by Lori Wick
Silas broke in. "She was supposed to come to your house after she was done in town and ride back here with you."
"We left a little early. Maybe she missed us," Grandma Em suggested.
"It wasn't that early," Mark said, his eyes locked with Luke's.
Luke felt as if the walls were closing in. The feeling of dread and worry that Christine was in trouble had been with him all day, and already it could be too late. He took control just as the MacDonalds walked in the door.
"Silas, take Mac's sleigh and ride for the sheriff. I'll go with Mark. Bring him as fast as you can to Grandma Em's. Mac, stay here. Sue can explain everything." In a flurry of grabbed coats and hats the three men were out the door.
Luke never would have believed the ride to town could take so long. Mark was whipping the horse into a near frenzy in order to gain speed but the snow was deep and it seemed as though an eternity had passed.
As his stomach churned in fear, Luke allowed himself to imagine that Christine was all right. He pictured her shopping in the general store, ignorant of anyone intending to harm her.
But the image did not last. The sense of foreboding which had rode him hard throughout the day assured him-Christine was in danger. How could he possibly live
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with himself knowing his own sin had cost him the most precious person in his life.
"Please God," Luke prayed under his breath as both sleighs nearly flew into town, "please let us be on time."
"Take your shoes off!" Vince suddenly snapped into Christine's face. When Christine hesitated, again feeling a sickening horror at his change of moods, he picked up the knife. "I've always hated it that you were taller than me." Christine moved quickly to do as he bade. The low heeled boots made little difference, but he seemed pleased.
His eyes were undressing her again and Christine thought frantically on how to divert his attention.
"Vince, do you know anything about Carl Maxwell's death?"
"Don't mention that spineless fool to me." He waved the knife around as he spoke. "I needed a new partner to help me with a few things in your grandfather's estate but he turned out to be a gutless idiot. Oh, he had no trouble drawing up that fake will but he became quite squirmish when I said you had to die. He thought he was so clever, sending you to Fall Creek."
"Did you kill that man in Fall Creek?" Christine whispered.
"No, no, that was just a freak thing. It caused me a lot of trouble too-you running all the way down here. It took us forever to find you and then when we did, my man couldn't even burn a barn properly. Never send a boy to do a man's work." Vince sneered, his face an ugly scowling mask.
What little color was left in Christine's face drained away. The barn burning was attempted murder! "Oh, God," she prayed silently, "please help me!"
"How many people have you killed in your greed, Vince? What was in grandfather's will that you had to change? He was good and generous." Christine was crying now, not even sure of what she was saying, and it angered Vince.
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"Stop your blubbering. Your grandfather was soft. Why, he left over a thousand dollars to that orphanage. What a waste! Carl Maxwell was soft too, and he got in my way." The sneer in Vince's voice softened as he approached Christine again. "And you're going to find out, Christine, when people get in my way, I must remove them."
He was in front of her again, the knife held straight at her. When she felt the tip of the knife move against a button on her blouse and heard it hit the floor, she prayed again. "Please God, please help me." Luke flashed through her mind.
"I'm through with the games now, Christine," Vince said in yet another tone of voice. "Take off the blouse."
"No, please, Vince," she whispered.
"Take it off!" he screamed at her, and Christine felt the knife prick her throat. Visions of another knife in an alley made Christine's hands shake so much she couldn't loosen the buttons.
With an angry curse, Vince reached to the neckline of the blouse and yanked. Christine's head was snapped forward and buttons flew everywhere.
Her hands came up to hold the gaping blouse together and she heard her name.
"Christine!"
Vince turned to the intruding voice and Christine saw Luke and the sheriff coming into the parlor from the kitchen.
Vince spun back quickly and raised the knife over Christine, but a shot rang out and Christine watched the knife fly from Vince's hand. At that same instant, he clutched his bleeding elbow and began to scream in agony.
Christine watched as the sheriff, with little regard for the screaming man's elbow, dragged him from the room. Christine could hear his hysterical tirade, shouting against her grandfather and her until the kitchen door slammed, and the room was covered with an almost eerie silence.
Unaware of any other presence in the room, Christine started when she felt gentle hands on her upper arms. Even
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upon seeing it was Luke, Christine could not stop herself from bolting away from his touch.
Luke felt a myriad of emotions flood through him as his wife recoiled from him and backed toward the stairs. Her eyes were wide with panic. Her blouse was ripped open and there was a cut bleeding on her neck. Luke felt sick with the knowledge that this was his fault.
He had thought if they could just be in time, everything would be fine, never once considering the shock his wife would be in. He knew in that instant if it took the rest of his life, he would put this behind them. He would be there for her so she would have nothing more to fear.
"Christine." Luke's voice was quiet, his eyes moist. At that soft familiar voice calling her name, Christine seemed to gain a bit of control.
"He ripped my blouse," she said, her voice like a lost little girl's, and Luke's heart broke.
Luke continued on in the same quiet voice, tenderness in every syllable as his heart overflowed with love for this woman.
"It's over now, Christie. He's gone. The sheriff has him and he can't hurt you anymore. It's my fault. I should have told you about the barn fire. I wanted so much to take care of you, and all I did was hurt you. I'm sorry." Luke's voice broke on these last words.
"I was so scared," Christine began to sob.
"It's over now," Luke still did not approach her for fear of frightening her more. With his arms outstretched he said, "Come to me, Christie. Come and let me hold you."
Luke waited until Christine took one step and then covered the distance between them and swept her into his arms. They clung together and cried. Tears of frustration, anger, fear, and relief. Tears of joy and thanksgiving. Holding tightly to each other, they cried tears that marked the end of a pain-filled season and the beginning of a time for healing.
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May in Baxter meant sunshine, warm weather, flowers blooming and spring planting. Christine had begun to think it would never warm up, but May brought a warmth that let the grass grow tall and green.
Christine sat among the grass atop a small knoll thinking back over the past year and all its changes. Her mind went back to the night when a frightened 19-year-old woman had, in a boy's disguise, run from her home. Arriving in Baxter, meeting the Camerons, seeing her need for Christ and accepting Him. Her marriage to Luke and the awful confrontation with Vince Jeffers. A frown covered Christine's face. Vince and the man who had started the barn fire had been sent back to Spooner. They would both stand trial for their deeds.
Soon Luke and Christine would head to Spooner to clear up Joshua Bennett's estate. Christine would also have to testify against Vince Jeffers, a task she did not relish. She watched Luke come out of the house, and when he looked her way, she waved. She smiled when he started toward her.
Was it possible to be so in love? Every day was more precious than the last. Christine's hand went to her still- flat stomach. She would have to tell him her suspicions soon. She hesitated only because she wanted to be sure.
Upon spotting his wife sitting off by herself, Luke became alert. She had had another nightmare
last night. They had decreased some, but as always, Luke was concerned for her. They both knew when it was time to return to Spooner, there would be memories to upset her. Luke was reluctant to do anything that would stir up the hurt, but they had little choice. Christine stood and they shared a sweet kiss before Luke asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Christine assured him. "I was just thinking over the last year."
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"It hasn't been an easy one. Are you thinking about going home?"
Christine smiled and shook her head at him. Luke, misinterpreting, was about to tell her they could possibly delay the trip if she was uneasy about it, but Christine spoke.
"Luke," Christine's voice was whisper soft, her eyes shining with love. "Home is here in Baxter with you. Our time in Spooner will be temporary. You are my home, and wherever God leads you, I'll be by your side, knowing we're within His will."
Luke smiled at her and spoke gently. "My precious Christine, I have prayed so long for that peace in your heart. I've known for some time that where you are is a place called home."
