by Emily Claire
He opened the door and removed his hat simultaneously. “I’m Zeke Taylor. Nice to have you here tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am, it sure is,” offered Charlie as he followed them in. “Don’t believe I’ve seen you ‘round here before, have I?” He stepped slightly in front of Zeke and extended his hand in greeting.
Gabrielle glanced around the room as she presented a tight smile and shook her head. “No, it’s my first time here.”
Her eyes scanned the large group of people. Some stood in small clusters, chatting and laughing. Others sat on the pews. She was struck by the number of men who openly stared at her. Her heart beat rapidly as discomfort began to rise within.
What am I doing here?
Just then she saw a movement from the corner of her eye. Relief swept over her as Mattie Williamson walked quickly toward her.
“Gabrielle, dear!” She came alongside her and gave her a warm, welcoming hug. Whispering, she said, “These boys haven’t seen a beautiful face in some time. Don’t let it make you uncomfortable.”
“Well, here’s our newest member of the community!” Clyde approached and smiled kindly, reaching to shake her hand. “Welcome to our little church. Where’s that husband of yours?” he said, glancing about.
“Thank you, Preacher Clyde. He left me at the door. He said he’d be right— oh, there he is now,” she said, spotting Boone stepping into the doorway.
Her uneasiness disappeared, and she smiled brightly as Boone walked toward her.
Boone greeted his old friends happily and beamed as he led Gabrielle to a seat. He glanced around and then said, “I don’t see Buck. He’s usually here early, since he accompanies Abby.” He pointed toward the front of the rom. “She’s the lady up there near the piano. That’s Clyde and Mattie’s oldest daughter. She and Buck have been playing together since he was eight years old. They’re good friends.”
The dark-haired woman near the piano noticed Boone gesturing toward her and walked to where he and Gabrielle were standing.
“Hi, Boone,” she said casually as she turned to Gabrielle, smiling and extending her hand. “I’m Abby Wells. I’ve heard good things about you. I’m sure glad you married this guy. We’ve been wondering for a while now if he’d ever make room for a wife amongst his many collections.”
Gabrielle accepted her hand and laughed. “I guess everyone knows Boone pretty well. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your mother has made me feel very welcomed.”
Abby smiled, glancing toward her parents. “Yes, that’s Mama. She’s a saint.” She saw her father look at her from across the room and shrugged at him.
“Where’s Buck?” she turned and asked Boone. “He was supposed to be here early tonight so we could go over a few songs."
“No idea,” answered Boone, looking around the room. “It’s not like him to be late or miss an opportunity to play for Christmas Eve. He said he’d be here, though, so I’m sure he will.”
They chatted for a few moments until Clyde walked over to them. “Buck?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” said Boone. “I guess you’ll have to start without him. It’s getting a little late.”
“I’ll give him another five minutes or so,” Clyde told them.
Ten minutes later Buck still hadn’t appeared. Clyde nodded to Abby who settled herself at the piano and began playing. The group of fifty or sixty people quickly hushed as a man stood up and welcomed them, opening the meeting with a prayer.
Gabrielle listened intently to every word, amazed at the personal way in which the man prayed. It was as if he and God were friends and he was inviting Him to be part of their gathering.
Next, he led the congregation in several songs. Gabrielle listened to Boone sing, admiring his deep bass voice. Her soprano blended nicely with his, and she could tell he enjoyed having her singing there next to him.
I had no idea he could sing. There’s so much I don’t know about him. He needs a wife who’ll sit by his side in church, and to be one with him in his home.
Waves of sadness interrupted her enjoyment of the carols each time she thought about leaving Boone. Her heart sank each time and she repeatedly had to force herself to think about the momentary joy she was feeling. She committed it to memory then and there. Tomorrow would bring enough sadness as it was. She didn’t need to focus on that right now.
She glanced up at him as they sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” When he looked at her, she saw him quickly glance over her head toward the door in the back of the room. She could tell he was wondering about Buck, but he continued to sing.
Clyde Williamson stood before his congregation. He was a tall man, with a deep voice that carried well throughout the small building. Gabrielle noticed that he sounded just as warm and welcoming from the pulpit as he did when speaking with her one-on-one. She remembered his sense of humor and kindness when they’d first met in Wiggieville.
Gabrielle couldn’t help but compare him to George. This man was kind and sincere. This man loved his congregation. This man was honest. There wasn’t a deceptive thing about him. Clyde Williamson was truly a man of God. She knew it as surely as she knew her name.
As she listened to Clyde read from the Bible, it occurred to her that she had not only judged all preachers by the actions of one evil man, she had gone so far as to judge Almighty God by them as well.
Her heart filled with conviction. She closed her eyes and shut out every distraction. My God, I’ve been a fool to shut my heart and mind against You, blaming You for what George did. I’m sorry. I may not be able to forgive him, but I’ll do my best. I ask You to take the memories away forever. And I’ll focus on You, only You, and not dwell on the past any more. Amen.
She opened her eyes as she felt a heaviness being lifted from her heart. Preacher Clyde was asking everyone to bow their heads with him in prayer. For the first time in her life, Gabrielle truly joined in with God’s people as they prayed.
Upon dismissal, her heart felt light and joyful until she looked at Boone. He once again scanned the crowd. His son was not there.
“I need to talk with some folks and see if anyone’s seen or heard from Buck today. Do you want to join me?” he asked, not wanting to leave her alone with a group of people she really didn’t know.
Gabrielle looked up at him, smiling freely. “You go ahead. I’ll find Mattie and see if I can help with the refreshments.”
Boone looked at her questioningly. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
Gabrielle gave his shoulder a gentle shove. “Go on. I’m perfectly fine. Really.”
He looked into her eyes and believed her.
Mattie and her daughter Abby did their best to help Gabrielle meet as many people as they could. She felt welcomed and happy to be in their midst but kept an eye on Boone as he made his way through the people, stopping to talk with everyone to ask about Buck.
There was a lull, and Mattie leaned in to take a look at Gabrielle’s hand. “You seem to not have any serious damage from your burn the other day. How’s the rest of you?”
Gabrielle blushed. “Oh, Mattie. I’m fine. Just a little sore, but not enough to slow me down. I have to admit, that was certainly one of the clumsiest days of my life. I’ve decided to stay away from the business of saddling a horse for now.”
Mattie put her arm around Gabrielle’s shoulder and gave a little squeeze. “There’ll be time for that later, dear.”
Just then Boone approached them, still looking worried.
“I’d like to go ahead and make our way back to the house. One of the men said he saw him riding north a couple of hours ago. It’s not like Buck to just not show up like this. He may be sick or something. Clyde said Buck’s guitar is here and he’s pretty sure it wasn’t here last night. I guess he left it and went for a ride. I just don’t know what to think.” He looked over at Gabrielle. “Are you ready to leave?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course.”
Smiling at Mattie and Abby, she said
, “Thank you for making me feel at home.”
“I’ll go get the buggy,” he said.
“There’s no need for that, Boone. I’ll just hurry out to it with you.” she said, walking quickly to get their coats and hats.
Charlie and Zeke stood at the back of the room, watching them prepare to leave. As Gabrielle and Boone walked past them, her hand resting in the crook of his arm, Zeke mumbled just loud enough for Charlie to hear him. “It’s a darn shame. She would’ve picked me, you know!”
Charlie smirked, shaking his head. “No way, man. No way.”
In the buggy, Gabrielle sat close enough to Boone that they could share the blanket he’d spread across their laps, but not close enough to touch him. She was keenly aware of her need to keep a safe distance between them. He would be glad of it when it was all said and done and she was gone. He’d be free to find a woman who could meet all of his needs.
Gabrielle tried not to think of the days ahead but knew she needed a plan. She had enough money to take a train back East, but she already knew she’d stay in Texas. The people she’d met made her want to be a part of their community. She’d have to move far enough away from Coltonville so as not to see Boone, but she could probably find work in Wiggieville. She wanted to stay where she could see wide open spaces every day.
Boone’s question interrupted her thoughts. “So, what did you think of our little gathering?”
She sighed. “Oh, it was precious! Truly. I enjoyed it more than I ever expected.”
Boone was surprised and hopeful at the same time. “You did? I’m glad of it.”
“It was rather significant for me, actually,” she said.
“How so?”
“I made an important realization tonight. Preacher Clyde is so easy to listen to. I wanted him to keep talking on and on. I could listen to him all day,” she told him.
Boone chuckled. “Don’t ever tell that to a preacher. We might never get home to our mid-day meal on Sunday if you tell that to Preacher Clyde!”
They laughed together.
She sobered. “I’ve done a foolish thing and I’ve been doing it for years, Boone. During one of the songs, it became clear to me that I’ve been avoiding God all these years because I thought He was probably like George. Or that George was like Him. It’s hard to explain, but I see now that I let the actions of one terrible man influence my thoughts about God and men in general. Maybe even all Christians. My step-father was not a good man. But, God is good. There’s no comparing the actions of people to the actions of God. I understand that now. I won’t be afraid to go into a church building ever again. It’s all different for me now.” Gabrielle felt embarrassed, as though she’d said too much. At the same time, she once again felt relieved of a great burden.
Though it was dark and she couldn’t see the expression on Boone’s face, she heard the tender tone in his voice. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard in long time. I’m very happy for you.”
They arrived home to discover that Buck was not there. Boone came inside and stoked up the fire. They stood in the parlor.
“What should we do?” asked Gabrielle, looking up at him.
“I’m going to pray. Join me?” he asked and reached for her hand.
Gabrielle took a step closer and felt Boone’s large hand surround hers completely as he quietly prayed for Buck’s safety and for guidance to find him.
She stayed there close to him for just a moment before pulling away her hand.
“We don’t get much of this kind of weather around here. It turned pretty cold this afternoon, and the snow hasn’t let up a bit, but now it’s raining a little and could turn to ice. As dark as it is, I wouldn’t be able to see him if I went looking now. It’s possible that he went to Wiggieville and just got delayed. He’s got friends over there. I’ll go searching at dawn if he hasn’t come in by then.”
Having the matter decided, Boone seemed to relax a bit.
“Should I plan to go with you in the morning, to help search?” she asked.
Boone answered quickly. “No. It might be too dangerous to take the buggy in this weather, and you can’t go on horseback. He’ll probably be here by morning anyway. I reckon we’d best get to bed then.”
Gabrielle sighed. “I wish I could do something to help.”
“Just knowing you’re here waiting on us will be help enough. Thank you.”
Dismayed, her heart sank. I can’t leave him tomorrow. It wouldn’t be right. It’ll have to wait another day.
“All right, whatever you say is best. I’ll have breakfast ready early tomorrow. Good night then.”
He looked into her eyes. “I’m glad you’re here. I have a strange feeling that there’s something beyond Buck’s power keeping him from getting home tonight. Just having a friend here with me means a great deal.”
Gabrielle couldn’t stop herself. She stepped closer to him and shyly reached her arms up to hug him.
He embraced her briefly, and then released her. “Good night,” he said softly.
Later that night and into the earliest hours of the morning, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She thought about the prayer she’d said while at the church service. God had never left her. He’d always been there. When she’d thought He wasn’t close to her anymore, it wasn’t because He had moved. She had done it. She promised herself she’d never turn away from Him again. And now she asked Him to direct her path regarding Boone. Believing that she’d given her future into the hands of the One who could make it secure, she drifted off into sleep.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
She awakened early and began to prepare a quick breakfast that Boone could carry with him in case he didn’t want to delay by eating.
She heard him light a lantern and then go outside into the gloomy early dawn. He came in a short time later and joined her in the kitchen. “It’s pretty wet out there, but I don’t think it’s icy.”
“I’ll be thinking about you and hoping for the best.” She took a little breath and said something she’d never said to anyone before. “I’ll be praying.”
Boone raised his eyebrows. “Something’s different about you.”
She nodded, suddenly feeling shy.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of someone calling from outside. “Boone! Boone Dillingham!” The call was urgent.
They both hurried to the front door. Gabrielle recognized the man who’d introduced himself as Zeke sitting atop a horse just coming to a stop outside.
He started talking rapidly as soon as he saw the couple and dismounted. “Charlie and I took off hunting ‘bout three o’clock this morning. We went up toward the Brazos and was out in the woods. I saw Buck’s gelding wandering around, so we started calling and looking for him. Finally found him, nearly froze to death, but still alive. He’s unconscious, though. He’s trapped under a large tree branch. I rode to Doc Colby’s place and he’s on his way out there already. He said to tell you to bring the wagon. Charlie stayed with him to get him warming up. I’ll help you hitch up.”
Gabrielle ran into the house and gathered blankets. She came out with as many as she could carry and set them on the porch. As she put on her heavy coat and gathered hats and gloves, she found an extra coat for Zeke. He’d apparently left his behind for Buck.
She began carrying everything she thought they’d need out to the wagon. Grimly, Boone thanked her as he climbed onto the buckboard seat.
“The fires are stoked inside. I’m coming with you.” She extended her arm toward him.
He started to protest, shaking his head. “It’s too dangerous—.”
She ignored him and placed her foot on the step. “I don’t care. You’ll need someone in the back of the wagon with him,” she said determinedly.
Boone felt the same uneasy sense of fear rising within him that had haunted him since his first wife’s death but refused to give in to it. He stretched out his arm and pulled her up beside him. “Come on then.”
It was still bitterl
y cold although the previous night’s wind was long gone. Gabrielle thought the wagon might slip on the bits of ice, but it was very thin and only in patches.
Less than an hour later, Zeke led them into the woods. Soon afterward, they left the wagon and hiked a short distance to where they found Doc Colby and Charlie tending to Buck.
The four adults were able to move the heavy branch off of him. Boone went down on one knee and laid a hand on his son’s forehead, urgently praying silently.
“We were afraid to try and move him, Doc.” Zeke explained.
“Y’all did what you could. Tucking the extra coats around him was all you could do without help.
“Boone, I could tell his leg was likely broken. I’ve already got the splint ready. Soon as I get it on him, we’ll move him to the travois and get him out of here.”
Buck moaned in pain while the doctor worked on him but remained unconscious.
The group worked grimly and efficiently together, despite the freezing temperature and serious nature of the situation. Doc Colby calmly instructed Boone and the men as they worked quickly to get Buck out of the woods and loaded into the wagon.
Doc asked Zeke to tether his horse’s lead and climbed aboard. Gabrielle started to follow him, but he spoke quietly to her. “He’ll be all right, Mrs. Dillingham. You ride up front with your husband. That’d be better for him.” He tilted his head in Boone’s direction.
Boone sat rigid and watched the road intensely, trying to avoid jostling over rough bumps. Gabrielle had never seen him like this. He looked straight ahead, but she could see his face was pale and his huge dark brown eyes were filled with worry. She scooted as close to him as she could and looped her arm through his, trying to offer solace.
“He’ll be all right, Boone. Doc Colby will take care of him.”
He choked back his emotion with quiet restraint, his voice cracking. “I can’t lose him, Gabrielle. I can’t lose him, too.” He fought for control and kept silent.
She looked up at him and saw the tears on his cheeks. All she could do was pray and stay close.
