Page 90 of Gideon

Murmurs filtered through the room, gaining strength. Then a man in his sixties stood up. “I have some extra room at my farm if anyone needs a place to stay. I have some room for storage as well.”

Another man stood. “I have room too.”

Ty and his wife stood. “We can help with the food. Maybe if we cook some meals through the week, too, we can eat together and encourage one other.”

The room got louder and louder as plans were made. Instead of fear, there was excitement.

“That was a great idea, Mom,” Nikki said, hugging her. “I wish I would have thought of it.”

“You can’t do everything. Let some of the rest of us have a chance for input.”

Nikki laughed. “I shouldn’t doubt. Look what’s happened. I was worried, but God did what God does, and He will continue to do so.”

“And we will all probably fall into doubt again.”

“I wish Gideon was here.”

“Oh, yeah. He stopped by looking for you before. Didn’t find you here?”

“He did. He came to say goodbye.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. But he wouldn’t go if it wasn’t God leading him to.”

“I hope not.”

“Honey,” Beth put a hand around her daughter. “I know you liked him, but it may have been his time to move on. Look what he started and you’re here to see it through.”

“I know. I just wish things had turned out differently,but there’s enough to be happy about. And I will be squeezing as much joy out of this as I can.”

Chapter 23

Gideon wokewith a stretch and a yawn. The towel outside had been forgotten in sleep, but it quickly returned as his mind cleared of its fog, and he sprang to his feet.

He tiptoed to the door, checking on his dad, who was asleep in his bed with one leg draped over the side.

That was good. Gideon wasn’t ready to talk to anyone yet. If the towel was wet, he’d made a decision before falling asleep the night before to leave. He’d felt peace about it, but now the ball of trepidation was back in his stomach. Like it had been the first time. Did God want him to stay or go?

He didn’t need his feet to touch the ground this time when he went outside. He could see the dew clinging to webs in the grass. He stepped onto the lawn, and the damp cooled his toes as he walked up to the towel and stared down at it. So much was riding on this. A silly test he’d given to God. And he couldn’t be sure God waseven in on it, or if He thought Gideon was being a fool. He sure felt like a fool.

“Here we go. The moment of truth.” He picked up the towel before a sharp laugh burst from him throat. He wasn’t expecting the relief he felt. His fingers explored the fabric before he was willing to confirm the impossible.

“I can’t believe it,” he breathed. “This is crazy.” It was more remarkable than the first time. That God would do it twice. But the towel was dry. Even the edges were dry. Not one drop of dew had dampened the towel. “You’ve outdone yourself.” He checked and rechecked the towel as he tramped across the wet grass. He hadn’t wanted to leave, but he hadn’t realized until this moment how much he wanted to stay. It didn’t matter what Fairfax or Sheriff Peters said. God wanted Gideon to stay.

The garage door squeaked open. “I thought you’d run off,” his dad said half-in, half-out the door as he tugged at his underwear. “What are you doing with that?”

“Checking a theory.”

“And?”

“And I’ve got work to do.”

Joey grunted and went back inside with Gideon on his heels.

He expected his dad to fall back into bed or grab one of his early-morning beers, but instead, once they were inside, he swiveled around and crossed his arms. “Well?”

“Well, what?” Gideon said, dropping the towel over a chair.

“What’s the plan?”

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