Always Tried and Proven (50 page)

    Sam awakened, and stretched luxuriously.  It was good to be home.  He always knew just where he was, the moment he awakened at home.  Roland had left such a peace on the place, from all the years of prayer.  He took a deep breath, and turned to look at her.

     Callie.  Here.  With him.  Without … anything on?  He opened his eyes a bit wider to find nothing hindering his view of her soft, lovely shoulders.

    He shrugged lightly, and slipped out of his shorts. 
When in Rome
, he decided with a grin.  He cuddled to Callie’s back, and found himself immediately in a vastly different frame of mind.

     “
That won’t do just yet, I suppose
.”  He mumbled.  He kissed her neck, and let his hands caress skin so soft and silky, it made him want to groan aloud.

     Callie rolled into his arms, and came awake instantly.  She froze when she realized where she was and what was happening.

     “Good morning.”  Sam whispered, kissing her nose.

     “Hey.”  She answered, pulling the sheet taut across her chest.  “Oh, Sam, I am so sorry.” She groaned, realizing that she’d gone to sleep late afternoon and not come to the surface until the next morning.

      He chuckled.  “I’m a patient man, Callie.  Don’t give it a thought.” He assured her, stretching his arm under her neck.

     “You must be.  You’re amazing.” She admitted hesitantly.  “You must think I’m some kind of idiot.”  She mumbled.

     He shook his head.  “No.   No, sweetheart, I don’t.  I think you’re wonderful.  Heavenly.  Sweet as the day is long.  And scared to death.  Maybe you should talk to me about it.”  He suggested lightly.

     Callie grinned wryly.  “Ever the pastor, aren’t you?” she accused.  “No.  I just kind of froze up, I think.  I mean, all of a sudden I was married, and I began to realize how little I knew about you really, and then we were on a plane, and here, and … I just suddenly was exhausted.  I thought I’d just lay down for a minute.  That’s all I remember.”

     Sam smiled.  “I really hate to push you, but I do think it might be a good idea if you were to just talk to me a little bit about everything, Cal.  I don’t want to make any mistakes.”

     “Talk about what?” she asked woodenly.

     “Your father.  Dexter.  For starts.”  He suggested.

     Callie withdrew subtly.  “What do you want to know?”

     “What not to do to upset you.”

   “Then don’t ask me about Dex or Willy.” She snapped.  “Dex is in prison because he killed Willie.  That's about all there is to know.”

      Sam digested the answer with raised eyebrows.

    “I’m sorry.  You didn’t deserve that.” She grumbled.  A sigh followed.  “My father wasn’t much of a father.  He was very good looking and he knew it, it seems.  He liked drinking and gambling, and women.  Mom just took care of us and put food on the table.  We never really knew when he’d show up, or what condition he’d be in when he did.”

     “Mom gave it some time, but it didn’t take her long to see that there was no point in keeping up appearances.  Things obviously were not going to improve, so she divorced him and moved us out to where she lives now.  She got me a horse, got Peter a motorcycle, and worked two jobs.”

     “When and how did he come back into your life?” he asked quietly.

     Callie shrugged,  “Oh, he was in a bar I was playing one night.  He looked so familiar.  I kept looking at him, wondering.  He tried to hit on me on a break, and then someone called him Willie.  My blood like … froze.” She stumbled.  “And I knew who he was.”

     “What did he say when he realized?”

     “I never told him.” She said quickly.

     Sam looked at her in shock.  “He never knew?”

    Callie smiled tightly.  “Nope.” She confirmed.  “Then I met Dex, and he and Willy hit it off so well.  I should have seen at once that they were two of a kind.  Foolish girl.”

     “It’s not always so easy to see.” Sam comforted.  “But how could he not know you were his own daughter?”

   “He thought my name was Kelly.  I didn’t correct him.  He wasn’t all that observant, or caring.  But Sam, let’s don’t talk about them.  It’s all over with.”  She begged.

     “All right, sweetheart.  All I care about is you.” He said quietly.

      “Being here with you brings back very distant memories.” Sam mused.  “I used to lie awake in bed at night, and dream about a girl like you.  Being here, someday, with me.  Wondering if it could ever really happen, or whether I'd be forever alone and barren.”

     “Why would you think that?” she asked gently, brushing his bangs away from his beautiful eyes.

     He shrugged.  “A twisted case of guilt and shame, I suppose.  I couldn't imagine any girl wanting to be with me, after all I'd done.  I felt completely debased, and debauched, and used up, kind of.”

      Callie smiled.  “But you're not like that, at all.” she corrected him, gently.

      He sighed.  “In time, I got over those feelings.  But, I never really thought I'd ever find someone, or have someone like you.  Not until I met you; then, everything changed, in the blink of an eye.  Suddenly, because you were you, I  could imagine it;  imagine us, together.  It was rather a miracle, wasn't it?”

     Callie was shocked.  “Sam.  I don't understand that all.  Are you saying that you felt that way about yourself, at the time we met?”

      He was quiet.  “I don't know.  Not consciously, perhaps.  I think that I just put a lid on the whole issue a long time ago, and ended the discussion.  I threw myself into the life I'd been given, and although sometimes, I longed for a companion like you – it was something that I acknowledged from time to time – but I tried not to think about it.  For the most part, I just closed my eyes to that part of myself, and took the stance that it wasn't for me.”

     He laughed self-consciously.  “Did you ever shatter that illusion?”

   She smiled.  “Your life probably would have been a lot simpler and more peaceful if you'd kept your eyes closed.” she advised ominously.

    “That may be.  But it was hardly even a conscious choice; it was like lightning struck, when we met.  Besides, I wouldn't miss out on
this,
for all the tea in China.”

    She kissed him, and snuggled close.  “You took off your shorts.”  She accused softly.

     “You took off all your clothes.”  He replied.

     “I did.  And do you know why?”

     “I can only hope.”  Sam chuckled in reply.

    “Mmm.  You are a very handsome and
sexy
man.”  She told him, running her fingers down his chest and over his tummy.

     “Does that mean you’re over your case of … nerves?” he asked hoarsely.

     Callie laughed.  “I would have to say, I believe it does.”

     She kissed Sam, and let her hands slowly slide over his low back and hips.

   The blood rushed through Sam’s veins with such force that he thought he might simply pass out.  He growled, had he known it; rolled until Callie was beneath him, and kissed her as if there was no tomorrow.

     And the Lord smiled down from His heaven, and He laughed with joy.

*****************************************************************************

Participating in a tent ministry is a joy I will never forget.  It is a wonderful thing for people to come together for a common purpose, from different walks of life and backgrounds.  Focusing on what we have in common and not what we disagree upon, makes a huge difference in the atmosphere.  The open air, the relaxed setting, the freedom of the outdoors makes 'the tent' a wonderful departure from the norm.  But, it's not an easy life for those who host the tent.  Early mornings, late nights, physical work and coordination of numerous teams and facilitation of numerous ministries, make it a tiring proposition.  Still, the joy presides.

Other Stories by Nancy Hopper:

Against All Odds, (available at Kindle Books) B00A7MPYIY

My Heart Won't Say Goodbye (available at Kindle Books) B00ADDA1UI

Follow Your Heart (available at Kindle Books) B00BKA5V80