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“Well, son, lots of people see it in you. Take that girl of yours.” Pops broached the subject with a hesitancy in his voice.
“Yeah, about that. Not sure she is mine, you know?” Austin rolled his shoulders uncomfortably.
“Because she took the Cali job? Really? Like you would have had time to see her these last few months, anyway.” Pops shook his head. “She waited for you to come to your senses for eight years. I think she can handle a few months.”
“Come to my senses?” Austin asked, narrowing his eyes. “It was you who suggested I let her go back then.”
Pops nodded somberly. “You’re right, and looking back now, son, that was selfish of me. I knew you and your brother had Nationals in you. I thought the girl would distract you or pull you away from the rodeo…like my first wife tried to do.” Pops sighed. “It was poor advice. Charly is nothing like my ex-wife. She’s more like your mama: patient and forgiving.”
Austin swallowed, not sure how to take this admission from Pops, and yet he saw it now…saw what Pops had seen. Austin didn’t hold Pop’s advice against him. It had been his own weakness. He couldn’t blame anyone else for that. “Not your fault, Pops, but I agree. She is like Mama. I just don’t know if I’ve run through all of her forgiveness yet.”
“I doubt it, son. A good woman’s love is as forgiving and steadfast as the good Lord’s. Have faith.”
It was then that Austin realized that somewhere along the last few months, he had found faith. He had started believing that everything would work out for the good…at least in Pops’ case. He had even started thanking God for each win in Pops’ recovery.
With a glance toward the heavens, he internally asked, Is Your forgiveness really that unconditional?
The answer came as a wash of peace that filled him.
If it is, then maybe you could help Charly to forgive me, too. Help to make it right between us.
As if in answer, his phone chimed. As he pulled off the highway and onto Main Street, he checked his phone at the stoplight. It was a text from Charlotte that simply said, Thinking of you.
“Well, I’ll be…” Austin said aloud, rereading the text over and over until Pops nudged him.
“Light’s green, son,” he said. “What’s got you so surprised?”
Austin dropped his phone on the seat and drove through their small town, remaining until he took a right after town toward the ranch. “Well, this faith stuff you guys keep talking about. It’s real, isn’t it?”
“Of course it is, son.” Pops looked at him.
Austin turned to him briefly as he pulled up their long, gravel driveway. “You know, I lost all faith when my first dad died.”
“I know, son,” Pops said, his voice sounding choked. “I’ve been praying you’d find it again.”
“Well, Pops, I think I have…I think I see it all a bit more clearly now.”
Pops squeezed his arm. “If that’s all the good that came out of me getting sick, son, it was worth every minute.” A tear ran down Pops' face, shocking Austin at how much this really meant to him.
“I’m sorry I’m a slow learner,” he said, forcing a laugh.
“It’s all in His timing,” Pops said, smiling.
“Yeah, I’m starting to see that…” Austin thought about Charlotte and wondered what kind of timing God was trying to work out there. As he parked the truck in front of the ranch house, he turned to Pops. “I think I need to go out to Cali.”
“I think you do, too, son. Some things are best said face-to-face.” Pops squeezed his shoulder. “I’m good to go. Don’t stick around for me. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Yeah, you got that right. You’re not going anywhere!” Austin said, hopping out of the truck to Pops’ side to help him down, though he refused the offered hand with a grunted wave of dismissal.
“Not until Nationals, at least.” Pops winked, but his features turned serious as he planted his feet on the ground. “Unless…if that’s what you need to do to win her back…” Pops gulped.
“I couldn’t let you down…or Adam. It’s not just my dream.” He laid a hand on Pops’ shoulder. “Just pray that she’ll see the importance and will forgive me this once more.”
“Son, I pray for you every hour of the day,” Pops said. “I know the good Lord has a hand in this, and I know He’ll see it through.”
Austin gave a nod and walked by his side to the house. Pops’ increase in strength showed in every step. His short hair sparkled in the afternoon sun, leaving him looking a bit fuzzy; but his steps, though not as powerful striding as they used to be, held a strength to them. He was making it through this.
“You looking at my fuzzy head again?” Pops ran a hand over his head. “Where’s my hat?”
