Cindy Holby (36 page)

A sheep trotted out of the cover of trees. Cade blinked his eyes and looked again. Yes, it was short and thick and covered with dingy white wool. It stood before him and Gabe and baaed loudly before bolting off down the hill into the valley. Had he really seen it? A sheep, out here, in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of cattle country?

Feed my sheep…

Cade laughed. He laughed and laughed until he was bent over in the saddle. “I get it Lord,” he said. “I get it. I’ll take care of it now.”

Who would have thought her little house could feel so empty? Leah wandered through the rooms, from parlor to kitchen, from her room back to Cade’s. She’d stripped the
sheets and put them into the wash sometime during the middle of the night. She couldn’t sleep, and used Dodger’s wounds as an excuse to stay up so she wouldn’t disturb Banks, who slept very soundly after his scare.

When dawn finally broke the sky, revealing a beautiful day, she’d hung the sheets outside to dry and then turned the chickens out. They should be safe now. The coyotes were dead.

She fixed Banks breakfast and sent him off to play with Sam. He asked where Cade was and all she could say was he’d gone off on his horse. She didn’t tell him he was gone for good. She was afraid she’d cry and that was the last thing she wanted to do. She was afraid if she started she wouldn’t be able to stop, just like she’d been afraid when Nate died.

The events of the night before flashed before her eyes again. Cade with a gun. Cade, really good with a gun. Jim and Ward both agreed that he was the best they’d ever seen. Leah filled them in on the why, and who the men were. The
dead
men. They were laid out now, in Nate’s old office, awaiting burial. Maybe the town should look into getting an undertaker too. A sheriff, a pastor, a doctor and an undertaker. If they kept up like this they’d be a big city in no time.

She’d told them about Cade too. Just Ward and Jim. She couldn’t deal with anyone else and dreaded having to face Jake.

Cade thought she should marry Jake. He’d said so in his letter. The rest of it held the same things he’d told her, not the details, just that Timothy was dead because he’d helped Cade and that he was sorry.

God, she wished he was here.

Who was she to condemn him? Sure he’d made mistakes, but so had she. God knew she wasn’t perfect, so why should she expect Cade to be. He’d had a horrible life. Bad things had happened to him. He should have turned out as evil as the man who wanted to kill him, but he wasn’t. He was kind,
and sweet, and helpful. He’d been good to her, good to Banks, good to her ever-growing zoo of animals. He’d cared for her when she was desperately ill. He could have left then without a backward glance and no one would have been the wiser.

Dodger looked up from his bed when she returned, once more, to the kitchen. He’d been up this morning, gone outside long enough to relieve himself, and then returned to his warm bed by the stove, to sleep until he was healed. He would be all right, given some time.

“Thank you God for sparing Dodger. Thank you for protecting my child. Thank you for sparing that silly kitten that caused the ruckus in the first place.” Her voice broke on the prayer. “Thank you for sending Cade because without him we all would have been killed.” Another one of her prayers, shot like an arrow into the heavens.

The church bell rang. Long clanging peals that kept going. Why? It was Saturday. There was no school today and there would be no church tomorrow. No church for a good long while.

Leah went out onto the street. Something was wrong, it had to be. Another disaster on top of the recent many. Banks stood on the stoop of the church pulling on the bell rope with all his strength.

“Banks! Stop this instant.” The townsfolk came onto the street, moving out of Dusty’s and the store and the other homes and businesses, all of them looking toward the church.

“I can’t Momma,” Banks said. “Cade told me to.”

Her heart jumped. “Cade?”

“He’s inside,” Banks said with a smile.

Leah looked at the door. It stood open to welcome all. Smoke rolled from the chimney, which meant a fire had been built. Hesitantly, and suddenly full of fear, she stepped inside.

Cade stood at the front, by the pulpit. He looked much as he had the night before. He still wore the gun strapped to his hip but had removed the heavy coat to reveal the frock coat beneath. The hat she had given him sat on Margy’s desk. His hair was wild and curled around his neck and ears. He still needed a haircut, something she always intended to give him, but never did. Yet somehow, he looked different.

“Have a seat please,” he said.

Leah nodded, still too shocked at seeing him here to ask questions. She slid into a seat.

It’s his eyes…
his eyes were different…the sadness and the weariness he carried inside was gone.

Banks still rang the bell. Rang it joyfully because Cade had asked him to. Leah turned and saw the happiness on his face at doing something he always wanted, but never dared to do. She saw the adoration for Cade.
Please, keep him from disappointment Lord…

As Banks pulled the rope he motioned people inside and they came. Dusty and Zeke, Jim, Gretchen, Nonnie and the kids. Bettina, Gus, Margy and the rest of the townsfolk. Then last of all Ward, Pris and Bill. Ward and Bill both wearing their cuts and bruises from the night before. Lady was by Ward’s side, sticking close by, as if she were afraid he’d go somewhere without her. The ringing stopped and Banks left. Cade didn’t say anything, and everyone milled around for a bit, curious looks on their faces, most of them looking between him and Leah. All she could do was sit there until Banks came running up the aisle with the Bible in his hands. He gave it to Cade, who flipped it open and placed it on the podium. Banks sat down beside her and grinned. Everyone finally sat until the benches were full, except for Jim and Ward who both stood at the back with their arms crossed, waiting to hear what Cade had to say.

Cade grabbed the sides of the small podium and looked out at the crowd.

“My name is Cade Gentry and I’m here to tell you about a man I met. A man named Timothy Key.” No one made a sound. They all knew already that Cade wasn’t Timothy. News traveled fast, especially in such a small group.

“I met Timothy Key when I was at my most desperate. I was wounded, on foot and running for my life. I’m not a praying man.” He stopped for a moment, looked at the podium and swallowed. “I always thought that God didn’t care for me. That he wouldn’t listen to me. That he thought my prayers were a joke. You see, I went a long time without God answering any of my prayers. But what I didn’t know was that he
was
answering my prayers, just not in the way I expected. The night I met Timothy I prayed. I don’t even know what I prayed for, all I remember is asking for something…anything, to get me out of the situation I was in. And that’s when I met Timothy.”

Leah looked around. Everyone was listening, enraptured by his words, anxious to hear about the man he’d pretended to be. Would they be angry when they found out what had happened? Jake had come in sometime during Cade’s speech. He stood next to Ward and she could tell he was curious. Ward put a finger to his mouth, a sign to stay quiet and listen. Leah turned back to face Cade.

“Timothy was a gracious man. He took me in, without question. He fed me, he treated my wound and he shared a meal with me. He didn’t deserve to die the way he did.” He stopped again. Swallowed. Looked upward. Was he searching for a sign?

“This is Timothy’s Bible. I was looking through it one day. Trying to learn all I could about Timothy, when I happened upon this verse. It’s Hebrews 11:40. ‘God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.’” He looked up. “Now God knows I’m not perfect. I’m pretty certain Timothy wasn’t perfect, since he took in someone like me.”

There was a guffaw, a laugh, a titter. Leah ignored it. She kept her eyes on Cade.

“It was Timothy’s opinion that he was put in my path to take care of me. To help me. To feed God’s sheep. That was what he said; those were his last words actually. ‘Feed my sheep.’” Cade took a deep breath and let it out. “He said we have no way of knowing where God’s path will lead us. He said the Lord will forgive me for my sins. That all I had to do was ask. So this morning, I asked.” He looked at Leah. “And now I’m asking you. Forgive me.”

No one said a word. It took courage for him to stand up there and admit he had wronged them. More so to do it without any excuses. Tears gathered in her eyes and she willed them away. He wasn’t done yet.

“I’ve been in a lot of bad places, and I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud of, yet I can’t help but think that in a roundabout way, God led me to this place, and to you.” Leah knew his words were for her and only her, yet he spoke them for the town to hear. There would be no more secrets.

“God knew what I needed before I did. It was you, Leah. I don’t want to leave you, but I will, if you think that is for the best. I want to be a better man. I promise I will be, whatever you say, stay or go. But I’d sure like to be a better man for you.”

“Momma?” Banks said.

What should she do? What could she do? She was madly in love with the man, no matter what his name. She’d fallen in love with the real man. She knew he was good and he was good for her, and her son.

“Yes.” She stood up and went to Cade. She heard Jake’s gasp, heard him stomp out but she didn’t care. “Yes. I love you. Stay.”

Cade put his hands on her shoulders. His eyes were full of hope. It was such a beautiful thing to see. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” She kissed him then. The entire town saw it.
She didn’t care. All she needed was right here. Banks pulled on her arm. Cade picked him up and placed him between them and Banks puts his arms around both of them.

“Can we go home now?” he asked.

“Yes.” She smiled. “Let’s go home.”

“Wow, it’s big,” Banks said.

Cade stood the tree up in the corner of the parlor. The top brushed against the ceiling and the branches poked out in every direction, filling the room with the scent of pine. “I believe I told you that when you picked it out. But you said it was the one you wanted.”

“It is,” Banks said. “Can we decorate it now?”

“Ask your mom,” Cade said. They both looked expectantly at Leah. Their cheeks were flushed with cold and their hair damp from the snow. Both of them had wide grins on their faces and their eyes danced with excitement. It was Christmas Eve and joy filled her house once more.

“I don’t know which one of you is worse,” she said. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were six years old too.”

“That was the last time I had a Christmas tree.” Cade shrugged sheepishly.

Leah felt her heart jump, as it always did when she looked at this man—her husband now, thanks to the circuit preacher coming through last week—and thought of all he’d suffered through in his life. But he’d survived it. He’d never lost his soul, although from what he’d told her, it had been a hard battle fought and he’d had to keep it hidden for so very many years. Now he wanted to find his brother and she would help him as best she could.

“The box of decorations is on the table in the kitchen.”

Banks let out a whoop and ran to get them. He set it on the table before the sofa and immediately went to work. Ashes sniffed around the base of the tree and jumped onto
the trunk and disappeared into the branches. Dodger woofed at her one time and then lay on the rug before the fireplace.

Cade came behind Leah, wrapped his arms around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. “It looks like the decorations are all going to be around the bottom,” he said. She shifted a bit. The sheriff’s badge that hung on his shirt jabbed her.

“It doesn’t matter,” Leah replied. “I’ll spread them out when he’s done. He’ll get tired of it soon.” She didn’t move, as she enjoyed the feel of Cade’s arm around her, while his body stood solidly behind her. Through the window she watched as big fat flakes floated down, once more covering the town of Angel’s End with a beautiful snowfall. It was welcome, as the streets had been muddy lately, from a recent thaw. The world would be clean and new when they woke up Christmas morning.

Leah put her hand over Cade’s and slid it down to her belly. “I have a present for you.”

He spread his fingers over their child and kissed her cheek. She felt dampness as his cheek touched hers and she knew it wasn’t from the snow, but from tears of joy. “It’s a gift from God,” he whispered in her ear. “Thank you so very much.”

“S
top right there!” a gruff voice called out.

Jacob Reece cursed himself for a fool for getting so lost in his musings that he didn’t see anyone coming their way. He looked up the trail and didn’t recognize the small appaloosa or the rider who was currently pointing the business end of a Spencer rifle at his head. The rider was small and new horses turned up all the time. Could it possibly be one of Jim’s older twin boys? But surely the twins would recognize him. And why would they be robbing him?

Jake raised his hands, but he kept a hold on Libby’s lead. He heard Dan and Randy pull up behind him.

“Boss?” Randy asked.

“Let me see what’s going on,” Jake said. “There’s no need to punish foolishness with waste.” He knew the three of them could take whoever it was but he wanted to avoid bloodshed if it was possible. It was too pretty of a night to
have to shoot someone, even if they were stupid enough to try and steal from him.

“Turn loose of that donkey,” the rider said. The voice wasn’t as gruff this time. It was a boy trying to disguise himself by speaking lower than natural. Then the words sunk in to Jake’s mind.

“Wait.” Jake tried to keep a straight face. “Are you trying to steal my donkey?” He stretched out Libby’s lead. “This donkey?”

The rider cocked the rifle to let him know he meant business. “No. You are stealing my donkey.”