The Shepherd's Voice (14 page)

Gabe had never been to church before. He hadn’t known what to expect. The first song nearly broke him. It seemed to be all
about
him,
all for
him. As did the Scripture reading and Simon’s sermon about the thief on the cross.

Throughout the service—as he stood singing and as he sat listening—Gabe was overwhelmed by the love and grace God had shed upon him. Praise overflowed in his heart. Praise, wonder, and thanksgiving.

He couldn’t help remembering the twelve-year-old boy who had briefly known that love, who had eagerly run to tell his father so he, too, might know it. Only his father hadn’t wanted to know, and Gabe, in seeking his earthly father’s approval, had turned his back on what he’d found. He’d turned his back on everything good and had become as bad as his father thought him.

But grace had covered it all. It was more than Gabe could comprehend.

When the congregation rose to sing the last song, Akira touched his arm, causing him to look at her. She smiled, then whispered, “You must allow me to introduce you to others when the service is over.”

Gabe understood how small towns were. He suspected everybody in this house of worship knew his identity. The news had to have swept through the valley within the first couple of days of his return. He doubted there was anyone left who didn’t know he was working at Dundreggan.

Still, he nodded because he knew it would please Akira.

A short while later, they stood outside, on the shady side of the church. Jane Sebastian was the first to approach them.

Without any hesitation, she threw her arms around Gabe and hugged him close, whispering, “You’ve come home to Jesus.”

“Yes.”

“Praise the good Lord.” As she stepped back, she dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. “I’ve been prayin’ for you, Gabe. All along.”

Tenderly, he smiled. “I know you have.”

Another woman’s voice intruded. “You must be Gabe.”

He looked over Jane’s shoulder. An extraordinarily beautiful woman, about his own age, was standing not far behind. He knew he’d never seen her before. He would have remembered if she’d lived in Ransom when he was young.

“I’m Pauline, your stepmother.” She smiled, obviously amused by the descriptive word.

Hud’s wife? In
church
?

She stepped forward, holding out a gloved hand for him to take. “Your father tells me you’re expected at the house today.”

“Yes.” He shook her hand. “I’m going there from here.”

Her smile was spectacular. “Hudson will be glad to see you again.” She looked at Akira. “You must be Miss Macauley.”

“Yes.” There was a wary note in the acknowledgment.

“It was kind of you to help Gabe when he needed it. His father”—her smile faded and her voice lowered, as if she were
sharing a confidence with a close friend—“can be a hard man at times.”

Akira didn’t reply.

Pauline’s gaze returned to Gabe. “May I take you in my car?”

“Well, I —” He glanced at Akira.

“I see no reason to put Miss Macauley to the bother,” Pauline continued. “I’ll make certain you have a ride back.” She paused before adding, “
If
that’s what you want.”

It made sense to accept her offer. He didn’t know how long this interview with his father would take. He didn’t even know why Hud wanted to see him. There wasn’t much point in making Akira and Nora wait for him.

“Sure,” he answered. “I guess that would be okay.”

Akira gave a minuscule nod. “I’ll be praying for you.”

Hudson observed the approach of Pauline’s motorcar from his bedroom window. He wondered if Gabe was with her. That had been the plan, but he wouldn’t know until he saw them disembark if she’d succeeded.

His wife hadn’t been happy about any of this. That had been clear to him by the looks she gave him, by the lift of her chin, by the set of her shoulders. But he couldn’t care less about her feelings. He only cared that she did as she was told. She didn’t always obey him, but he was certain she would for now. She was afraid. Afraid of him. Afraid of what might become of her—the childless wife—now that Gabe had returned.

He momentarily wondered if Clarice, had she lived beyond her twenty-second year, would have come to despise and fear him as Pauline did. Would she have learned to hate him if she’d survived the birth of Gabriel, the child of her treachery?

He’s your son, Hudson. Why won’t you believe the truth?

As Clarice’s voice from long ago echoed in his memory, he heard a soft
Crack!
and looked down at his hand. He’d snapped the delicate stem of the wine glass he was holding.

“Welcome to our home.” Pauline’s voice carried to Hudson through the open window.

He glanced below, saw Gabe standing beside the automobile, looking at his surroundings. Was he thinking that someday this might all be his?

“I hope you are,” Hudson muttered. “I hope you want it very badly.”

He set the two pieces of the wine glass on a silver serving tray before walking from the room. He descended the staircase only halfway, then waited.

There were two things Hudson noticed when Pauline and Gabe entered the house. First, Gabe no longer looked like a starving tramp. His clothes, though not new, were clean and neat. His hair was well-groomed. He’d gained weight and appeared stronger. He stood tall, moving with more confidence. Not the false swagger of someone pretending to be confident, either. This was genuine self-assurance. The second thing he noticed was more difficult to define, but it was there all the same—a different kind of strength. Something that went deeper. Soul deep.

It momentarily unnerved Hudson.

“Ah,” Pauline said, her voice sugary sweet, “there you are, darling.”

Gabe glanced up. Their gazes met. Hudson expected the boy to look away first. He didn’t.

What’s changed about him?

“I wanted to introduce him,” Akira said while pacing Zachary Sebastian’s front porch. “I wanted folks to get to know him. And she just swooped in and carried him away in that black automobile of hers. Like a vulture.”

Jane chuckled. “Would you sit down? Please. You’re wearing us out, watching you pace. Isn’t that right, Nora?”

“Yes, indeed.”

Akira spun toward them. “What did she want with him, anyway? She’s never been to church in all these years. Everybody knows that. So what was she doing there today? It can’t be for any good reason.”

“The Lord knows why,” Jane answered softly.

“I wish He’d explain it to me.”

“Maybe He would if you’d be still for a moment.” Jane’s rebuke was mild. “It’s hard to hear God when you’re doing all the talking.”

Akira knew she deserved the gentle chiding—and more besides. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said such a thing. I don’t know Mrs. Talmadge, and my remarks were unkind.”

“Sit down and drink your tea, dear girl, before the ice melts completely. You’ll have all the answers you need when Gabe returns to Dundreggan.”

When Gabe returns.

That, of course, was the root of her fears, her anger, her frustration—she was afraid Gabe
would n’t
return. She was afraid he would never fall in love with her, that he would never know she loved him.

“Good heavens!” Jane exclaimed.

The instant Akira met Jane’s gaze, she knew her secret had been discovered. Jane must have read Akira’s feelings on her face. She’d never been any good at hiding them. It was too much to have hoped she could do so now.

Jane turned toward Nora. “Would you like more tea?”

“No thank you.” Nora waved her hand over the rim of the glass. “This will do me fine.”

Akira sat on the empty chair, feeling miserable. She wondered what was happening at the Talmadge mansion. She wondered if Hudson would ask his son to stay. If he did, would Gabe agree? Of course he would. Who wouldn’t want to live in such a place? And why else would Hudson have summoned Gabe if it wasn’t to extend the olive branch of peace? To welcome his son home.

It’s why he came back to Ransom. It’s what he wanted, what he hoped for. You should be happy for him.

Yes, she should be happy for him. She should be praying for reconciliation between father and son. She should want it for him.

But what I want is for him to be with me at Dundreggan. I want to love him and have him love me. Is that so very terrible?

The Talmadges had been well-off when Gabe was growing up, but if this house was any indication of his father’s wealth, Hudson’s fortune had multiplied many times over.

“Would you like something to drink?” his father offered as they sat down in the elegantly spacious drawing room.

“No thanks.”

“You’re sure? I’ve got a fine brandy. Or there’s whiskey if you prefer.”

Gabe shook his head, at the same time wondering when Hudson would get to the point.

Not until I’m suitably impressed, I bet.
He had to suppress a smile as the thought crossed his mind. That his father would want to impress
him
seemed ludicrous.

Life often turned on an instant, he reflected, more soberly this
time. Such had been proven the night Max died, and it had been proven again the morning he’d surrendered his heart, his sins, himself, to God. Could this be another turning point?

“You’re wondering why I asked you here,” Hudson said, breaking the lengthy silence.

“As a matter of fact, yes.” He looked the older man straight in the eyes and waited for him to continue.

“Things are different now than when you went away.”

“Went away?” Gabe cocked an eyebrow, remembering the part his father had played in his arrest and conviction. “I guess that’s one way to put it.”

Hudson frowned. “You were always belligerent. I see prison didn’t change you.”

Several different retorts flashed in his head, none of which, Gabe figured, would please God. So he took a deep breath and said, “No, it didn’t. I’m sorry.”