Page 72 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
“I had planned a quiet afternoon with just the two of us.” His laugh was rueful.
“I’m sorry to ruin your plans.”
“Who says you have?” He pulled her to her feet. “The backyard is sheltered. We can enjoy the sunshine out there without fear.” Despite his words, he strapped on his gun belt as they went outside.
She couldn’t make herself go farther than the chairs against the house and perched on the seat of one. Every noise sent a shiver through her body.
Jesse couldn’t help but notice and held her hand. He talked of many things. She heard his voice, but his words did not register.
She had been threatened.
She couldn’t remember who she was.
Mikey might be at risk because of her.
Trusting God was a lot harder than the words implied.
It seemed forever until Gram came through the back gate with Mikey at her side.
Emily bolted from her chair and hugged the boy to her.
He patted her cheek and giggled at how she kissed him over and over.
Jesse joined them, his gaze searching their surroundings.
Afraid of being out in the open, she carried Mikey indoors, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll get supper started.”
“What’s going on?” Gram asked.
The door closed behind Emily. She wouldn’t hear Jesse’s answer, but she didn’t need to.
She half listened to Mikey’s chatter as she made supper. Gram and Jesse came inside. Gram set the table. Jesse wandered from the kitchen to the living room, pausing to look out each window. She noticed he kept his gun belt on, though he normally removed it in the house.
Later that evening, she brought her Bible downstairs and sat on the couch. Jesse had gone out to make his rounds. Gram and Mikey had both gone to bed. She was alone with a bird in his covered cage. Muffin had refused to stay with her and followed Gram up the stairs.
She must find strength and courage to face the future and whatever it holds, and she read Psalm after Psalm. The seventy-seventh held her attention. Over and over, she read the words,I remember.Would she ever remember?
The door opened. Her heart slammed into her ribs, then settled back to where it belonged as she saw through a haze of tears that it was Jesse.
She hadn’t even realized she was crying.
He closed the door and hurried to her in long strides, shedding his gun belt as he came. He sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. “How long have you been sitting here crying?”
“I don’t know.” Her sad voice was muffled against his shirt. “I’ve been reading my Bible.”
“I see that.” He took the open Bible off her lap.
She tapped the Psalm she’d been reading. “Has God forgotten me?”
He studied the verses for a moment. “The Psalm closes with a reminder that God leads his people like a flock. He does the same for you.”
She leaned into his embrace, willing to believe his explanation.
“It reminds me of a hymn.” He began to sing. “All the way my Savior leads me; What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide?” He sang several verses, his voice reverberating beneath her ear. Trust replaced worry. A smile replaced her frown.
He stopped singing and tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “Feeling better?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
