|
Despite all of his aches and pains from his fight with Jake,
Stone was hard at work on his farm early the next morning. While leading a pack
of horses into the corral, he thought the sun was playing tricks on his eyes
when he noticed that Jake was coming down the worn path that led to his home.
From what Stone could tell, Jake was favoring a few sore spots of his own.
“That’s quite a shiner you got there,” Jake said.
“Yeah. Guess I can’t say you never gave me nothin’. You
back for round two?” Stone closed the gate to the corral and wiped the sweat
from his brow.
“I came to apologize. My life’s been messed up for so
long now, I can’t remember which bad decision came first.” Jake wanted to
say more, wanted to explain that he’d been consumed by greed and pride, but he
wasn’t eloquent with words.
Stone searched the man’s face and realized that the
coarseness Jake had worn like a badge several weeks ago was gone. He figured
that yesterday’s events must have scared him back into the arms of his family,
and hopefully, back into the arms of the Lord. Stone tried to play it cool, but
he couldn’t keep a smile from his face. He hugged Jake firmly to show his
forgiveness, and the two grown men winced in pain from their ripe bruises.
“Well, the important thing is knowin’ you made some
mistakes and bein’ brave enough to move on.”
The two casually perched themselves on top of the corral
fence and admired the horses.
“You seem to know a lot about that, don’t you? Messin’
up and startin’ over?”
“The town expert,” Stone laughed. “I just figure if the
Lord’s givin’ me another shot at life I’d better not waste it.”
“Cally tells me you and Josie are fixin’ to get
married,” Jake said with a smile.
“Yep. We’re getting married in a few weeks at the church
social. I still gotta get a few things done around here before then; I’d like
the place to look a little more respectable. I thought we should wait a while,
but Josie wouldn’t hear of it. I almost had to twist her arm to get her to
wait this long.” Stone shook his head, still reeling in awe from his own good
fortune.
“I guess she’s always known what she wants.”
Jake winked at his friend and slapped him on the shoulder;
the twinkle in Stone’s eyes was undeniable.
“How’s Cody feelin’?” Stone asked.
“Moanin’ through some pain. Doc says that’s to be
expected though. Thanks for bein’ there for him.”
“Glad I could help. I’m gonna miss havin’ him around
here. He was quite a worker, and full of spice.”
“Ever since you got back here you been like a pa to him.
Cally told me how you got him back in school, and even church. She says that boy
loves church now, and hearin’ stories from the Bible.”
Stone hoped that Jake’s anger wouldn’t rekindle.
“You were good to him and looked out for him; you were
better to him in a month than I’d been in ages. I appreciate that,” Jake
said with a thankful smile.
“It’s amazin’ what kids will do for love and
attention,” said Stone, through a sigh of relief. He wasn’t trying to be any
kind of hero, but he was grateful to help point the youngster in the right
direction.
“Yeah. I reckon that’s why he’s been so ornery for a
while, doin’ what he could so someone would notice.”
“You headin’ back out to your claim?” Stone hesitated a
bit, and wasn’t sure if it was his place to ask such a question.
“Nah. I belong at home, with my family. Got a lot of time
to make up for. And I need to be there for Cally and the baby.”
“Good for you. I been prayin’ things would change for
you.”
“I’m sure you have. So now that you got your place up and
runnin’, is there any chance you could help me get back on my feet?”
“There’s always a chance,” Stone said with a sly smile.
“You know, I don’t think I missed you one bit while you
were gone.”
“Me neither.”
The two chuckled and Jake patted Stone heartily on the back,
forgetting once again about those tender bruises.
©2004 StoriesByEmail.com
|
