Judith walked the perimeter of the altar area, her eyes cast down to the worn wooden floor. She was definitely less nervous now that she was out of the truck and investigating her grandfather’s property. He’d give more than a nickel to know what Judith was thinking as she paced in front of the pulpit.
She came to an abrupt halt and lifted her gaze to his. “I’ve seen enough. Will you take me back to my car now?”
Just like that?
“Sure you don’t have any more questions?”
She didn’t answer, just stepped out of the quiet church leaving Jacob no choice but to follow.
During the trip back to town she was too quiet.
Jacob’s attempts to engage her in conversation were met with grunts or head motions, but few words. When he parked in front of the lawyer’s office, Judith finally spoke.
“Mr. Fraser, is there any reason I shouldn’t let Rev. Washington use that old church?”
He rested his hands on top of the steering wheel. “My name’s Jacob, and there are some things you might want to consider. First, talk to Mr. Davidson about any legal issues loaning the church might cause. You may want to get some kind of insurance. The second reason makes me ashamed of some of the people of Piney Meadow.”
Judith’s expression went to stone as she waited for him to continue.
“There are some people around here who will be angry if you let Henry’s group meet in your church,” Jacob explained.
“The same people who burned Rev. Washington’s other building?”
Jacob nodded. “They’re just as likely to burn Isaiah’s place.”
A long moment of silence stretched between them.
“I need to protect my grandfather’s church,” Judith finally said, “but turning away Rev. Washington’s group feels wrong.”
“What are you going to do?”
Judith didn’t answer. She slid out of the truck, walked to her car, and placed her purse inside it.
Jacob got out of his truck and leaned against the hood.
Judith’s keys dangled from one finger. “Like I said earlier, both you and Rev. Washington will have to wait until I make up my mind. I will tell you this much. Tonight, I’m driving back to Dallas. Then, sometime next week, I’ll be moving into my grandfather’s cabin.”
“You’re going to live there?” Jacob couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. “By yourself?”
“That’s the plan. Thanks for showing me around today.”
“Hold on, Judith. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Her lips trembled and her voice sounded strained. “Why not?”
“It’s just…you’ve never lived in the country before, have you? It might be a difficult adjustment for you.”
Judith bit her bottom lip. “Is that the only reason?”
“Guess so. Why do you want to live out there anyway?”
Judith slid into the driver’s seat without answering his question. “I’ll let you know if I decide to sell all or part of the acreage, Mr. Fraser. Don’t worry; I’ll let you make the first offer.”
“My name’s Jacob,” he called as she backed out of the parking lot. He watched her drive down the highway, worry nagging the edges of his mind.
****
Judith blew out a shaky breath, the last of her nerves fading like wisps of fog in sunlight. She’d been all right once she’d gotten out of Jacob’s truck, where she could run, if necessary. But Jacob had done nothing to put her on edge. She’d created all her fears by herself. As usual.
When she and her father had visited Granddad at Christmas, he hadn’t mentioned his property, or his plans to leave it to her. He hadn’t told her about his plans to sell the home where her mother had grown up, and from what she’d seen in the cabin, he’d brought very little with him from the house. Maybe he’d been preparing for his transition, ridding himself of earthly possessions and getting his affairs in order.
She should have visited more often. But that was the regret of every mourner. She never traveled outside of her neighborhood unless her father went with her, so trips to Piney Meadow had been few and far between.
Her father had invited Granddad to visit Dallas, but he’d always scoffed at that idea. “I belong in the city about as much as a mule belongs in church,” he’d said. Still, the call from his minister had surprised her. Even though her grandfather was in his eighties, she’d never thought his time was near.
She relaxed into the driver’s seat as she turned onto the interstate leading to Dallas. She had a three hour drive ahead of her, plenty of time to wonder about her impulsive decision to stay in her grandfather’s cabin. She lived in a condominium with neighbors on every side. Her condo featured state-of-the-art security and the guard was only minutes away. And yet something had prodded her to move into that isolated cabin.
“It’s You, isn’t it, Lord?” Judith smiled as she prayed. One of the benefits of living alone and working out of her home was that no one thought it odd that she kept up a running conversation with God. “I know I’ve been resisting Your will. I’ve felt the restlessness in my soul, like a captive bird yearning for blue sky, and I know that’s You prodding me to make some changes. But do You really want me to live in the middle of nowhere, Texas?”
Yes, Judith realized, that was exactly why she’d made such an uncharacteristically rash decision.
The Lord wanted her in Piney Meadow.
It was no coincidence that she’d inherited a church just when a congregation needed one.
3
“You’ve caught me by surprise.”
Judith looked at her father’s lined face. His smile conveyed approval, but she needed to make certain. “Good surprise or bad surprise?”
“Good,” he said, settling into the upholstered chair next to Judith’s drawing table. “Just a few months ago, I spoke to you about your reluctance to leave this condo. Now you tell me you’re moving to your grandfather’s cabin. What’s gotten into you?”
Judith gathered her clean paintbrushes and placed them in a cardboard box. “Some of my reasons are practical, the others are spiritual.”
“Tell me the practical ones first.”
“On the practical side, I could use a change of scenery. I have several illustrations to finish for the children’s book about fairies, and zero good ideas. For the first time in my life, a blank page feels like torture.”
“When’s your deadline?”
Judith blew out a breath. “September. That gives me a little over two months to finish and there’s no reason I can’t work in Granddad’s cabin.”
Her father ran a hand through his gray hair. “You said the other reasons are spiritual. What’s that about?”
Judith smiled at her father. He’d always accepted her, the good and the bad, and that had made it easy for her to tell him everything. “You were right about challenging me to get out of my condo.”
He leaned forward and placed a hand on her arm. “Judith, what happened when you were a child was a terrible thing. No one should ever have to go through something like that. But you can’t let it paralyze you.”
“I know, Dad. And if I don’t do something, I’ll grow old in this little condo with no family of my own. That’s not what I want.”
“It’s not what I want for you. You’re a beautiful young woman with lots of love to give. I hope you won’t let fear cheat you out of a happy future.”
“I’ve been praying for the courage to embrace whatever future God has planned for me. But you know that saying, ‘be careful what you wish for’?”
Her father nodded.
“I prayed for courage and the Lord put me in situations where I got to try out my newfound bravery.”
He grinned and his dark eyes sparkled with interest. “Oh, yeah? Like what?”
“Losing you has always been my number one, Goliath-sized fear. So I prayed about it. ‘Lord,’ I said, ‘I really want to stop being anxious and terrified whenever Dad goes out of town on business.’ S
o, guess what happened?”
“Are you talking about the time I went to Boston?”
“Yep. You got caught in the worst blizzard in twenty years. No phone service for two days. Two days! I had nothing to sustain me but faith.”
“Turned out all right, didn’t it?”
“It did. When you called me on the third day I was relieved, but I also felt vindicated. Every time I was afraid during those two days, I would pray and listen for the Lord’s voice. And every time, I heard ‘all is well’. I admit it was a challenge, but I got through it. And I haven’t been afraid for you since.”
“Even when I flew to Mexico City last month?”
“I admit there were a few hours of anxiety when the news broadcast the story about a plane crash in Mexico, but I prayed, got the same ‘all is well’ message, and went on with my day. It was much easier the second time.”
The corners of her dad’s eyes crinkled as he smiled broadly. “I’m proud of you.”
Judith’s heart bloomed with warmth. “Yeah? Thanks, Dad.”
“So, now that my little David has conquered that Goliath, what’s next?”
Judith unzipped a large portfolio case and positioned her illustrations in the pockets. “Trust, of course. I still have a hard time with that one. I just can’t get over how wrong I was.”
A deep line formed between her father’s gray eyebrows. “What happened to your mother wasn’t your fault, Judith. I’ll say it over and over until you believe it.”
“It may not have been my fault, Dad, but you can’t deny I let that man in our house. I learned the hard way it’s wrong to trust everyone. But it must also be wrong to trust no one. How am I supposed to know who’s trustworthy?”
“The trick is to trust just a little.” Her dad held his finger and thumb an inch apart. “Then a little more.” He widened the space between his fingers. “Until they’ve earned your trust.”
“Right. Sounds good in theory. I’m just not sure I can put that into practice.”
Judith’s father propped his elbow on the arm of the chair and rested his head on his fist. “Who do you trust now?”
“You, of course.”
“That’s all?”
“Hmmm…I think so.”
“Is there anybody in Piney Meadow you trust?”
Much to Judith’s surprise, she thought of Jacob. He’d been considerate during the hours they’d spent together. “The lawyer, I suppose. He doesn’t have any reason to hurt me or to mislead me.”
“Anybody else?”
“It’s kind of too early to tell. You said to start small and work my way up. I’ve only met a few people in Piney Meadow.”
“Fair enough. When will you be leaving?”
“Tomorrow, or the day after. Will you visit me there?”
“If you’d like. But I’ll be praying for you. Not only for your safety and well-being, which I pray for every day, but also for your success. Discovering God’s will for your life isn’t always easy.”
But worth the effort, Judith thought. Otherwise, she’d disappoint her father, herself, and her Lord.
****
A few days later, Jacob walked into the Timber Land Diner and slid into his regular booth. He didn’t bother with the menu. The Wednesday night special was chicken fried steak, exactly what he wanted.
Jo Nell sidled up to his table with a glass of iced tea and greeted him. “How you doing, Jacob? By yourself tonight?”
Jacob looked into the familiar face of the middle-aged waitress, her red hair teased into a tall poof atop her head. “Yeah. I’ll have the special.”
“Knew that without asking.” Jo Nell grinned and turned back towards the kitchen.
Jacob stretched his legs under the table and relaxed into his chair. He’d spent another long day negotiating with landowners about leases or purchases, and he hadn’t gotten one step closer to making a deal. Of course, none of the other prospects offered anything like Isaiah Beecham’s four hundred acres. Most of that land hadn’t been touched since Isaiah had been a child, and the hardwood alone would make up for the deals Jacob had lost.
He took a long drink of iced tea and let his gaze wander around the diner. Then he saw something that caused him to choke on his drink. Judith Robertson sat in a nearby booth.
“Good evening, Mr. Fraser,” she said.
Mr. Fraser again? Well, two could play that game. “Good evening to you, Miss Robertson. What brings you to town?”
“I moved into my grandfather’s cabin this afternoon. Then I came into town for groceries and dinner.”
Jo Nell brought Judith’s food and slid the luscious chicken fried steak in front of her. “You need anything else, honey?”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” Judith answered.
Jacob’s mouth watered as he watched Judith cut into the tender meat. “Are you doing all right out there by yourself?”
“So far, so good. How have you been?”
“Me? Fine.” He watched the morsel of food slide between her lips. What lovely lips they were. Full, soft, and enjoying the food he craved.
Judith raised her eyebrows and gazed at Jacob. “You’re looking at my food the way a thirsty man looks at water.”
He chuckled at the realization of how transparent he’d been. “Sorry. My stomach’s been yelling at me for the last two hours, and now it thinks you’re eating my food.”
“Your stomach has a mind of its own?”
“It feels that way.”
To his relief, Jo Nell brought his food and slid it in front of him. “You two know each other?” she asked, cocking her head towards Judith.
“This is Judith Robertson,” Jacob answered. “She’s Isaiah Beecham’s granddaughter.”
“Granddaughter?” Jo Nell repeated, looking at Judith with an inquisitive eye. “Didn’t know he had one.”
“Nice to meet you,” Judith said. “You brought Mr. Fraser’s food at just the right time. He was about to steal mine.”
“Mr. Fraser?” Jo Nell repeated. “I guess I’ll have to start addressing you with more respect.”
Jacob grinned. “You used to be my Sunday school teacher, Jo Nell. Be kind of silly for you to call me anything except Jacob.”
Jo Nell whisked away his plate of food.
“Hey!” he protested.
“You and this young lady know each other, and you’re both eating alone, so you might as well sit together.” She placed the food on Judith’s table and walked away.
“Not exactly discreet, is she?” Judith asked.
Jacob remained in his seat. “Is it OK if I join you?”
“Sure. Besides, I don’t want your stomach yelling at me.”
He smiled in relief, gathered his utensils and glass, and changed seats. “Did you get settled into your grandfather’s cabin all right?”
“Yeah, but I’m going to need the phone number for your mechanic. I thought I’d take my grandfather’s truck in.”
Jacob bowed his head to say a blessing, and then dove into his food. “Going to sell it?”
“Haven’t made up my mind yet. But I met with Walter Davidson today. He’s going to help me with transferring the truck title and getting an appraisal on the property.”
There was only one reason a person asked for an appraisal. “You’ve decided to sell?”
“Back off, Mr. Fraser. I’ve made no such decision. I told you I’d let you make the first offer, and, if I decide to sell, you’ll be the first person I call. You can draw up some proposals and I’ll talk it over with my father. He knows a lot more about business than I do.”
Jo Nell returned with a pitcher of tea and refilled their glasses. “Y’all want anything else? We’ve got lemon meringue pie tonight.”
“Not for me,” Judith said.
The waitress set a slice of pie in front of Jacob. “Didn’t have to ask you. You always have dessert.”
“May I have my bill?” Judith asked.
Jo Nell tore a small piece of paper off a pad a
nd set it beside Judith’s plate. “Pay up front when you’re ready.”
Jacob fumbled in his pocket for his wallet. “I’ll get that.”
“No, it’s OK,” Judith said. “Thanks, anyway.” She slid out of the booth, and then retrieved her purse. “See you later, Mr. Fraser.”
“Yeah,” Jacob muttered as he watched her walk away. Then he realized she’d zinged him with the name thing again and chuckled to himself. He was going to enjoy negotiating with Isaiah Beecham’s pretty granddaughter.
****
Judith awoke the next morning to sunlight flooding the windows of her grandfather’s bedroom. She stretched the length of the bed, considered falling back to sleep, but then remembered what had woken her.
Birds.
She really was a city girl if birdsong at dawn would wake her from a sound sleep. She stretched and said her usual morning prayer, thanking the Lord for another day, and asking Him to guide her. Then she pulled on her jeans and shirt and shuffled barefoot into the kitchen for a glass of juice. Taking it outside to the porch, she sank into one of the rocking chairs and recalled how difficult her first night in the cabin had been.
Without the ambient city light, she’d experienced firsthand just how black the night could be. She’d felt alone and vulnerable as she traveled the unlit roads, the headlights of her car a poor substitute for powerful city streetlights. Darkness loomed like a sinister shroud on either side of the highway.
She’d known the surrounding forest was alive with nocturnal animals and she’d struggled to keep her imagination at bay. “You’re safe in the car,” she’d told herself over and over. “No raccoon is going to carjack you.”
When she’d finally found the cabin, relief washed over her. She’d run from her car to the cabin, trying to keep images from childhood ghost stories out of her brain, and closed the door firmly behind her. She’d automatically reached for the lock, remembered there wasn’t one, and pushed the couch in front of the door.
Walking around the cabin in her pajamas hadn’t been a picnic, either. Why hadn’t she noticed the windows were uncovered? Not a curtain in sight. She’d considered tacking up towels, and then realized there was no one around to see her, anyway. Unless an armadillo took up spying, curtains wouldn’t matter.
From The Ashes Page 3
