Along Unfamiliar Paths Page 16

  His father stared at him, tears flowing freely down his lined cheeks. “Ben—your mother and I are the ones who need to ask forgiveness. We have finally started to learn about the joy and peace that comes with a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Can you ever forgive us for leading you in the wrong way?”

  ❧

  Ben pushed his plate away. “Mother, that was delicious. I can’t eat another bite.” His mother smiled, and Ben was struck once again by how much his parents had changed. He had accepted their offer for him to stay with them and had enjoyed the time immensely. But it was time to be heading back to where his heart told him he belonged.

  “Father, Mother.” They both looked up at his serious tone. “I have something to tell you. God has called me. . .” He described the yearning in his heart to serve as pastor to the hard-working ranchers near Colorado Springs. “Anyway, I sold my share of the shipping company.” He paused, waiting for his words to sink in. “I want you to have half of the money.”

  ❧

  Ben had one more piece of business to take care of in London. When he accomplished his goal, the results were better than he had ever dared to hope. His heart was so light that he felt as though he could fly across the Atlantic. Now if only he could find Paul. . .

  The next day found Ben on the deck of a ship, waving until his arm ached. The memory of his parents’ faces as they stood arm in arm on the wharf was something he would treasure forever. There was a new sparkle in his mother’s eye, and the look on his father’s face could only be described as joyful.

  What a blessing that they have truly come to know You, Father. Looking out across the calm waters of the Atlantic, his smile dissolved as he thought of a different time, a different ship. He remembered the way Raine’s dusky green eyes had sparkled with laughter as they talked together on so many cool, moonlit evenings. He could almost feel her silky hair slipping through his fingers, the smell of her skin when he kissed her. . . God, if there’s any way, please give her back to me.

  Some days he could almost pretend that he had never given his heart away, but on days like this, the longing became unbearable. I don’t want to live my whole life without her, Lord Jesus. But I want to do Your will. If You mean for me to be alone, then I’m going to need Your strength. . .

  ❧

  “Raine’s not here?” Ben stared at Raine’s uncle John in consternation.

  “I’m sorry, son. We tried to catch you before you left, but we were too late.”

  Ben shook his head in disbelief. “I must have just missed her. I can’t believe she’s been in Colorado all this time while I’ve been in London. If I’d come back to Boston before I left for England, at least I would have known. But I was in such a hurry to take care of my shipping business and have it done, that I left straight from New York. What a mess!”

  “I have a feeling everything’s going to work out just fine, Captain Ben. You do still love her, don’t you?”

  “More than I thought possible. And all this time I thought she had believed the worst about me.” He grinned ruefully. “Things sure can get twisted around, can’t they?”

  “That’s for certain.” John chuckled. “But I think things will untwist pretty quickly once you have that niece of mine in your arms again.”

  Ben felt the familiar longing press against his heart. “I hope so, John,” he said softly. “I hope so.”

  ❧

  Raine sighed as she went to the door of her small hotel room. Would she ever have a moment of peace? Reluctantly pulling the door open a crack, she opened it wider when she recognized the young telegraph clerk. “Hello, Clay.”

  He was fairly vibrating with excitement. “I’ve seen him again, Miss Thomas! The man with the scar!”

  Raine’s heart leapt. “Where?”

  “He was right here in town. I seen him eatin’ at the Lantern Hotel. Then he went to the store, then left town.” Clay hopped from foot to foot. “I heard another man call him ‘Cox.’ ”

  “Cox?” Raine wrinkled her brow. “But my brother’s name is. . .” her voice trailed off. Of course. Grandfather’s name was Oliver Cox. “Thank you, Clay!” She smiled at him. “I think you’ve been a great help to me today.”

  Alone once again, Raine mulled over the new clue. If this man were Paul, how could she find out for sure? She grabbed her hat. She would just go and see for herself.

  Her heart sank as the woman at the Lantern Hotel shook her head. “I remember seeing a man that sounds like the one you’re after, but I surely don’t know his name.” The motherly woman looked at Raine kindly. “Are you in trouble, child?”

  “Trouble?” Raine shook her head. Suddenly, the color flooded to her cheeks as she realized what the woman meant. “Oh no, ma’am.” She hastened to clear herself. “I’m looking for my brother.”

  Covering her flaming cheeks with her hands, Raine missed the look of compassion in the woman’s eyes. “Well, the best of luck to you, child.”

  Raine turned to go. Almost to the door, she looked up just in time to avoid crashing into an enormous man. “I beg your pardon,” she murmured, her eyes glued to the man’s chest in embarrassment.

  “Not at all, not at all, little lady,” he boomed. “You’re the new schoolmarm, aren’t you?”

  She jerked her gaze back up to the man’s twinkling eyes. “Yes, I am. But how—?”

  The man laughed. “Aw, I make it my business to know just about everything going on in this town. In fact, I couldn’t help but hearing part of your conversation with Nancy here.” He gestured to the woman Raine had just spoken to. “I reckon I could tell you a bit about the man you’re looking for.”

  Raine stared at him. “You know Paul?” She whispered.

  “I don’t know about any Paul, but I do know the man you described to Nancy. Name’s Tom Cox. Owns a ranch south of here. Why is it you’re looking for Tom?”

  He certainly isn’t shy, she thought, amused. “Actually, I’m not certain that it’s Tom I want to see, Mr. . .?”

  “Jackson. Just Jackson, no Mister. Why are you asking for Tom if you don’t know if you want to see him?”

  She sighed. “It’s a long story, Mr.—Jackson.”

  Jackson took the hint and stopped probing. “Well, it was mighty fine to meet you. I’ve got to get going now, myself.”

  Raine put out a small hand. “Thank you for telling me about Tom,” she said sincerely.

  Jackson shook her hand until she was sure it would fall off. “Most welcome, ma’am. Most welcome.”

  Back in her room, Raine stood staring out her window, deep in thought. The growing twilight mimicked her thoughts—fuzzily outlined ideas, barely discernable theories swathed in shadows. Tom Cox, Cox, Cox. She had been unable to think of little else, the man’s name beating a rhythm in her brain.

  She lay down with a sigh, images of a dark-haired man with a scar merging with loving thoughts of a tall, golden-haired man. Restless, she tossed back and forth. “Ben, please come to me,” she mumbled as her dreams became more real. “I need you. No one will believe me that Paul Thomas is my brother. . .Paul Thomas has a scar. . .Tom Cox, Paul T. . .”

  She woke with a start, her dream still vivid in her mind. She knew suddenly without a doubt that Tom was short for Thomas and since Cox was their grandfather’s name; it had to be Paul. She hugged the pillow to her chest, too excited to go back to sleep. Surely I can find his ranch now that I know his name, she reasoned. Maybe Jackson will help me in the morning. Maybe he even knows where the ranch is. She made joyful plans, whiling away the long hours of the night. The only pain left to mar her joy was Ben’s absence.

  ❧

  “Well, I reckon I could spare some time to drive a pretty woman out to the Crooked P Ranch.” Jackson was delighted with Raine’s request. “And even if that ol’ Tom Cox isn’t your brother, I reckon he wouldn’t complain any about having the new schoolmarm pay him a visit.”

  Raine smiled in embarrassment. Jackson was a nice enough man, but he was so�
�big. Everything about him was big, from his boots to his voice.

  “I’m ready to go now, if you are,” she said politely.

  “Well, just climb right up here into the wagon seat then, little lady. We’ll be out to the Crooked P before you know it.” He clucked to the horses, waving his hat proudly at every man on the street. “They just wish they were so lucky to have the schoolmarm ride with one of them,” he boomed to Raine.

  Raine doubted that it really mattered to anyone who Jackson was driving around in his wagon. Nevertheless, she ducked her head slightly, cringing under the curious stares of everyone they passed. Soon they were out of town, and she let out a relieved sigh. “How far is it to Paul’s—I mean Tom’s ranch?”

  “Little ways yet,” was Jackson’s cheerful reply. “Aren’t those mountains about the prettiest sight you ever laid eyes on?”

  Raine had to agree that the beauty of this country was breathtaking. At the moment, though, all her thoughts were focused on what awaited her at the Crooked P Ranch. Could it really be possible, after all these years? She could hardly imagine being in her brother’s strong arms once again, seeing his precious face. . .and just wait until she wrote and told Papa! What a wonderful. . .

  “. . .and that over there is one of those pesky little prairie dogs.” Raine’s thoughts were jerked back to the present as Jackson waved a hand in her direction. “They dig those little burrows, then the horses step in them and break their leg. Yep, those prairie dogs sure are a nuisance. Kinda cute little critters, though.”

  Raine looked around. Sure enough, there were little mounds of dirt dotting the prairie as far as the eye could see. Anxious prairie dogs stood up on tiny hind legs, prepared to dive for safety at the slightest hint of danger.

  Jackson glanced at her. “You must be pretty excited to see Tom again,” he said, his voice as near to quiet as he could manage.

  Raine nodded, scanning the prairie as if she would see Paul suddenly materialize before her. “Yes, it’s been a long time, Jackson.” Her voice quivered as a sudden thought assailed her. “I just hope he wants to see me.”

  Jackson’s voice dropped even lower. “Aw, Miss Thomas. Don’t you worry. That old rascal has been pining away about something ever since I knew him. Never would tell me about it. I bet he’s just dying to see you.”

  “I hope so,” Raine said quietly.

  ❧

  Tom squinted at the small cloud of dust in the distance. Must be Jess coming over to drive those stray calves of his home, he decided. Swinging up on Trixie’s broad back, Tom rode out to meet his neighbor. Drawing closer to the dusty cloud, he realized that it wasn’t a lone rider as he had expected, but a wagon. He squinted at it, frowning as he recognized the driver. Jackson! Why in the world is he coming out here in the middle of the day? Usually only bad news could tear a rancher away from a hard day’s work; visiting was reserved for evenings when the work was done.

  Tom nudged Trixie into a gallop, his heart beating faster in spite of himself. Maybe someone had finally fallen into that dry well near the Baxter’s. He knew it was going to happen one of these days. Or maybe it was Grandma Lydia. The dear old saint had been barely clinging to life for days now. . .

  “I brought the schoolmarm out to meet ya, Tom!”

  Tom barely heard Jackson’s shout over the pounding of Trixie’s hooves, but his heart slowed its frantic pace as he noticed Jackson’s smile. Yanking Trixie to a halt, Tom stared at the woman sitting next to Jackson. Her face swam before his eyes as a loud rushing filled his ears. He shook his head in disbelief, then raised his eyes slowly to meet hers.

  “Raine?”

  She was out of the wagon almost before he could dismount. Throwing her arms around his neck, she wept until there were no more tears. “Oh Paul! It’s really you! Thank God I finally found you!”

  Paul let his sister cry, his own tears falling thick and fast onto her hair. Holding her tightly, he felt the last of the restlessness in his soul all but vanish. All the waiting, the longing; this was what his heart had needed. Pushing her away gently, he gazed lovingly at her face. She had grown into a beautiful woman since he had last seen her. He took in the short hair, the beautiful eyes filled with joy and yet somehow marked with sadness. “It’s time for us to talk, little sister,” he said huskily.

  Raine nodded, too full of emotion to speak. Suddenly remembering Jackson, she turned to find that he had tactfully slipped away.

  Paul helped Raine mount Trixie. Swinging up on the patient horse, Paul turned her toward the house. “Home, girl,” he murmured.

  Raine clasped her brother’s waist tightly as they rode, laying her head on his strong back. Thank You, Father.

  ❧

  “So—start at the beginning, Ray.” Raine was ensconced in the only comfortable chair Paul owned. He sat on a stool at her feet, his face eager.

  “Well, first of all, you have to understand that I didn’t receive any of your letters, except one. That’s partly why it took me so long to find you.”

  “What?” Paul jumped to his feet. “I must have written you a hundred letters since I first left home. I finally gave up writing about the time I came out here. I didn’t dare. But how could you not. . .” His voice trailed off as understanding dawned. “It was Papa, wasn’t it?” he asked flatly.

  “I’m afraid so, Paul. All that time I couldn’t understand why you didn’t write me any letters, and Papa was destroying them all before I could see them.” Raine’s smile was sad. “But he is sorry, Paul. He begged me to forgive him.”

  Paul shook his head. “I thought that he had poisoned you against me, and that’s why you never answered any of my letters.” He turned his head so that Raine could not see the tears shimmering in his eyes. “Back in Boston—and even here in Colorado—I checked my mail box every week, hoping somehow that you still loved me and cared about me.”

  Raine slipped from her chair, gathering her brother into her arms like a small child. “I never stopped loving you, Paul. I thought I would die of loneliness when you left.”

  “Me too,” he whispered.

  She wiped the tears from her face. “I’m never going to get through the whole story if we don’t stop crying!” She laughed shakily.

  Many minutes and many tears later, Paul sat looking at his sister in amazement. “You’ve grown into a strong woman, Raine Thomas,” he said quietly. He frowned. “Tell me again about the man who abducted you.”

  Raine described the man once again, watching as her brother’s face paled. “I can’t believe he would go that far.” Paul gritted his teeth. “I’m sure he’s the same man who has been after me, Raine. His name is Dag.”

  “You know who he is?”

  Paul nodded grimly. “I know all too well. He tried to kill me.” Determined not to dwell on the subject, he made an effort to smile at Raine. “We can talk about that later. I know you have a few questions of your own that I need to answer.”

  She sensed his need to change the topic of conversation. “Yes, I have quite a few questions that need answering, as a matter of fact,” she replied with mock sternness.

  He flashed her a boyish grin. “It’s not that bad is it?”

  “You didn’t make it very easy on me, big brother. What was the idea of telling everyone we were married?”

  Paul smiled at the look of reproach on her face. “Seriously, I never dreamed it would make trouble for you. I didn’t do it purposely at first.” He shook his head, remembering.

  Ben took a long look at the photograph. “So this is your girl,” he said slowly. “She’s beautiful.”

  Paul opened his mouth to correct Ben, then snapped it shut. For some reason, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to let Ben assume that Raine was his fiancée. He didn’t know Ben well then, and he wasn’t sure he liked the look on Ben’s face as he gazed at the photograph of Raine. Then somehow, the lie had mushroomed.

  “I didn’t always do the right thing at that point in my life, Raine.” Paul hung his head. “After
I let Ben believe that you and I were engaged, it got easier to lie about it. I didn’t intend for it to turn into such a big thing, but I guess I’m a coward.”

  Raine stared at her brother in confusion. “But why?”

  “I figured that if I let it slip to the other crew members that I was married, maybe they wouldn’t be so rough on me.” He looked at Raine pleadingly. “I didn’t mean to cause you trouble. It’s just that it was hard enough to stay away from the tavern, and when my fellow sailors thought I was married, they didn’t pressure me so much about, well, the girls.” Paul ended his sentence in embarrassment.

  Raine’s eyes softened. “I can understand that, Paul. But Violet. . .”

  “That was another matter altogether,” he admitted. “She just assumed. . .and I never bothered to correct her. I guess after what I’d been through, it just seemed like a nice change, me a respectable married man instead of. . .” He flushed.

  “But you did know that Lucinda revealed the father’s true identity after the child was born? Surely you heard. . .”

  The look of relief on her brother’s face was so profound, Raine knew he hadn’t known until that moment.

  “Oh, Paul. All this time. . .”

  “But Papa. . .?”

  “He was too guilty himself to be able to reconcile with you. I know that now. At the time, I thought you would come back as soon as you found out that you were absolved. I guess it just made it all the harder when I didn’t hear from you. Oh Paul, I thought you were dead!” She finished with a sob, recalling those dark days. “Thank God He kept His hand on you all these years.”

  Paul nodded soberly. “I’ll say amen to that.” Then he paused. “Is that why you thought I stayed away? Because of Lucinda and the baby?”

  She nodded. “Of course. Then when I found out your true identity, I assumed you were angry with Papa for hiding it from you. I didn’t know anything about the espionage until Geoff told me.”