TIME PASSED AND Brandon Creek settled back into a small, sleepy town again, high in the mountains of God’s country where most worked hard for a living.
Franklin Conner never quite got over the pain he felt from the loss of his two boys. His youngest was kind to him, but Stanton lived his life separately from his father’s. Franklin was alone and he felt it. He stopped working, allowing the managers to run his store, the lodge, and the mill. He didn’t return to church either, ashamed of what his life had become, so unsure of himself and all that he stood for.
Jed Conner was convicted of manslaughter for the accidental killing of Pastor Andrew Brown. Though the minister would have forgiven him, if he had lived, society did not and he was sentenced to twelve years.
Waiting for him, when his sentence was over, was the Federal penalty for selling hard liquor without a license and tax evasion. The feds weren’t lenient and he was sentenced to an additional thirty-five years in a Federal pen, without the possibility of parole. Jed would be in his eighties when he got out, if he was good.
Megs sold the Dead Moose Bar and Grill, the family home near the corner, and moved her family away. Not being able to wait for her husband for forty-seven years, she filed for divorce and moved on with her life. She tried to raise her sons the best she knew how and struggled to keep them out of trouble. It wasn’t easy when the boys came from a broken home and true love was lacking from the men in their lives.
Braxton had moved into the housing facilities of the Salvation Army in Idaho Falls, going to the church service every Sunday and never drinking again. He served in the kitchen there and at the store, raising money for the homeless shelters and aiding the elderly.
But, it was in the women’s shelters where he did the most good. He saw firsthand the results of other men, just like himself ,who had abused and destroyed their families, creating fear and pain in their insatiable desire to control others. He was understanding, patient, and kind, working hard to keep the facility running and helping where he could. And when he had the opportunity, he’d council the men who would listen.
During his volunteer work at the prisons, it didn’t take very much imagination for him to realize he could have ended up there. It could have been him behind bars, instead of Jed. He was grateful to be free and the fulfilment of helping others was liberating. He felt complete and happy in helping others and would spend the rest of his life in service there.
He took the time, months later, to write a letter to Sheila and the girls, giving it to his brother Stan to mail. In it he wrote:
Dear Sheila, Jodi and Candice, I want you to know how deeply and profoundly I regret the harm and pain I have caused you. I never meant for any of you to fear me. I understand I have destroyed your trust in me and I don’t ever expect to see any of you again.
However, if you ever found the courage to see me, God willing, I’d welcome it with all of my heart. I really do love you, all of you, and pray for you. Please move on with your life as I am. And if you ever needed anything, if it’s in my power to grant it, all you had to do is get ahold of Stan. He’ll always know where I am and how I’m doing. Yours in Christ, your Dad and husband, Braxton.
Crystal Davenport received a large financial settlement from Franklin Conner. He told her it was the right thing to do. He also gave her the house, mortgage free, and the small family was able to do more things together now that she had the time and money. She gave up doing laundry for a living and Pastor Tom and Marty installed a used washer and dryer on their back porch.
The Davenport children continued to go to school at the parsonage and thrived under the love and attention of the minister’s wife. Aggie learned to play the piano quite well, and she soon was playing the instrument during the Sunday services.
Lynn and Kyle McKenna returned to the church and grew spiritually under Pastor Tom’s teaching. Old friends welcomed them warmly, while new friends were added, making a rich tapestry of friendships for the small family.
Kyle and Stacy Hennacy fell in love. The young couple was to wed in the spring and the congregation was looking forward to adding one more family to its number.
Bess Compton called Sheila every week to catch up with her life in the Sunshine State. Now that Braxton wasn’t in town, she had no problem writing her friend, calling her, or flying down whenever she pleased. She grew comfortable with the idea that Sheila’s husband had indeed changed. What a miracle it was in itself to see such a hard man completely change. Within that year, she started to attend the little country church herself, which was making such a difference in their small town.
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