The Outsider (28 page)

“Seth.” Without realizing what she was doing, she sought some image of the boy in her mind when there was no way she could know him. Absolutely nothing came to mind. No shadows of knowing lingering in the recesses of her mind. Nothing. Instead joy sprang up inside her. A new gift to drive out the old. She could almost feel the gift of knowing being pushed out of her and disappearing into the night.

A prayer of thanksgiving rose in her heart as she reached up to touch Brice’s face. Then he had both arms around her and she lifted her lips to meet his. Her feet had finally found the path out of the dark valley to the mountain bathed in the sunshine of not only Brice’s love but also the sure love and blessings of the Lord.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Ann H. Gabhart
and her husband live on a farm just over the hill from where she grew up in central Kentucky. She’s active in her country church, and her husband sings bass in a southern gospel quartet. Ann is the author of over a dozen novels for adults and young adults. Her first inspirational novel,
The Scent of Lilacs
, was one of Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Novels of 2006.