Joline's Redemption (24 page)

“No. But it's not Baron, either.” She hated the disappointment in her voice. Had she actually been looking forward to seeing him again?

“I don't recognize him,” Lara said.

“Me neither. What should we do?”

Lara stepped back. “Open the door.”

“Just like that? What if he's a thief?” What if he was one of Badger's men sent to find her?

“Yes, silly. Open the door.”

Jo backed up. “You do it. I'm going to get the rifle from the parlor, just in case.”

“Oh, pshaw. Most folks out here are friendly. Besides, the Bible instructs us to welcome strangers, because they might be angels sent from God.”

Jo rolled her eyes as she hurried into the parlor. “If you say so. I'm still getting the rifle.”

Lara didn't respond but opened the door. Jo reached up and was barely able to get the rifle down; then she rushed to the door her sister had left ajar.

“Howdy. Can I help you?”

Jo watched the man gawking at Lara as if she'd suddenly sprouted a tail. He dismounted and walked to the bottom of the steps but didn't move up them. He just kept staring.

How odd.

The man cleared his throat. “Lara?”

“Yes, I'm Lara Coulter. Are you looking for my husband, Gabe?”

He grinned. “No, I'm looking for you and Jo.”

Lara sucked in a gasp as Jo tightened her grip on the rifle. Badger didn't know her sister's name, did he? As far as she could remember, she'd never told him, so who could the stranger be?

Suddenly Lara gasped. “Jack? Is that you?”

Jo's heart turned a somersault, and she peered out the door. It had been nearly fifteen years, but she remembered how her brother's eyes squinted when he smiled—just like this man's were doing. Unexpected tears blurred her eyes.

“It's me, sis.”

Lara squealed and ran down the steps and launched herself into Jack's arms. Jo set the rifle down, knowing the young'uns were upstairs, and rushed out the door. Jack's eyes lifted to hers, and a warmth she hadn't known in years flooded her. But she refused to make a spectacle of herself like Lara had and remained on the porch.

Gabe and several of the ranch hands raced out of the barn and toward them, obviously having misinterpreted Lara's caterwauling.

Jack swung Lara around in a circle then whispered something in her ear, and she nodded and released him. Gabe rushed to her side, his gun drawn, a worried look on his face.

“Put that away this instant.” Lara shoved her hands to her hips. “You're not about to shoot my brother when he's finally come home.”

Gabe slid to a halt and stared. “You're Jack?”

Nodding, Jack slid his hand forward. “I am. Pleased to meet you.”

Gabe holstered his gun and shook hands then hauled Jack into a bear hug. “I'm Gabe, Lara's other half. I'm sure glad to meet you, too.”

A flash flood of emotions raged through Jo as she watched the reunion. Jack had returned. She'd never expected to see her brother again, and now that he was standing here in front of her, she didn't know how to react. She was thrilled but angry. She'd clung to him after their parents died. But he left her, just like her ma and pa. She crossed her arms and stayed where she was when she longed to run to him. Besides, he had a crowd around him already.

She heard him ask, “Where's Jo?”

Everyone turned toward her, and Lara pointed. Jo backed up, bumping against the door. Jack started in her direction, and she reached behind her for the door latch. Before she could move, he jogged up the steps in a lithe, long-legged gait. When did he grow so tall?

He stopped three feet from her, his hands twisting the brim of his hat. “Howdy, Jo. My feisty little sister has grown up into a beautiful woman.” He shook his head. “I can hardly believe it.”

“What? That I'm grown up or pretty?”

A broad grin made him look more handsome than before, and his blue eyes nearly disappeared into a squint. “There's the sassiness I remember.”

She hadn't realized that she'd missed him so much until he was right there in front of her. Her chin wobbled, and her throat grew tight. Unwanted tears stung her eyes. “Why did you leave us?”

He hung his head. “I was too afraid to stay and face the consequences of what I did.”

Jo blinked the tears from her eyes. “What do you mean?”

He shook his head. “Let's save that for another day. I don't want anything to mar my reunion with you and Lara. Can you forgive me for leaving?”

A part of her wanted to stay mad, but she couldn't. She'd wanted to see her brother again for so long that her joy overpowered her anger. She nodded and a smile pulled at her lips.

Jack straightened, opening his arms, and Jo fell into them, relishing his strength. Maybe she could never hug her pa again, but Jack was a close second. His arms wrapped around her, and for the first time for as long as she could remember, she felt safe. For a brief moment, she allowed herself the luxury of enjoying the feeling, but the truth was, she wasn't safe. Not until she could get far enough away that Badger couldn't find her. California sounded like a much less dangerous place to live than the Oklahoma Territory.

Jack loosened his arms but didn't let go. “I just can't believe that you and your sister are so grown up.”

“Not only are we grown up, but we're both mothers.”

He blinked. “Wow. I don't know why I hadn't considered that, but I'm happy for you.” He stepped back and glanced over at Gabe. Luke and another hand were walking back toward the barn. “Which one of those yahoos is your man?”

Jo crossed her arms over her chest again. “He's not here. He's … gone.”

“Gone away or gone … as in dead?”

“I'd just as soon not talk about him.” She flashed him a smile, hoping to distract him. “I'd rather hear what you've been doing for nearly fifteen years.” She knew she hadn't fooled him by changing the subject, but she didn't want to ruin his homecoming with talk of Mark.

The door jerked open, and Jo jumped.

“What's goin' on out here?”

Jack made a gurgling sound, and Jo glanced up to see his face had gone white as he stared at Grandpa.

“Who are you, and why's everyone standin' around?” Grandpa stepped out and shut the door.

“Grandpa … I thought …”

Sucking in a loud breath, Grandpa stared at his grandson. “Jack? Is it really you, son?”

Jack regained his senses and smiled. “Yes, sir. It is.”

Pure delight engulfed Grandpa's face in a way Jo hadn't seen since the day she returned. She stepped away, overcome with emotion as the two men embraced. How was it that Jack had returned almost at the same time she had? She'd fought coming here so badly, but she had no other option. And now her family was whole.

More than a little amazed, she dropped into a rocker. She knew what Lara would say—that God had brought them home. Jo glanced up at the sky. Could it be true that God brought her here? And if He had, what was the reason?

I
n all the years he'd been gone, Jack had never cried, but being here with his family again, and finding out that his grandpa was still alive and doing fairly well, was unbelievable. Tears swelled in his eyes as he hugged Grandpa. The man was no longer strong like he'd been when Jack lived with him, but at least he was still here and hadn't followed Grandma to heaven yet. Jack released his grip and stepped back. “I owe you a huge apology for runnin' off like I did.”

Grandpa rested one hand on Jack's shoulder and wiped his eyes as he shook his head. “A man's gotta do what he's gotta do, son. I reckon you had to take the path you did so you could become the man God wanted you to be today.”

He rolled that thought around in his mind. “You know, I've never considered that before. Do you reckon it's really true?”

Nodding, Grandpa removed his hand. “I do. C'mon in and meet the rest of the family, and let's all sit down at the table and get filled in on all that's happened in the past years.”

Jack laughed. “That will take a long while.”

“We've got all day.”

“Not me. As much as I'd like to join you, I've gotta get back to work.” Gabe grasped one of Lara's hands and leaned in to kiss her. “See you at supper, sweetheart.”

“I'll be looking forward to it.”

Jack glanced at Grandpa and lifted a brow. “Newlyweds?” Grandpa surprised him by shaking his head. “Nah. They been married nearly four years. They's just lovey-dovey like that.”

“I heard you.” Lara lifted her skirt a bit and climbed the stairs. “I can't help it if I still love my husband as much as the day I married him. Nothing wrong with that.”

Jo huffed a breath, rose from the rocker, and opened the front door. “I'll put on a new pot of coffee.”

Jack offered Lara a hand up the last step, and she took it. He cast a concerned glance at the door Jo just hurried through. “What's wrong with her?”

“We're not certain.” Lara shrugged. “She married a man in Guthrie several years ago. He owned a mercantile. One day, less than three years after she married Mark, Gabe went to town and discovered the store was closed. No one he asked seemed to know what happened to either Mark or Jo. Then a few weeks back, she arrived here with her son, Jamie, and a girl a few years older than my son. She's been closemouthed about where she's been since she left Guthrie. I'm not telling you anything she wouldn't.”

Grandpa rubbed his chin. “You might not want to ask her too many questions, though.”

Jack held up his hands. “I've done some things in the past I'm not proud of. I reckon most folks have their secrets.”

Grandpa slapped a hand to Jack's upper arm and shook it. He grinned wide. “It sure is good to see you. I can't tell you how many times I prayed for this day to happen.”

Jack's eyes teared up again, and he tugged the others to his side. “You have no idea how great it is to be with y'all again.”

“Is that a Texas accent I'm hearing?” Lara gazed up at him, a twinkle in her unusual light green eyes.

“Why, yes ma'am. I reckon it is.”

The door jerked open, and a half-grown boy stood there, gazing up at him in wonder. “Are you really my long-lost uncle Jack? I kinda thought Ma made you up.”

Jack and the others chuckled. “That I am, son.”

“Wow! Where ya been all this time? Fightin' Injuns? Rustlers? Huntin' for gold?”

“Whoa there, son. Let's get inside and give your uncle a chance to relax, and when he's ready, he can answer your questions. This is Michael, my son, by the way. Gabe and I have a daughter, too, but she's upstairs sleeping.”

“I hope you won't be disappointed when you hear my story.” Jack wondered just how much he should tell. Would his family be shocked to learn he'd been an outlaw for a short time, before he met a man who took him under his wing and set him straight? That he got fired from being a pastor in Glen Haven when he asked for time off to visit his sisters whom he hadn't seen in fifteen years?

It might help the boy or someone else to know how far he fell before God lifted him from the quagmire he'd been in. He drew in a deep breath as he followed his sister and grandpa inside. It wouldn't be an easy story to tell, but he believed God had a purpose in his sharing it.

Sarah sat with the family, listening to Jo's brother as he rattled off the long, winding story of his past. When she first sat down, there had been a sense of joy among the family members, but now that he'd told them he'd been an outlaw, everyone except for Michael had grown sober.

“What kind of outlaw was ya? Train robber? Rustler?”

“Michael!” Gabe shifted his baby daughter to his other arm and gave his son a stern look. “If you can't be quiet and let your uncle talk, you'll have to leave the table.”

“Aw … I just wanted to know.”

Jack looked to be holding back a smile. “It wasn't anything so glamorous as that.”

Sarah rose and took her plate and Jo's to the kitchen counter and scraped them. Most of the time she felt like a member of the family, but tonight she felt like an intruder.

“Sarah, come and sit.” Lara gestured for her to return to the table. “This is a special night. The dishes can wait.”

“I don't mind. You talk with family.”

Jo rose and came to her side. “You're as much a part of our family as any of us.”

Sarah stared at her, longing for the words to be true. For so many years, her family consisted of only her and her mother. Then Badger had come as her mother was near death and had taken her to live in his house. But it wasn't the type of place she'd hoped for, and he wasn't much of a father. But this family was all she'd dreamed of.

She nodded and took her place at the table. Her place … a warm sensation filled her insides. She'd finally found a home.