the plane where Luke was replenishing the supply of insecticides. When he rose to face her, her eyes were dancing with excitement, and without even knowing she did so, she pulled on his shirt sleeve. “You’ve done so well, Luke. You ought to be very proud of yourself.”
“It’s a little soon to be claiming any victories,” Luke remarked. He studied her clean-running physical lines and noted again, as he had many times before, that her face was a mirror that changed often. She was a beautiful and robust woman with soft depths and a woman’s spirit, and despite the curtain of reserve she kept at times, at this moment she had a provocative challenge in her eyes.
“Why, Luke, I don’t know why you’re not jumping up and down. You’ve done a wonderful job of pulling us out of the hole we were in.”
“We’re not out of it yet,” Luke warned. “Most of the dusting is over for the season now. In this business you have to make your money for a few months and then wait for the next season.”
“But we have done that. It was a stroke of genius buying that old plane and hiring another pilot to help you.”
Indeed, it had taken luck and hard work to expand the operation. Luke had located another old biplane that had no engine and had managed to find an engine that had no body. He had bought
the two for practically nothing and put them together. Now he glanced up at the western sky, wondering if Glenn Frasier would bring the plane back in one piece.
“Glenn’s not the most reliable pilot in the world,” he murmured.
“But he’s been doing a good job, hasn’t he?”
“Well, he’s a hard worker and he’s not afraid of anything—which can be bad.” He suddenly smiled at her. “Men should be afraid of some things—like snakes and bad women and electrical wires.”
Joelle laughed. “You class snakes and electrical wires in the same category with women? You must have had a bad experience.”
“I’m just careful around all three of them,” Luke said with a grin. He and Joelle had reached the point where they felt comfortable with each other, and it was a good feeling for Luke Winslow. He glanced again at the sky and said, “Watch out for Glenn. He thinks he’s quite the ladies’ man.”
“Oh, he’s already tried to woo me.”
“What’d you do?”
“I pulled out a Bible and started preaching at him. He ran like a scared rabbit.”
Luke laughed.
“Tell me some more about the women on your list,” Joelle said.
“Too many to talk about.”
“If you don’t want to talk about that, maybe we can talk about this idea that I’ve had. You may think I’m crazy, but I’ve had this thought that I haven’t been able to get rid of.”
“What thought’s that?”
“We’ve done so well with the Haven as a home for girls, I’ve started to wonder if we should think about establishing a home for boys.”
Luke stared at Joelle with amazement. “We’re just barely making it with the girls and you want to start a home for boys?”
“I knew you’d think I was crazy, but the thought comes to me when I’m reading the Scriptures and when I’m praying and sometimes at night after I go to bed. So I have to wonder if this idea might be coming from God.”
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