Joline's Redemption (33 page)

His warm lips were soft—gentle—against hers. Almost tentative. So different. She kissed him back, leaning into him but letting him take the lead. He wrapped his arms around her and deepened his kiss. When he pulled back, a look of wonder filled his eyes.

Jo smiled, still amazed that this good, kind man cared for her.

God certainly worked miracles.

Jo glanced up as Lara entered Sarah's bedroom. “You shouldn't be in here.”

“I thought you could use a break.” She nudged her chin toward the bed. “How is she doing?”

Jo rose and crossed the room. “Better, I think. She's not coughing as much. How's Michael doing with Jamie?”

“Fine, but he misses you.”

Jo glanced at the dark window. “I probably should get him ready for bed.”

“Gabe is playing with Beth. You go on, and I'll sit with her for a while.”

Jo nodded and took a step toward the door, but she paused and faced her sister. “I'm sorry for running away again. I know you must have been worried.”

“Of course I was, but I've had to learn to entrust you to God.”

She smiled. “And this time He brought you back.”

“There's more truth in that than you realize.”

Sarah rolled over. Jo motioned for her sister to follow her out into the hall. She walked over to the upstairs sitting area and perched on the edge of the couch. Lara sat next to her, turning so their knees bumped.

“I've been running for a long while. Ever since Ma and Pa died, I think. I'm not proud of my life, but out on the trail, God and I had a chat, and I believe things will be better from now on. Well, except for one thing.”

Lara enveloped her in a hug. “I'm so glad to hear that, Jo. I've prayed for you to find peace for so long.” Lara released her and sat back. “But what one thing are you talking about? When God saves us, He saves us all the way.”

Jo studied her hands, not wanting to tell Lara how far she'd fallen, but she knew she had to. She explained to her how Mark left after he learned about her being pregnant. Then she told her about Badger—and her awful days at the bordello. She hated the tears that formed in Lara's eyes.

“Oh, Jo. I'm so sorry. I wish you would have come home.”

“But that's just it … this is
your
home.”

Lara squeezed her hand. “That's not true. You'll always have a place with us. Jamie and Sarah, too.”

“Thank you for saying that.” She squeezed Lara's hand. “I think Sarah is putting down roots. Do you know that she didn't want to leave with me?”

“Maybe she was feeling ill.”

“No, it's not that. I think she feels at home here. When I actually leave again, I'm not sure she will want to come.”

“I don't want to hear about you leaving, but when that day comes, Sarah is more than welcome to stay with us. Michael has become a better student because he doesn't want her to pass him in skills.”

Jo smiled. “That sounds like him.”

Lara joined her in a private smile, but then it dimmed. “So, you think this Badger will come after you?”

“I'm sure he will—as soon as he learns where we are.”

Lara pursed her lips together and was quiet for so long that Jo grew fidgety. “What are you thinking?”

“You won't like it, but we need to tell Gabe so he can be prepared.” “I know. Baron said the same thing.”

Lara's gaze jerked to hers. “You told him? Everything?”

Jo nodded.

A slow smile engulfed her sister's face.

“What does that look mean?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Uh-huh. We're taking things slow.”

“That sounds wise, especially since you don't know what will happen with this Badger fellow.”

“It seems that I can't get away from my past.”

Lara squeezed her hand. “You will. One day you'll be married to a good man and have a family, and all those bad days will be a distant memory.”

“I pray you're right.”

The odor of burned hide filled Jack's nostrils once again as he pressed the branding iron against another calf. The animal bawled, as did its mother. Luke flicked his wrist, releasing the calf's hooves, and it rose and trotted back to its mama.

“Looks like that's the last one.” Luke curled up his rope then looped it over one shoulder. “I'm gonna have me a herd like this one day.”

Jack looked at the young cowboy, who he guessed was around twenty. “You worked for Gabe long?”

“Over four years.” Luke wrestled the lid off his canteen and took a long swig. “I started working for him before the land run of '89 when Gabe was selling horses to those hoping to ride in the run.”

“I thought about doing that—racing in the land rush—but I was working up in Nebraska at the time at a good spread and didn't want to risk my job.”

Luke fastened the rope to his saddle and hung the canteen over the horn. “I rode in it, but I didn't win land. Gabe has always been lucky.”

“Maybe it's God's blessing and not luck.”

Luke stared at him then grinned. “You know, I never thought about it that way, but you might be right. Although I don't know why God would want to bless a gambler.”

“God works in mysterious ways. Just look at how I found my sisters after all these years.” Jack kicked dirt over the fire and stuck the branding irons in a bucket of water, enjoying the loud hiss they made. It reminded him of bacon cooking.

“Why do you think God would bless a gambler?”

“God looks at a man's heart. Gabe told me about his troubled youth. He needed God's love and His help to forgive his stepfather and become the man he is today. I suppose, too, God knew Lara needed Gabe and blessed him so that he'd be able to help her once they met.”

Luke seemed to be stewing on that thought; then he smiled. “That does make sense. You reckon God has a woman out there somewhere for me?”

Jack's thoughts raced to Cora. “I reckon He does, but you need to look at how you live your life and become the man God expects you to be, so you can be a wise and kind husband.”

Luke leaned back against his horse and rubbed the light stubble on his chin. “I don't think I've even considered that before.”

Jack walked over to the younger man and rested one hand on his shoulder. “You're a good man, Luke. I like your quick smile and your happy-go-lucky attitude, but don't neglect your spiritual life. A good man is still a lost man until he asks Jesus to save him and forgive him of his sin.”

Luke nodded. “Thank you. I'll think on what you've said. Gabe has told me almost the same thing.”

Jack nodded as he checked to make sure the fire was out and put the branding irons in a crate in the buckboard. He emptied the bucket of water over the hot ashes then set the pail in the back of the wagon. “I guess we're done for the day.”

Luke mounted and drew his horse next to the wagon. “How does a lost man get found by God?”

Jack climbed aboard the wagon then slapped the reins against the rumps of the horses. “Start by readin' the Bible. Do you have one?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Not me myself, but there's one in the bunkhouse. If I read it, though, the other guys will poke fun at me.”

Jack understood the man's reticence. “I felt the same way when I worked at the Lazy S Ranch. Our boss was a godly man who often talked about his faith. I'd heard plenty about that when I was a kid and attended church with my folks. What I did was sneak the Bible out one day when no one was in the bunkhouse, and then I'd read it after supper in the barn before I turned in for the night. Once God got ahold of me, I started reading it to the others while they played cards.”

Luke chuckled. “I bet they didn't care much for that.”

“Not at first, but later on some started askin' me questions. Before I came here, I was a preacher of a small church in Texas.”

Luke whistled. “No wonder you know so much about God.”

Jack guided the horses off the trail onto the road that led back to the ranch. “A good man took me under his wing and taught me much of what I know now. If you have questions, you're welcome to ask them anytime.”

“How long you plan on sticking around?”

“Don't know. I've got some decisions to make.”

“We could use a preacher in these parts. There are several in Guthrie, but that's a long drive for some, especially those who live farther from town than us.”

Jack nodded. Gabe had said he could stay if he wanted. And he did. He longed to spend time with his sisters and grandfather. And he'd like to see his niece and nephews grow up. There was a time he wanted nothing more than to get away from his family, but now he'd like to stay. Was God calling him to preach here? And what about Cora?

He pretended he knew all the answers, but he didn't. He wasn't even sure where God wanted him.

“Have you heard there's probably gonna be another land run? People are pushin' the government to open up the Cherokee Outlet, up in northern Oklahoma Territory. If'n they do, I plan to ride in it.”

The idea appealed to Jack. If he won a claim, he could finally have a place of his own—but was that what God wanted him to do?

A man of thirty-two ought to have his life all mapped out by now. His parents had three young'uns by that age. If he hadn't accidentally started the fire that killed them, they might still be alive—and his life and his sisters' would have turned out far different. Lara's life had turned out well, but not so with Jo's. Was he responsible for that?

“That's some mighty heavy sighing going on over there.” Luke's eyes twinkled, but Jack could read the concern in his voice.

“I'm just thinkin' on some troubling things from my past.”

“You Christians ain't supposed to do that, are you?”

Jack stared at the young man. “You're right. We're supposed to pray and give our burdens to the Lord. But sometimes I tend to forget that and lift them back on my shoulders and try to carry them myself. Thanks for the reminder to pray.”

Luke scratched his temple. “I didn't say nothin' about prayin'.”

Jack grinned. Not directly, but the message had gotten through to him. God wanted him to pray over the decisions he needed to make for his future and not dwell on his past.

J
o softly kissed Jamie and laid a light blanket over him. So far God had answered her prayers to keep him healthy. She tiptoed from the room and checked on Sarah. The girl sat in her bed, sounding out words in a second grade primer. Lara had been right about her soon passing Michael, who was at the same level. Sarah glanced up and smiled.

“I'm so glad you're feeling better.”

“Me, too. I'm also glad you came back here.” Her smile dipped. “What if Badger finds us?”

Jo shrugged. “There are usually several men around here to protect us, and I'm praying that God will keep us safe and not let Badger find us.”

Cocking her head, Sarah stared at her. “You are different.”

Jo smiled. “I had a long talk with God, and He and I are friends now.”

“Ah … Lara tells me of God. She says He wants to live in my heart.”

“That is true.” Jo wished she knew more to explain it all to her, but her own relationship with God was so new. “Would you like me to read to you from the Bible? Maybe we could both learn something from it.”

“You can later, but now I need to rest.” Sarah closed the book and laid it on the nightstand.

“That's a good idea. Later, then.” Jo closed the door and went downstairs to meet Baron, who stood at the front window.

“Still on guard.” She sent him a teasing smile.

“Yes, ma'am.” He turned to face her. “Did you get that little fellow down?”

“He was worn out from playing with you.”

“I enjoyed my time with him. He's a good boy.”

Jo nibbled her lip. So many times she'd dreaded that her past would affect her son in a bad way. “I hope he'll grow up to be a good man, like you and Gabe.”