Measure of Grace

by Al Lacy

  “He was here Saturday and explained it all to me. That’s how I know.”

  Stu rasped, “Diana’s my daughter! I want to know where she is!”

  “You mean so you can give her a beating like she can’t even imagine? Well, Derick, Deborah, Daniel, and I promised Diana we will never tell anyone where she is. And Dennis doesn’t know. You lay a hand on any of us, and you’ll be behind bars in a hurry.”

  Stu regarded her with hot eyes for a long moment, then stomped toward the back door, went out, and slammed it behind him. Turning with a weeping Dennis still clinging to her, she looked out the window and watched her husband as he headed for the barn.

  That evening, when the family was at the supper table, Stu ran his hard gaze over the faces of Derick, Deborah, and Daniel, and said in a gruff voice, “I want to know where Diana is. Now out with it!”

  Derick looked at his father across the table. “Papa, we were here Saturday when Chief Perry came to tell us that if you ever beat on Mama or any of us again, you will go to prison for a long time. We love Diana, and I was there at the jail with her when you threatened to give her a beating. All of us love Diana. We don’t want you to ever touch her again. We know what you’ll do if you find her, so we’ve agreed not to tell you. If you want to try to beat it out of us, we can’t stop you. But one way or another, if you do, you’ll go to prison.”

  Stu dropped his eyes to his plate, and silently finished his supper.

  At bedtime, when Stu and Martha were alone in their room, she sat down on the edge of the bed while he was removing his shoes, and with her heart thudding against her rib cage, said, “There’s something I need to tell you, Stu.”

  “Yeah? What?”

  “When I was in the hospital, I found out that my roommate was a member of the same church Shamus and Maggie are. Pastor Sherman Bradford came into visit her regularly. One day he talked to me about being saved. He showed me things in the Bible I never knew were there. I learned how terribly wrong you and I have been about the Bible. To put it short and plain, Stu, I received the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart as my Saviour. I am now a Christian. I have such wonderful peace knowing that I’ll never go to hell, but that I am going to heaven. The children and I went to church yesterday, and will be going regularly from now on. I am going to be baptized as soon as this cast comes off.”

  Stu’s mind flashed back to the day Pastor Sherman Bradford came to the jail and warned him of hell … the eternal prison. Ice-cold needles seemed to dance down his backbone.

  Dropping the shoe he had just removed, he looked at Martha.

  Expecting to see fire in his eyes, Martha had steeled herself for the onslaught. But instead of fire in his eyes, there was a softness she hadn’t seen in years.

  Stu mumbled in a low tone, “It’s all right with me if you and the kids go to church, as long as you don’t expect me to go.”

  Martha blinked and nodded. Thank You, Lord, for this measure of grace.

  When the sun was slanting toward the high peaks in the Sawtooth Mountains on Monday afternoon, December 2, Knight Colburn and Diana Morrow had spent another day together in their search for Jordan Shaw. They had no success in their search, but the time in each other’s presence had served to cause both to secretly fall deeper in love.

  The sky was a brilliant blue and the light of the lowering sun made the snow on the mountains glisten like diamonds as Knight pulled rein. “Well, it’ll be almost dark by the time we get to the cabin. We’d better head on down there.”

  No sooner were the words out of his mouth when they heard three rapid shots cut through the cold air.

  Diana felt her heart jolt inside her body and put a hand to her mouth as the shots echoed. They looked at each other, eyes wide.

  Jordan had been found!

  Looking into Knight’s eyes, she saw reflected there what appeared to be the same feelings that she was experiencing. But she couldn’t be sure.

  I know I have no choice, she thought. Even if it means living alone, I must tell Jordan of my salvation. Lord, I will not go against the plain command in Your Word. I will not marry a man who is an unbeliever. Please give me the courage and wisdom that I need to handle this situation.

  Holding each other’s gaze for a brief, silent moment, Knight and Diana turned their horses and began their slow descent down the snowy slopes toward the cabin and to whatever the future held.

  As they rode, both of them had mixed emotions. They were glad and relieved to know Jordan had been found, but for Knight, it meant Jordan had claim on the young woman who had captured his heart.

  For Diana, it meant she must tell Jordan immediately that unless he became a Christian, she would not marry him. She had no idea what his response would be, but from what Knight had told her about Jordan’s rejection of Christ all of these years, she figured it would probably be negative. Stiffening her legs and pressing her feet hard against the stirrups as they moved down a steep embankment, she told herself that even if Jordan did get saved, it still would be wrong to marry him. She was in love with Knight. Again, she prayed for God’s help.

  They reached ground that was relatively more level, and within a few minutes, they were drawing near the cabin. Suddenly Diana caught sight of movement among the trees off to her right, and focusing on the spot, she pointed. “Knight, there they are.”

  William and Mark were riding toward them. “I don’t see Jordan,” Knight said, frowning.

  “I noticed that right away,” she said.

  Knight and Diana reached the cabin first, and dismounted. As William and Mark drew near, they saw that William was weeping.

  “Oh no,” said Knight. “Looks like bad news.”

  Diana nodded, her eyes fixed on William.

  As they drew rein, William was now sobbing so hard he couldn’t speak.

  Mark slid from the saddle, helped his father-in-law down, and looked at Knight and Diana. “We found a cave up at about ten thousand feet. By the tracks we saw in the snow all around the mouth of the cave, it had to have been the lair of Ol’ Halfpaw. The right forepaw definitely had two claws missing. As you said, Knight, the tracks were easily identifiable.”

  Mark choked up, swallowed hard, and blinked at the tears in his eyes. “We … ah … we found Jordan’s torn-up coat and clothing inside the cave, along with what was left of his body. We buried the remains under some large rocks outside the cave.”

  Even though Diana had never met Jordan, and even though in her mind, she had already given her heart to Knight, she gasped at Mark’s words. Stepping up to William, who was now weeping silently, she touched his arm and said, “Mr. Shaw, I’m so very, very sorry.”

  William looked at her and said, “So am I, Diana. So am I.”

  Knight stepped up and silently embraced William for a long moment, then stepped back, allowing Mark to give what comfort he could.

  Knight’s heart was heavy over his friend’s death, but he hurt the most, knowing Jordan had died without Christ.

  IT WAS LATE MORNING THE NEXT DAY, when the solemn, silent foursome—each deep in their own thoughts—arrived at the Bar-S Ranch and broke the news to Sylvia and Lorene, whom they found in the parlor.

  William sat beside Sylvia on a couch as they wept together, and Mark sat beside Lorene on a second couch, holding her in his arms as she wept. Knight and Diana were sitting in adjacent chairs, facing the others.

  When the weeping had subsided, William looked at Diana tenderly and said, “Diana, I’m so sorry that you came all this way to meet such a shocking disappointment. I’ll pay your way back to Richmond.”

  Knight saw the fear that leaped into Diana’s eyes at the mention of her returning to Richmond. “I think, William, that after all she’s been through since arriving here, she shouldn’t travel for a week or so.”

  “I agree, Knight,” said Sylvia, dabbing at her wet cheeks with a hankie. “Diana can stay here with us as long as she wants.”

  “That’s fine with me,” said William. “We’l
l be glad to have her. After all, she was almost our daughter-in-law.”

  “Maybe it would be better,” said Knight, “if Diana stays in town, just in case all of this should have an effect on her nerves and she needs to see a doctor. She can stay at my house with Mom and me.”

  “Well, that’s up to her,” said Sylvia. “What do you think, Diana?”

  Just the thought of being near Knight a little longer brought peace to Diana’s mind. Speaking to the Lord in her heart, she told Him she was already sensing that promised measure of grace. Then to the Shaws, she said, “I very much appreciate you dear people offering to let me stay here, but I think Knight’s idea would work best for me.”

  When Knight and Diana arrived at his house in town, he took her inside and introduced her to his mother, explaining that Diana had been saved during her trip from Richmond to Elkton. Annie Colburn was happy to learn this, and when she heard the entire story as told by Knight, her heart went out to the girl, and she welcomed her into their home. She told them both that she was sorry to hear about Jordan’s death and spoke her greater sorrow that he had never received the Saviour into his heart.

  Diana was given the room next to Annie’s, which was on the second floor at the front part of the house. Knight’s room was on the second floor at the rear.

  After Knight had carried Diana’s trunk and suitcase up to the guest bedroom, he told the women he had to get to the Sentinel office and see how everything was going with Dan and Erline. He was also going to write an article on Jordan’s untimely death to go on the front page of tomorrow’s edition of the paper.

  As he was going out the front door, Annie led Diana up the stairs and into the guest bedroom. Hugging her, she said, “I’m so sorry you’ve had this terrible tragedy in your life, honey. I’m sure the Lord has someone else for you. He never makes mistakes.”

  “I know He doesn’t,” said Diana. “The Christian life is all so new to me as yet, but I’m learning.”

  Annie showed Diana around the room, then said, “I’ll leave you alone so you can unpack. You can come on downstairs whenever you want to.”

  Diana thanked her, and when Annie was gone, she gave the room a thorough examination. It was quite cozy and beautifully furnished. Her room at home that she had shared so many years with Deborah was a far cry from this one, she told herself. She thought of the near-poverty she had come from, and as she looked at the white iron bed, she lovingly caressed the quilted coverlet.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, Diana bowed her head and said, “Dear Lord, thank You for saving my soul, and for keeping Your hand on me. Thank You for letting me escape Papa’s wrath. But … but Lord, the rest of my family is in danger. Please protect them and don’t let Papa hurt any of them. I don’t really know how to say this exactly, but since You’re God, You have known what Papa is like all along. Would You … would You do a work in his heart like You did in Mama’s, and show him how wrong he is about You and Your Son and Your Word?

  “I ask for guidance from You concerning my situation here. I can’t go back home, Lord, unless I hear that You have brought Papa to salvation. You know what I would be facing. I have to do something about where to live. I just don’t know what to do. I know You are able to help me, and show me where to live and how to make a living for myself. I know You have a plan for my life. Lead me, please, and help me to fully trust Your faithfulness. I love You, Lord Jesus. I ask all of this in Your precious name. Amen.”

  Sweet peace flooded Diana’s heart. A small smile curved her pretty mouth as she left the room to join Knight’s mother downstairs.

  That night after Annie had gone to her bed, Knight and Diana sat on a small couch in front of the fireplace in the parlor.

  They talked about Jordan’s violent death and the tragedy of his leaving this world unsaved, then Diana told him how very much she liked his mother.

  “She’s a sweetheart,” Knight said, looking at Diana by the flickering light of the fire. “The more you get to know her, the better you’ll like her.” He paused. “Diana …”

  “Yes?”

  “It was very kind of William to offer to pay your way back to Richmond. You don’t really want to go, do you? I mean, with your father’s threats to face?”

  Instantly he saw the fear in her eyes. “No. I can’t go home.”

  “Would you consider staying here permanently?”

  A bit shocked at his question, Diana said, “What do you mean?”

  “May I be perfectly honest with you?”

  “Of course,” she replied softly, noting the reflection of the fire dancing in his eyes.

  Knight rubbed a palm over his mouth. “Diana, I’ve known you less than a week, but I feel like I’ve known you all of my life. I … I don’t know how else to say this. I have fallen head over heels in love with you.”

  His words stunned her.

  While she was trying to catch her breath, he said, “Diana, I am certain you are the one God has chosen for me to be my wife. If you will stay and give Him time to put the same kind of love in your heart for me, I’ll get you a room at Elkton’s nicest boardinghouse and provide your every need.”

  Tears welled up in Diana’s eyes. “Knight, I don’t need time to fall in love with you. I already have … and I know you are the man the Lord had for me all along.”

  Knight’s heart was pounding so hard he could hear it thunder in his ears. He leaned his face closer to hers, and his gaze seemed to be devouring her beautiful features.

  A pulse jumped nervously in her throat.

  He brought his face closer. They were only inches apart, and his breath fluttered warmly on her upturned lips. As if by instinct, his strong hand reached out and closed protectively over hers. The magnetism between them was powerful, bringing their lips together in a sweet, tender kiss.

  When their lips parted, Knight looked deep into Diana’s eyes and said, “Since we’re both sure the Lord made us for each other, we might as well make plans to marry.”

  “We might as well.”

  After another kiss, Knight said, “Do you remember that I told you when God sent the right young woman into my life that I would get Mom a house to live in so my wife and I could live in this one?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, a small house came up for sale on the south end of town just before we went into the mountains to look for Jordan, and I noticed it is still for sale when we rode in today. Since we need to tell her about us in the morning, I’ll talk to her about the house, and I’ll buy it for her right away.”

  “Are you sure she’ll like it?”

  “Positive.”

  “Well, you know your mother.”

  “And I know she likes the house. She has commented on it several times since we moved into town.”

  Diana smiled. “I just want her to be happy.”

  “So do I. And she will be, believe me.”

  “Knight,” she said, “I’m truly sorry about Jordan being killed by the bear. I wish he could have had a long, happy life.”

  “I do too. But no matter what, God made you just for me. Even if Jordan had not been killed, the Lord would have put you and me together. It has been His plan since before we were born. I’ll put you in the boardinghouse tomorrow, where you’ll stay until we marry. It’s the same one Jordan had arranged for you to stay in. I went by today and explained to the lady who owns it what happened with Jordan, and I … uh … well, I told her I’d bring you there tomorrow because you needed a place to stay.”

  Diana grinned, looking him in the eye. “Knight Colburn, I think you knew how this was going to turn out.”

  He chuckled. “Well, I sort of felt the Lord had it all arranged. And I was right. Praise His name.”

  “You wonderful man,” she said. “I love you.”

  “And I love you.” They kissed again, then Knight said, “We’ll go see Pastor John Steele tomorrow and set the date for the wedding.”

  “All right. I’ll talk to him also about being baptized on
Sunday.”

  They kissed one more time, then went to their rooms for a night’s rest.

  At supper the next evening, there was great joy in the Colburn house. Annie was thrilled about the way the Lord had worked in her son’s life, and about the house he had bought for her that very day. The wedding was set for Saturday afternoon, January 11.

  Though the Colburns had many friends in the valley, both Knight and Diana had decided on a small, simple wedding.

  Annie was known to be an excellent seamstress, and told the happy couple over supper that she would make Diana’s wedding dress. She assured them she could get it done in plenty of time.

  Diana shed happy tears as she thanked Annie and hugged her.

  On Wednesday, December 11, in Virginia, Martha Morrow opened the front door of the farmhouse to find a smiling Maggie O’Hearn on the porch.

  Flashing an envelope, Maggie said, “Look what I have here! It’s a letter from Diana.”

  “Well come in this house!” said Martha, snatching the envelope from her friend’s hand and stepping back so she could enter.

  As Maggie closed the door, Martha eyed the return address in the upper left-hand corner. “Elkton, Idaho. She’s there. I’m glad, but it’s so far away.”

  “I knew it was all right to come,” said Maggie. “I saw Stu heading for town in the wagon a few minutes ago, so I hurried over.”

  “Thank you,” said Martha, opening the envelope carefully. “Dennis is playing in his room.”

  Maggie waited while Martha began reading the letter. Suddenly, Martha burst into tears. “Oh, Maggie! Oh, praise the Lord!”

  “What, honey?”

  “Diana got saved!”

  “Oh, glory to God! How’d it happen?”

  “She says a lady named Cora Zeller led her to the Lord on the train between Cheyenne City and Boise!” Pressing the letter to her heart, Martha let the tears stream down her cheeks and said, “Oh, thank You, Lord! Thank You!”

  When she brought her emotions under control, she finished reading the letter and frowned.

  “What’s the matter?” asked Maggie.