His True Purpose

by Danica Favorite

  “In the Bible, there is a story about Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery. I don’t know if you know the story, but Joseph went through a lot of difficult times because of his brothers’ actions. However, Joseph rose to prominence and was able to help everyone, including his brothers, because of it. In the end, the brothers apologized for what they did to him, but Joseph tells them that while they intended to harm him, God used it for good. We all do wrong things, but God can still bring good out of them. Infidelity is a terrible thing, but look at the blessing it brought your family—two men they love.”

  Alexander shrugged, trying not to let her words get to him. Yes, she’d essentially said that his struggles had been used by God in a good way. If God was as good as they all said He was, why would he need something bad to make something good? Wouldn’t the good thing have happened anyway?

  “I probably heard it,” Alexander said. “Our family isn’t much into church. I mean, we go at Christmas and Easter and stuff, but I can’t say that I ever studied the Bible.”

  He felt ashamed at admitting that in a churchyard. But he supposed if he hadn’t been struck down by lightning for being here without pure intentions, God wasn’t going to smite him for admitting that now.

  “It’s okay,” Janie said. “I know people who aren’t as familiar with the Bible can’t relate to everything I say. But I’ve got a spare Bible you can have to read yourself if you’d like.”

  Right. He’d forgotten he was talking to a preacher’s daughter. Funny, since he had a whole file on all of Janie’s sins. Was that how she justified those bad actions? Thinking God would somehow use it for good?

  Alexander shook his head. Not his problem.

  But what was his problem was that in spite of his mistrust of her, he couldn’t help liking her. She was truly one of the nicest people he’d met. Nice wasn’t even the word for it. Janie seemed too kind and generous to be blackmailing the senator.

  Honestly, if he wasn’t secretly trying to get her to sign a nondisclosure agreement, and they weren’t at her mother’s funeral, he’d want to ask her out for coffee or something. Funny, since Alexander didn’t do relationships. At some point, he would need to find a good wife to stand by him and be his partner in his political aspirations. The trouble was, every woman he met was either too full of ambitions herself, or lacked the kind of impeccable record the future president of the United States would need. That was how so many politicians fell from grace. One little skeleton in the closet, and it was all over.

  A skeleton like Janie’s, blackmailing an upstanding family over her illegitimate child? Forget about it. The press would have a field day with her, and it would ruin everything he had worked for.

  As it was, Janie’s blackmailing ways just might ruin the aspirations of a fine man like Senator James Blackwell.

  He had to shut any thoughts of Janie being a nice girl out of his mind. He already knew she was bad news.

  Which left the man standing before him. Ricky. He also seemed like a nice guy, and the more he learned about him during this brief conversation, the more he wondered if perhaps he had been too hasty in immediately dismissing him.

  He didn’t know what he was afraid of. William was already so mad at him for ignoring his calls, and his father had gruffly told him that he had to do what he had to do. Which probably meant that his father didn’t like it, but wasn’t going to stop him. Kind of like when he’d gone out of state for college. His mother was still so busy begging for forgiveness that regardless of what he did, she wasn’t going to argue or complain.

  What did Alexander have to lose in giving Ricky a chance?

  “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get to know you,” Alexander said. “I had one of my assistants book a cabin for me at the ranch under his name, so I’ll be staying there for a while.”

  He left out the part about getting Janie to sign the agreement. That needed to be his focus when he talked to Janie. Not thinking how nice she was, but how she was hurting the senator. If she wanted to remind him of the Bible, he’d just remind himself that he was pretty sure the Bible said somewhere that wolves often appeared in sheep’s clothing. Janie might look like a sheep, but she was really a wolf.

  “Thank you,” Ricky said. “That means the world to me. I’m headed there now, so you could follow me if you like.”

  The encouraging smile Janie gave him made him feel slightly queasy. Maybe he needed to go back and look at the drunk Janie pictures and reread her blackmail notes to remind him of her true character.

  The last note had been two months ago. Her mom had been sick then—maybe she had needed treatments and couldn’t afford them. Which sort of meant that Janie was justified in her actions. But she couldn’t keep treating the senator like her personal ATM.

  “That would be good,” Alexander said. “I don’t feel right hanging around a funeral for someone I don’t know.”

  Janie gave him another encouraging smile. “It’s all right,” she said. “Like I told you, both my father and I would be happy to counsel you or pray with you. Ministry is what my family does. The best way we could honor my mother’s memory is to continue helping those in need. It’s what she would want.”

  He should take her up on her offer. After all, that was his real purpose in being here. To get close enough to her to get her to trust him enough to talk about the senator, then to convince her to sign the agreement.

  But the conflicting emotions he felt in being with her was going to make it hard.

  “I agree,” Ricky said. “I meant what I said when I told you I want what’s best for you.”

  What was best for him was for his mom not to be a liar, cheater... Alexander shook his head, trying to remember how much his mom loved him. Of all the ways she’d been there for him, and had been an excellent mother. Until this revelation, he’d have said that she was the perfect mother.

  He was doing his best to accept this change, but he still wasn’t sure how to accept a new family.

  Before he could figure out an answer to give Ricky, Janie waved at someone behind him.

  Alexander turned to see a woman who looked remarkably like a female version of himself, holding hands with a little boy and a little girl.

  “Rachel! Over here!”

  Janie stepped next to Alexander and said quietly, “I’m sorry. She was watching my son, and I know she needs to get home. I won’t tell her who you are until you’re ready.”

  When the little boy caught sight of Janie, he let go of Rachel’s hand and came running toward her. “Mom!”

  Rachel and the little girl followed, and Alexander couldn’t help staring. It had been one thing to see a man with brown skin call himself his grandfather. But this woman...he didn’t need a DNA test to know she was his sister.

  A sister.

  When he was little, he’d tried to trade William in for a sister. His mom used to tell a story of how he’d approached a woman in the park who had a bunch of little girls and asked her if she wanted to trade. The woman had laughed him off, and when Alexander was older, his mom had admitted that they’d had trouble conceiving more children.

  Another reason he wondered about the whole blessing-in-disguise aspect of his mother’s infidelity. Maybe his father couldn’t have children, so this had given them the children they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

  “Sorry we took so long,” Rachel said. “The kids were having fun on the playground, and I hated to tear them away.”

  Janie stood and smiled at her friend. “It’s okay. I felt like I owed you an apology for taking so long. This man needed some prayer, and I hated to leave him.”

  The smile in Rachel’s eyes did a funny thing in Alexander’s heart. It was like he’d known her forever, even though they’d never spoken. This was the sister he’d always wanted. He wanted to tell her how he and William used to dress up their dog in girl clothes to pretend she was their sist
er. How, even though he’d never admitted it to anyone else, he used to talk to an imaginary sister when he was annoyed with William.

  They said twins were supposed to have a special bond, but it didn’t replace the longing in Alexander to have a little sister to spoil.

  Based on what he’d learned from the DNA information, he and William were older than Rachel by about six months. She was their little sister.

  “I hope we aren’t intruding,” Rachel said. “We could go back to the playground for a while if you need us to.”

  Great. Another nice woman. Life was so much easier when he’d been painting them all as enemies in his mind.

  “Not at all,” Janie said. “He’s a guest at the ranch, and he was thinking of following Ricky back there so he can get settled.”

  Her words made it easy to decide what to do. He would follow Ricky to the ranch, get checked in to his cabin, review Janie’s file and make contact again.

  “Oh, good,” Rachel said. “We’re headed there as well. Wanda wanted me to let you know that you’re welcome at the house if you want to get away for a while. She’s not inviting other guests, just you and your dad, if you’re looking for a little peace and quiet.”

  The relief on Janie’s face was evident, and once again, Alexander felt bad for making Janie’s mother’s funeral about him.

  “Can we? Please?” Sam asked, looking so earnest and cute.

  Alexander had seen photos of the little boy, and even though there were questions of his paternity when Janie had initially gotten pregnant, there was no denying this little boy was Bucky’s. Funny how genetics never lied.

  He understood that Bucky hadn’t been ready to be a father when Janie had gotten pregnant, but seeing this cute kid in front of him made Alexander wonder why Bucky hadn’t stepped up anyway. For all of Janie’s faults, she’d done a great job on her own. The senator had said that Janie hadn’t wanted Bucky to be a father, she just wanted a paycheck. Regardless, if it had been Alexander, he’d have wanted to be in this little boy’s life.

  “Mom!” Sam said, tugging at her hand. “Please?”

  Janie looked over at Ricky, who shrugged. “Wanda is the real boss at the ranch.”

  Then he turned to Alexander. “Wanda is my housekeeper. She runs a tight ship, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re welcome to join us if you like, or you can get settled in your cabin. Whatever you want.”

  Ricky’s speech made Rachel look more intently at Alexander. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”

  It was now or never. He could tell her that this was the first time they’d met, which was technically the truth. But he’d already told so many half-truths, it was weighing on his conscience. If he wanted a relationship with his sister, the only place to start was here.

  When he opened his mouth to speak, his throat was tight, like it was clogged.

  “I’m your half brother, Alexander Bennett.”

  The words came out awkwardly, but they were out. Judging by the look on her face, she knew who he was.

  “Oh,” she said. “I see.”

  “I know I came at a bad time. I didn’t realize—”

  Janie touched his arm. “I told you, it’s okay. You didn’t know. I promise, this is what my mom would have wanted. She prayed so earnestly for Ricky to reunite with his grandchildren, and it seems kind of perfect that you’d show up at her funeral.”

  “I didn’t think about that,” Ricky said, rubbing his chin. “The last thing your mother prayed for for me when she was able to speak was to have my family restored. I’m sure she and my Rosie are rejoicing in heaven today to see it.”

  His voice caught, and the emotion in his eyes was almost too much for Alexander to bear. He wasn’t an answered prayer. He was going to be the end of the gravy train Janie had been counting on. Sure, there’d be a financial settlement. But after that, the greedy woman would be on her own.

  Would his newfound family be so welcoming to him then?

  Before Alexander could think of a response, a cowboy approached. “Ricky, a fire’s been reported off Old Bridge Road near the campground. The volunteer fire department is on its way, but since it borders our far pasture, we should send a crew as well.”

  Alexander followed Ricky’s gaze in what must be the direction of Old Bridge Road. A plume of smoke snaked into the sky, thick and menacing. Others must have received the same phone call, because several men were running to their trucks. Rachel and Janie looked at each other, then pulled their children close.

  “Thanks, Hunter,” Ricky said. “Send a crew to help the fire department, and then get another set of men to work on creating a fire break to keep it from spreading to the pasture. I don’t want to lose our winter grazing.”

  Hunter nodded. “Good plan. I’ll get right on it.”

  As Hunter turned to leave, his cell phone rang. From the conversation on his end, it sounded like people were being evacuated.

  Alexander looked at Rachel and Janie, who seemed to be trying to decipher what was being said on the other end of the phone. Whatever concern Rachel had about his identity was now replaced by the greater concern over the fire.

  “How bad is it?” Ricky asked when Hunter ended the call.

  “Spreading fast,” Hunter said. “They’re evacuating everyone west of the old highway. The fire department is going to need all the help they can get. The forest service is sending people, but they’re at least an hour away.”

  Ricky looked thoughtful, but before he could answer, another man joined them and they stepped out of earshot. Alexander didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but even without hearing the references to fire, the way the men pointed at the smoke with concern on their faces, he knew the situation was rapidly growing worse.

  “We should do something to help,” Janie said to Rachel.

  Rachel shook her head. “You go relax. It’s your mother’s funeral.”

  “I can’t relax. Not when the town is in danger. Old Bridge Road isn’t too far from here. Besides, I feel better being useful. Why don’t you take the kids to the ranch, and I’ll join you when I can?”

  For a moment, Rachel looked like she was going to argue, but then she nodded. “All right. They’ll be in the way here. But you know, at some point, you’re going to have to slow down, and when you do, you’re going to have to deal with your grief.”

  Then Rachel held her hands out to the kids. “Okay, guys, let’s head out to the ranch.”

  The kids ignored her outstretched hands and raced off. She shrugged, then turned to Alexander. “It was nice meeting you, I guess. I don’t know if you’re sticking around or not, but—”

  She looked like she had something else to say, but then she shrugged again. Alexander supposed he didn’t blame her for the lackluster greeting and welcome. Earlier in the year, when he’d first found out about his relationship to Ricky, one of Ricky’s representatives had contacted him, asking if he or his brother would be willing to donate a kidney to Rachel. They’d refused, and while he’d heard that Rachel had gotten a kidney from another source, he felt guilty for his refusal. Especially now that he’d met her.

  “Sam,” Janie called. “Where’s my hug?”

  The little boy turned around and ran back to her. Janie wrapped him in her arms and hugged him tight before releasing him. The bond between mother and son was apparent, and for all of Janie’s other faults, she clearly loved her child deeply.

  Sam ran back to his friend just as Ricky and the other two men finished their discussion. Ricky turned his attention back to Alexander and Janie.

  “The fire is heading toward the Peterson ranch. But there’s no one to evacuate their animals since they’re on vacation. Janie, I know you house-sat for them in the past. Tom Riley has been doing it this time, but he’s on his way to deal with the fire. Can you go by the Peterson ranch and get their animals to safety? That old dog of Jac
k’s will bite anyone he doesn’t know. Do you think you can get him to come to you?”

  Janie nodded. “Of course. Dobby and I are great friends. But what about his horses? Do you have someone who can get them?”

  Ricky’s brow furrowed. “I was hoping you would get them when you got the dog.”

  Janie shook her head. “I don’t know how to drive a truck and trailer. I’ve only done it once, and I ended up in a ditch. Do you have anyone else?”

  With the way everyone seemed to be rushing about, and the expression on Ricky’s face, Alexander was pretty sure the answer would be no. While he had come here with a specific objective in mind, there was a more pressing issue at hand. He didn’t know anything about fighting fires, but there was one way he could help.

  Alexander turned to Ricky. “What kind of truck and trailer are we talking about? I’ve never driven a horse trailer before, but my family often goes boating, and I’ve pulled the boat countless times. It can’t be too much different, can it?”

  The relief on the older man’s face was evident as he nodded. “It’s the same. You’ve probably never handled horses, though, have you?”

  Alexander shrugged. “I haven’t.” Then he turned to Janie. “But I’m assuming if you’re going to get the dog, you also know how to get the horses, right?”

  Her small smile warmed his heart. He wasn’t supposed to want to make her smile. Ultimately, he was going to hurt her, and he didn’t know how to make that easier. But maybe, working together for the common good, he could find a way to soften the blow and show Janie that it was to her advantage to sign the paperwork.

  Except, even as he told himself that, it felt like a lie.

  Which was ridiculous, because Alexander knew this was the best solution for everyone.

  If only Janie didn’t look at him like he was a hero as she said, “I can take care of the animals if you can drive.”

  “Then what are we all standing here yammering about?” Ricky said. “I’m going to ride with Ty back to the ranch. You take my truck. You can load the horses into the Petersons’ trailer. Marcus said it was parked in its usual spot when he came to town this morning.”