Light of Devotion: Men of the Heart, #4

By Steve C. Roberts

Southern Wyoming 1872

On the run after killing her husband, Rosemary Cooper traveled west with her sister in search of a new start.
Japheth Nathaniel Taylor came west to prove himself but ended up on the run after a failed bank robbery.
Suddenly thrown together for survival, they must both hide their past to ensure they have a future.
But an unexpected stop in Cobbinsville has them under scrutiny as both their pasts come back to haunt them from unexpected directions. Now they both must face an important question:

Can they hope to find love that is true, when everything about them is a lie?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steve C. Roberts
• Release date: Aug 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393786207

Steve C. Roberts

STEVE C. ROBERTS lives in Central Missouri with his wife and four children. He is a professional teacher and counselor, and has spent the last twenty years as a Volunteer Chaplain for the Department of Corrections. He also serves in various other capacities in his home Church. His writings include several Non-fictional devotionals as well as several Christian Fiction novels, including the Men of the Heart series

Book preview

Prologue

Fort Willet's Point, New York

RETIRED ARMY MAJOR General David Stone stared silently out over the courtyard. A group of recruits were practicing close order drills; he could hear the sergeant yelling even from this distance.

Well, David, what do you think of the new uniforms? Major General Cade Richardson spoke quietly from his desk.

David answered without turning, I hate them. They look too... German.

Well, the handwriting was on the wall, ever since the French lost the Franco-Prussian War. General Richardson chuckled quietly, We can’t have our boys looking like the losers, now can we?

No, I suppose not. David continued to watch the men as they marched around the parade ground.

Do you miss it?

David shook his head and turned from the window, No... I don’t. He crossed the room and sat down. I’ve dedicated over thirty years of my life to this, and what do I have to show?

You’ve served your country well. Two wars, multiple other battles...

David waved his hand dismissively, What does that mean, Cade? That I will get a fancy funeral? Buried with honors?

General Richardson steepled his fingers and leaned back in his chair, Still haven’t heard from him, I take it?

Who?

General Richardson rolled his eyes, Who? Oh, please David, remember it’s me you are talking to. We’ve known each other way too long to play games.

David shook his head sadly, No, I haven’t heard from William, but the Pinks found him... him and his wife.

His wife? General Richardson leaned forward, interested. So, he’s married now? His eyes narrowed, And he didn’t write you?

Exactly.

Well, what did the Pinks say? What’s he doing now? He tilted his head, Wasn’t he a Sheriff out in Texas the last time you hired the Pinks to find him?

David nodded slowly. The last time he had received word about William was several years ago when the regrets over the rift in their relationship first became intolerable. He had hired the Pinkerton Detective agency to find William so he could apologize, to try to mend that rift. They found him, but by the time he traveled West, William had already moved on. No, he is settled now. A Parson in a town in Wyoming.

General Richardson nodded, Well, easier for you to track him down then. Married, and a Parson... likely means he’ll stay in one place.

Yeah. David stared at his hands. He could still hear the sergeant yelling in the distance.

Well, David?

David looked up and met his friend’s eye, Well, what?

When are you leaving?

David blew out a long breath, I’m not sure if I should. It sounds like he’s happy.

And you think seeing you will change that?

I told you about our last fight.

General Richardson stood, rubbing his neck, Well, let me tell you something. You’ve changed from then. I mean, that was seven years ago. If he’s settled down, especially if he is back to being a Parson, then I’m sure he’s changed some too. You should go.

You really think so? David stood, You think he is ready?

William knows the Good Book. It’s like Reverend Johnson said last Sunday, ‘God prepares our hearts to receive apologies and forgiveness,’ so I’m sure that once you were ready to apologize, William was ready to receive it.

You’re right... David nodded to himself, I’ll go. He offered his hand to his friend, Pray for me.

General Richardson smiled, I’ll pray for you both.

Chapter One

Cobbinsville, Wyoming

James whistled softly as he eased down into his chair. The walk back over from Ted Cobbins’ house had jarred his wounds some, but he was glad for the distraction. He couldn’t stand sitting around too long, and checking on the Marshal was a good excuse to move around.

Not that there had been any change in the past few days. It had been touch and go since the man ended up in town, snake-bit and half dead.

Near as the Doc could tell, the Marshal had been bit at least four times; two of them on his leg. It was a wonder he was still alive, and even more amazing that the Doc hadn’t had to cut his leg off. It had been black and swollen to twice its normal size. The Marshal’s leg was looking better now, but for a while there he had thought they’d have to cut it off for sure.

James relaxed and closed his eyes. He’d been checking a few times a day, and so far there was no change. He planned to go back in the morning to see if there was any improvement. Right now, though, he planned to enjoy the cool breeze that was blowing through town; a sure sign that fall was right around the corner.

He huffed out a quiet laugh. It was hard to believe that it was already close to fall. That meant that it had been almost a year since he became Sheriff.

Sheriff. For most of the first year it had almost been a joke. The only thing remotely Sheriff-like that he had done was wear a badge... up until last week.

Last week everything had changed.

He stared across the street. From his chair he could see the dark stains of blood on the boardwalk in front of the store, and another stain further up by the restaurant. Three men had died in that short span... and he about got killed himself.

He shook off the thought. He didn’t want to think about almost dying, he wanted to think ahead. He wanted to plan for the future.

His eyes flickered to the large window at the front of the store. Every once in a while he could see Catherine when she was dusting the shelves. He was tempted to walk across the street and see her, but he knew he shouldn’t. They were just getting to know each other at this point, and he didn’t want to overdo it. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off, which was what Earl kept telling him he was going to do.

He didn’t have a lot of experience with womenfolk. He had been meaning to talk to Parson William about it, but the last few days had been pretty busy. He glanced down the street at the stable. He could see Parson William’s horse loose in the corral, so he must still be at the Church.

His ears perked at the sound of hoof-beats coming down the trail. He leaned forward and scanned the road into town, easily spotting the horse riding in. He squinted slightly across the distance; he was pretty sure it was Alexander Winters. He watched as Alexander rode straight through town without pause. He didn’t even nod a greeting as he rode past the jail, just continued riding straight up to the Church.

Humph. How ‘bout that? James stood slowly and blew out a long breath. It looked like Alexander had a burr under his saddle about something. He stepped down from the porch and started walking toward the Church, just in case someone needed his help.

WILLIAM HAD JUST FINISHED praying when he heard someone clear their throat across the room. He looked over his shoulder and smiled as he noticed Alexander Winters standing by the door with his hat in his hand. He stood quickly and nodded a greeting, Hello, Alexander. Snuck up on me there.

Alexander nodded slowly. Hullo Parson. You got a minute?

William nodded, Sure. He gestured to a nearby pew, Have a seat, Alexander. Missed you and your family on Sunday. I meant to get by, but I’ve had so much going on this past week... He trailed off with an apologetic shrug.

No, I better not. Alexander hadn’t moved from the door, but shifted from foot to foot, obviously uncomfortable. And Sunday’s what I was aiming to talk to you about. We weren’t here Sunday on purpose, and we won’t be next Sunday either.

Oh, I’m sorry. Traveling, or is the family sick? William smoothed out the front of his pants, wondering if his knees were dirty. Anna had just gotten on to him yesterday after wearing the knees out of his other pants on the rough floor. He didn’t want to stress her out.

Well, no Parson, we’ll be in town. We just aren’t coming back to Church.

William looked up at the man’s sharp tone, Is everything alright?

No... Alexander trailed off, and then added. Becky was in town that day.

William raised an eyebrow, What day? He wasn’t certain where Alexander was going with this, but he knew that it wasn’t good.

The day of the shooting. Alexander leaned forward, agitated, It’s not right that a man of God goes around taking lives.

William’s eyes narrowed, Taking lives?

You killed a man. Shot him point blank, on purpose. He gestured to the pistol strapped to William’s leg. And you wear that everywhere, like you still hope to have an excuse to use it.

William closed his eyes for several seconds before he trusted himself to respond. He could already feel the anger rising, and knew he needed to tread carefully. He’d heard another Parson call it ‘righteous indignation’ one time, but he knew better. He was just getting mad. So... you’re upset because I killed a man who had already murdered several other people, and was taking a young lady against her will to...

That was the Sheriff’s job, not yours. You should’ve stayed out of it, but you didn’t. You just crave violence, and the Lord’s not gonna bless you, or this Church for it.

William blew out a breath. It was a ludicrous argument, one that he would never have expected a man to throw out, but he suddenly realized that it hadn’t started with Alexander. He clenched his jaw, Alexander, at some point you need to grow a backbone and speak for yourself, instead of letting your wife fill your mouth with that nonsense. As soon as the words left his mouth, William regretted them. It wasn’t that they weren’t true; Alexander’s wife Becky ran her husband, her home, and all too often, her mouth... and everyone knew it.

But he still shouldn’t have said it.

He lifted his hand, Look, Alexander, I’m sorry...

No, Parson, that’s enough. Alexander spat on the floor. Have fun playing Church. He turned on his heel and marched out the front door of the Church, slamming it closed behind him.

William stared at the Church door and struggled to resist the urge to throw something across the room.

JAMES STUCK HIS HEAD in cautiously, Hello?

In here.

Parson William’s voice came from the front, but James couldn’t see him. He walked up the aisle slowly, then breathed out a relieved sigh as he spotted him on his knees in front of the Altar.

He looked around as James approached, What’s new?

James sat heavily on the front pew, favoring his side after the brief walk. You doin’ alright?

The Parson tilted his head, Yeah, why?

I just saw Alexander Winters light out of here like a scalded cat. Seemed in none too good a mood. Thought one of y’all may have stepped on the others’ toes.

Parson William chuckled softly, You know me, always stepping on someone’s toes.

James shrugged, Goes with the territory anyway. Wanna talk about it?

No, its fine, James. I appreciate the offer though. He stood up from the floor and stretched. I was just catching up on my prayer life.

James chuckled, Got me nervous, upset as he was leaving out of here and then finding you on the floor.

Parson William raised an eyebrow. You thought he’d punch me?

James grinned, I thought you’d lost your touch.

They both shared a quiet laugh.

Parson William sat on the pew next to him. Marshal wake up yet?

James shook his head, No sir, not last time I checked anyway. Catherine and Maggie have been takin’ turns watching him.

Parson William sighed, looking preoccupied. Snakebite’s a rough thing to go through.

Wouldn’t know. I avoid ‘em. James thought for a second before adding, The legless ones, at least.

Would to God it was that easy for the ones with legs.

Yeah.

They sat in silence for several minutes. James breathed deeply; the Church still smelled of fresh cut pine. It was a comforting smell that reminded him somehow of when he was a boy.

He thought about bringing up his questions about him and Catherine, but decided against it. He didn’t know exactly what had happened with Alexander, but knew it wasn’t good. The Parson would probably prefer some quiet time.

It could wait a day or two.

Well, He stood slowly and winced at the sharp pain in his side, "I guess