Part 27 (2/2)

Buck had to refrain from shouting his joy to the room at large. Instead, he kissed her again. They were still wrapped in each other's arms when the door burst open 20 minutes later.

”It's a girl!1' Tate shouted, and Buck jumped from the sofa to hug him. Greer was next in line, and Tate nearly broke her ribs, so exuberant was his embrace.

”A girl,” he repeated as though they had not heard ”And she's beautiful. We're going to name her Victoria. Isn't that beautiful? Victoria Jennifer.” Tate's smile was so triumphant that Buck and Greer laughed Upstairs a much quieter scene was taking place. Willa, now washed up and needing a seat, came to sit next to Jenny's bed Tears poured down the old's woman cheeks as she looked at the tiny infant in Jenny's arms.

232.

”I've always dreamed of being there for Smokey when she had a baby; you're the next best thing.”

”Oh, Willa, I don't know what I would have done without you,” Jenny said, her own eyes filling with tears.

Willa grinned. ”Won't Smokey be surprised when she hears the name?”

”I can hardly wait. I wonder where she is now?”

”I don't know,” Willa admitted. ”But I sure hope she's on her way home,”

”Yes,” Jenny agreed ”And bringing my brother with her.”

”Are you going to continue to search for Smokey?” a distressed Sunny wanted to know as they talked after supper.

”No,” Brandon told her regretfully. ”It might seem heartless of me, but we've tried every avenue and now we need to concentrate on the case. All we can do is hope and pray that she's all right.”

”And this new information?” Sunny went on. ”What will you do about that?”

”Keep it to myself for the time being. I've still got men looking everywhere for him. If they can beat him out into the open, that's going to be the best way to free Smokey, wherever she is.”

Dallas was about to put a word in when a footman knocked on the door to announce a visitor. Brandon and Dallas stood as Brandon's private investigator walked into the room. Brandon, who was beginning to doubt the man's ability, did not greet him cordially.

”I can't stay,” the man began without preamble, ”but I've got to tell you, it's not good He seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.”

”You're searching the docks?”

”No. I've had two of my men jumped and one killed and--”

233.

the man cut his words off when he spotted the distressed look on Sunny's face and the anger in both men.

A muscle jumped in Brandon's cheek, not only over the man's refusal to do the job, but over his careless words in his wife's presence. His voice was curt and dismissive. ”I'll be in your office in the morning. Until then, goodnight.”

The room was strangely quiet after he left, and when the silence was broken, it was by Dallas. Both Sunny and Brandon knew he meant every word ”I'll find him and bring him in. The trial starts in five days and I won't be back until I've got him. You stall or do whatever you have to do, Hawk, but don't let them pa.s.s sentence until I get there. I won't let Smokey down.”

This said, Dallas bid them goodnight. He knew they needed to be alone, and so did he.

I can't stand the thought of her in jail, Dallas told the Lord of lords as soon as he climbed into bed and turned down the lantern. / ache each time I think of it. Please take care of her, and give her Your peace and comfort.

Tears came to Dallas' eyes and slid down his temples onto the pillows. He knew he had to get his mind off of Smokey, so he began to silently name G.o.d's attributes. He was halfway between ”holy” and ”righteous” when sleep came to claim him, something he would be thankful for in the morning. He would be heading out early to find the man who would save Smokey from death.

Smokey squinted against the light but could see enough to reach for the food thrown in to her. She pa.s.sed Aggie's over with trembling hands and then frowned at the light when it didn't go away.

”My offer still stands, Smokey. Have you changed your mind?” a voice asked from somewhere behind the light.

234.

Smokey started She tried to see him in the cavern, but could only make out a dark shape.

Weak as she was in body, she was strong in spirit. With a deliberate move she turned her head away and continued to eat. She even asked Aggie to pa.s.s the salt, which brought a cackle of laughter from the old woman.

Smokey made herself ignore the low curse that emanated from the cavern just before the light went away. This time trembling did not come with the darkness as it had so many times before. The women finished eating in silence and when Smokey thought Aggie had gone to sleep, she surprised her by speaking.

”Something different 'bout you.”

Smokey smiled ”Yes, it is,” she agreed. ”Want to hear about it?”

”Well, A've an appointment with the dressmaker in an hour, but let's 'ear it anyway.”

The comment brought a small laugh out of Smokey, but she went on. ”Do you believe in G.o.d, Aggie?”

”Yeah,” the old woman answered briefly.

”Well, I believe in the one true G.o.d, Aggie, and His Son, Jesus Christ, even when it wouldn't be logical to do so. Like right now, when it feels like I've been deserted, I know that G.o.d is with me.

”The last time that man was here and cut my hair, I was devastated. But then I got to thinking about all the stories I've read in the Bible. I thought of Joseph. He was in jail because his own family sold him, but he trusted G.o.d and believed it was for the best.

”And then I got to considering all the people walking around in the world who are in their own little prisons. I've been in a prison about my hair. I wish he hadn't cut it, but I still have so much to praise G.o.d about. He could have cut my throat. It doesn't matter what they do to my body; my spirit can always be free if I choose to obey G.o.d. I'm telling you, Aggie, I can be in this cell and still be free as a bird”

235.

”It's all gettin* to you, ain't it, girl?” Aggie voice was compa.s.sionate, and Smokey wanted to laugh.

”No, Aggie, I am really free. I'm free to know that G.o.d loves me and sent His Son to die in my place. I'm free from the sins of the past and from the bondage of sin in the future. It doesn't matter where I am--I can be free in Christ, and so can you.”

Aggie stared at her as if she had gone around the bend ”If G.o.d loves us, why are we starving to death down 'ere?”

”It is awful down here, Aggie.” Smokey's voice was sad.

”But I know of someplace that's worse, and that's a lost eternity, an eternity in h.e.l.l. I don't know if I'm going to die down here or not, but I do know that I've a better home after I die. I'm talking about heaven, Aggie, and it can be your eternal home as well.”

Aggie only stared at her.

”Have you heard of Jesus Christ?” Smokey's heart pounded in her chest. She had never done this before and desperately wanted to say the right words. She saw Aggie nod and continued.

”Jesus Christ is G.o.d's Son, and He came hundreds of years ago to die for our sins, but He didn't stay dead, Aggie. He rose again, and He lives today to save people like you and me, and to give us hope.

”I don't know why you're down here, but it doesn't matter what you've done. G.o.d is waiting to forgive you and save you from your sins. I trusted Him when I was just a little girl. You can trust Him too.”

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