Seeing that smile, Trace relaxed a little. He had been a bit concerned ie, knowing that Seth was back in town, but the smile on the
other man's face showed that he was genuinely pleased.
"What can I get for you?" Seth finally remembered to offer.
The men worked together for a time. Trace needed to order an item from a catalog that Seth wasn't familiar with, but they finally managed it. The talk didn't get personal again until Trace was ready to head on his way.
"Will I see you Sunday?" the rancher asked.
"I'm planning on it."
"Do you think Jessie and the girls will join you?"
Seth smiled sadly before saying, "Maybe someday, but I doubt if it will be anytime soon."
"Well," Trace said with quiet sincerity, "it will be good to see you, Seth. Thanks for your help."
"You're welcome, and thanks, Trace."
Seth was on his own just a moment later and for nearly 30 minutes afterward, a state that suited him very well. He had some things to think about.
Seth hadn't planned to stick around and wait for Jessie and the girls, but they arrived back just 20 minutes before he would have closed the doors. The girls were flushed and smiling, and Jessie looked very relaxed.
"Well, now," Seth said, concentrating on his children. "Did you have a good time?"
about Jess
138"We saw Joey and Savanna and Cathryn andNetty!"Clancy said. "And we had dinner on the ranch!" Hannah added.
"That sounds fun," Seth said with a smile, even as he wondered who all those people were.
"What did you do?" Hannah asked, surprising Seth because Clancy was still talking about their day-the barn, the horses, and something about a moose.
"I took care of customers and cleaned a little," Seth told his oldest. "Was it busy?" she asked next.
"At times, but overall it was quiet." After Seth finished saying this he smiled at her in hope of reassuring her. She seemed worried. Once again he wished he knew what her different looks and silences meant. He didn't dwell on it but went back to their day out.
"Who is going to tell me who Joey and Savanna are?"
"Mama's cousins," Clancy said, and before Seth could look to Jessie for clarification, Hannah cut in.
"Meg is Mama's cousin."
"Who is Meg?"
"She's married to Brad. They have Savanna and Cathryn, and they're
going to have another baby before Christmas. I hope it's a boy." "Well, now," Seth said, remembering again how long he'd been
away. "Who is Joey?"
Clancy handled this one, explaining about the little boy and his baby sister.
"Trace was in here today," Seth told them, "and I didn't even know to congratulate him."
"You didn't help him?" Clancy asked, her face showing her shock. "No," Seth said on a laugh, "I didn't realize his wife had just had a baby. I would have offered congratulations."
Both girls frowned at him, and he looked to Jessie.
"How do I explain that word?"
"Let's see." Jessie frowned a little as she thought. "It means to tell someone you're pleased for them."
The girls looked at their mother for a moment and then back to
139Seth, their faces open and interested. Looking into their eyes-at the moment so full of trust-Seth was reminded that at times he didn't know exactly what to do with them. He glanced at Jessie and found her watching her daughters as well. Before he could figure out what she might be thinking, she spoke.
"I can lock up," Jessie offered.
"I'll get out of your way then," Seth said, taking his cue. "Goodbye, girls," he added, and headed to get his coat.
"Seth." Jessie stopped him, and he turned. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said but then couldn't turn away. Something in her face stopped him. "Didyouhave a good time?"
"Yes," she said, not able to stop the smile that came to her mouth. "I haven't had a day off since Bri worked for me."
"I didn't know Bri worked here," Seth said, looking as surprised as he felt.
"It was before she and Rylan were married."
"I don't think she's ever mentioned that."
"When she comes in, I play with Danny and she waits on herself"
Seth laughed, not just because the image was funny but because she was unbelievably relaxed. Seth never thought of Jessie as a tense person-she took most things in stride-but her very stance right now spoke of someone who didn't have a care in the world.
Wishing he could find something else to say to any of them, Seth turned for his coat. He was pleased and surprised to find that all three of them waited right where they were and said goodbye to him. Seth walked down the boardwalk in the direction of the Jarvik house, his mind trying to work out if he'd missed something just then or if leaving really had been the best idea.
"What do you think it means?" Meg asked Brad that evening. "I was just so surprised to see Jessie in the middle of the day. She can't have welcomed Seth back with open arms, but she left him in charge of the store."
140"Don't forget that he worked there almost from the first moment he came to town," Brad said. "And it wasn't long before they were married. I assume he knew every aspect of the business and still does."
"I guess so," Meg said, still trying to put the pieces together. She was genuinely pleased that Jessie and the girls had come, but it was still a surprise.
"Did it wear you out?"
"Pretty much. Talking to Jessie is no effort, but I wanted to ask ques tions
and didn't feel I could. That was the most draining part." "She's one independent lady-has been as long as I've known her." "Yes, she is. Jeb has said she's a lot like her father?'
"Did you know Hiram?"
Meg shook her head now. "I came for my first summer visit after he died-after Seth left too."
Brad was thoughtful for a moment, and Meg caught his look and asked about it.
"I was just thinking how much things can change, sometimes very swiftly."
"Were you thinking about that for us or Jessie?"
"At the moment for Jessie. Seth's coming back must have turned things upside down for her."
"Maybe the Lord will use it to get her attention."
"Maybe. I must admit that I haven't really trusted God in that area," Brad said. "I don't pray for her very often."
Brad grew thoughtful again, but this time Meg didn't ask. She suspected he was praying for Jessie, and she took advantage of the quiet to do the same.
"When you didn't come back," Rylan said to Seth over supper, "I assumed she wanted you to stay and work."
"Yes, she did. She and the girls left almost as soon as I arrived and got back right at closing."
141"Where had they gone?" Bri asked.
"Holden Ranch. They said something about Jessie's cousin marrying Brad."
"That would be Meg. She's Jeb and Patience's niece."
Seth nodded, still thinking about the interchange.
"Did they have fun?" Bri asked, spooning potatoes onto Danny's plate.
"They did. Jessie looked completely relaxed." Seth paused and suddenly smiled. "She mentioned that you'd worked for her, Bri."
"Before I was married," Bri said with a smile of her own. "I worked part-time for her and part-time for Jeanette."
"You were a busy lady."
"She still managed to find time to get into trouble," Rylan said dryly. Bri laughed.
"I think there's a story I need to hear," Seth said, watching their warm way with each other and feeling envy.
"Let's just say," Rylan worked to put it tactfully, "that Sabrina ran into interesting people in her zeal to share Christ."
Bri smiled in agreement but also said, "There has been some fruit."
"Yes, there has," Rylan agreed with a smile, thinking of the different women whose lives were changed because his wife reached out. Suddenly coming back to the present, Rylan asked, "How are you doing with the girls?"
"I'm not sure. I wis
h I knew them better. I wish I could tell what they were thinking."
"Did something happen?" Bri asked, hearing his quiet tone.
"Not specifically, but sometimes they look at me and I can't tell what they're thinking."
"They probably don't know themselves," Rylan said. "A man they didn't know existed has come on the scene and is their father. That happened only four days ago, Seth. They're as confused and uncertain as you are."
Seth stared at the other man. Thatwaswhat he was seeing on their faces. Why had he not recognized this?
142"Has it been only four days?" Seth finally asked.
"This is Wednesday night, and you met them Sunday afternoon. Even the notion that Jessie would leave you alone with the store this soon is a surprise."
Seth had nothing to say. For him, it felt as if he'd come back to Token Creek weeks ago. So much was familiar-not just the town, people and job, but also the way he felt about things. It was good to be reminded that in the most important things, the things involving his daughters, this was all very new.
"How is it going with Jessie?" Rylan cut into his thoughts.
"That's not as confusing as the girls. It's plain to see there's no trust there. Not that I blame her. I can see the questions in her eyes, and I think it's only a matter of time before she wants to know more than
. I've told her."
"Did you hold something back?"
"I didn't hold back incidents, but I didn't share all the specifics. The girls are very curious, and I'm sure you know they come by that honestly. Jessie's used to being the center of information in this town. She enjoys knowing what's going and has gone on."
"Will she hold it against you if you tell her more?" Bri asked. "Jessie is not a mean person-she never has been-but I don't know what she'll do with the details of my life."
"Do you think she'll send you away?"
"Not that. She says the girls need me and she puts them first, but she might put such a wall between the two of us that the girls will hold back, unconsciously taking their cue from her."
That made complete sense to Rylan and Bri. They both wished they could reassure him on Jessie's behalf, but that wasn't possible. On God's behalf, however, it was completely possible.
Rylan spent the rest of the meal reminding Seth that God had a plan and that Seth needed to remember that he had been obedient by returning to Token Creek. Rylan did not promise him that he would have no pain or heartache in the process but that obedience was always blessed.
143"And don't forget," Rylan finished, "our actions here are for eternity. We do the right thing and make the right choices here for eternity's sake. We leave the details to God as to what that's all going to look like."
Jessie settled into bed, the little girls already asleep on the other side of the same bed, and thought about the day. It had been wonderful. Somewhere on the ride out of town, it occurred to her that she'd walked away from the store, going so far as to leave it in Seth's care. She'd almost panicked, but the delight of her daughters and the absolutely decadent feeling of being gone during the workday had swiftly crowded all else aside.
She and Meg had always been friends. Meg, the younger of the two, had started making summer-long visits to Jeb and Patience many years ago, and the result had been her staying in Token Creek to marry Brad Holden. And today, somehow Jessie had known that Meg would welcome her. It wasn't that she'd never been to the ranch-she had several times over the years-but never on a weekday.
Jessie sighed a little as sleep crowded in, thinking about Brad and Trace's children and how precious they were. For a moment she thought about having a day like that every week, a day off that wasn't a Sunday. She fell asleep before she could start to wonder where this feeling had come from.
Rylan and Nate met each week but not always at the same time. This week they met on Saturday morning. The August weather was nice, so they had gone down to the edge of the creek and found a stretch of grass to sit on. Each man had his Bible.
"I found a verse from Psalms that I think applies to me," Nate said.
"Which one?"
144Psalm119:17: 'Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word."
"How do you think that applies to you?" Rylan asked.
"I can't remember too much about lying there when I was so weak, but after you told me I wasn't ready I do remember trying to talk to God. I hadn't done that very often, and I realize now that I was trying to make a deal with Him."
Rylan had not heard this before and was quiet as Nate shared.
"I think I said something about 'Just let me live, just let me live,' but I never worked out what my end of the bargain would be if He actually did that."
"And this verse reminds you of that?"
"A little. It almost sounds to me as if the writer is trying to make a deal with God."
"I can see why it might look that way, but don't take this verse out of context. It's from an amazing chapter where all but a handful of verses mention God's Word. That might not seem all that significant, but there are 176 verses in that chapter."
Nate blinked with surprise but kept listening.
"The psalmist is asking to live for a reason, that reason being God's Word. There is nothing self-seeking in this request. God's Word is so great and precious that this writer asks for more time so he can know that Word.
"Also, be sure to keep the next seven verses with it. They're all a plea and a thanksgiving to God for how amazing His Word is and how much we need it."
The men took time to read all the verses that Rylan mentioned and then prayed together. They were just minutes away from Nate heading to work when Rylan asked how Nate was doing with the topic of Heather.
"Most days I'm all right," Nate said. "It's hard not knowing if she doesn't want me or doesn't wantanyonespecial in her life."
"I've been meaning to ask you about that. Had you noticed Heather before you came to Christ?"
145"Yes, but she didn't get out much before Mrs. Holden died, so I was just drawn to her looks. But now that we've talked and I know how nice she is, the feelings are much stronger."
"This is when trust is so key, Nate. We don't know if God will ever touch Heather's heart concerning you, but we can still trust Him. Memorize Isaiah 26, verses3and 4. If ever you're tempted to think that God doesn't know her heart or yours, remember those
verses.
Nate looked them up on the spot and had to laugh.
"They're perfect!" he said.
"Yes, they are," Rylan agreed, also laughing.
Moments later Nate thanked him and went on his way, but Rylandidn'thurry home. He sat back down by the creek to pray for his friend. Rylan would never presume to know what God had in mind for Nate, but the pastor did ask God to move and work concerning Heather. He didn't ask for himself but in God's will, knowing that if God wasn't glorified by such a relationship, it would not be worth a moment's time or place in Nate's and Heather's lives.
Clancy hadn't meant to boss Seth, and she certainly hadn't meant to get caught in the act. For a moment, however, the seven-year-old forgot what her mother had said.
"Did you fix those shoe boxes yet?" Clancy asked not long before dinner on the busiest day of the week.
"I haven't had time," Seth told her, working to right a display of kitchen knives.
"Well, they need it and so do those bowls and pitchers on the top shelf."
"Thank you, Clancy," Seth said, having seen Jessie come up behind their daughter.
"Are you giving Seth orders?" Jessie asked, her voice quiet but astounded and angry that she'd been disobeyed.
146Clancy spun, her lower lip tucked between her teeth, telling her mother she had heard correctly.
"Head to the stairs and do not move until I get there."
"But it's Saturday!" the little girl argued.
"Go!"
Clancy went off, and Seth waited only for her to disappear to ask about what she'd said.
"I've been known to sen
d the girls to sit on the stairs on a Saturday and been so busy I've forgotten them," Jessie explained.
"How long will you leave her there?"
Jessie was about to answer when she saw what needed to be done. "Why don't you go to her? Maybe if you tell her you don't want to be bossed, she'll remember."
"All right," Seth agreed, thinking he would never have dared to suggest it. It wasn't that he hadn't given the girls directions, but he never got after them. He figured that would come in time, when the relationship wasn't so new.
"I've been thinking," Jessie said quietly, knowing it wouldn't be long before she was needed elsewhere in the store. "I have some questions."
"For me?"
"Yes."
"All right."
"I don't want the girls to know anything more, but I need to know some things."
"Sure," Seth agreed, glad he'd already anticipated this. "Just let me know when."
There was no time for more. Both husband and wife were needed by customers in the next few seconds.
147
IT WAS SOME TIMEbefore Seth had time to even go check on Clancy. He found her lying across the second step, looking bored and put out. He sat on the bottom step to be on her level.
"Is Mama coming?" she asked as soon as she spotted him, sitting up in the process.
"No, I'm here to talk to you."
"Not Mama?"
"Not this time," Seth said, working to find brief and simple words for all the things in his heart. "I want to tell you something, and I want you to listen carefully. I think we all have jobs to do. Your job is to be a little girl who listens to her mother and does what she's told. My job is to work and take care of things for your mother here in the store, and do whatsheneeds me to do."
Clancy watched him, her eyes intent on his face.
"It's wrong of you to boss me around. But I don't want you to boss me around because your mother said not to. I don't want you giving me orders because it's notyourjob. Do you understand, Clancy?"
"What's my job?"
"Your job is to be seven. You're not an adult, so you don't need to
148act like one. You need to be seven and listen to what your mother and I tell you, and then obey."
"Are you mad at me?"