Finally a Bride Read Free Page A

lived in the same place more than a couple of years until he moved in with Pete. One thing was certain: With the exception of the pork he was often offered, he had eaten plenty of good home cooking on the circuit—something he and Pete often lacked.
    “Well … that’s more’n you knew last month.”
    Noah nodded. The older man had a way of putting things in perspective. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
    Pete stared at him for a few moments, and Noah wondered what he was thinking. “Got me a letter whilst you was gone.”
    “Who from?”
    “Thomas Taylor.”
    Noah stiffened, tightening his hold on his cup, remembering the man from the town he wanted only to forget. “Why would Reverend Taylor write to you?”
    “So you know him, huh?”
    Noah nodded. Was Thomas Taylor still the minister in Lookout, or had he moved on? Was she still there?
    “We’ve writ to each other for years. Thomas used to be a student of mine.”
    Noah stood so fast that the chair fell back and banged against the floor. He picked it up and pushed it under the table. “How come you never told me about that?”
    Pete shrugged one shoulder. “Didn’t see how it mattered.”
    He gripped the back of the chair until his knuckles turned white. “It matters.”
    His mentor shook his head. “What happened in Lookout is over and done with. You’ve gotta let go of the past, son. It’ll eat a hole in your belly and ruin your future.”
    “I’ve tried. Nothing I do washes that town from my mind.”
    “Just what was it that the town did to you?” Pete scratched his temple. “I don’t recollect you ever sayin’ much about it.”
    Noah stared out the window. Of all the places he had lived, Lookout was the one that had left the worst taste in his mouth. It was the one place he’d never talk about much to Pete. He didn’t understand himself why the memories of that town bothered him so much, so how could he explain it to his friend?
    “Well, anyhow. Thomas is takin’ a leave of absence. His wife’s ma is doin’ poorly, and they’re traveling over to Fort Worth to tend her. He didn’t know how long he’d be gone, so he asked me to take his place.”
    Watching Rebel roll on his back in the grass of the pasture, Noah thought how lonely this place would be without Pete. And he’d have to eat his own cooking again. “You gonna do it?”
    Pete didn’t respond, and when Noah heard the chair creak, he turned from the window. His friend stood with his hands on the back of the chair, staring at the table. Generally, that meant Pete was sorting something out in his head. Noah waited.
    “Actually …” The old man looked up, his expression unreadable. “I prayed ‘bout it and feel you’re the one who’s s’posed to go.”
    “Me! You can’t be serious.” Noah thought up a hundred reasons why he couldn’t go. At twenty-three, he was far too young and inexperienced to pastor a church, as much as he might desire to. And he wasn’t married. Nor had he been to seminary. The only credentials he had was the knowledge he’d gained from Pete’s years of teaching him the Bible, a mail-order certificate he’d received after completing a series of lessons on the scriptures, and years of hard living before he came to Christ.
    “Serious as a prairie wildfire durin’ a drought.”
    Noah ran his hand through his hair, remembering all the things that had happened in Lookout. “I can’t do it.”
    He couldn’t go back there. Not when so many memories of the place still haunted his dreams. “I won’t.”
    Pete harrumphed. “You just said you’d prefer to shepherd a flock in a town rather than ridin’ a circuit. Well, here’s your chance to do that.”
    “No fair using my own words against me.”
    “All I’m asking you t’do is pray about it. Will you do that?”
    Noah stared at the scratched wooden floor and heaved a sigh. The old man didn’t know the meaning of playing fair.

Chapter 2

     
    J ack lay on her side, squinting out the