Wounded Grace Page 6
Lance chuckled. “Twice, huh. That’s a lot for her.”
“Yeah.” The child's tone had turned serious. “She still misses Mr. Hart, and so do I. But Joy says he’s very happy.”
“Who is Joy?”
“My angel, o’ course. She watches over me.”
Lance gave a start. Did everyone at Heart’s Haven see God’s heavenly messengers except him? He clearly had a lot of faith-growing to do. Good thing he planned to stay for a long while.
“Chloe,” Dex called across the corral. “Everyone’s had a turn. There’s time for you to ride if you want.”
“OK, Daddy, I’m coming!”
Very carefully, she climbed down from the fence. When she reached the bottom, she looked up. “Bye, Mr. Lance. I have to go now.” Then she spun and ran off, jean-clad, round bottom and chubby arms pumping as fast as they could.
Dex lifted the little girl into the saddle. She picked up the reins and clicked the horse into motion as if she’d been doing it all her life. As she circled around his way, she waved. Lance loved the sight of her happy, slightly slanted eyes and crooked little smile. No wonder Andrew had called her one of his sunshine girls.
Lance looked behind him to the large grass-covered yard of the ranch house. Earlier, before the children arrived, the Heart’s Haven residents had hidden over one hundred colored Easter eggs. After the children arrived, Madison organized the massive hunt.
Peals of laughter filled the yard. Lance watched Madison, roving from child to child examining their baskets.
He moved into step with her. “What are you doing?” he whispered.
“Making sure even the littlest ones find some eggs for their baskets.” As she spoke, she found one empty basket and promptly directed the three-year-old in the direction of a bush hiding many brightly colored eggs. Smiling, Lance finished the inspection with her.
After the egg hunt, lunch had been served from the long tables on the grass. Ham. Potato salad. Deviled eggs. Relish plates of olives and pickles. Veggie and fruit platters and one two-tiered cake decorated with chocolate fondant and covered in pink, yellow, and green frosting eggs. It was almost too pretty to eat but Lance had two pieces.
Now, leaning against the fence, he watched the ladies finish cleaning up the paper plates, cups, and covering the left-overs on the tables. Families sat on large blankets and quietly chatted with their neighbors while the children who had finished their horse rides dove into their Easter baskets. Lance smiled, deep contentment filling his soul.
This, too, was part of Andrew Hart’s impressive and amazing legacy. No wonder David had felt intimidated stepping into his uncle’s shoes. But David was the man for the job. All he needed was a little help from his friends. If Lance had anything to say about, he would be one of those friends.
Madison had been busy all morning. Just a little while ago, she'd dropped into a lawn chair next to Vivian. Lance let her rest for a moment, while he enjoyed his chat with Chloe. But now he’d waited long enough. What he had to say couldn’t be put off any longer.
Crossing the green expanse, he stopped in front of Madison’s chair. Vivian stopped short in the middle of a sentence. Madison looked up, shading her eyes against the sun.
He simply held out his hand.
Madison stared at it, uncertain.
“Well, go on,” Vivian said. “I promise he won’t bite.”
Pink flushed Madison’s cheeks, but she took hold of his hand. Lance pulled her to her feet and tugged her toward the corner of the ranch house where he’d seen a giant oak tree with a wooden seat around its base.
Once they were out of sight of the group, Madison tried to tug her hand free, but he held on.
“This was a wonderful day.” He kept his tone low, not wanting to make her nervous. “It’s been a long time since I enjoyed myself like this. I wanted to thank you.”
“I had very little to do with that, I’m sure. It’s Heart’s Haven.” She tried to loosen her fingertips again, but he had no intention of letting go. He held on and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Heart’s Haven has a lot to do with it, but mainly it’s you. Madison, I’ve thought a lot about what you’ve told me of your past and your life canvas. It made me think about mine. For years, my life was a bright, beautiful picture, but the last two years, it’s been empty, completely empty. Not even dark. Just empty." He paused to draw a breath, but retained his hold on Madison's hand. "I take care of my business, my children, and my grandchildren. But I live through them. I’ve added nothing to my own canvas, and I don’t think that’s what God wants for me. I think he has more in store for me.”
They’d come to the large oak bench around the tree. He led her to it and motioned for her to sit down, reluctantly releasing her hand while she settled herself. Sitting beside her, he reclaimed her hand with both of his.
“I want to fill my canvas with color—like you‘ve done, Madison. I’m going to sell my place and move here. Viv could use my help around the big house, and I want to be a part of this life…this wonderful community. I think there’s work for me here.”
Madison ducked her head and clamped her lower lip with her teeth.
“You don’t like that idea?”
“Of course. It’s a wonderful idea. Viv will be so pleased.”
“But not you?”
“It doesn’t really matter what I think. You know I can’t stay. But it pleases me to know you’ll be here once I’m gone.”
“You can’t leave Heart’s Haven. They need you. I need you.”
Her lovely brown eyes widened. “What do you mean you need me? Lance Dalton, do you remember who you're talking to? I’m the girl who disappointed you and betrayed your sister.”
He released her hand long enough to pull a small black box tied with a red ribbon from beneath the bench where he’d hidden it earlier. “This is for you.”
She stared at the box, her expression puzzled and wary. He chuckled. “Go on. It won’t bite either.”
Finally, she took it and pulled the red ribbon. She gasped when she pulled the heavy, golden trimmed, red Fabergé egg out of its black velvet bed.
“Oh, Lance, I’ve seen these eggs in the jewelry store window. They’re terribly expensive.”
“You don’t like it?”
“It's amazing! Of course, I like it. It’s just…”
“I don’t care about the cost,” he murmured. “You deserve it. I wanted you to have a red egg. Did you know the far Eastern churches paint their Easter eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ, which bathed us all and made us new? I’ve never known anyone who is more a living example of that than you. When I look at you, I don’t see the old Madison. I see a glowing woman full of Christ’s love, surrounded by a family who loves her.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. No longer able to meet his gaze, she ducked her head. “You don’t know how much it means to me to hear you say that. I’ll treasure this going-away gift forever.”
Touching her chin with his fingertip, he urged her face upward until her gaze met his.
“Beautiful girl. Easter eggs symbolize new life, a new beginning…for us. Can we start again? Will you let me share your life? Please help me make my canvas as bright and beautiful as yours.”
She opened her lips and tried to speak. But the tears flowed too freely. She settled for shining a radiant smile directly into his anxious gaze, and giving him a slow nod.
Lance didn’t need the words. At least, for now. He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her close, then bent, pressed his lips to hers and sealed their future with a kiss.
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May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG