Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“For God so loved…”

John 3:16

Isaac Freegrace held open the door of the church for Agatha, Clay, and young Nina Dangerpride as they filed out from the white building. He had finally convinced his daughter and Clay to come to church with him. The two of them had recently taken Nina Dangerpride under their wing, and so they’d decided to take her along as well. Isaac knew they had come to make him happy, but perhaps enough Sundays being surrounded by the worship of the congregation and the words of Reverend Holt would set something on fire in their cold hearts.

Nina had become Clark (Clay) and Agatha’s project. Just as Clark has suspected, when he told Agatha of his visit to their “neighbors” house, she had known just what to do. “We’ll hire Nina too!” She said with delight in her voice, “But you know, not to do hard labor. It will really be just a disguise for us to get her away from that home, and I can teach her all the cooking and sewing that her Mama doesn’t have time to teach her. On top of that, we can give her a small income to take home. Papa and I always regret not being able to reach out more to my Cl…her older brother before he took the drastic action to leave home, but Nina is our second chance. I’ll go over there tomorrow with you and we’ll get this all set up! How fun! How delightful!” Little did Agatha know that her second chance was already standing in front of her, that the boy who had gotten away was the man who had pulled her and her father out of their own time of hardship. So technically Nina was like a third chance or a second and a half chance.

The next day Clark (Clay…Whatever!) and Agatha had gone to the Dangerpride home and presented the idea to Nina and her Ma. Both showed some hesitance and mistrust, but couldn’t turn down the extra money. Even Bart, who had been consulted by necessity, couldn’t see the harm in Nina “Finally earning her place at this house, instead of humming around to herself all day.” Clark (Clay) promised to help her finish up some of her own house chores each day, which would need be neglected while she was at the Freegrace house. It seemed almost too good to be true to young Nina who had only known sorrow and hardship in her life, but a voice that seemed to be speaking in all caps, reassured her heart, although she didn’t know who it was or where it came from:

I AM DOING THIS FOR YOU. GO AND FIND REST MY CHILD.

And so here they all were, a month later, filing out of the church building, a kind of patchwork quilt family of sorts. Agatha had felt uncomfortable in the church building at first, she felt all the eyes of the town’s people, the ones she had scorned and asked to leave her and her family alone. She wondered what they thought of her sitting in church, whether their hearts were smug with “I told you so’s” or whether they didn’t want her there at all. But by the end of the service, Agatha found herself feeling at home in the church that her grandfather, A.T. Freegrace had set up for the settlers in Sunshine Salvation Valley. Reverend Holt spoke about God’s Abounding Love for each person, that had no beginning or end. She found she still couldn’t accept this love in her own heart, but the idea sounded nice, a beautiful story that warmed her heart although she dismissed it as an artful fiction.

Clark had been moved by the service; the church was like an oasis offering some kind of living water that he had been without for these seven years, and hadn’t known he needed. He still needed to think about it all, to talk with Isaac, but something was stirring in his heart, and it wasn’t just his obvious attraction for Agatha or his sorrow for his sister Nina. A church social had been announced for the following Sunday and Clark was waiting for the perfect moment to ask Agatha. Their friendship had been growing everyday, restored to the ease of their childhood. Of course, Agatha didn’t know who he really was, but nonetheless, Clark was beginning to realize that he might want to stick around even longer than he’d planned, maybe forever…

Agatha looked over at Clark, smiling warmly at him, she then looked down ashamed at the way she so often let her guard down and her feelings show. Mrs. Shelter had always taught her to guard her heart, that was what she had promised to do when Pa presented her with her purity ring (This novel brought to your by the True Love Waits Campaign). But with Clay, it seemed that her heart didn’t stand a fighting chance. Clark’s perfect moment came sooner than he’d expected. Isaac’s voice broke into the fresh Sunday air, “Nina, why don’t you come and guide me over to Mr. McQuickerson, I’ve been meaning to ask him about some new calico fabric for you and Agatha’s dresses for the social.”

“New dresses, for the social! Oh, Mr. Freegrace, I hadn’t intended on going and a new dress is absolutely unnecessary for me.” Nina flushed, overwhelmed at the generosity the Freegrace family continually showed her. There was something different about them. It was as if they were preaching a message of love to her and only using words when necessary.

“Nonsense! The girls representing the Freegrace farm will be dressed in beautiful new dresses, because they deserve it, and it would humor this old man to spoil them once in a while!” Isaac laughed “No come along Nina, I can’t find my way over to Mr. McQuickerson on my own! No one wants to see a blind man wondering aimlessly around the churchyard like a chicken with his head cut off!” Nina silently lead Isaac across the churchyard overwhelmed once again by the kindness of Isaac and his daughter and of course Clay, who had become like an older brother to her, it was if… no, Clark was long gone, it couldn’t be, what a silly childish thought.

Clark found himself alone with Agatha. “Aggie, I was wondering… well, I don’t suppose, well…” Clark was endearingly nervous.

“Yes Clay,” Agatha asked sweetly looking up at him out of the corner of her eye.

“Well, I’m just going to spit it out! Will you let me escort you to the social?” Clark spit it out, all in one breath.

“Well, I would just simply love to Clay,” Agatha was filled to the brim with joy. She’d thought he’d NEVER ask (even though they had just learned about the Social moments earlier).

“Well, I suppose I’ll pick you up next Sunday evenin’ at your, well, our doorstep.”

“I’ll be there!” Agatha wanted to take Clay’s hand in hers. She wished the moment could last forever.

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“Not one of them is alone…”

Song of Solomon 4:2

Clark Lewis Dangerpride rode across the Prairie towards the home he had grown up in. Things had been going well under his alias as Clay Rangerguide. It felt so good to help out the Freegrace family in their time of need. The timing of his arrival seemed, well almost divinely orchestrated, either that or expertly crafted by the writer of this story for excellent dramatic effect. He hadn’t been home yet as he knew pulling the wool over his mother’s eyes would be much harder than his current deception at the Freegrace home. And of course, there was his father. The thought of him made Clark’s blood boil and his face flush with anger. Bart Dangerpride had been the reason he’d left, and the thought of seeing him almost made him turn back for the safety and warmth and of Aggie’s home cooking and Isaac’s gentle spirit.

His thoughts were pleasantly diverted at the thought of Aggie. How beautiful she was! How wise! How kind! How thoughtful! How… in this moment, Clark realized that he was, well, quite smitten with Agatha Tabitha Freegrace, but in a very manly kind of way of course. Lately, they had been taking walks together every evening. They talked about everything, everything but Clark’s real identity, that he was in fact her dear childhood friend come home at last. She’d even mentioned to “Clay” that he reminded her of someone from her past.

Lately, their conversations had revolved around God. Both expressed having sort of lost the faith. Although he was happy to find that he and Agatha could identify on this topic, he found himself a little disappointed that she had given up on this area of her life. It saddened him. If Agatha couldn’t hold onto the faith rooted in her family, since her grandfather A.T. Freegrace had come out West to bring the good news to the Western Settlers, than he wondered if anyone could hold on, least of all a washed up cowherd like himself with an awful past hovering above him like a dark rain cloud no matter where he went. However, he sensed in their conversations that both of them were yearning for something, probably for the God that they were pushing from their lives, but that might just be the manipulative author trying to force spiritual undertones into what could survive as a plain old romance novel.

NO, IT IS ME CLARK.

The all caps voice startled Clark.

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE VERY END OF THE RANGE.

Clark felt in the presence of something holy, something larger than his broad and manly frame. He would have to tell Aggie about it later, maybe it could help her, help them to find the God they had both turned their back on, because they thought he had turned his back on them. As he rode toward his childhood home, he did so with a new purpose.

As his horse galloped into the Dangerpride’s yard, Clark saw a young women, barely out of girlhood kicking around the dirt in front of the house, humming to herself, her back somewhat hunched, and her hands in her apron pockets. Could it be? Nina had been so young when he’d left. She looked sad and distracted, and Clark felt guilt rush over him. He’d left her here to deal with this all on her own. He’d left her with their father and their overworked mother to fend for herself. She had staid, and he had gone, following his own selfish dreams. A solitary tear fell down his cheek, and not a tear more, as he looked upon his dear Nina. He quickly brushed the tear off his face with a handkerchief that Agatha loned him. In the bottom corner it had “Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn” embroidered on it, which didn’t really make sense to him. If Agatha knew she had accidentally given him her biblically based Romantic love handkerchief instead of the “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” hanky, she’d probably have been mortified, but a little bit pleased.

Clark decided he would approach his sister. He dismounted his horse and began to walk towards the girl. He swallowed back the fear in his throat and finally spoke, “Hello Miss.” The sound of Clark’s voice startled Nina out of her sullen reverie, and she let out a quick scream, than quickly covered her mouth. Clark wondered why? It was then that he heard a familiar gruff voice from inside the walls of the Dangerpride home.

“Nina! Quit making so much noise! I am trying to get a moment’s rest in here. You know I’m not well! If its some strange man, tell him he can have you, but you won’t be of much worth to him. I think he’ll be giving me the better end of the deal,” Bart hadn’t changed a bit since Clark left, and he watched as Nina’s face colored at the cruel words of her father, ashamed to have this stranger hear them. Clark could barely refrain from throwing his arms around his sister, telling her that this man was his father too, that they were in this together again, but he held back. Revealing his identity would have all kinds of repercussions. Already, he had staid longer than planned, and now there was Aggie, and now… Nina.

“I’m sorry Pa!” Nina’s voice was small and trembling.

“You better be, or when I get better and can get out of this here bed, you’ll have it coming to you.” Nina’s eyes moved to the ground, and Clark noticed she was struggling to keep back tears. After a dramatic pause, Clark extended his hand to the sister he’d left behind,

“Sorry to have frightened ya, I’m Clay, Clay Rangerguide, I’m new in town. I’m giving a hand over at the Freegrace farm, and I just wanted to meet the neighbors.” Nina met his extended hand with her own, but still kept her eyes leveled at the ground.

“Well, you sure must be new, or you’d know that we’re not the kind of neighbors you visit around here. No one comes out to the Dangerpride place, and I guess you can see why!” Her voice was tight, filled with emotion and hurt that seemed deep-seated in her young heart.

“Well, I’m here aint’ I? You seem awful normal to me. What’s your name?” Clark tried to gently bring his sister some hope and comfort, as he had been unable to do these many years away.

“I’m Nina. I would introduce you to my Pa, only he’s a cranky old drunk, bedridden with some illness I pray to God will kill him. You won’t be able to meet my Mama, she’ll be working late into the night, cleaning for rich folks downtown. I suggest you move onto the next house.” Clark’s heart cringed at the awful situation he found his sister in, and his mother, worked to the bone as usual. He’d been so selfish to run away.

“Well you know Miss Nina, I don’t come from the most pleasant of places either, but I’m sure that doesn’t necessarily make us as ugly as our pasts. I’m glad to meet you. Your welcome over at the Freegrace farm anytime you wish, you hear?” Nina’s eyes finally lifted above the ground and met Clark’s eyes. She looked at him deeply, mysteriously. Clark panicked as he saw recognition in her eyes.

“Sorry…you remind me of my brother. That’s another thing about this family, we have a runaway son that never came back home, left us in the dust… Well, I’m sorry I keep complaining. It’s been, just, such an awful day, and then Pa got upset. I’m sorry. Thanks for your kindness, but I’m sure you’ll find much pleasanter people to be around elsewhere in Sunshine Salvation Valley.” Before he could interject another word, Nina ran into the house, slamming the door behind her. He had to do something. Aggie would know what to do. Of course, dear Aggie! He got on his horse, regretting the way he’d left his family, but excited for the opportunity to make it right. Clark felt an italicized thought rising up in his heart, and although he resisted it at first, he let it loose, what could be the harm:

Father, help my family. Help Nina.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“…blind like the servant of the Lord…”

Isaiah 42:19

Agatha Tabitha Freegrace set three metal plates on the sturdy oak table. The smell of roasted chicken filled the Freegrace home and Agatha took the Dutch oven filled with creamy Mashed Potatoes off the hearth, scooping a pile onto each of the plates. She was surprised to find herself humming as she continued preparing the evening meal for her father and Clay. Things had settled into a pattern at the Freegrace home since Clay had arrived. Agatha looked out the window, watching as Clay supported her father as they walked around the farm. It was Papa’s first day out of bed, and he wanted an update on all that had been happening on his property since he’d been laid up with the fever.

Things had been looking up since Agatha hired this mysterious out of towner. Not only had he taken over all of the farm work that Agatha had been struggling through, but he’d also put up a new barn and even had helped nurse Isaac back to health with some remedies that he’d learned on the range. It had been too late for Isaac’s eyesight, but he was gaining strength daily and acting more and more like himself again. Agatha looked over at the small cot Clay had been sleeping on in the kitchen. She went over and straightened the blankets on it, taking a small flower from the bouquet on the center of the table and placing it on his pillow. She was surprised to find herself blushing and smiling like a schoolgirl as she did this. She had grown quite fond of Clay, he’d brought joy back into their home, and she couldn’t imagine the past month without his aid and encouragement. He seemed to know her so well, always knowing what she needed; it was as if they’d been friends since childhood and had been reunited through a serendipitous meeting. Agatha finished setting up the meal, and then stationed herself at the window again, watching the two men. She soon got lost in watching them, sighing as she used to and feeling the familiar tension headache in her eyes from staring for prolonged periods.

Agatha was startled out of her reverie as she heard the front door swing open and the two men coming in for their supper. Her heart rate increased at least 20 beats per minute higher than her resting heart rate. She quickly examined herself in the mirror, conveniently placed right by the window, and straightened her apron and dress preparing for their entrance.

“Well we’re ready for the best homecooking in Abundance County!” Agatha blushed under Clay’s gaze as he praised her handiwork. The three of them sat down to the table and Isaac Freegrace said a prayer over their meal. Agatha sat uncomfortably through her father’s words. “And thank you that you’re always with us, even in our darkest hours, as you always have been with this family since, my father, A.T. Freegrace came west to bring your good news to the settlers. Amen.” Agatha didn’t think that Clay had much of a faith either. He seemed as uncomfortable as she did during her father’s prayers. She still hadn’t forgotten the strife God had put them through, and now, he’d even taken away Papa’s ability to see the world he enjoyed so much. Through it all, her father stayed faithful to God—it made no sense! She knew he’d want to go back to church soon, and he’d want her to go with. No thank you! Agatha knew that she was running from something in her heart, but for now, it felt much better to keep running than to get caught by the merciful heavenly father pursuing her.

“I can’t see it, but I’m sure Clay has built us a right strong barn. All the animals seem real happy and healthy from what I can tell.” Isaac’s voice was filled with gratitude for the work Clay had done for their family.

“It’s my job sir, and I’m happy to do it.” Clay answered catching Agatha’s eye for a second and giving her a small smile that brought a twinkle to his dark eyes and a swarm of winged butterflies to Agatha’s stomach.

“And Agatha, this meal is really hitting the spot. I think you inherited your mother’s cooking talents!” There was no end to Isaac’s joy today. “Could someone pass me some more potatoes?”

Agatha and Clark…er Clay, both reached for the mashed potatoes, their hands meeting on the plate. They looked up at each other, color rising in both of their faces, silence filling the air, as both remained frozen with their hands touching.

“Well where are my mashed potatoes and why is everyone so quiet?” Isaac asked after a minute or so. Agatha and Clark were startled out of their extended dramatic moment and scrambled to get Isaac some more potatoes.

“Oh, sorry Papa. I just spaced out for a minute.” She looked up at Clay who winked at her as he started to giggle, which made Agatha giggle, till they were both roaring with laughter.

“Well what in tarnation is everyone laughing about? You two sure are acting strange tonight. I think you ought to take a walk outside together and get some fresh air.”

“Well, I think that’s a wonderful idea, don’t you… Aggie?” Clark looked at Agatha, his eyes soft and inviting.

“What did you call me?” Agatha had been taken off guard. Only her father, and Clark had ever called her by this affectionate nickname. Hearing Clay’s voice say it had seemed oddly natural, but surprising all the same, as it couldn’t be….no it couldn’t be him. This was Clay Rangerguide, a new friend. A new friend that made her heart race, stomach quiver, and cheeks blush every minute or so.

“I called you Aggie, just a new nickname I thought of.” Clark was surprised at the slip he’d made, using her childhood nickname! When he’d said it, a look of recognition had flashed over Agatha’s face, only for a second, and then it had been replaced by her normal expression of happiness and oblivion.

“That would be nice Clay, we’ll go after we finish this supper I spent all afternoon preparing!”

“It’s a deal, Aggie,” Clark said.

“Yes, Aggie,” she said, melting in her chair. If she’d still believed in God, she would have thanked him in italics for bringing Clay Rangerguide into her life.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“…love is patient…”

1 Corinthians 13:4

Clark Lewis Dangerpride rode his horse as the sun rose in the sky. He spotted the small town center of Sunshine Salvation Valley in Abundance County Oregon. The rising sun shone brightly in his eyes, and he used his hands to shade them as he looked at the place he had spent the years of his boyhood. He saw the mountains, and also the prairie, in the distance, and was surprised to feel a sense of relief and peace seeing the familiar landscape. The town had grown some since he had left seven years earlier; a few more buildings had gone up, and another road into town had been added. Clark had decided early on in his journey back that he would come in as a stranger, stay long enough to see that his mother, sister, and Agatha and her father were okay, and then head back to the range. He wondered what he would find here, after all these years, after he had changed so much from the young boy who had run away. Little did Clark know that the potential love of his life and the God he had deserted had been waiting for some time for this son of Prodigal, Wyoming to come back home.

Agatha had rode into town early that morning to attend to some business. Before setting off, she had taken care of Papa, who had shown little improvement over the past several weeks. Dr. Elton’s last visit had brought more bad news—he suspected that Isaac might have permanently lost his eyesight. Agatha grew increasingly angry with God as the plot of her story continued to exhaust the list of possible tragedies in her life. Yesterday, she had tried to read Grandfather’s journal, and had quickly stowed it away in her dresser drawer. The words that had so often brought her comfort from the man who had left everything to bring the word of God to the Western settlers, only chafed at her stone cold heart.

She wore a dress into town, the first one she had worn in over three weeks. Her father’s pants and work shirts had become a much more practical uniform for the generalized farm chores that she performed daily, in addition to her normal duties of tending to the house, and the added responsibility of caring for her feverish father. Earlier this week she had resolved to get help, but not the kind people were offering. She would not accept their handouts or pity offers to volunteer at the farm. She intended on hiring a young man for the farm, one of the one’s that came into town looking for work, a stranger. She wanted someone who would work, and wouldn’t get in her business or offer her guidance.

Even in her dress, Agatha felt plain and ugly, things she had been formerly unused to feeling. Earlier, as she got ready to go into town, she had examined herself in the mirror. Her beautiful blonde hair had grown dull and tangled from being tied up under her calico kerchief, and her porcelain face was tanned like that of a common work boy. She combed out her hair, plaiting it in a long braid down her back and put on her mother’s locket, the one she used to wear everyday. She took a wet rag and wiped some of the dirt smudges off of her face. It was no use; she felt as plain as ever, a faded beauty, a faded dream, a faded faith.

Clark walked into the Mr. Serendipity’s general store, he chuckled to see the candy jars lined up behind the counter, remembering days with Agatha—her father would give them each a penny to pick out a sweet treat. They had taken so long to decide, not wanting to waste their penny. Clark wondered where she was now, and his stomach tightened at the thought of seeing her again. She was probably long married off; he could only imagine the beautiful woman she had grown up to be. He heard the screen door swing open as another customer entered the store. He continued to look around the store as he heard the chime of the small bell Mr. Serendipity kept on the counter to summon him from the stock room.

“Well, if it isn’t Agatha Tabitha Freegrace!” Mr. Serendipity’s voice filled the store as he greeted the customer that had just entered. “We’ve all been so worried about you and your father since the barn fire and then Isaac coming down with scarlet fever! How do you do it all by yourself? I wish you’d accept Mrs. Serendipity’s offer to come and stay with you for a while.”

Clark’s heart stopped in his chest. He hadn’t expected to see her so soon on his visit, he’d expected having to track her down on his own terms, but here she was, yards away from him. After he processed the reality of her presence, he began to realize that the Freegrace family was not well—their barn burned down and Mr. Freegrace ill? How could such awful things happen to such a wonderful family?

“We’re fine Mr. Serendipity. The only help I’m interested in is hired help. That’s why I’ve come. I want to put up this sign advertising the opening for a worker at our farm. And if we can’t find someone, I’ll be fine continuing on my own, like I’ve been doing.” Clark was practically paralyzed by the sound of her voice. The trials of life had taken some of the joy out of it, but the tone was still there, that beautiful tone, it was like receiving streams of living water after years in the desert. After soaking in the reality of being in the same room as Aggie’s voice, the wheels in his head began to turn as he began to see the obvious direction the plot was going. Aggie wanted to hire a man to work at the farm, a stranger, and he wanted nothing more than to help the Freegrace family. He may have to stay in town a little longer, but he hadn’t expected to find his dear Aggie in so much trouble. He approached the counter, hoping words would come out of his mouth when he got there.

“You’re looking for some help Miss?” Agatha turned around to see who spoke behind her, as if in slow motion. As she turned to face Clark, he found himself face to face with a young woman, no longer a girl. He saw past her tanned skin and dull blonde hair and was overcome by her beauty. It took everything in him not to immediately spill his cover and take Agatha up in his arms. He thought her tanned skin even made her more beautiful, showing the long days of labor she had endured for the lover of her family.

“I am looking for someone to help out around the farm. The pay isn’t spectacular, but you can lodge with me…and my father.” Agatha’s voice got caught in her throat as she took in the man that inquired about the job. He was tall and handsome, with chiseled features and a strong frame. Something about him looked so familiar, as if he were…no, it couldn’t be. This man was a stranger, just the kind of man she had been looking for to help around the farm.

“When can I start?” Clark’s deep voice immediately soothed Agatha. If she still believed in God, this would have seemed like an answer to prayer. No one in town would even have to see her want ad for help. The only issue was that she could quickly feel herself becoming interested in this tall dark stranger, who didn’t seem so strange after all. She quickly checked herself, resolving to put a “do not disturb” sign over her heart. She didn’t have time to fall in love, and not with some common worker helping out at the farm. She would keep things professional.

“You can start right now.” Agatha extended her hand to shake on the deal. Clark reached out, holding her small, calloused hand in his. He couldn’t resist holding her hand just a little bit longer. Agatha looked up, and their eyes met for a second, electricity (which had not been really discovered) passed between them. This was going to be harder than Agatha thought.

“By the way, I’m…Clay…Clay Rangerguide.”

Alright, Clay Rangerguide, she thought, we’ll see how this goes.

There was something so familiar in his face. Her earlier train of thought returned. It was almost as if… no it couldn’t be. She had thought for a second, just a split second, that he reminded her of her dear Clarky, gone for these past seven years, but ever present in her mind and heart. Agatha shook off these silly notions, thankful to have found an out of towner to help her with the duties on their farm