A New Day

by Nancy Hopper

  She giggled. "Go home before you freeze to death."

  "All right. Give me a kiss, and get yourself indoors." He agreed.

  Tasha stood at the front door and watched him back out of the drive, before she went inside. It felt very strange to go into the Rain home, and walk around all by herself. Everything was still and quiet, but for the ticking of the clock.

  Thinking of Rick Snyder's visit, Tasha locked the front door behind her. After putting Gloria's over clothes in their places, she made a beeline for her room.

  Once there, she felt unsettled. She missed Tim. It really was hard, having him so close, yet so far away. She picked up a book from the reading table, and smiled tenderly as she skimmed it. It was a documentary about famous revivals in the 1700's. She could smell his cologne drifting up, as she fanned the pages. It brought tears stinging to her eyes.

  She walked to the closet, and bashfully opened it. She smiled and bit her lip, when she discovered a flannel shirt in navy and burgundy plaid. She lifted it to her nose and breathed deeply. Oh, yes. It smelled like Tim, and his cologne. She pulled the shirt out, and hugged it to herself. Taking off her clothes, she snuggled into the shirt, and climbed into bed. She hugged the pillow under her head, knowing that he'd put his head on it hundreds of times. She closed her eyes in contentment, and drifted away to sleep.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  The next morning, Tim had to fly to Los Angeles to do his promised spot with Norm Nielsen. Tasha regretfully decided to stay at the ranch. There were too many things that needed to be done in preparation for the wedding, and Elaine was due to fly in. Tasha woke with a heavy heart, thinking about taking Tim to the airport yet again.

  When he walked into his parents’ kitchen that morning, Tim's presence seemed to fill it. Tasha looked up, and marveled at him. He seemed so different, here on the ranch. She'd never really thought of him as a cowboy, but now she could see that he was in all honesty, the real thing. He seldom was found without a Stetson on his head, and a sheepskin coat that made his shoulders look like broader than life. He was, at the risk of slipping into cliches, tall, strong, built and tough. Yet, he was slim and handsome, and very sexy, with his dancing blue eyes, and drooping mustache.

  As he took off his gloves and stared at her, she found herself feeling shy again. She smiled up at him as he leaned over the table. He took her jaw in his hands and kissed her with an intensity that sent her blood thrashing through her veins.

  "'Morning." He grumbled. "Did you save any of that coffee for me?"

  "You bet. Didn't you make yourself any?" she asked.

  "Yeah. But that was a couple of hours ago. I fed the animals since then, and I'm feeling chilly again."

  Tasha's brows crashed. "Honey, you aren't getting sick, are you?"

  "Naw. Just haven't been out in the cold too much this winter. I'm not used to it. Are the folks up?"

  "Yes, and gone. They went to town."

  "And Dana?"

  "Still asleep."

  He nodded. "I'm glad you didn't tell me we're alone." He chuckled. He shook his head and gave her a despondent look. "Tell me how long." He begged in a dry voice.

  "Five days."

  He shook his head again, and made a noise that conveyed his frustration.

  "Tim. It'll be over before you know it. Nothing is going to go wrong. Everything will be fine, now." She soothed.

  He took his hat and coat off, and brushed his hair back out of his eyes. He looked at her, and tried to smile. His eyes were narrowed and intent. "I intend to see to it."

  "Tim," she insisted in a low voice. "Come sit down, and I'll get you some coffee. Relax, and enjoy the morning with me."

  He smiled good-naturedly, and visibly relaxed at the prompting. "You're good for me. But you know that, don't you?"

  She gave him a wise look from across the kitchen. "Yes, I know that." She assured him softly.

  She felt him walk up behind her. His arms around her sent warmth and comfort through her body. He nuzzled and kissed the back of her neck, so that she shivered and leaned against him. "You know I can't get your coffee if you don't stop." She warned him.

  "Mmm." He acknowledged without any concern. "Isn't that my shirt?" he mumbled, seeing her nightshirt under her long, terry robe.

  "Uh, huh."

  "Did you run out of things to wear?" he asked in disbelief.

  "No." She twisted a bit, to throw a look up at him. "It was just like having a little bit of you wrapped around me."

  He looked surprised.

  "What's wrong with that?" she challenged.

  "Nothing. I guess I just didn't realize you miss me, like I miss you."

  She looked at him pointedly. "Well, please don't try to wear one of my shirts." She teased.

  He laughed. "No. But you could send that lace nightie of yours with me. And put some perfume on it."

  She gasped. "You're difficult enough without that kind of provocation." She denied quickly.

  "Tasha, will you reconsider coming to L.A. with me?" he asked quietly.

  She twisted in his arms to look at him. He looked so wistful and tormented.

  "Oh, Tim. Honey, it wouldn't be good. I mean, the two of us, alone? I don't think it would be wise. Besides, I don't know how I'd get all the last minute details done for the wedding, if I took even one day off."

  He sighed heavily. "Yeah. I know. I just can hardly fathom getting on a plane without you, again."

  She held him tightly, and stroked his hair. "I love you, Tim." She said. “Even if you do smell like a horse.”

  Tim laughed. “Yeah, well. Domino and I had some work to do this morning, on a fence. I won’t tell him you insulted him.”

  Tasha smiled. “I’ll bet you’re a handsome pair, aren’t you?”

  Tim grinned. “We do like to think so.” he admitted. He sighed, and caressed the back of her head. “Well, I should get him back to the barn and get ready to go. I’ll be here at eleven.”

  Tasha smiled, and nodded. She watched him mount his big, black Appaloosa and ride off. She decided that they were indeed, quite a handsome pair.

  Tim seemed almost despondent when he picked her up to go to the airport. His unusual quietness persisted, but she knew he was just reacting to having to leave. He held her hand, and seemed to want to always be touching her.

  "You know there could be a plane crash. Maybe he knows this is the last time he'll see you." A voice in her brain taunted. "Oh, shut up. You're a liar, and I rebuke you. I won't listen to your garbage." She denied the thoughts.

  "Don't worry." He said, as though he could read her mind. "The prayer team covers every flight I take. I’ve got a lot more work to do. I’ll be coming home to you."

  Tim kissed her, and held her tight for a long moment at the airport. "I hate this." He grumbled against her ear.

  She smiled and smoothed her hand over his hair. "I know. Me, too. This is the last time it will be like this, though." She reminded him softly.

  "Yeah." He sighed. "You can count on it." He gave her a sultry look, and turned away to board the plane.

  Tasha felt acutely exposed when she had to sit in the Rain living room, and listen to Tim on television that afternoon. Jerome and Gloria were right there with her. She felt a little anxiety at the situation, but quickly dismissed it.

  She bit back tears when he walked out onto the stage. He looked so handsome. So virile, and strong. In his black suit, he appeared extremely sharp.

  Norm Nielsen shook his hand, and they sat down. "So, Timothy. The rumor mill has it that you've been successful with the lady. You're getting married?"

  "Yes, we are." Tim agreed with a grin.

  "I heard that she's living at your place in Wyoming. Isn't that pushing things just a bit, after all the publicity you've received?"

  Tim nodded his head negatively and looked his host in the eye. "No, I don't see a problem with it. She's only been in my house once so far, and we were not there alone. She is actually staying with my parents until the
wedding."

  "Really? Well, that does help, doesn't it? So your parents live on the same ranch with you?"

  "That's right. It's a big place, we live a half-mile or so apart."

  "Interesting. Timothy, tell me. I'm very curious to know why you are persisting in your relationship with this woman, when the Christian world so obviously does not approve of your choice. Why would you risk all that you've worked for, to marry this woman?"

  Tim chuckled. "I'm not at all concerned about pleasing my critics. First of all, I am very certain that Tasha is the woman that the Lord I serve has chosen for me; or I never would have pursued a relationship with her. Second, she is the love of my life. Why would I do anything else?"

  "But you can't completely ignore her reputation, can you? I mean; she's not exactly been snow white." Norm suggested with a snicker.

  Tim gave him a steady look. "Have you?" he asked smoothly.

  "That's not the point. I'm not marrying a preacher." Norm chuckled. The audience murmured.

  "Tasha has been intimate with exactly one man; her now deceased husband, Gary. She has nothing to be ashamed of, or to apologize for. But I would also say to you that there is nobody on this earth who has not fallen short." Timothy replied softly. "We all would be disqualified, if we had to earn God's approval. Jesus was hung on a cross between two criminals. He told the one who repented that he would be with Him that very day in paradise. He forgives liars, thieves and murderers. It isn't what we've done in the past that matters. It is who we are and become that He cares about. He forgives everyone who will confess Him, and ask Him in. It is equally as important then, that we also forgive others. He has washed my bride in His own blood – just the same way He washed me. That's more than enough for me."

  Norman looked at Tim with his eyebrows up. "I respect your beliefs, Tim. But how do you think this woman will fare in your ministry? She's not really prepared for the life you lead, is she? I mean, she's lived for years with a rich debaucher of young girls ... "

  "Brent Charles is now a sanctified man." Tim warned. "He has accepted Jesus, and he's a Spirit filled man of God. I am proud that he'll be my father-in-law." He warned. “What he once was, is of no interest to me.”

  "Oh, really?" Norm retorted with interest. "Well, that is fascinating. But, about Tasha. Now, do you think that she is going to need some counseling? Perhaps extensive counseling to deal with the sexual abuse that she suffered as a teenager?"

  Tim began to look a bit peeved. "That's really up to her." He answered. "Tasha is and will remain free to make her own decisions. Counseling is a personal choice."

  "But what is your opinion?" Norm pressed.

  Tim shrugged. "I don't think I need to have an opinion."

  "Why not?" Norman guffawed. "You're going to marry her, aren't you?"

  "Yep." Tim agreed, looking delighted at the prospect. "You know, based on her track record, I'd say Tasha is doing just fine. She has had a successful marriage in the past. She was a faithful, loving wife to my buddy, Gary Taylor. She served with him, pastoring churches from Los Angeles to Juneau, Alaska. She's been a single mom to two beautiful children; she nursed Gary through cancer, and stayed with him to his dying breath. Then, she forgave her father for their past relationship, and she reconciled with him in a very noteworthy way. She also went back to college, and got her bachelor's degree. I actually think she's shown herself to be exceedingly well-suited to be a minister's wife."

  Tim cut Norman off at the pass, and kept talking. "I also think it's ridiculous that journalists keep trying to sensationalize her history before she was a Christian. She was just a fourteen year-old girl who got molested. It wasn't her fault. It happens to at least one in every ten kids in the United States. I think she's going to have an awesome ministry to victims of abuse, and to those who have lost loved ones to cancer. And as for her pre-Christian character," Tim laughed, "she was only allowed to date men her father approved of, and apparently he screened them pretty carefully. She wasn't interested or even tempted to be intimate with any of them.”

  “She always attended private, women's schools and colleges. She was, as a matter of fact, snow white when she married for the first time. And after Gary died, she never went on a single date, until I came along. I just about had to break the door down, to get her to go anyplace with me."

  Tim seemed to grow in strength and power, as though the Holy Spirit was coming on him. "As a matter of fact, I'd like for you all to know that I asked her to marry me the fourth day after we met. It was Tasha who was cautious; Tasha who was careful about letting me too close. She expressed concern to me about her children getting the wrong idea, in case things didn't work out. She is one of the most cautious, chaste women I've ever known." He said emphatically.

  "She has been through too much for me to allow this nonsense to go on any more." He said decisively. “What Tasha did that night in Salt Lake – that Pattie got on tape -- happened because I was pushing her to marry me.”

  "How can you be so sure that she was such an excellent wife to Gary Taylor? What do you really know about their marriage? I've been given to understand that the two of you lost touch after college."

  Tim nodded, and lowered his eyes. "That's true, we did. We really didn't have any contact for many years. But, we were so close that such things don’t matter. Nothing changed between us just because we’d been apart.”

  He raised his eyes, with a look that made Tasha think he was near tears. "Gary and I were like blood brothers. Very close. We roomed together in college, and we spent holidays at each others’ homes. We talked about everything that matters. We met again after number of years, and it was no different. We loved each other deeply, and we just picked up where we left off. We have a deep bond that will never be broken.”

  Tim sighed, and looked through his eyelashes at Norm. “I didn't intend to say anything about this, but I will, because of all the accusations against Tasha." He said quietly. “It's a private memory that's very precious to me. I did see Gary Taylor one last time, just a few of years ago, in New York." He said in a husky voice.

  "We ran into each other at a golf course. It was completely unexpected, a wonderful surprise. We arranged to spend a couple of hours together, and I gave him a ride back to his hotel when it was over, to meet up with his party. It was a time I cherish deeply. We caught up on a lot of things, talked like school kids. But the thing I remember most," Tim said quietly, "was the way that Gary talked about his beautiful wife, his tiny son and his little girl."

  He looked up, and there was pain in his eyes. "It was only a couple months before his cancer returned for the last time. He told me all about his gorgeous wife. How he adored her, how precious she was. He told me about her childhood, her salvation. How they'd fallen in love. He told me about how she'd stood with him through a battle with cancer; how she'd become such a strength, and a devoted pastor's wife. How she loved the people, and had them constantly in their home, ministering to them. He told me how sweet she was, and what a loving mother she was to their little girl and boy. He told me about the child that had just been born, and how very happy he was."

  Tim shook his head. "I never met Tasha while she was Gary's wife, but I'll never forget the light in his eyes when he told me how special she was to him. I have no doubts whatsoever about Tasha, or about her ability to take on any responsibilities that being my wife will demand. She's a hundred percent qualified, and if I ever had any doubts, my last conversation with the man who knew it best, would settle those fears." Tim said. He looked down, and was obviously trying to hold his emotions in check. The entire studio was silent.

  Tim stood up, and left Norman gaping. He walked to the front of the stage. He looked out at the audience with piercing eyes. The cameras followed him and zoomed in. His lapel microphone easily picked up his hushed voice.

  "Is there anybody out there who has been molested? Is there anybody out there who has lost a loved one to cancer? Is there anyone out there who's had their father hit them i
n the face? Anyone who's married a second time?”

  His eyes roved the audience. "Is there anybody who's had their reputation smeared by uncaring sensationalists, be it the press or just someone at school – or on the job? Anyone who has been hurt when the truth was twisted by vicious gossips?"

  He sighed and looked at his feet, trying to get a grip on his emotions, before he looked at them again with narrowed eyes.

  "You know, I don't blame Tasha for not wanting to have anything to do with me, for so long. She's already been a pastor's wife. She knows what it is to be criticized and hurt, and she knew that if she took up with me, she was going to be a target, just because of who I am. The very same day we met, Pattie Danniels was right there trying to harass her, asking her questions."

  "Tasha is a lovely woman who has done nothing wrong. We both admit that we should never have given Pattie the opportunity to take those pictures. It was dangerous, and I make no excuses. We were just doing the best we knew how to do -- I was doing the best I could to get Tasha to let me in, and Tasha was doing the best she could to put me off. But you know, Pattie Danniels has repented for taking the pictures. She has admitted she was wrong to do it, that her motivation was not correct. She has also admitted that she knew -- she could hear -- that Tasha and I were actually arguing, and that there was nothing cooking in Tasha’s bedroom that night.”

  "So, I'm asking you to forgive us for it. Forgive all of us for the entire incident. And please, let Tasha and I get married and get on with our life. We all have fallen down at one time or another in some area. But give us credit, if you will, for getting up and trying again. It's all that we can do. Nobody is going to gain anything by prolonging this sensational exploitation – except those who sell television spots, and magazines. Don’t let the press continue to accuse, and twist the truth. Thank God, at least Pattie repented. I'm truly grateful, for her sake.”

  "Tasha and I plan to get married, and go right on with our ministry. We want to touch people's lives, and make a difference. Please be with us, and not against us. We are sorry for what happened. We both regret it. But now, we would like to move on."