Part 21 (2/2)
Bennett's head bounced up. ”Hey! That isn't nice!”
Libby and Alice-Marie shared a laugh at Bennett's expense. While their laughter rolled, someone tapped Libby on the shoulder. She s.h.i.+fted, still giggling, to look into Miss Banks's serious face.
Libby gulped, swallowing her amus.e.m.e.nt. ”Yes, ma'am?”
The dormitory matron handed Libby a folded slip of paper. ”This telegram came for you. Sent by Maelle Harders.”
A chill inched across Libby's flesh. She took the paper with a shaky hand. ”Th-thank you.”
Miss Banks gave Libby a quick pat on the back, and Libby was certain she read sympathy in the woman's usually unfriendly face. Spinning to face Bennett, she held the telegram aloft. ”I'm afraid to open it.”
”Oh, stop with the dramatics, Lib.” Bennett rolled his eyes. ”Maelle's probably just confirming your travel plans for Thanksgiving- the break's coming up, you know.”
Libby shook her head. ”No. It's bad. I know it's bad.” She shoved the telegram across the table. ”You read it.”
Releasing a long-suffering sigh, Bennett took the paper. He raised one eyebrow and shot Libby a you're-being-ridiculous look, then he unfolded the telegram. His jaw dropped, and his face drained of color. Somehow Libby knew he wasn't teasing.
She s.n.a.t.c.hed the telegram away from him and read the brief message: Jackson shot by Pete's father STOP At hospital in Clayton STOP Please pray STOP Jackson shot by Pete's father STOP At hospital in Clayton STOP Please pray STOP Libby pushed away from the table. Lifting her skirts, she raced for the door. Libby pushed away from the table. Lifting her skirts, she raced for the door.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO.
Halfway across the moon-bathed yard, Libby stumbled to a halt. Where was she going? She couldn't outrun her worry and fear. She hugged herself, realizing she'd left her coat in the dining hall. Should she go back? Her chest heaving, she looked frantically right and left. The wind, growing ever chillier as evening turned to night, tugged at her skirt and hair. Shadows lurked in every direction.
In her mind's eye, a parade of faces replaced the eerie landscape. Jackson, Maelle, Petey, even Hannah and Hester. She envisioned them with stricken eyes and trembling lips. Her heart ached for each of them, but mostly for Petey. His father had injured Jackson. Petey would bear a burden of displaced guilt for the rest of his life.
Please pray, Maelle had entreated. Such a short, simple request, but so much agony and pleading behind the words. Libby's eyes flooded with tears, and she pressed her fist to her lips. She thought her chest might collapse, so great was the longing to do as Maelle had bid.
”Libby! Libby, wait!”
Alice-Marie's voice reached Libby's ears. She turned and spotted her roommate and Bennett trotting toward her, but she couldn't talk to them now. She had a mission to complete-she must find G.o.d and beg Him to save Jackson. To save Petey. Alice-Marie and Bennett would only distract her. Catching her skirts again, she took off. Unmindful of direction, only aware that she must find the place of solitude where G.o.d resided, she ran.
She dashed between rows of towering trees that sent branches like reaching fingers toward the star-sprinkled sky. She emerged in a gra.s.sy field, and her race became hindered by knee-high gra.s.s. Grunting in frustration-she must must find G.o.d!-she forged forward, and her foot slammed into an immovable object. She fell face-first into the cus.h.i.+on of thick dried gra.s.s with her legs draped across something hard and cold. The stone foundation, waiting like an open embrace beneath the moonlit sky. find G.o.d!-she forged forward, and her foot slammed into an immovable object. She fell face-first into the cus.h.i.+on of thick dried gra.s.s with her legs draped across something hard and cold. The stone foundation, waiting like an open embrace beneath the moonlit sky.
Her lungs burning, unable to pull herself to standing on her trembling legs, she twisted around and collapsed with her arms and head resting on the length of cold, rough stone. Her fingers curled around the edge of one portion of the foundation, and warm tears washed down her cheeks-the first tears she'd allowed herself to shed since she was a little girl. There, all alone, she pressed her face to the solid, enduring foundation.
As she lay there, chest heaving and heart aching, the opening lines from a hymn they'd sung in the chapel at Shay's Ford winged through her memory. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! She s.h.i.+fted slightly, the stone abrasive against her cheek, as another line echoed through her heart. She s.h.i.+fted slightly, the stone abrasive against her cheek, as another line echoed through her heart. Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy G.o.d and will still give thee aid. Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy G.o.d and will still give thee aid.
One of Maelle's gentle lessons from long ago crept into Libby's mind: Darling girl, when you ask Jesus to be your Savior, then G.o.d becomes your Father. You'll be His and He'll be yours for all eternity. Darling girl, when you ask Jesus to be your Savior, then G.o.d becomes your Father. You'll be His and He'll be yours for all eternity.
”O Jesus, save me, please . . .” The words groaned from her throat. ”Please, be my my G.o.d, my Father.” G.o.d, my Father.”
And as another rush of tears poured down her face, Libby finally opened her soul to the One the song proclaimed would be with her. Her worry for Jackson, her concern for Maelle and the twins, her heartache for Petey's burden-everything poured out in a torrent of tearful pleas.
”Please don't take Jackson from Maelle-she loves him so dearly.
Please don't let Hannah and Hester lose yet another father-they need him, Lord! And please . . . Please . . . Petey . . .” She gulped, her throat aching so badly she could barely speak. ”He's already had to bear so much. He's served You faithfully despite it all. Please save Jackson so Petey won't have to carry the guilt of his death. Please, G.o.d. Please . . . Please . . .”
As she prayed, a comforting presence flooded Libby's frame. A feeling of peace and a.s.surance-unlike anything she'd known before-filled her from the inside out. In wonder, she lifted her face to the star-laden sky. ”You're here, aren't You, G.o.d? That means . . . I've finally found You. Oh Lord, thank You!”
She buried her face again, more tears flowing. Cleansing tears. Grateful tears. She had no idea how long she clung to the stone foundation, inwardly praising the One who held Petey, Maelle, Jackson-and her-in His capable hands, but when the tears finally ceased she pushed herself into a seated position. With her hips pressed securely against the stone, she marveled at the change that had taken place deep inside herself. A new awareness gripped her as surely as the stone foundation now supported her tired body. Just as this stone foundation remained despite the building's destruction, so G.o.d remained-immovable, strong, sure-when all else seemed lost. How could she have been so blind as to look past Him? She'd searched so hard . . . and He'd been there all the time, simply waiting for her to stop running and fall into His arms.
The old Libby would have packed a bag and raced to the train station to go to Petey and Maelle. The old Libby wouldn't have been able to rest, not knowing how Jackson fared. But oddly, Libby had no desire to go to her friends. She merely wanted to remain there, in G.o.d's embrace, trusting Him to meet the needs of the people she held dear. Sitting there, content and at peace, she pressed her hands to her chest, feeling her strong heartbeat below. A smile curved her lips. ”G.o.d, I know You're here. I feel You in my every heartbeat.” She gulped, fresh tears flooding her eyes and making the stars swim. ”Thank you for making me Yours.”
When she looked toward the cloudless sky, the moon, round and yellow, smiled down from its perch. Libby sighed, her breath hanging on the night air. A chill shook her body. It was late- Alice-Marie and Bennett would be worried if she didn't return soon. She sent a tremulous smile upward. ”We'll talk again, soon.” Now that she realized G.o.d listened and cared, she would speak to Him often.
Gathering her skirts, she got to her feet and returned to her room. Alice-Marie was pacing the floor like a caged tiger. The moment Libby slipped through the door, she rushed at her and threw her arms around her.
”Oh, Libby! Thank goodness you've come back! Bennett is packing his bag. I've already started packing for you. He said he'd call the train station and find out when the next train for Clayton is due to depart, and-”
”I'm not going.”
Alice-Marie pulled back. ”W-what?”
Libby gave her roommate a smile and crossed to her bed. She pushed the open suitcase aside and sat on the mattress. Linking her fingers in her lap, she released a sigh. ”I'm staying here.”
”But . . . but . . .” Alice-Marie sank onto her bed, staring at Libby mutely.
Libby reached out and took her roommate's hand. ”Alice-Marie, there is absolutely nothing I can do for Jackson and Maelle or Petey right now. I'm weak and powerless. But G.o.d is strong.” The peace that had surrounded her at the base of the stone foundation washed over her again, lifting her heart and bringing a smile to her face. ”I've placed my friends into His keeping, and I trust Him to care for them.” A little laugh trickled out, joyous and light. How freeing it was to trust G.o.d! ”He is there, and that is enough.” is there, and that is enough.”
Alice-Marie shook her head, as if confused. ”Are you sure?”
Although Libby knew her roommate was asking if she was certain she didn't want to go to Clayton, Libby chose to substantiate her final statement. ”I've never been more sure of anything in my life.”
Alice-Marie sighed, her shoulders wilting. ”Then I'll send a message to Bennett, letting him know you'd rather not go.” She rose and headed for the door. But before she left the room, she peeked back at Libby. ”You seem . . . different somehow.”
Libby tipped her head, curious. Was it possible for Alice-Marie to see, on the surface, what had transpired in her heart? Even though she waited, Alice-Marie didn't explain. With another little shake of her head, her roommate slipped out the door.
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What had happened to Libby? Many times during the past two days, Bennett had puzzled over his friend's strange behavior. In his cynical moments, he accused her of walking in her sleep; at other times, he envied her calm acceptance of everything going on in Clayton. Each time they met, she asked if he'd heard anything about Jackson, and with each negative report he expected her to clench her fists, growl in frustration, or declare she simply had had to go to Clayton. But even though he saw worry flash in her eyes, something indescribable always chased it away. to go to Clayton. But even though he saw worry flash in her eyes, something indescribable always chased it away.
Libby just wasn't Libby anymore. And he couldn't decide if that pleased or aggravated him.
At noon on Friday, he met Alice-Marie for lunch, always an agreeable diversion. But even Alice-Marie mentioned Libby's change in att.i.tude. ”I can't put my finger on it, but she's not acting like herself. I'm really quite concerned for her. I think this situation with Pete and his family has driven her into a kind of madness.”
”Madness?”
”Well, how else can you explain it? She's started reading her Bible each day-until this week, I didn't even know she owned one! I've caught her several times on her knees praying, and there's something in her eyes-a kind of dreamy expression that defies description. She's only huffed at me once in the past three days! If that doesn't mean something is amiss, then I don't know what does.”
Two people at the table behind Bennett began arguing about who would win the pennant that year, their voices drowning out everything else in the room.
Bennett grabbed Alice-Marie's hand. ”C'mon. It's too noisy in here. Let's take a walk.”
”In this weather?”
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