Sean Donovan (The Californians, Book 3) (31 page)

They were not given any further time for talk, but
Charlie praised God for opening a door. Even as the cake
was served by Sadie's capable hands, Charlie prayed
about the future opportunity she would have to speak
with her aunt.

When Sean and Charlie did head home, Charlie immediately sat down to read her Bible. She had read Sean's
on many occasions, but this was somehow special. As
always, Charlie prayed that God would show her just what He would have her to see as she read the words, but
she never dreamed of the things she would discover in
the weeks to come.

In other words, we should never have been married?"
Charlie was looking very distressed, and Sean searched
for some way to explain something he didn't fully understand himself. They were studying in 2 Corinthians, the
sixth chapter.

Sean began carefully. "People who have made a decision for Jesus Christ are commanded not to marry someone who does not share that belief, and I was no exception. But everything happened so fast. I want to say that I
had no choice in the matter, that I probably could have
spoken up and stopped everything, but the truth is,
such a thing never occurred to me.

"I had come to a complete peace about dying, even
though I was scared of the way that rope would feel.
When Duncan removed the noose, I was in a state of
shock. Less than ten minutes later, we were husband and
wife."

Sean paused before continuing. He wanted Charlie to
understand that God never condones sin, but that God's
sovereign will is always in play. "Darling," Sean went on
gently, "believing that God has complete command of
life and death, I have to assume He sent you to keep me on this earth for a while longer. Had we met under
normal circumstances, it would have been wrong of me
to even court you."

Charlie looked at Sean for a moment and then down at
her Bible to read verses 14 through 16 again: "Be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
And what communion hath light with darkness? And
what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath
he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple
of the living God; as God hath said, 'I will dwell in them,
and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people."'

"Who is Belial?" Charlie asked softly.

"That's one of the many names for Satan."

Charlie nodded. "I rather figured you would say that,
considering everything else written here."

"Charlie, tell me what you're thinking."

The confused redhead gave a small shrug. "It's just
hard to think of our marriage as a sin." Charlie held her
hand up when Sean began to protest.

"What if I hadn't come to Christ?"

"I've thought about that. First of all, I know my love
for you would never change. Second, I've confessed the
sins of the past and known God's forgiveness and fellowship. Nevertheless, there have been numerous consequences from those sinful years. I've hurt people I love
dearly, and all I can come up with is, God did spare my
life, so I would have tried to serve Him as best I could,
even with an unsaved wife."

Charlie gave a small sigh and looked again at the Bible
in her lap. "There's so much to learn, isn't there?"

"Yes there is, but God is infinitely patient." Sean
reached for her hand. "He knows our hearts and understands each and every struggle."

Charlie didn't answer because she didn't want Sean to
know what she was really struggling with. Finding out
what the Bible taught about marriage between believers
and unbelievers was a little upsetting. But after some
thought Charlie could see how much sense it made.

On the other hand, her real struggle was much harder
to define. It was a mix of knowing how right Sean looked
with a Bible in his hand, and less so with a hammer, and
also knowing that if they so chose, they could leave
Visalia whenever they wanted. Charlie was well aware of
the fact that Sean, after all these weeks, had never mentioned the surprising announcement made on Independence Day. This told her one thing-he was waiting for
her to bring it up. But as much as Charlie wanted to talk
about it, she was scared. It would be some weeks before
she understood that God was waiting to take care of that
fear.

Charlie, now six months along in her pregnancy,
stood rubbing her back. The dishes were put away, and
Sean had already retired to the living room to read the
paper. With her free hand, Charlie felt the very distinct
swelling in the front of her skirt. She was not very big,
but the baby moved constantly, telling her there was
indeed a little person growing inside.

Charlie looked at the doorway of the living room and
still she hesitated. It was time to talk with Sean. She was
still a little afraid of the future, but it was time to bring
her fears to her husband. God had shown her many
places in Scripture that assured her of His love and control, and Charlie found comfort in these verses. But
God had also given her a husband, a man who loved God
and wanted His will. It was time she talked to him about
those fears.

Sean smiled as Charlie took a place on the couch
beside him. Reaching for her hand, Sean studied her face
in the lantern light. The pregnancy was making her
tired, but she was far and away the most beautiful woman
in the world to him.

Quite often when they sat together in the evening,
Sean would lean over her swollen tummy and talk to
their baby. But tonight he perceived that Charlie needed
all of his attention.

'Anything I can do?" It was Sean's standard line when
he sensed that Charlie needed to talk, and as he had
hoped, it did the trick.

"Fin being a baby," Charlie admitted softly.

'About what?"

"About our moving away."

Sean didn't reply to this, and after a silent moment
Charlie continued.

"You're a good blacksmith, Sean, one of the best I've
seen, and I've seen a few. But something hasn't been
right from the very beginning, and it took my coming to
Christ to understand what that something is. You look
better with a Bible in your hand.

"I don't know if that makes any sense, but I just can't
see you pounding on horseshoes for the rest of your life.
It's taken me awhile, but just after you said that you
always think of Hawaii when you dream of us living
elsewhere, Judge Harrison publicly pardoned you. I just
knew that someday God would direct us away from
here, and the truth is I'm scared to death."

Sean reached for Charlie and pulled her into his arms.
'And you thought," he finished gently, "that the second I knew you were willing to move, I would make you pack
and drag you out of town."

"Something like that," Charlie admitted softly.

"Well, it's not going to happen that way, darling,
because I don't know if we're supposed to go anywhere.
I picture us working as missionaries, just as my folks did,
but I don't know where, and God might have Visalia in
mind for another 20 years."

"And you could be happy, Sean?"

"Definitely. Now I have a question for you. Could you
be happy if God shows us in an unmistakable way that
we're to move from here?"

Charlie was silent for only a moment. "You know, for
the first time in my life I think I could. Some of the fear is
still there, because everything beyond this town is unknown territory to me, but if you're beside me and we
know we're headed where God wants us to go, I'll be
fine."

Sean watched the front of Charlie's skirt lift with the
baby's movement. His hand when to her abdomen as it
often did to feel the baby move within her. No words
were necessary for a time.

"Do you still wish we could serve the Lord in Hawaii?"
Charlie asked.

"Yes, but not before spending some time with my
family in Santa Rosa. It's been far too long since I've seen
them."

"We could go for a visit, you know."

"That's true. Maybe after the baby is born."

"Let's plan on it."

"All right. Who will run the livery?" Sean wanted to
know.

"I don't know, but if we're supposed to go for a visit,
then God will send just the person we need."

Sean hugged her again. She'd grown so much in the
last weeks, and he couldn't begin to tell her what an
encouragement she was. He ended their evening by
calling her his darling Charlie and telling her she was the
love of his life.

Two weeks had passed since Sean and Charlie had
talked about moving. The conversation had opened new
doors between them, and they were now able to pray
and discuss all possibilities with ease. But the real test of
faith was upon them, and it was delivered in the form of
their new friend, Franklin Witt.

All Charlie had ever heard about Visalia's banker had
been put to rest as she got to know the man better. He
had become something of a champion to the young
Donovans, even before the judge's surprising announcement. He never failed to inquire over Charlie's health
with real concern, and it was not at all unusual to see him
lounging in the livery, sharing friendly conversation.

Never before had he come on business, but this particular morning things were about to change. The morning
had flown by, and the livery owners were just finishing
lunch. Sean, always very concerned about Charlie overdoing, had almost convinced her to go to the house and
lie down.

"I can take care of everything here," Sean urged.

"Mrs. Franks' mare doesn't like you, and she still
needs shoes."

"I'll leave her for last so you'll still have plenty of time
to take a nap before coming to help me."

"I'm not tired," Charlie replied stubbornly.

Sean shook his head. She was exhausted. Charlie had
not slept well, but she wouldn't hear of it when Sean
tried to convince her to stay in bed that morning. He
could see that he was going to have to become very stern.

"I want you to go to bed, Charlotte, and I mean now."

Charlie frowned at his tone and the order, but Sean
leveled her with a look that told her he meant business.
She turned ungraciously for the back door just as Witt
came in the front.

"I'm glad I caught you together. Have you got a minute? There's something I need to tell you."

"Actually Charlie was just headed to the-"

"Now is fine, Witt," Charlie interrupted, ignoring the
look Sean gave her.

"Well, I just had a man come into the bank who wants
to set up a livery in this town. He told me he'd rather buy
this one, but didn't really think it would be for sale.
Either way, he plans to borrow money to open a livery."

"What's his name?" Sean asked suspiciously, and Witt
answered, "Zach Carlton."

Husband and wife exchanged a glance. A man named
Zach Carlton had been in just two days ago to rent a
horse. He had been far from casual about his interest in
every square inch of Cooper's Livery. Sean had tried to
question him about whether he had business in town or
was just passing through, but he'd been very evasive.