[Desert Roses 03] - Beneath A Harvest Sky (38 page)
“Everything’s going to be all right,” the man said without emotion. His calm was maddening to Sonny, who could think of nothing but his sister dying from heatstroke.
The marshal rounded up two cars and a deputy and motioned Sonny to the front seat of his own car. “We’ll take Albright and Driscoll into custody first, then go on ahead and find your sister.”
Sonny hated the delay. “Isn’t there another car I could borrow? I hate to leave her there any longer.”
“Try not to worry. This won’t take long.”
“But Albright has a gun. He may not come willingly.”
The marshal shrugged and smiled. “Gun or no gun, he doesn’t have much of a choice. I can leave him to the desert until he’s more cooperative.”
Sonny nodded. “Let’s get to it, then.”
T
o Sonny’s amusement, Gunther and Chester were still asleep when he returned with the marshal. The men were so confused and disoriented as they awoke that they were easily taken into custody.
“If I could get a hand from your deputy,” Sonny said after the men were secured in the backseat of the marshal’s car, “I could get this car out of the sand.” The marshal nodded and motioned his deputy to give Sonny assistance.
Sonny maneuvered a long pole into a position that would give them the best advantage. He and the deputy worked for several minutes until Sonny was confident that the car was about to be freed. “Okay, just give it a little gas.”
“You know,” a familiar voice called out, “we’re never going to stick to our schedule if you keep getting us stuck in the sand.”
Sonny dropped the pole and whirled around. Spying Rainy and Duncan on muleback with Istaqa at their side, he felt the world suddenly go right.
“You’re safe—you’re here!”
Rainy laughed. “Of course, silly. And you’re stuck in the sand as usual. Why the Harvey Company ever hired you to drive for them is beyond me.”
“I guess they hired me because of my dashing good looks and dreamy eyes. Remember, the part about the eyes was particularly important.”
Duncan got down from the mule and came to where Sonny stood. “Can I give you a hand with this?”
Sonny breathed a sigh of relief and slapped his friend on the back. “Yup, then you can buy me breakfast and we’ll talk about your wedding plans.”
Duncan looked surprised and glanced back at Rainy. “Wedding plans?”
Sonny nodded, giving Duncan a most serious expression. “You spent the night in the desert with my sister. Now you have to marry her.”
Duncan shook his head. “No, I don’t
have
to marry her. I
want
to marry her. And she said yes when I asked her to do just that.”
Sonny met Rainy’s pleased expression. “She had her hat set on getting a husband—she prayed night and day about it. You didn’t stand a chance, you know.”
Duncan sighed and shrugged. “Life is hard.” He grinned up at Rainy and winked. “Might as well suffer it with someone who’s as pretty and sweet as your sister.”
“My sister—sweet? Haven’t you learned about her temper yet?” Sonny questioned. “Then there’s her—” “That’s enough, Sonny,” Rainy interjected. She threw him a cautionary glance, then turned a sweet
smile on Duncan. “He doesn’t care about my flaws.
He loves me.”
Sonny nudged Duncan with his elbow. “We’ll talk later.”
Duncan nodded. “To be sure.”
————
In Albuquerque, Rainy recovered from her twisted ankle and planned her wedding. Her parents decided to delay the trip to Scotland long enough to see their only daughter wed and to help the university out of a terrible bind for their fall schedule.
“The board was rather stunned to learn that Gun-ther Albright was behind this mess. They thought him to be the most mild mannered and even tempered of any of their professors,” Rainy’s father told her as they gathered around the breakfast table.
“He certainly had us fooled,” her mother stated as she deposited a plate of scrambled eggs smothered in salsa.
Rainy still shuddered at the memory of Gunther’s gun at her head. “I still can’t believe he could be so cruel to us—especially you and Dad. You treated him like a brother.”
Her father nodded and took up the Bible for family devotions. “He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The Word warns us of people like that. People who come claiming to be one thing when they’re really something else.”
“But don’t you feel as though all your kindness to him was a wasted effort?” Rainy asked. She took the plate of eggs and served her father a generous portion
before ser ving herself. Handing the bowl to her mother, she waited for her father’s answer.
“I guess I don’t feel it was wasted. Gunther will remember that we were kind to him. He’ll remember that I came to him in jail and forgave him for everything— including the fact that he threatened your life and that of Sonny’s. That was probably the hardest part of all.”
“Yes, to be sure,” her mother replied. “But it was what God would have us do. I wouldn’t trust Gunther again or allow him another opportunity to repeat his actions, but I can forgive him.”
“I feel I have so much to learn,” Rainy said with a sigh. “I’ve been so angry with Chester and Gunther.
I’ve tried to just let go of my feelings, but it’s hard.”
Her father covered her hand with his own. “It will probably take time.”
“But it didn’t take you all that much time. It’s only been a week and a half and you’re willing to forgive.”
Her father nodded. “I’ve learned from past experience that the sooner I deal with a grievance, the sooner I recover my life. The longer I let the matter remain in turmoil and bitterness, the more time I lose.
It’s a part of maturity and growth. It’ll come to you in time—with each situation like this that you have to work through and forgive. The important part is that you be willing to let God work through you and use you in this. He can help you—if you really want to forgive Chester and Gunther.”
Rainy nodded. “I know that you’re right.”
“Well, I have the last of my things loaded in the
car,” Sonny announced as he bounded into the dining room.
“Then come have breakfast before it gets cold,” their mother chided.
Rainy looked to her brother and grinned. “So the great adventure begins.”
“A little later than I planned, but instead of stopping in California, I’ll go right on up to Juneau, where I’ll meet up with my friends.”
They joined hands as Rainy’s father led them in a blessing. “Father, we thank you for the food on our table and the bounty we enjoy. We praise you for the many blessings we’ve been given—for Rainy’s name being cleared and her safe return and for Sonny’s safe return and the realization of his dream in Alaska. We thank you for these things and so many more. Amen.”
“Amen,” the family murmured in unison.
Rainy was reluctant to let go of her brother’s and father’s hands. “I’m going to miss you both so much.”
Her eyes misted with tears. “But at the same time, I’m so excited about the future God has shown each of us.
I just want you all to know how much I love you.”
She met her mother’s gaze from across the table and knew deep within her heart that if anyone understood, her mother did. After all, she had married and, as a young bride, had left her homeland and family to come to America. She knew what it was to be separated from those she held most dear.
Sonny leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you too. Now stop being all sappy. I’m starving.”
They all laughed, including Rainy. Somehow in that one silly moment, she knew everything would be
just fine. They were a family—and no matter the distance in miles, their love would always keep them close.
————
“So tell me the truth, Mom. What do you think of Duncan?”
“He’s a wonderful man,” her mother said as she put in the last stitches on the hem of Rainy’s wedding dress.
Rainy toyed with her veil and hugged it close. “He is wonderful. Oh, Mom, I’m so happy. I thought this day would never come.”
Her mother smiled. “I know. I feared you’d grow impatient and take whatever you could just to get married and have a family. It’s always best, however, when we hold out for what God has in mind. You never would have been happy married to a movie actor.”
“I know,” Rainy said thoughtfully. “I thought about that the other day. I tried to imagine the parties and the travel—the big house and servants. I know I would have been miserable. I think Phillip definitely cared about me, but I don’t know that he could hope to understand me. Duncan understands me.”
“That’s because he shares your love of God and your passion for the Southwest. You both love archaeology and digging for pieces of history. When you can share those kinds of things and understand each other’s needs, it can’t help but make for a good marriage.”
Rainy nodded and exclaimed in joy as her mother
held up the ivory dress for her inspection. “Oh, Mom, it’s beautiful!”
Rainy’s mother had worn the gown when she’d married Raymond Gordon in 1895, and it had been the height of fashion. Edrea had taken the dress and restyled it in a manner better fitting to the 1930s.
Rainy fingered the satin and marveled at the changes. Her mother had taken the pinafore lace from the bodice and worked the high neckline into a soft, molded scoop. The full muttonchop sleeves were cut down to make a sleeker line.
“I can’t believe it’s even the same dress,” Rainy said as her mother turned the gown to reveal the back.
“The lace for your veil was taken from the train,” her mother explained. “I think it looks quite nice, if I do say so myself.”
Rainy embraced her mother, careful not to crush the gown. “It’s wonderful. I love it so much—especially knowing that it was first worn by you.”
Her mother held her tight for a moment. “All of your life you’ll remember this. When times are good, you’ll remember it with a fondness and joy that just blends naturally into everything around you. When times are bad, your thoughts will be uplifted by the memory of your wedding day and the anticipation you held for your future.”
Her mother pulled away and put the dress aside.
She motioned Rainy to sit with her on the bed. “Darling, I want you to know how proud I am of you. I know how hard it was for you to face the accusations at the college and not hate your adversaries. I know,
too, it was equally difficult to deal with Gunther and Chester’s actions.”
“It isn’t easy,” Rainy said softly. “But just as Dad said, it’s a process. I’m trying to work through it a little at a time. Day by day.”
“That’s the wisest thing to do. After all, Jesus told us to take up our cross
daily
. There’s a reason for that.
Some people try to take care of life’s struggles in bigger chunks and some people never try at all. But I’m a firm believer that you should take everything one step at a time—even forgiveness. You’ll need to remember to do likewise when Duncan upsets you or changes your plans. It isn’t always easy to live with another human being, but the situations that develop between husband and wife are even more difficult than those that develop with parents or siblings.”
Rainy knew her mother spoke with great wisdom, but in all honesty she couldn’t imagine her mom and dad ever arguing or feeling strife toward each other.
“But you and Dad never fought—did you?”
Her mother laughed softly. “Oh, mercy, but did we fight. I didn’t know how to be patient back then and, well, this may come as a surprise to you, but when I first met your father, I wasn’t interested in God. I didn’t know anything about the love of Jesus or His sacrifice for me.”
“I guess I didn’t realize that,” Rainy said, trying to remember if she’d ever heard her mother speak of her coming to salvation. She’d just always imagined that her mother had loved God from childhood, just as Rainy had.
“I wasn’t the best of souls to share time with,” her
mother continued. “Ray was such a sweet boy—so mild mannered and giving. He worked with his father on their sheep farm outside of Edinburgh. He loved working with the sheep, loved spending long hours in the fields. I, on the other hand, preferred the parties and fun that could be had with my friends.”
“It doesn’t seem at all like you.”
“I’ve changed. The love of God changed my heart.
I fell in love with your father because he was the only person who truly loved me for myself. He didn’t care if I was dressed up in satins and lace. He only cared that I belong to him—and to God. He talked to me long and hard about the Bible and why we needed a savior. But my family was well-to-do, and while we hadn’t really turned our noses up at the idea of church and such things, we were hardly a God-fearing people.”
“Why have I never heard this before?” Rainy questioned. “I remember you talking about Grandma and Grandpa both being powerful witnesses for Jesus.”
“And they were, in their old age. Your father helped us all to find Jesus for ourselves, but even after I prayed to be saved from hell, I still had a great deal to do to work on my personality and attitude. I had to learn that there was more to life and relationships than money. It wasn’t easy. I was used to buying what I needed, and sometimes that included my friends.”